Three Bad Men (2006) NR - 2 Stars

This has got to be one of the cheesiest acting jobs I have ever seen. And not just out of a few, but from the entire cast. It would be as if I got a bunch of my friends together one weekend and said, hey lets make a western. While the concept of the movie is okay, nothing else went into it.

Three bank robbers, Frame Johnson (Chris Gann), Ed Fiske (George Kennedy) and Luther McKinney (John Dixon), are running from the law when they come across a man bleeding to death. Before he dies, he begs the men to help his wife who's been kidnapped by Dutch Henry (Mike Moroff) and his savage pack of outlaws. Knowing the woman will be harmed without their help, they decide to show they have a heart and honor the dying man's request.

THINKFilm
Director: Jeff Hathcock
Writer: Jeff Hathcock
Producer: Jeff Hathcock, Jerry Bestpitch

I viewed 3/09

Appaloosa (2008) R - 3½ Stars

Man they just don't make enough good westerns these days. Appaloosa can't be compared to such great hits as the "Good, Bad and Ugly", but it's still a pretty decent western. I did like the small time feel to the town and how even back then, things aren't always as them seem. You've got your fearless hero, the one who silently covers your back and of course the back stabbing vixen.

Appaloosa is your typical small western town of the 1800's. Typical until a local rancher Randall Bragg (Jeremy Irons), decides to take the town over and have anything he wants. From raiding stores for supplies, drinking the spirits at the local bar and taking any woman he wants for his own and now killing the Marshall and deputy, Bragg's has pretty much turned the dusty town into his own. That is until Virgil Cole (Harris) and Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen) stride into town to insure his days of lawlessness are over.

Cole and Hitch have given the town back to it's citizens and Braggs is not too happy with that. Determined to win, nothing will stop him to try and gain control again. But Cole and Hitch don't seem to be too worried. They are getting used to this new town they call home and when widowed Allison French (Renée Zellweger) arrives by train, the two are both finding it hard to resist her. When Braggs comes back to town to claim what he thinks is his, they will all be put to the test on where their loyalties lie.

New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution
Director: Ed Harris
Writers: Robert Knott, Ed Harris
Producers: Ed Harris, Michael London, Ginger Sledge

I viewed 2/09

Sukiyaki Western Django (2007) R - 3 Stars

Now this has got to be about the craziest Western I have ever seen. The American one liners they come up with just don't seem right coming out of these Asian men. Plus, I'm still unsure what time period this is suppose to be as modern weaponry displayed just doesn't go. I'm also putting this one in the comedy section, though it's not labeled that way. It's in English to boot so I hope I don't offend anyone by saying it just doesn't fit unless it's a comedy. However, it's also a blood bath so I don't recommend it to just anyone looking for a laugh.

Two Chinese clans left over from the Battle of Dannoura, the Genpei Wars of the 1100's, have been formed and taken over the small town of Yuda leaving the Sheriff (Teruyuki Kagawa) defenseless. A new sharp shooting stranger (Hideaki Ito)has come to town and both sides want him. The Minamoto and Taira have been formed to represent the ancient clans of the Genji with their leader Yoshitsun (Yusuke Iseya), the Whites and Heiki with their leader Kiyomori (Koichi Sato), the Reds.

This is rumor of a great treasure that both gangs want and they try to get this new powerful man, who doesn't seem to miss, on their side. Each gang wants to find the treasure first but this powerful stranger wants to make sure he finds it first, even if it means he takes out the entire town.

First Look Studios
Director: Takashi Miike
Writers: Masaru Nakamura, Masa Nakamura, Takashi Miike
Producers: Masato Osaki, Koji Yoshida, Hirotsugu Yoshida

I viewed 11/08

Avenging Angel (2007) R - 3 Stars

Kevin Sorbo is a preacher that avenges the murder of his wife and daughter who were killed while giving refuge to a group of house squatters in his church. It was a surprise to me to also see a friend of mine I personally know, Van, playing the town mayor and he has a speaking role. I love Westerns and I thought this was a pretty good one.

"The Colonel" (Wings Hauser) is a greedy land barons forcing many poor settlers off their land in order for him to take it over. A group of these land squatters take refuges in the preachers (Kevin Sorbo) church and the Colonel sets the church on fire, killing all inside including the preacher's wife and daughter. Though his beliefs were to never seek revenge, he instead takes on the role of bounty hunter, vowing to bring these killers to justice.

When the preacher is on the trail of the outlaws, he arrives in town only to be beat up and thrown in the streets. Maggie (Cynthia Watros), is no saint herself but along with her daughter, offers him a place to stay near town. Her only rules is no guns are allowed in her home.

The Colonel is once again forcing the land owners off their property by harassment and threats. A small group led by Elijah (Jim Haynie), decide to join together to stand up for their rights. They bought the land fair and square and refuse to just walk away. But when the local town sheriff is bought and in the Colonel's pocket, no one seems to be able to stop them.

Trying to get to the preacher, the thugs resort to hassling Maggie. Without his gun he is still able to take another's and stop the men while Maggie joins, knocking the last of them out with a 2x4. When the sheriff goes to persuade this group of squatters to leave immediately, this time the preacher is armed and takes the sheriff out. He then goes to try and reason with the Colonel and as he leaves the Colonel tries to gun him down. But the preacher is faster on the draw and the Colonel now lies dead too. Eventually, the people will have their land and the preacher can start over again with Maggie and her daughter.

Rhi Entertainment
Director: David S. Cass, Sr.
Writer: William Sims Myers
Producers: Lincoln Lageson, Randy Pope

I viewed 1/08

3:10 to Yuma R - 4½ Stars

Maybe I have a soft spot in my heart for a good western as I just love these types of movies. I wasn't aware it was a remake of the 1957 version with the same title.

When a rancher struggles to support his wife Alice (Gretchen Mol), his son William (Logan Lerman) and desperately needs money, Dan Evans (Christian Bale) will stop at nothing to get it. He agrees to transport a notorious felon Ben Wade (Russel Crowe) to the hands of authorities in Yuma for imprisonment for money needed to build a well on the ranch.

A posse is rounded up that consists of Grayson Butterfield (Dallas Roberts), Pinkerton's man Byron McElroy (Peter Fonda), Doc Potter (Alan Tudyk), and Dan. When Crowes man are sent to free him, Dan has the fight of his life to insure Ben makes it on the train so he can collect his reward. You are almost rooting for the bad guy as he looks like he almost has a heart.

2007 - 3:10 to Yuma - San Diego Film Critics - Body of Work.

Lions Gate Films
Director: James Mangold
Writers: James Mangold, Halsted Welles, Derek Haas
Producers: Cathy Konrad, James Mangold

I viewed 1/08