tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post4615076782285205627..comments2024-03-05T21:05:36.848-05:00Comments on CommentaramaFilms: The Great (film) Debates vol. 66AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-68892538765859063072013-01-09T17:53:39.952-05:002013-01-09T17:53:39.952-05:00OK, just saw this thread: Tombstone is AWESOME. I ...OK, just saw this thread: Tombstone is AWESOME. I also grew up on the John Wayne classics, of which McLintock! is my absolute favorite with Big Jake right behind it...<br /><br />Over Christmas I finally saw most of one of those Clint Eastwood western movies (paints the town red) - that was a dark, depressing movie!!!!rlaWTXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09319344164726195144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-64568810419070733652013-01-08T21:32:48.000-05:002013-01-08T21:32:48.000-05:00"That tells me he never really watched the mo..."That tells me he never really watched the movies he complains about."<br /><br />Probably.Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-53385182115629708182013-01-08T13:56:15.059-05:002013-01-08T13:56:15.059-05:00It's funny that Anthony mentions Django, as th...It's funny that Anthony mentions Django, as the director of that picture was blasting the memory of John Ford recently, proclaiming that he was a racist and treated Native Americans unfairly in his pictures.<br /><br />That tells me he never really watched the movies he complains about. Outlaw13https://www.blogger.com/profile/17232117096525959967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-6795723713207693282013-01-08T09:57:37.215-05:002013-01-08T09:57:37.215-05:00Unforgiven, Tombstone and Django Unchained in that...Unforgiven, Tombstone and Django Unchained in that order.<br /><br />Also, its been forever and a day since I've seen older Westerns, but I liked The Wild Bunch and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16124128949343301445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-60405158897586911742013-01-07T20:42:09.892-05:002013-01-07T20:42:09.892-05:00It's the same concept that explains Picnic at ...It's the same concept that explains Picnic at Hanging Rock. Everything from the perspective of children. But that's another thread...djskithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13497045723185560102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-54358638904626257432013-01-07T18:40:52.789-05:002013-01-07T18:40:52.789-05:00Big Mo, How The West Was Won is really a compellin...Big Mo, <i>How The West Was Won</i> is really a compelling film. I don't know why it works, but it really does.<br /><br /><br />djskit, I'll have to think of <i>Shane</i> the next time I see it. To me, it's always has a strange quality to it that I'm not really a fan of. Maybe I've been looking at it the wrong way?<br /><br /><br />Shawn, <i>High Plains Drifter</i>, what a cool movie!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-16506818666837253772013-01-07T18:38:19.254-05:002013-01-07T18:38:19.254-05:00Nick, That's always a good question, is it fai...Nick, That's always a good question, is it fair to just pick one or should you do one from each era. Westerns really have changed so much over time that it makes sense to do one from each era.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-27878498821047882412013-01-07T17:44:15.652-05:002013-01-07T17:44:15.652-05:00Rio Bravo so good they remade it less than a decad...<i>Rio Bravo</i> so good they remade it less than a decade later and called it <i>El Dorado</i>. Wayne was so good they put him in both.<br /><br />Next up would be <i>High Plains Drifter</i>. A great tale of revenge from Clint Eastwood.<br />shawnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-79645762284408812952013-01-07T15:05:14.850-05:002013-01-07T15:05:14.850-05:00After the Searches I have to rank Shane right up t...After the Searches I have to rank Shane right up there.<br /><br />Once you realize the entire movie is shot from the point of view of the boy it all makes sense. <br /><br />Larger-than-life action sequences, overly loud sound effects, a super creepy villan - these are the impression of a 10 year old boy.<br /><br />The whole movie has a mythical quality about it, as if the gods them selves were on stage! djskithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13497045723185560102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-68737774421251618822013-01-07T12:46:16.995-05:002013-01-07T12:46:16.995-05:00Late to the party again, as usual :) My favorites:...Late to the party again, as usual :) My favorites: <br /><br />Clint’s “man with no name” trilogy and <i>Pale Rider</i>. The latter was the first Western I ever saw – on VHS, no less – and I still like it. <br /><br />Costner’s<i>Wyatt Earp</i>: flawed film, but I still liked it better than <i>Tombstone</i>. Not that the latter isn’t great; it definitely is. Can’t quite put my finger on it, but <i>Tombstone</i> felt more like an ensemble of terrific actors starring in a timeless Western tale, while Costner’s epic felt like an actual true-to-life story of a reluctant hero / anti-hero. Still one of my favorites, regardless of the fact that <i>Wyatt Earp</i> was a flat-out bomb.<br /><br />Of all the John Wayne westerns, I think my favorite is still <i>She Wore a Yellow Ribbon</i>.