I was just in the cafeteria getting breakfast a while ago (they opened a short time ago, folks - this isn't laziness!), and, once again, they had TNT tuned in on the big screen. This time, they were playing their 10-part miniseries Into the West, which was produced by DreamWorks Television and Steven Spielberg. Yeah, I know - the combination doesn't sit right with me, either. TNT also had a hand in the production of the series as well, which might explain why it is so bad.

Why do I say this? Well, not only is the acting way off-base and over-the-top (I blame that on Spielberg), and not only are the effects standard at best (not usual for DreamWorks), but the plot is just foul, and (OH MY GOD) the history is completely incorrect!

Perhaps I should explain myself - according to the "research" done for the movie, the last character to die (Jack Wilson/Wokova) was in 1932; yet, in one part of the show I was watching, some of the characters erect the "Fifty Stars and Thirteen Bars" Unites States Flag to let Union troops know they are friendly. Does anyone see what's wrong here? How about the fact that by the time that character died, two states had not been admitted into the union? (That's Alaska and Hawaii, both in 1959, and which had not even been considered for admittance yet.) Given the time period of the show I was watching, it was considerably before then - I think I was watching Custer's Last Stand, which was in 1876, but to be conservative, I'll say 1889. If the year was actually 1889 (when North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Washington were admitted), then there would have been even fewer stars on the flag.

Doesn't anyone pay attention to what they are producing? Fie on you, TNT - that's two strikes against you! DreamWorks, what were you thinking? And I never liked you anyway, Steven Spielberg. Why don't you just do us all a favor and retire? I mean permanently, as in not one more motion picture for the rest of your life.

ASSHOLES