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Post by Allen Wiener on May 20, 2015 7:39:47 GMT -5
Did anyone see the History Channel special "Avenging the Alamo" the other night? It's still on my DVR and I've only seen bits of it, but it was clearly a promo for the upcoming "Texas Rising" mini series.
From what I saw of this special, there was no mention of Crockett or Bowie and only passing reference to Travis as commander. There was more attention paid to Santa Anna. There was an over-abundance of attention paid to Emily West, who is obviously going to be a major character in the mini series, which looks like it's going to play the "Yellow Rose" yarn for all it's worth.
Talking heads on the documentary special included H.W. Brands and several others who I had no heard of, as well as actors who have key roles in the mini series. The special looked disjointed and I came across some factual errors in some of the commentary. Some battle footage looked like it came from the 2004 movie "The Alamo."
If you missed it, History Channel will likely repeat it between now and the time the mini series begins.
Allen
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Post by Bill Yowell on May 20, 2015 11:13:09 GMT -5
I believe the series begins this coming weekend. After reading the article about this series in the TV Guide, I may not watch it. There will be several fictional characters with what seem to be prominent roles. The article also mentioned that the Indian doings of the period will get a bit of attention in some episodes. While I never get tired of the telling of the story of the "Texas Revolution", I do not like the addition of fictional characters to tell the story of a true historical event, and certainly see no need for them.
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Post by Rich Curilla on May 21, 2015 14:59:27 GMT -5
The article also mentioned that the Indian doings of the period will get a bit of attention in some episodes. Yes -- The Karankawas! Who attack Texians during the Runaway Scrape!!!
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Post by Rich Curilla on May 21, 2015 15:10:41 GMT -5
There will be several fictional characters with what seem to be prominent roles. ...I do not like the addition of fictional characters to tell the story of a true historical event, and certainly see no need for them. It is certainly possible to do this, and do it well. A filmmaker can create pathos better with fictional characters that can bend with a script rather than simply raise the ire of historians because a historical character is not treated precisely correct -- when there is no "precisely correct" when sitting in a round table discussion with the best historians -- as Ron Howard quickly found out in one self-inflicted weekend in Austin. LOL. I would be happy if a miniseries FULL of fictional characters had an accurate script and could capture the imagination of viewers. "Movies are there to inspire, not to inform." The inspired are more likely to seek out a book. One such book, in fact, that has inspired as well as informed is chock full of fictional characters and a fictional plot -- but set in a highly accurate historical setting with well-presented historical characters: Steve Harrigan's Gates of the Alamo. Here is what Steve Harrigan had to say about Texas Rising in Texas Monthly: www.texasmonthly.com/story/how-realistic-is-texas-risingHe is assuring me that my gut feeling about the miniseries is correct -- and that "The History Channel" should again change its name from its new brand "History" -- to, simply, "Channel."
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Post by Rich Curilla on May 21, 2015 15:23:08 GMT -5
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Post by Rich Curilla on May 21, 2015 15:25:28 GMT -5
In short, I am going to watch the first two shows -- but with a board between my teeth so I don't bite off my tongue in furious anger.
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Post by tracesoftexas on May 21, 2015 18:14:18 GMT -5
The promos that I've seen pretty much suck.
I doubt I will watch it. It's not revisionism; it's downright falsehood.
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Post by Allen Wiener on May 22, 2015 19:23:43 GMT -5
Well, the documentary "Avenging the Alamo" was the worst Alamo doc. I've ever seen. I doubt anyone unfamiliar with the subject would have been able to even follow it in any coherent way or understand how the various things it mentioned were connected.
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Post by Rich Curilla on May 23, 2015 20:41:58 GMT -5
It makes me wonder just who runs "Channel" now. Scary, ain't it?
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Post by Rich Curilla on May 23, 2015 21:38:14 GMT -5
It also reminds me of the button I used to wear at Alamo Village when TV movies were filming there. "Theater is life. Cinema is art. Television is furniture."
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Post by Allen Wiener on May 24, 2015 14:38:19 GMT -5
Cool button, Rich!
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Post by Rich Curilla on May 25, 2015 10:24:08 GMT -5
I knew you'd like it.
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boba
Full Member
Posts: 36
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Post by boba on May 26, 2015 12:14:26 GMT -5
It was horrible.The first clue was the March 7 1836 date.If you can't even get the date right ,how much research went into this production?The smoking "Alamo"at the start of the show,when cleaned up ,looks like Ft Defiance later in the program.The mexican wagon containing Mrs Dickison and company being attacked by Indians?The texian camp on the cliff with the Rocky Mountains in the background?I never even saw a powerhorn.The civil war uniforms and the ridiculous guy with the beard sraight from the little big horn.Total hollywood incompetence !! It gave me a headache!I don't think the series is going to improve.Tonite I'll watch the Ranger-Lightning game
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Post by mjbrathwaite on May 27, 2015 1:05:55 GMT -5
It sounds like I'm lucky that I don't have TV, although it probably wouldn't get shown in New Zealand anyway as all they seem to show here is cooking programs. That's why when TV went digital here I didn't go with it.
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Post by tracesoftexas on May 27, 2015 15:50:18 GMT -5
Sam Houston, Deaf Smith and some scouts ride for Goliad? And are surrounded by Comanches but not killed? And meet the lone survivor of the Alamo who is setting out in Lancelot fashion to kill every Mexican he can find while quoting some kind of gibberish?
Amazing how "Lonesome Dove" managed to get the settings right but this POS was unable to. It's where "Blood Meridian" should have been filmed, not a story about the Texas revolution.
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