Red Dead Revival?
- Thread starter MovieBob
- Start date
I'm so glad you mentioned Tombstone! My father and I watch Tombstone all the time. It's one of our all time favorite movies to watch together. It's full of great quotes too!
And did anyone else like 3:10 To Yuma? The one with Christian Bale and Russel Crow? I think it might have been a re-make. Ehh I don't know. I DO know that some younger people still appreciate the Western. Me being one of them. OH and Appaloosa. That was good too
And did anyone else like 3:10 To Yuma? The one with Christian Bale and Russel Crow? I think it might have been a re-make. Ehh I don't know. I DO know that some younger people still appreciate the Western. Me being one of them. OH and Appaloosa. That was good too
You know? That's an excellent, modern addition to a western list. In fact, in the vein of Bob's thread, if Unforgiven was the funeral, No Country could be the wake.scifidownbeat said:
Bob, we agree on a lot here! (Yes, I know, you don't really care about some random dude's opinion on the forum, but I'm excited that our common ground is Westerns).
I do, however, think your list is lacking two very important films and one lesser film. The two big ones are Magnificent Seven (as said before), which I think was an incredibly strong influence on Red Dead Redemption.
The next is The Big Country. Gregory Peck is an eastern with a strong sense of honor trying to get by in the rough and tumble west. It's simply fantastic and also a strong Red Dead influence. You only need to look at how the cut scenes were shot and the landscape laid out to see the connection.
Finally, maybe not one of the greatest, but certainly a favorite of mine and one that really captures the whole spirit of survival in the west is Duel At Diablo. Sure, there's a bit of a Calvary vs. Indians thing in it, but it's really about how tough it is in the west and how you have to deal with people you wouldn't because they are skilled. James Garner is amazing, Sidney Poitier is in top form (and he's always fantastic), and the Apache are really portrayed as more than faceless bad guys. It's, in my mind, the best film to capture the sense of honor and redemption that Red Dead Redemption was going for.
I do, however, think your list is lacking two very important films and one lesser film. The two big ones are Magnificent Seven (as said before), which I think was an incredibly strong influence on Red Dead Redemption.
The next is The Big Country. Gregory Peck is an eastern with a strong sense of honor trying to get by in the rough and tumble west. It's simply fantastic and also a strong Red Dead influence. You only need to look at how the cut scenes were shot and the landscape laid out to see the connection.
Finally, maybe not one of the greatest, but certainly a favorite of mine and one that really captures the whole spirit of survival in the west is Duel At Diablo. Sure, there's a bit of a Calvary vs. Indians thing in it, but it's really about how tough it is in the west and how you have to deal with people you wouldn't because they are skilled. James Garner is amazing, Sidney Poitier is in top form (and he's always fantastic), and the Apache are really portrayed as more than faceless bad guys. It's, in my mind, the best film to capture the sense of honor and redemption that Red Dead Redemption was going for.
Out of all the Westerns on your list, I have only seen "The Wild Bunch".
I had a time (about the last five years) where I couldn't watch Westerns. I don't know why, but they weren't my thing, never have been. Recently, I've been going back to watch older pictures (trying to expand on my movies history and overall appreciation of Cinema) and my father happened to buy a copy of "The Wild Bunch" at a garage sale years ago.
I have to say that that movie made me a believer of the Western Genre. I bounce around in it now ("Seraphim Falls" was the last Western I have watched as of late. Liam Neeson and Pierce Brosnan make for some interesting cowboys) but I have more respect for the film style alone than anything else.
I had a time (about the last five years) where I couldn't watch Westerns. I don't know why, but they weren't my thing, never have been. Recently, I've been going back to watch older pictures (trying to expand on my movies history and overall appreciation of Cinema) and my father happened to buy a copy of "The Wild Bunch" at a garage sale years ago.
I have to say that that movie made me a believer of the Western Genre. I bounce around in it now ("Seraphim Falls" was the last Western I have watched as of late. Liam Neeson and Pierce Brosnan make for some interesting cowboys) but I have more respect for the film style alone than anything else.
