Westerns.

[Blindswordmaster]

Westerns are not a genre of film I hear much about on this forum, so I was wondering if any of you wonderful people are fans of the genre.

I've only got into them relatively recently, but I love most of the ones I've seen so far. Most of Sergio Leone's so-called spaghetti westerns, a lot of the later Clint Eastwood ones and a few modern ones. I've not yet seen any John Wayne westerns though!

So far I'd say my two favourites are Once Upon a Time in the West and 3:10 to Yuma (the new one) They both utterly absorbed me with their gripping stories, fantastic scenery and quality acting and brilliant soundtracks. Also, thanks to Sergio Leone, I am now obsessed with the music of Ennio Morricone, who did most of the stuff for the Dollars Trilogy, Once Upon a Time (and Inglorious Bastards) as well as many others I'm sure.

So yeah, what western films do you love, what ones dont you love and why? Also, any reccomendations would be good

Spoiler: 3:10 to Yuma

Spoiler: Once Upon a Time in the West

EDIT:

DAMN! I knew I had forgotten something. Namely; The Wild Bunch.

And why has no one mentioned this cornerstone of the Western Genre thus far?!
Escapist, I am dissapoint.

Spoiler

I disagree with you, sir. We talk about Westerns all the time here. I'm fairly sure there's a good amount of Western fans here. That said, it's hard to go wrong with those Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns.

 

[Treefingers]

However i really don't like any of the John Wayne westerns that i've watched, of which i've seen about 4.

Why is this, may I ask?

I've never seen any of his Westerns and am curious to see what others think of them

I'm not too sure really, they just didn't particularly appeal to me. I prefer the over the top stylization of Spaghetti westerns. John Wayne's (at least the ones i've seen) are a bit more straight forward action flicks. That and the blatant racism in some of them makes me a little uncomfortable.

That said though, you ought to check them out as a fan of westerns just cos of the man's reputation.

 

[Treefingers]

If you'd like a western that doesn't actually take place in the west, Gran Torino is fantastic.

Interesting, but i definitely wouldn't class Gran Torino as a western. I'd sooner call the original Star Wars trilogy a western.

 

[manaman]

I'd like to second Red Dead Redemption. One of the best westerns I've ever seen, and the fact that it is a video game just makes it more immersive as a story. Seriously, OP, just wait until that climax. Holy shit.

Film-wise, "Fist Full of Dollars" trilogy is an essential. If you'd like a western that doesn't actually take place in the west, Gran Torino is fantastic.

I cannot wait to see what happens in RDR but at the same time, I never want the game to end haha!

And yes Gran Torino is amazing, but is it really a western? Sure it's got Clint Eastwood, but that don't make it a western. It's a moral story as many westerns are, but I'd hesitate to classify it as one

I can understand that, but I'd argue that Eastwood played an older character who was stuck in the ways of the past, reluctant to adapt as the world changed around him. The central conflict of the movie revolved around a community full of people being harassed by a gang who considered itself the real authority in the area. He swooped in to protect and save them.

Spoiler

Then, by ultimately sacrificing himself for the sake of the neighborhood, he completed the perfect hero role.

Though it may not be considered a traditional western, I'd definitely group it in with the classics.

Well shit, I'm sold.

I guess you're right. Now you put it like that, the similarities between it and traditional Westerns are too hard to ignore. I just didnt want to call it a western because there were no cowboy hats, horses and super-accurate revolvers

There are loads of subcategories of westerns, and a couple of them account for what is basically a western story set in modern or even futuristic sci-fi settings.

 

[cheese_wizington]

The Good The Bad and The Ugly.

3:10 to Yuma Remake

And of course, Red Dead Redemption. That game has revived the Western industry in a way I never expected, I applaud Rockstar.

 

[Forgetitnow344]

If you'd like a western that doesn't actually take place in the west, Gran Torino is fantastic.

Interesting, but i definitely wouldn't class Gran Torino as a western. I'd sooner call the original Star Wars trilogy a western.

Now THAT'S an interesting opinion. I'd like to hear your reasoning, if you don't mind.

 

[Treefingers]

If you'd like a western that doesn't actually take place in the west, Gran Torino is fantastic.

Interesting, but i definitely wouldn't class Gran Torino as a western. I'd sooner call the original Star Wars trilogy a western.

Now THAT'S an interesting opinion. I'd like to hear your reasoning, if you don't mind.

Sure.

