Westerns > J Westerns > Lancaster, Burt

Advantages: The more times you watch it the better it gets
Disadvantages: None

...almost all his movies. Valdez is Coming is the story of injustice and how Valdez tries to help the widow of the man he was forced to kill by the local landowner. Burt Lancaster plays the town constable (Bob Valdez) and as the name suggests he is a Mexican, who also fought for the US cavalry. Jon Cypher plays Frank Tanner (the Land Owner) who is responsible for an innocent man being gunned down by Valdez . Tanner has accused the man of murdering ...
...proves his innocence. But before Valdez can get hold of this evidence and display it to Tanner and the observing townspeople, Tanner's slimiest henchman R.L. Davis(Richard Jordan) interferes, and the resulting violence that breaks out includes Valdez being forced to kill the holed-up gunman who starts firing at him. Valdez goes to Tanner to ask for money for the widow as compensation and ofcourse is laughed at and made to look a fool. Valdez is ... Read review

Advantages: Committed performances and capable direction with some decent action.
Disadvantages: We've seen it all before and Crowe isn't at his best.

Dan Evans is an honest man working as a farmer in the Old West, whose lifetime of abiding by the rules has left him precious little to show for it. When notorious outlaw Ben Wade is captured nearby, Dan volunteers to join the posse taking Wade to the next town and the train to the prison at Yuma. But even in chains Wade is a serious threat. Under his charming exterior lies a cold-hearted predator able to identify and exploit even the slightest weakness. ...
...with the intention of wiping out the posse and springing Wade. "Walk the Line" director James Mangold makes a decent fist of this solid yet entirely unnecessary remake of the western. All the elements are in place; the top drawer cast, the authentic looking locations, some decent action and a handful of gunfights. But ultimately there's some spark missing that prevents this from being a truly memorable oater. Perhaps it is Mangold's unassuming directorial ... Read review

Advantages: Great cinematography, Challenges the normal expectations of typical western
Disadvantages: None

...lots of attractive scenery. However, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid still remains one of the most heart-felt and successful films of all time. In 1970, the film won 4 Oscars for "Best Cinematography", "Best Music, Original Score for a Motion Picture", "Best Music, Original Song" and "Best Writing, Story and Screenplay Based on Material Not Previously Published or Produced". It later won 17 and was nominated for another 11 awards. Butch Cassidy ...
...to raise a posse. Furthermore, Butch and Sundance, the villains in the film, are presented as heroes and the audience immediately begins to like them. They become our heroes as the film goes on. The film starts as Butch Cassidy (Newman) and the Sundance Kid (Redford), the leaders of the famous Hole in the Wall Gang, meet each other after a long time and decide to rob the Union Pacific Flyer (a train transporting money) instead of banks like they ... Read review

Advantages: Classic western, great cast, good plot, some powerful performances.
Disadvantages: Black and white, but it does fit with the film.

High Noon is a classic Western which was filmed in Black and White, and released in 1952, prior to the spaghetti westerns of the late 1960's which had their own style and sense of realism. High Noon follows the tried and tested formula of good overcoming evil with the hero getting the girl and, despite it's old fashioned themes, has retained an innocent charm. Being released in 1952, the year I was born, it is a film that I have watched many times. ...
...and even the theme music High Noon has class. The theme tune with the words 'Do not forsake me oh my darling, On this our Wedding day' is well known, especially to people of my generation. Sung by Tex Ritter it outlines the basic plot of the film and lead to similar themes tunes and songs being used in later films. The song tells the viewer and Marshall Will Kane's wife that he cannot leave and get on with the rest of his life until he has proved ... Read review

Advantages: Good Length, Very exciting, great soundtrack
Disadvantages: Quite old fashioned for younger viewers, violent

Clint Eastwood (Blondie) stars as the 'Good' in this thrilling Western adventure that certainly doesn't fail to impress. The movie is 177 minutes long and every second is unmissable right from the very first scene. The movie is set during the American civil war and this does certainly play a part in the running of the film. Lee Van Cleef (Angel Eyes) is the 'Bad' and certainitely lives up to this role as he commits both murder and torture during ...
...methods do justify this name. The movie itself takes place in the schorching heat and this has some role to play in how the characters act towards each other. The movie is thrilling and the ending is certainly worth waiting for as the suspense is truly brilliant. Definitely worth a watch, you won't be dissapointed. ... Read review