Average Customer Review: ( 168 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.

A truly remarkable picture, and when one considers this as Costner's directorial debut...WOW! Is it any wonder everything he has made since, regardless of its quality, has seemed anti-climactic? If you love epic tales that don't put you to sleep, this is the one. Also, if you haven't seen the Expanded Edition at 237 minutes you are truly missing out. I hope it is released on DVD soon.

If this movie doesn't bring a tear to your eye then you need your heart examined! Five stars.

38 of 42 found the following review helpful:

Special Edition coming soonJul 13, 2002

The studio is currently working on a 2 disc special edition for this movie,the dvd should br released sometime in early 2003.The rumour is that it will contain the 181 minute verion and the 237 minute version.It will also have documentaries on the making of the film,production notes,trailers,commentary and many more special features.

27 of 30 found the following review helpful:

BEWARE -- Amazon's product description is wrong!!May 02, 2010
By J.A. Smithers
First off, let me say that this is a "five-star" film for me. My rating is based on Amazon's incorrect information on the product page.

The product being offered here by Amazon.com is the UK Region-free Blu-ray. It is NOT the long version as stated, but rather the theatrical release at 181 minutes' running time. I verified this by ordering the Blu-ray, then actually seeing the correct information on the back of the case.

The back of the case also says "letterbox," whereas on the Amazon.com product page the aspect ratio is given as "1.78:1". However, 1.78:1 fills a 16x9 widescreen TV's screen completely, so it cannot be "letterbox," i.e. with the black bars on the top and bottom of the picture. I returned the Blu-ray without opening it, so I don't know which it actually is.

Even after I called Amazon Customer Service and pointed out their mistakes on the product page, they have yet to correct the errors after a weeks' time! Shame on them!

If you want the full-length, i.e. 4-hour extended cut, on Blu-ray, you need to get the French version (region-free, with French nonforced subtitles only), or the German version, which is locked to Region B and thus will most likely not play on standard U.S. Blu-ray players.

11 of 12 found the following review helpful:

ExceptionalJan 28, 2000

This film is breathtaking. There are so many scenes in it which you can watch over and over again.

The colour and picture quality are probably the best I have ever seen on DVD and the sound is also excellent.

It is a very introspective film and if you aren't one for epic movies then give this a miss. If however you don't mind watching a movie for a really long time you will be rewarded by experiencing a truly classic film.

28 of 36 found the following review helpful:

Warm Up For Oscar Night With This Best Picture WinnerJan 10, 2004
By L. Shirley "Laurie's Boomer Views"
This review refers to the DVD edition(Image Entertainment) of "Dances With Wolves"....

This film has everything you could ever want to be thoroughly swept away to antoher time and place. A period piece, set during the time of the Civil War, it has action, romance, adventure, a marvelous script,mesmerizing cinematography, and a score that will take your breath away. It's a three hour epic tale, that you may wish would never end.

Kevin Costner leads a fine cast as Lt. John Dunbar, who's dreams of seeing the frontier before it vanishes is realized when he is assigned a deserted post with only a tribe of Sioux Indians as his neighbors. Dunbar and this tribe of peaceful and proud Sioux, are at first wary of each other, but eventually he is taken into the fold and becomes very much a part of their lives. The deep friendships and bonding that evolve, and the romance with "Stands With Fist"(Mary McDonell), a white woman raised by the tribe and is now very much a Sioux, are touching, poignant and even sometimes a little humorous. The adventures, and the heroism of both Dunbar and his new family will keep you involved the entire length of the film.

The film won seven Academy Awards in 1990, including Best Picture and Best Director(Costner). The sweeping score by John Barry is so beautiful, you may just want to order the soundtrack as well.Dean Semler's photography are visions you won't soon forget(both of these also with Oscars for their work on the film). Fine performances by Graham Greene,Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman,Rodney Grant,Tantoo Cardinal really add to the authenticity of the time and place, and Maury Chaykin's appearance is always a welcome addition to any film.

This DVD edition by Image presents a beautiful picture in widescreen and fabulous sound in Dolby Dig 5.1. There are subtitles throughout the film, as a good part of the dialouge spoken is Sioux, and the titles are clear and distinguishable. This edition does not include any special features, but there is also a special edition out that has many features and there is also an edition that is recorded in DTS. At this time, this one is only available through the merchants, the special edition is not too much more pricewise for what you get..but the choices are there for you.

A great way to warm up for the upcoming Oscar season..enjoy...Laurie

See all 168 customer reviews on Amazon.com