The story never provides context for the Mexican Army's anti-Apache violence (these slaughtering soldiers make the cruel and racist U.S. cavalry in "Dances With Wolves" look like Boy Scouts). "Geronimo" does a better job of explaining the Apache-U.S. conflict and the dishonorable motives behind the government's exile of these Native Americans to miserable reservations. Moreover, although the absence of native language (whites and Indians speak virtually the same brand of English) costs "Geronimo" texture, its dialogue is never stiff or stilted. And even though this is largely an affectionate take on Geronimo, his flaws are not ignored.
Both "Geronimo" and "The Broken Chain"--in which various Iroquois nations are tested during the Revolutionary War--are a good way to spend two hours. But the TNT network is not always this enlightened about Native Americans.