<br /><br /><i>Geronimo: An American Legend</i> - Instantly became a favorite when I saw it in the theaters in 1993. Full-blooded Cherokee Wes Studi – one of my all-time favorite actors – stars as Geronimo in this tale of the final Apache war. Flawed film in that it gives more play to the men who convinced Geronimo to surrender, and it could have used about 10 more minutes focusing on Geronimo and his people. Still, the cast was superb, playing real historical figures pretty darn close to who they actually were: Gene Hackman as Gen. George Crook, Robert Duvall as Indian fighter Al Sieber, Jason Patric as Lt. Charles Gatewood (the only white man Geronimo really trusted), Kevin Tighe as Gen. Nelson Miles and Matt Damon (in one of his first roles) as Lt. Britton Davis. The score by Ry Cooder is well done and features “throat singers” for some of the scenes involving Geronimo. <br /><br /><i>How the West Was Won</i> -- an epic that set out to be an epic, and it worked. The performances are all fantastic, by Jimmy Stewart, Karl Malden, Debbie Reynolds, Gregory Peck and especially George Peppard. What pulls the whole thing together is the music and Spencer Tracy’s narration (which is NOT included on the complete score released about 5-10 years ago, possibly because the PC crowd found some of it offensive, but I’m just guessing). The theme song alone is worth the price of admission, and if you are a soundtrack collector, you need <i>How the West Was Won</i>.<br />BIG MOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10556263286375426353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-1234617074829052802013-01-07T10:05:44.546-05:002013-01-07T10:05:44.546-05:00Since the Western has undergone many radical chang...Since the Western has undergone many radical changes since StageCoach up till Dances w Wolves/Unforgiven, and then some, I would suspect that it is only fair to list a favorite from each decade, rather than a fave for all time. It keeps us from being myopic, and picking the pretty-good, (but average in light of all the Westerns ever made) Silverado and Tombstone. <br /><br />While I'm not nearly as strong as an expert as I'd like to be, the one film that I think is the most quintessentially Western, that is watchable and brilliant and not aged a whole lot, is "Red River" starring John Wayne and Montgomery Clift. Not too weighty with themes (like High Noon, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Ox-Bow Incident, The Searchers, etc), just an all around great action-packed and entertaining Western.Nick Alexanderhttp://www.nickalexander.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-5960700702061716652013-01-07T03:32:23.257-05:002013-01-07T03:32:23.257-05:00Searchers, Fort Apache, Blazing Saddles, Dollars T...Searchers, Fort Apache, Blazing Saddles, Dollars Trilogy (Especially For a Few Dollars More). Have not seen Silverado in a while.<br /><br />Firefly has (tied with Doctor Who) my favorite tv theme: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayJLlQhcK0I" rel="nofollow">LINK</a><br />It's also probably one of the best Western themes of all time. Sums up so much about the wild west.<br /><br /><br />And if you want a good western video game then check out RED DEAD REDEMPTION. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gBctl1h_2o" rel="nofollow">LINK</a>Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-64098199465656069392013-01-07T01:10:24.735-05:002013-01-07T01:10:24.735-05:00Agreed. And I love how he had this code that he s...Agreed. And I love how he had this code that he stuck to no matter how bad of an idea it was at the time.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-86831817253568690562013-01-07T01:04:18.785-05:002013-01-07T01:04:18.785-05:00to me, Paden was the most "true western-ish&q...to me, Paden was the most "true western-ish" of the four primary characters. "where's the dog?"Fireflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02360972505414686825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-75229207560330986422013-01-07T00:48:19.776-05:002013-01-07T00:48:19.776-05:00Max, Excellent choice. I miss the West whenever I...Max, Excellent choice. I miss the West whenever I'm away from it.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-47909300465760225742013-01-07T00:47:54.778-05:002013-01-07T00:47:54.778-05:00Firefly, I'm a big fan of Silverado as well. ...Firefly, I'm a big fan of <i>Silverado</i> as well. I love Kline's character!<br /><br /><i>Shane</i> never really pulled me in. I like the concept, but not the film quality.