beachbum_moviefan

Will be interesting to see where they go with this apocalyptic near-end of humankind. The first episode was better than the preview. It is a quiet and solitary show since (almost!) everyone but the main character has died from a pandemic, but uses that quiet to ask worthy existential questions about loneliness, whether you should strive to live if your loved ones are all dead, hope, and how to move forward. There is a famous book with this title/theme and we'll see how much this series complements and parallels that novel. The first episode is good enough to watch more. It has a Walking Dead sense of desolation and despair but without zombies, and instead the personal struggle of living in a vastly changed world.

I get that some reviewers say stuff like it is all over the place or it is maybe not what they expected, but I think it is because this is part of a long epic -- it is like a novel, with great setup, multiple characters and story lines, and vivid description (the scenery & cinematography). It's not all about Kevin Costner's character, it is about all the characters, and they way they react in this rough and violent world, and the conflict of cultures. The long, violent scene in the first third of the movie where the native americans and the white settlers are in conflict is beautiful and vividly done, and there is a masterful and dynamic contrast to the ending violent scene. This is comparable to a novel, so I hope people will be patient and value how much territory this movie covers, in multiple settings, ambitiously. It feels very real in the lawless conflct between people, and in that sense somewhat a reminder of how this kind of people interaction would still exist if not for our laws, legal enforcement, and the evolution of our society to better appreciate order. I was worried in the first 5-10 minutes, but then it surged forward with drama and I realized the beginning was symbolic of conflict to come, and was the same kind of patient introduction you see in masterful novels. It's not a perfect movie (yet), but it's really well acted and directed and written, and you have to respect Costner for pursuing his vision. Any and all Western fans are likely to appreciate this.

This is a really well-made and beautiful movie far better than the standard romance and holiday fare, and something I'll want to watch more than once. It's a genuine and touching movie instead of a hack job. It's nice to see the attention to excellence in direction, acting, writing and cinematography -- all the elements for a wonderful film. You can actually love these characters as they go through their realistic struggles with meeting each other, forgiveness, family, and love. For me, the dialog was wonderful, real, and from the heart. Barrett Doss, Justin Hartley, Bonnie Bedelia and James Remar delivered their roles perfectly. So much better than 90% of the movies in this genre. Not stupid, not fakey, not silly, just heartfelt. It's based on a book by Richard Paul Evans (who wrote the Christmas Box) so fans of his should be happy with this.