What Movie Should I Watch Tonight? ‘Dances with Wolves’ Extended Cut on HBO Max
Share this @internewscast.com

This Fourth of July, take a moment to remember the Kevin Costner fans in your life (or perhaps that’s you). We’ve just passed one year since Costner’s epic project, Horizon: An American Saga, first hit theaters — or at least its initial part. The second part is already finished and has made appearances at a few festivals, but there’s been no word on when it will be widely available, whether on screen or streaming. Meanwhile, the third installment is currently stalled, and plans for a potential fourth movie seem uncertain. Although the second chapter of Horizon is likely to be released at some point, while you wait, a streaming service has added the extended four-hour version of Costner’s Oscar-winning film Dances with Wolves to its lineup. This is possibly the film that inspired Horizon in the first place. If you haven’t seen Costner’s directorial success, are unaware of its longer version, or just want to experience a nostalgic Best Picture winner, the Fourth of July weekend is an ideal time to enjoy a Costner epic. And if four hours seems too much, the original Oscar-winning version is also available.

Why Watch Dances with Wolves Tonight?

Back in the early ’90s, Costner was at the pinnacle of his movie-star career, enjoying a streak of hits like Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, JFK, and The Bodyguard. During this time, he surprised many by winning a Best Director Oscar for his western film Dances with Wolves. Predictably, as is the case with many Best Picture winners, Wolves faced some backlash post-award, being labeled as undeserving; notably, Costner drew criticism for winning as an actor-turned-director over a master like Martin Scorsese, whose Goodfellas was a fellow nominee in 1990 and has since been recognized for its enduring quality. Furthermore, some questioned if Dances with Wolves was just another narrative of non-white cultures told through the eyes of a white character. Didn’t another Oscar-winning western, Unforgiven, tackle the complexities of western myths versus historical reality more effectively?

Indeed, Goodfellas and Unforgiven are arguably superior to Dances with Wolves. However, they stand out as some of the greatest films overall, and Costner’s unexpectedly subtle and laid-back western has stood the test of time quite well. Remarkably, despite Costner’s image as a representative of small-c conservatism, Dances with Wolves adopts a refreshingly peaceful, even hippie-like, stance, advocating for anti-war and pro-peace themes.

Costner plays John Dunbar, a Union soldier in the Civil War whose unexpected battlefield victory leads to his choice of assignments. He chooses a remote outpost in Colorado, which through a series of odd circumstances becomes his and his alone; no other soldiers arrive to fortify it. Eventually, he makes peace with a local Sioux tribe and becomes accepted into their culture, romancing a white woman who has been adopted into the tribe. Eventually, he fights with the Sioux against the U.S. Army, who are trying to round up the tribes.

It’s a simple story, which Costner spreads out over a leisurely three hours in his original cut, and four hours in the extended version. It should be noted that the latter isn’t officially Costner’s “director’s cut,” but rather a version that was released in London theaters a year after the film’s initial debut. Costner promoted it at the time, but has since said that he didn’t work on it directly (apart from, you know, directing all of the footage that was incorporated back into the longer cut). Producer Jim Wilson described the longer cut in an interesting way, saying that it essentially fulfills a function similar to a sequel: Additional time with characters and storylines that audiences liked, only integrated back into the film rather than expanded into a second. Even if he didn’t participate in the re-editing process, Costner seems to like this idea in principle; Horizon was clearly designed as one long thing, not a single western that might later inspire follow-ups.

The general consensus is that the “shorter” (still three-hour) Dances with Wolves is the better-paced version, but part of the movie’s beauty is how it doesn’t depend on heedless momentum and can therefore accommodate extra character moments and scene-setting without feeling too bloated. In both versions, Costner lets sequences and character developments breathe; all of the westerns he’s directed himself are on the longer side, but it’s Wolves that feels most sustained in its poetry. For all of the white-savior talk (and it’s not totally invalid), what comes through the movie is a feeling of genuine respect and reverence for the Sioux people, and the ways that a white soldier might find them more relatable than the culture he was raised on. So many picks for Independence Day-themed movies focus on the heroism and sacrifice of the U.S. military; Dances with Wolves feels equally All-American by giving screen time and empathy to people who were here before settlers, colonists, and various soldiers marched through the country. Costner has starred in plenty of movies dealing with both the promise of America and the thorny, complicated realities of the country. But Dances with Wolves may be his best tribute to this country.

Jesse Hassenger (@rockmarooned) is a writer living in Brooklyn podcasting at www.sportsalcohol.com. He’s a regular contributor to The A.V. Club, Polygon, and The Week, among others.

Stream Dances with Wolves Extended Cut on HBO Max

(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&appId=823934954307605&version=v2.8”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
New England serial killer fears reignited after paddleboarder's murder in quiet coastal town

Concerns of a New England serial killer resurface after paddleboarder is found dead in serene seaside community

Officials are advising residents to stay composed after a paddleboarder’s murder in…
Carol Reith arrested for animal cruelty, 52 dogs rescued from 200 block of Sky Hill Road, Wauconda police say

Wauconda Police Report: Carol Reith Detained for Animal Cruelty; 52 Dogs Rescued on Sky Hill Road

WAUCONDA, Ill. (WLS) — A woman was arrested for animal cruelty after…
Texas man on probation allegedly chases ICE vehicle, damages it after enforcement raid

Texas man on probation reportedly pursues and damages ICE vehicle following enforcement raid

Authorities reported that a man, who was released on bond for a…
LiAngelo Ball files for divorce days after wife's pregnancy reveal

LiAngelo Ball Announces Divorce Shortly After Wife Reveals Pregnancy

LiAngelo Ball initiated divorce proceedings from Rashida Nicole just a week after…
Sheriff Cook discusses safety and crime at town hall

Sheriff Cook Talks Crime and Safety Issues at Community Town Hall

During Thursday’s town hall, Sheriff Michelle Cook announced that crime in Clay…
Travis Decker, wanted for murder.

Investigation for ‘killer’ dad Travis Decker concludes at popular nature area; police question hiker for more information

AUTHORITIES have called off the Idaho manhunt for alleged killer dad Travis…
Ford recalls 850K vehicles over fuel pump failure

Ford Issues Recall for 850,000 Vehicles Due to Fuel Pump Problems

Ford Motor is recalling over 850,000 vehicles in the USA due to…
'King of the Hill' Revival': Hank and Peggy return after 15 years to a changed Arlen in season 14 first look - see trailer

“King of the Hill Returns: Hank and Peggy Re-emerge in a Transformed Arlen After 15 Years – Watch the Season 14 Trailer”

Hank and Peggy Hill return to a changed Texas, and a new…
Florida tourist hotspot nearly becomes sanctuary city before leaders reverse ICE policy

Florida Tourist Destination Almost Becomes a Sanctuary City Before Officials Change Course on ICE Policy

Key West city officials have decided to renew their local law enforcement’s…
ABC News holds NAHJ reception at ABC7 Chicago amid 2025 National Association of Hispanic Journalists Conference and Expo

ABC News Hosts Reception in Chicago for Hispanic Journalists During 2025 NAHJ Conference and Expo

Journalists from across the nation have gathered in Chicago this week to…
Silver stainless steel water bottle with black lid and handle.

Walmart Urgently Recalls 850,000 Water Bottles After ‘Ejecting’ Incident Leaves Two Blind

An urgent recall has been announced for approximately 850,000 stainless steel water…
Photo of a Chinese citizen detained in Kyiv, Ukraine, for allegedly attempting to export classified documents.

Ukraine Detains Chinese Father and Son Accused of Spying on Long-Range Missile Program

A CHINESE dad and his son have been accused of attempting to…