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Created Feb 09, 2008 01:41AM PST • Edited Feb 09, 2008 01:41AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Really Great 4.5

   I read the positives and negatives about this film and decided to finally see this film. Contrary to what has been said, and despite some scenes that didn’t make sense and a little slowness from time to time, I thought that overall the plot was compelling and the action gripping. One of the things that really made this film enjoyable for me was the classic western cliches — I got a sense that this all star cast really had fun making the film, and it was really fun to watch. And somehow, they managed to fit all the cliches in. The gungslingers in the remote dusty town, the bad guys, the good guys, the indians, the money-hungry banker, the struggling rancher, the not quite equal women, the tough guy, the chinamen… did I forget anything?

   Crowe worked really well as the amoral bad guy yet with a kindness down deep. Bale was the heroic good guy with a seasoned grit. The interplay between them and his sons was an added dimension you wouldn’t see in old westerns. The character studies were well done and it pulled you in to the drama and stress of shepherding such a cunning man while his posse was looking to gun you down.

   One of my favorite scenes is Peter in the Eastwood Esque scene of toughness when the Dr. claimed “This is going to hurt like hell” and Fonda responded “I’ve been shot before Doc”. But that was just one of many scenes with classic quotes. And the ending? That is without a doubt the best ending to a western I have seen to date…. Yes, it was the return of the western for me. :)

4. Acting

   Really Great 4.5

5. Male Stars Really Great 4.5

6. Female Stars Really Great 4.5

7. Female Costars Really Great 4.5

8. Male Costars Really Great 4.5

10. Film

    Perfect 5.0

11. Direction Perfect 5.0

12. Play Perfect 5.0

13. Music Perfect 5.0

14. Visuals Perfect 5.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Sordid 3.3

17. Sex Erotic 3.3

18. Violence Brutal 3.3

19. Rudeness Profane 3.3

21. Reality

    Surreal 2.6

22. Circumstantial Surreal 2.6

23. Biological Surreal 2.6

24. Physical Surreal 2.6