I'm not the first to draw a comparison. Whether or not Star Wars ought to be classed as a Western (or Space Western) is debatable, but it definitely draws a lot of influence from Westerns.

Space as a final frontier mimics the traditional western setting. Epic storylines and adventure on a grand open landscape. Tatooine (Mos Eisley in particular) is hugely reminiscent of the old west. Seriously, watch this but imagine everyone wearing big hats, boots and long coats and you'll see what i mean.


Many characters and character elements seem to be derived from westerns - Luke is similar to the western cliché of the initally unknown figure riding into town, becoming it's saviour and finding himself on the way. Han Solo, a gun-slinging cowboy-esque rogue with his offbeat sidekick, Chewie. Darth Vader, a masked villan. Bounty hunters too, such as Boba Fett. Rogue gangs, like Jabba the Hutt and co. Obi-Wan as an old mysterious hermit type. The stark Good vs Evil, Black hat/White hat morality complete with strong opposing figures (Luke/Vader) parallels western themes. The Rebel Alliance parallel vigilante outlaws.

Luke finding his home burned and Aunt and Uncle killed is similar to the scene in The Searchers where another young hero-to-be finds his home burned and his family murdered. Both then set out on a quest largely driven by vengance.

The whole mythology of the 'old ways', in this case the ways of the Jedi, echoes the 'old ways' of the west often alluded to in westerns (like in RDR for example).

 

[ethan22122]

The outlaw josey wales is a great clint eastwood movie.

 

[Swny Nerdgasm]

Let's see here's my list.

Tombstone (Val Kilmer still deserves a god-damned oscar for that role)
The Man With No Name Trilogy
The Assassination of Jesse James
Anything with The Duke
and while not technically a western the TV show Justified has a slight cowboy vibe to it

 

[Hobo Joe]

Blazing Saddles and Shane. The two greatest westerns to ever be made, the first is hilarious the second just awesome as westerns go.

 

[Wadders]

Westerns are not a genre of film I hear much about on this forum, so I was wondering if any of you wonderful people are fans of the genre.

I've only got into them relatively recently, but I love most of the ones I've seen so far. Most of Sergio Leone's so-called spaghetti westerns, a lot of the later Clint Eastwood ones and a few modern ones. I've not yet seen any John Wayne westerns though!

So far I'd say my two favourites are Once Upon a Time in the West and 3:10 to Yuma (the new one) They both utterly absorbed me with their gripping stories, fantastic scenery and quality acting and brilliant soundtracks. Also, thanks to Sergio Leone, I am now obsessed with the music of Ennio Morricone, who did most of the stuff for the Dollars Trilogy, Once Upon a Time (and Inglorious Bastards) as well as many others I'm sure.

So yeah, what western films do you love, what ones dont you love and why? Also, any reccomendations would be good

Spoiler: 3:10 to Yuma

Spoiler: Once Upon a Time in the West

EDIT:

DAMN! I knew I had forgotten something. Namely; The Wild Bunch.

And why has no one mentioned this cornerstone of the Western Genre thus far?!
Escapist, I am dissapoint.

Spoiler

I disagree with you, sir. We talk about Westerns all the time here. I'm fairly sure there's a good amount of Western fans here. That said, it's hard to go wrong with those Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns.

We do? I stand corrected. Then again, I dont post much so I might have bypassed some of the Western discussion

However i really don't like any of the John Wayne westerns that i've watched, of which i've seen about 4.

Why is this, may I ask?

I've never seen any of his Westerns and am curious to see what others think of them

I'm not too sure really, they just didn't particularly appeal to me. I prefer the over the top stylization of Spaghetti westerns. John Wayne's (at least the ones i've seen) are a bit more straight forward action flicks. That and the blatant racism in some of them makes me a little uncomfortable.

That said though, you ought to check them out as a fan of westerns just cos of the man's reputation.

OK thanks for the advice, I'll put Wayne's movies on the to see list, but not very high

I've heard about the racism, is it really that bad? or just of it's time so to speak?

The original 3:10 to Yuma is much better than the new one. I enjoyed the new one too, but the original was more subtle and complex as opposed to "CROWE SMASH!"

Both had great dialogue though, i.e., Elmore Leonard.

CROWE SMASH! CROWE BASH!
CROWE SLEEPY...

I havnt seen the original, but I wouldnt say the remake was un-complex (probably not a word ) and you've gotta say the actors, especially the lad who plays Charlie Prince, are fantastic.