Into the West

This version is NOT the version that was edited for school. It contains all of the full-length episodes. ITW ran six episodes of two hours each, INCLUDING COMMERCIALS, so the person who claims that there were 720 minutes in the original version is simply wrong. This is a beautiful, compelling, heartfelt series that examines the dynamics of the 19th century in what was to become the American West. The acting and the scripts are of very high quality, and every aspect of these shows is superb, from the costumes to the make-up to the settings. There's enough here telling you what this show is about that I don't need to go into that; just be aware that this version has no disclaimer about editing on its package, and that the times of the episodes are consistent with the original program. I also own the version that was sent to the Grammy voters and the episodes are identical on those six discs to those on these discs. Ask yourself why they would possibly edit the episodes sent to Grammy voters--it simply wouldn't happen. And to the person who says this is far too long to show in schools, think again. We're in the middle of studying this work for the second time in a high-school class, and both times I've used it, the students have loved it, and they've learned more about this aspect of American history than they have in any history class. They've also developed a great deal of empathy towards the Native Americans, as they hadn't before realized just how difficult and horrific a transitional period these years caused them. This also makes a great gift to people who appreciate high-quality film-making and compelling stories and great characters.

This is a phenomenal movie series. I recorded it on my DVR when it originally came on TNT in 2005. This is a powerful 4 disc set with bonus footage. Make sure when you are watching the set that you watch them in order. If I remember correctly there is 2 episodes on each disk and it can get be confusing if you watch them out of order. So, pay close attention or you will get the timeline out of order and it changes the plot. I've shared my set with many friends as well as my dearly departed American Indian friend Mrs. Carmen. She said, she has watched many movies supposedly about indians but this one did the best job of telling the story of how the west was settled from both the indian side as well as the white man's side that she has ever watch. She was very impressed. Spanning 65 years and several generations, Into the West is a great treasure of American history. This is a great gift for any movie lover especially for anyone who likes westerns Like Lonesome Dove, Tombstone, 3:10 to Yuma etc. The series gives a more accurate depiction of what actually happened to the indians than any I've ever seen. I understand there are some edited scenes from the tv version however even with that being said if one has never watched it before this is still worth the watch. *I paid full price for this product and the opinions stated are based on my use of it.

I love this movie series! The movie was delivered quickly and is ment condition! Thank you!

I don't care what people are saying in their complaints about this movie, like it being a "watered-down version" of the real thing. If this is truly watered down, it is truly touching and dramatic on the issues of what became of the TRUE American people who have settled this continent for centuries long before Europeans ever knew this continent and such a people ever existed, long before they ever got the guts to cross the unknown Atlantic for fear of "falling off the edge of the earth." The fate of those who made this their home were to be forced against their will to live in "concentration camps" designated by government officials who didn't give a crap about the Native Americans, or dare to understand that the land they were being told to farm on wouldn't be sufficient to support even a single generation, or to be forced off of it anyway by white settlers and gold prospectors. But the U.S. government never called them prison camps, just "reservations," which to me is a watered-down version of what their true definition was. This movie covers the times from 1826 to 1890, seen through the eyes of two American families, one of them NATIVE American. In the beginning, you see a young American boy from Virginia trekking through the unknown with other mountain men, like Jebediah Smith, in their quest to see the Pacific. By 1880, those unknown lands are long gone, railroads spanning the entire length of the country in a way never thought possible by earlier generations. The buffalo are nearly extinct, and the Natives who lived off these lands and respected the presence of the buffalo, forced to live a meager existence on "reservations" even to this day. I would have liked to have seen a coverage of the Trail of Tears in here, the 1836 exiled march of Indian tribes off their Georgia lands and to Oklahoma Territory, but what they didn't cover was made up for in other scenes of outrages done against the people who lived here before us and are more AMERICAN than we are. Like how in the 1850's, a small U.S. Army contingent opens fire on a Native American encampment after their idiot officer accuses the tribe of "stealing a cow" from a Mormon pioneer train, and their only way of communicating this to the Indians is through a drunk translator who isn't even capable of translating the Indian chief's offer to pay for the cow. The translator and all 30 Army soldiers were killed in this small fight that followed, and I was kind of actually rooting for the Indians here. In 1864, an encampment full of innocent Indians is slaughtered by more than 700 U.S. Army militia at Sand Creek, Colorado, despite the fact that the chief was flying an American flag due to earlier promises given to him that his people would have no harm come to him if he was to display that flag. This movie put great detail into that! In 1874, despite an 1868 treaty giving the Black Hills of South Dakota to the Sioux tribe, a small amount of gold is found in the Black Hills by prospectors illegally trespassing onto that land, and the U.S. Army does little to enforce that treaty, while the government seeks to twist the treaty around and tries to run all the Sioux off that land anyway. And any Sioux who protest this treatment and doesn't report to their prison camps are to be declared hostile by January, 1876. The U.S. Army sure got what was coming to them at the Little Big Horn! And all because Lt. Colonel Custer, when advised by his General in person to have his 7th Cavalry Regiment wait for the reinforcing troops, replies, "No, sir, I will not" before riding with his troopers in a charge for glory on June 25, 1876. We all know what happened next. In November, 1890, a stupid U.S. government reservation agent mistakes harmless "Ghost Dancing" to be an uprising by Sioux members who are simply praying and dancing to their ancestors for guidance in their struggle to survive, and sics the U.S. Army on them. 350 Sioux are slaughtered at Wounded Knee Creek, and their bodies are unable to be retrieved due to the snowstorm that follows. This movie really is an eye-opener and if this is the "watered-down version" of what TNT really had, then it is one of the best I have seen so far!

S beautifully written and acted part of Americana but also an embarrassment to what drives America even today, GREED. All the minor references to parts of history, like the civil war, only added to the horrific abuses that occurred by business and government alike. Whether it be the inhumane treatment of the negro, the enslavement of orientals to do dangerous and mostly unpaid work, or the tragic genocide that occurred to the native Indian population because of broken treaties and horrific slaughters, this movie shows that America hasn't learned anything. While other nations have tried to address their wrongs, America still buries it's head in the false pretences that formed a great nation. The sadness I felt watching this series awoke in me a greater passion to embrace the differences in people and to respect how they can make us better. The Indian still clings to much of what was depicted both religiously and culturally and it should be a lesson for us all. So much was lost and destroyed in the search for wealth and power and the end result was loss if what could gave been significant contributions by people who died needlessly and before their times. The white race should be horrified at it's history and the mistreatment of such proud people. The damage can never be repaid and it is obvious from how politicians work today that no intent to do so will happen either. I wish all man could cherish the live of our planet the way the Indian does, as we would be better off for it. Get this series as Spielberg has created a masterpiece and a very special format to express it. It is well worth the price and even the wait doesn't seem so bad.

super

Great did kids loved it

Arrived quickly. Extremely happy with my purchase thank you.

This is great for everyone to watch and it has some really well known actors/actresses in it. History buffs will really appreciate the accurate depictions of how the west was opened in the USA.