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-74282104928975129012013-01-06T23:49:27.067-05:002013-01-06T23:49:27.067-05:00I lived my whole life looking at those very same v...I lived my whole life looking at those very same vistas. Since a number of westerns were filmed here in Arizona. <br /><br />I really liked, "The Magnificent Seven". It's message is on point these days. <br />It sucks we have a quite number of Calvera's running around. As the now old song says, "Where have all the cowboys gone". <br />Commander Maxhttp://www.the-grey-ghost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-77509353680402566262013-01-06T22:52:28.637-05:002013-01-06T22:52:28.637-05:00Shane was one of my first introductions to real We...Shane was one of my first introductions to real Westerns when I was in high school - (prior to that it was Bonanza, the Big Valley, the occasional Gunsmoke or Danial Boone). We did an entire unit on the iconography and the premise, themes, etc. The whole epic strong silent hero/anti-hero bit. Jack Palance reeked of sheer villainy. It is still one of my favorites. Over time, I was introduced to John Wayne's Cavalry series. Loved all three of them. The Searchers was like nothing I had even seen. The "cowboy" was supposed to be noble and honorable, not angry and filled with hate. Other John Wayne favorites are Stage Coach, McClintock and The Alamo. (you could see his love for the project). <br /><br />Silverado will always be in my top five simply because it had EVERYTHING in it. All the requisite components - location, a great overarching plot with plausible sub-plots, great writing, perfect casting in both the heroes and villains. Even the character names had some throwback (Tyree!!) And IMHO the only good Kevin Costner performance ever.<br /><br />Finally, Firefly was a nifty example of the cowboys in space premise. Too bad it only lasted part of a season. I will not wax poetically at this, despite the temptation. Fireflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02360972505414686825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-36791050051207651352013-01-06T22:24:10.294-05:002013-01-06T22:24:10.294-05:00Snape, When I lived in DC, I got that urge all the...Snape, When I lived in DC, I got that urge all the time! :)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-41604348413020981322013-01-06T22:22:50.288-05:002013-01-06T22:22:50.288-05:00Scott, That's a good way to put it. Critics s...Scott, That's a good way to put it. Critics seem to hate westerns, but the public loves them. There's just something really appealing about them.<br /><br /><i>Josey Wales</i> is a good one too.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-83339141032165467902013-01-06T22:22:27.123-05:002013-01-06T22:22:27.123-05:00I love Westerns! Being an Urbanite, there are days...I love Westerns! Being an Urbanite, there are days, where I fantasize of being in wide and open spaces, with just my rifle, my pony and me... *sigh*<br /><br />The best western movie ever? The Searchers! The Searchers! and The Searchers! Not just the best western of all time, but My favorite movie of all time! Simply a masterpiece by the great John Ford! Everything in the movie is just perfect! Ethan Edwards was made to be played by John Wayne! <br /><br />I also love Rio Bravo, Unforgiven, Blazing Saddles, The Shootist, Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Big Country, Oklahoma!, Paleface (and its sequel!), The Outlaw Josey Wales, Stagecoach, and many more... <br /><br /><br />Mr_Severus_Snapehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09114381805017025426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-44804183909814351692013-01-06T22:19:16.311-05:002013-01-06T22:19:16.311-05:00I'll be greedy and pick two. For modern weste...I'll be greedy and pick two. For modern western I'll pick Tombstone as it is a classic, as Tennessee Jed said Costners Wyatt Earp was more epic and true to life but Tombstone <br />is a better movie. For classic western I'll pick The Outlaw Josey Wales, great story and action it touches on so many topics. <br /><br />Both movies are favourites, I have copies of them both and will finish watching them if they come up on TV. As to Westerns being dead that is crazy, to me Westerns are to movies as Heavy Metal is to music. Critically panned but always popular and they will never go away.<br /><br />Scott.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-17015959058187399552013-01-06T17:50:30.528-05:002013-01-06T17:50:30.528-05:00(sigh)
I was just talking to a friend's fathe...(sigh)<br /><br />I was just talking to a friend's father about westerns and how, as I said above, it's one genre where I seriously need to do my homework. That's why I put <i>Tombstone</i> - I really couldn't think of anything better at the moment (at least not without lying).<br /><br /><i>Back to the Future Part III</i> isn't half-bad as far as westerns go and in my review, I even labelled it the perfect "gateway western" for kids.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-33846801062996382602013-01-06T17:18:19.229-05:002013-01-06T17:18:19.229-05:00tryanmax, You had a booze party for five year olds...tryanmax, You had a booze party for five year olds? Cool! LOL!<br /><br /><i>How Bugs Bunny Won The West</i> was indeed entertaining. But Bugs is no John Wayne... or vice versa.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-3036948208776458552013-01-06T17:15:51.622-05:002013-01-06T17:15:51.622-05:00T-Rav, quite the contrary: How Bugs Bunny Won the ...T-Rav, quite the contrary: <i>How Bugs Bunny Won the West</i> is an excellent cartoon. I'm not generally a fan of splicing together shorts to produce a feature, but that one is an example of doing it right. <br /><br />No flu for me. I'm recovering from putting on a 5-yr-old's birthday party. Let's just say, I did as much drinking as I would for a grown-up party, but I did it all afterward. Exhausting! tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.com