13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Honor Above All, October 3, 2004
This review is from: Bonanza - Under Attack (DVD)
It's 1905, Ben and the boys are long gone but the Ponderosa carries on. It's now run by Bronc Evans (Ben Johnson), one of Ben Cartwright's old hired hands. His grandkids are there, too. One's a smart alecky squirt who's also a lawyer, another's a good natured big guy, and the other was last seen crawling out of a second story window at his "intended's" house. Guess which young'un belonged to which pa.
The peacock network slipped three Bonanza The Next Generation made-for-tv movies in under my radar between 1988-1995. BONANZA:UNDER ATTACK is the last of them, and it's a decidedly mixed bag.
The core story is engaging enough. A rogue Pinkerton agent (Dennis Farina) has been chasing the outlaw Frank James (Leonard Nimoy) for years, and has him cornered somewhere on the 1000-square mile Ponderosa ranch. Adam's son Adam (Jeff Phillips) finds the wounded James and defends him at the point of a gun from the swarming Pinkertons. It's a temporary reprieve, of course, and the bulk of the movie is dedicated to saving James from the murderous Pinkertons. BUA works well when it's takes itself outside under the tall pines.
The trouble comes from the side-stories involving the young Cartwrights. Michael Landon, Jr. plays Little Joe's son Ben Cartwright and, well, he simply isn't an accomplished actor. (Dan Blocker's son Dirk, a better actor, also appears as a newspaper reporter.) Adam's sidebar love story is more distracting than anything. The 75-year-old Ben Johnson, a fine actor in his day, is simply too old for the role. Jack Elam is wasted as the grouchy cook Buckshot.
On the other hand, Nimoy is good as the wounded and played out Frank James, and Dennis Farina adds an appropriately menacing air to the maniacal Pinkerton agent. And the movie does begin with the burning map intro, not always available on video releases of the original series.
If you're a fan of the original "Bonanza" series you won't miss much if you pass on this one.
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1.0 out of 5 stars
Not the Real/ Remembered BONANZA, November 12, 2011
This review is from: Bonanza - Under Attack (DVD)
It's not the same,even if Landon JR. had some thing to do with this movie! The First real BONANZA was made is the only one that could be of any worth watching he Cast in the early years made the show, and Young Joe (Michael Landon) was one of the actors that made the show, and it was made possiable for the old/ middle age to remember. It's like produceing a new Dukes of Hazzard what were they thinking? Not so hot with the people that Grew up watching the Old TV SHOWS, I Love all the Old TV SHOWS, made for TV was a Great time for me 1or 2years of age growing up. When the Westerns were on it was Daddy and my time, leave us be, be quiet. Cold night me and Daddy were cuddled up in bed, our time Mom wouldn't let no one mess with her TV, No Westerns were allowed on her TV, So me and Daddy took the TV over in their bedroom, sure do miss my Daddy and the good old days. I still watch BONANZA and WESTERNS, and remember those days Me and my Daddy,Sure Do Love Him Dearly and MISS Him so very much, have and still do buy BONANZA/Westerns and remember the good old days and at the same time I have a lot of GREAT Memories of times spent with my DADDY! GOD BLESS my Daddy these 2 BONANZA DVD"S Just bought just for you and me, and I know you are and will be with me when I am watching them, Love my DADDY Passed away 3 years ago, but you will always be my Hero and Westerns Partner.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Still a Bonanza Fan, June 5, 2011
This review is from: Bonanza - Under Attack (DVD)
In the last year I have become re-acquainted with the Bonanza shows in syndication on TV Land and I record every one so that I won't miss an episode, so when I came across the movies that were made later with the children of these stars I love so, I was ectastic. Truthfully my expectations were higher than what was produced. I don't get why Dan Blocker's son who looks so much like Hoss, was cast as a different character. I read later that there were a lot of contradictions for both films in the wife of Little Joe and the brother of Ben. Ultimately, I'm not sorry I bought this film (especially since I paid under $10) and I will still be a Bonanza Fan.
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