Although I agree that in the strictest sense it is not a western, it does make reference in narrative constantly to the times when outlaws and sherrifs did have gunfights, and the sherrif is supposed to be from a line of sherrifs, as I recall. I see where you're coming from, though.jthm said:
Appaloosa was a good movie. If not without much of a real gripping plot, more of a greek tragedy really. It was touted as a artsy film which i guess is y it didn't do well in the box office.
Truly a genre I've never had any interest in. Even when I was a kid I don't recall ever playing "Cowboys and Indians." Perhaps it's a Canadian thing?
Once upon a time in west? WHY BOB, WHY!?!?!? It's easily one of the best Westerns of all time. Well, okay, it's not a traditional cowboy flick Lucky Luke style with the hero riding of into the setting sun but neither are a lot of the movies on your list.
Make a second list with all the Westerns you've missed on this list.
Make a second list with all the Westerns you've missed on this list.
Bob, I think your list could use a few more contemporary examples. Red Dead Redemption touched on a lot of issues like the death of the west through modernity, Mexican revolutions, criminal posses, post civil war issues (maybe not high on the list but still present), treasure hunting, the search for gold etc. I think a decent western, along with conveying a narrative in relation to the characters also establishes a troubled and unstable world that is the eternal symbol of the west. I know everyone else feels something similar to me but as we say in Texas, "when your fixin to speak, it's best to speak." So here goes:
3:10 to Yuma (2007 film)
A Civil War vet seeks to raise money to save his family's ranch from a drought in Arizona. The only way to get the money is escort a notorious outlaw to a prison train while his gang hunts him down. Christian Bale's performance isn't really what makes the movie but the dialogue shared between him and Russel Crow's character is intriguing none the less.
Deadwood (2004-2006 TV series)
Set in the Black Hills of what is now South Dakota. The show forcefully tells the story of the Deadwood camp and their affairs. A wonderful and diverse cast along with solid performances, the dialogue and amazing set design really make this series appealing. True this isn't the most historically accurate piece, but then again this is meant to be a form of entertainment. The writers bring a contemporary feel to a wonderful bunch of old stories.
Thats really it but one more old movie should be added:
My Darling Clementine (1946 film)
This movie looks at history and simply goes "feh". It's wrong at just about every turn and it doesn't care. Why? Because Henry Fonda and Victor Mature know how to tell a good story.
A bit of constructive criticism never hurt no one. I'm out.
3:10 to Yuma (2007 film)
A Civil War vet seeks to raise money to save his family's ranch from a drought in Arizona. The only way to get the money is escort a notorious outlaw to a prison train while his gang hunts him down. Christian Bale's performance isn't really what makes the movie but the dialogue shared between him and Russel Crow's character is intriguing none the less.
Deadwood (2004-2006 TV series)
Set in the Black Hills of what is now South Dakota. The show forcefully tells the story of the Deadwood camp and their affairs. A wonderful and diverse cast along with solid performances, the dialogue and amazing set design really make this series appealing. True this isn't the most historically accurate piece, but then again this is meant to be a form of entertainment. The writers bring a contemporary feel to a wonderful bunch of old stories.
Thats really it but one more old movie should be added:
My Darling Clementine (1946 film)
This movie looks at history and simply goes "feh". It's wrong at just about every turn and it doesn't care. Why? Because Henry Fonda and Victor Mature know how to tell a good story.
A bit of constructive criticism never hurt no one. I'm out.
I sorely missed "The Pale Rider" and "Shootout at the OK Corral" on this list, but hey, whatcha gonna do?
If the Dollars Trilogy wasn't on that list i'd be outraged.
Also, why isn't Magnificent Seven on there?
Also, why isn't Magnificent Seven on there?
No Django?
You fools how many other cowboys use a machine gun?!?
But I'm glad Clint made it to the list.
You fools how many other cowboys use a machine gun?!?
But I'm glad Clint made it to the list.
