Westerns.

[Haunted Serenity]

Blazing Saddles! One of the best films ever!

Seconded.

 

[Shock and Awe]

Unforgiven, Clint Eastwood is a badass!

 

[Judgement101]

Red Dead Redemption's cinematics

 

[The Madman]

For a Few Dollars more remains my absolute favorite western ever. Everything about that movie is just absolutely perfect, from the characters to the setting and story. I love it! Plus the villain was genuinely intimidating, which is pretty rare in most westerns oddly enough. And then there's the song 'Sixty Seconds to What?' by Ennio Morricone which is in my opinion his best and most haunting piece. The way that simple chime is used throughout the movie is sheer brilliance!

It wasn't even all that important except to display the cruelty of the villain, but the one duel in the cathedral where suddenly the sound of the tiny little pocket watch is replaced by the ground-shaking organs while the two men stand across from another another... pure brilliance. I felt a chill!

Clint Eastwood was the main character, but honestly it felt more like the story was about the General trying to avenge his families death. And it was great! Lee Van Cleef struck just as iconic a figure.


The perfect western duel.

Though I should add 'Death Rattle' from Once Upon a Time in the West is also a brilliant piece if western music, as was 'The Estacy of Gold' for The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. So many iconic pieces of music! You just don't those these sorts of legendary pieces for movies anymore.

 

[Wiiiiiiilliam]

I haven't seen very many westerns
but my Grandma has seen all of them and knows the name of every horse

 

[2fish]

For those that have not seen The Outlaw Josey Wales but claim to love the genre I am afraid for your soul.

Appaloosa was a fun film along with 3:10 to Yuma.

John Wayne had some fun moments, but no films I loved.

Shanghi Noon was fun to watch.

Tombstone was a fun movie too, however as I live in the wild west I kinda got sick of the movies quickly and can only watch them in small amounts.

 

[manaman]

I like modern westerns. I can't stand any western that's over 15 years old, because they're all carrying the same overused western plot with glorious and handsome cowboys lassoing up all the obligatorily bad guys. I find that movies like 3:10 to Yuma are a good break from the western plot, taking use of the chaoticness of the time and giving just a simple but different action setting.

True Westerns carried the message of change, and often dealt with lead characters that made a stand against progress. That tried (and as often as not failed) to preserve their way of life.

The films made great use of the anti-hero. A man or women just trying to live, who can't adjust to the world around him and is therefor viewed as an outlaw. You have to remember that when they where filming the first westerns in 1900s-1930s, they set them in the present (no not our present, their present) and that most westerns take place between 1880 and 1920. Not exactly ancient history during the heyday of westerns in the 1960s revival. What's interesting is how much of a Japanese influence started to show up in westerns during the revival, with several westerns remakes of Japanese films.

Unforgiven, Clint Eastwood is a badass!

I think The Outlaw Josey Wales was one of his better movies, and takes place during the US civil war. Which is fairly odd for a western. Loads of war epics from the civil war, few westerns.

By the way, anyone seen The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford?

I really liked that movie, but everyone I have recommended it to told me it drags on.

To many people who think five minutes without a comedy line, or action is dragging on.

 

[octafish]

I've only really seen one and it was really good, it was about a these two guys who moved to californa. After the older one of them hit rich in gold got drunk and stumbled into a auction where this rich guy was selling off one of his wives(Because as soon as that guy got in there everyone suddenly made a law that pologomy was illegal, because back then you apparently can make laws up on the spot as long as everyone agreed) and the old drunk bought her with everything he made. She gets interested in his younger friend however and near the end they two guys married that one girl. Because pologomy was okay as long as it went one women married to x amount of men.

Anywho if anyone knows the name of this movie can you please tell me, wouldn't mind watching it again. It was rather good and pretty funny.

Paint Your Wagon. The two guys in it are the two hardest men in film history, Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin. It is also where Mariah Carey's name comes from.

Anyway, like most people I like Leone's films and Clint's own westerns, Unforgiven, The Outlaw Josie Wales, and Pale Rider.

There are some older absolute classics though, Shane has been mentioned and deservedly so, because Jack Palance is just awesome in it. You should see some John Wayne movies, I'd recommend The Searchers because it is the best old school western, epic, just epic. Other Wayne movies worth checking out would be Rio Bravo, Red River and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

Oh you have to see the Wild Bunch too. Most of the best Westerns are about the end of the way of life most westerns celebrated.

 

[Jimrollson]

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a shimmering pile of western gold.

 

[Treefingers]

Yeah i like a lot of Westerns, mostly because of the style and iconography. I loved the Dollars Trilogy. Unforgiven was amazing too. However i really don't like any of the John Wayne westerns that i've watched, of which i've seen about 4.

I also really love Inglourious Basterds because of the influence it draws from spaghetti westerns.

 

[Wadders]

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

By the way, anyone seen The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford?

I really liked that movie, but everyone I have recommended it to told me it drags on.

To many people who think five minutes without a comedy line, or action is dragging on.

Thank God. Most of my male friends said the same (that it dragged), but funnily enough my female friends that have seen it liked it for the most part. I suspect that may have something to do with Brad Pitt being in it though...

Personally I think the pace is just right. Any longer and it probbably would have dragged but as it is, it's perfect

Red Dead Redemption's cinematics

I've only just bought that game, and I'm havin to restrain myself, I really dont want to rush it and complete it too fast! It's gota be one of the best games I've played, and THE best Western game out there!

Blazing Saddles! One of the best films ever!

Oh god yes. YES!

Here be the trailer:

Truly a wonderful film.

I just watched that the other day! I usually don't watch old westerns, but i took special interest in this since I'm actually related to Jesse James. I liked Pitt in that one.

Yeah same, he's a great actor but he really shines in that film. To be fair all the actors do. Casey Affleck is fantastically creepy at the start, but yet does a great job of making you pity him by the end

For those that have not seen The Outlaw Josey Wales but claim to love the genre I am afraid for your soul.

True facts. Watch Pale Rider too, if you havent already, it's right good I think it was one of the first westerns I ever saw, over at my Uncle's place so I may be viewing it with rose-tinted glasses, but I'm pretty sure it's every bit as good as I remember it being

 

[Forgetitnow344]

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.

 

[Wadders]

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

 

[Forgetitnow344]

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.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

The Dollars films, especially The Good, The Bad, The Ugly (the best film ever made). 3:10 To Yuma was pretty damn good, but really I'm a sucker for Clint Eastwood films.

 

[Wadders]

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

 

[Gilhelmi]

I use to watch Bonanza.

 

[Forgetitnow344]

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

Yeah, I wouldn't outright put it in the Westerns section at Blockbuster, as it still technically doesn't take place in the appropriate setting, which is unfortunately a defining characteristic.