Rio Lobo
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.84 You Save: $6.10 (47%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $5.05 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of Rio Lobo
Movie Review: Rio Lobo
Summary: 4 Stars
This John Wayne is as great as the rest he does. I would recommend it to anyone that is a John Wayne fan.Movie Review: Rio Con Queso
Summary: 3 Stars
By 1970, John Wayne had his Oscar in his pocket and Rio Lobo on some inspection looks like just a lot of good, clean fun he and the cast decided to have, with no particular regard for making cinematic history. The plot rambles and has some implausabilities-like why does the Duke, who plays a Yankee, go home to Blackthorne, Texas? And Jorge Rivero as a Confederate officer takes some getting used to. Same thing, different reason, with Jennifer O'Neill. She seems too contemporary for a historic setting and her acting is questionable. However, by dogies, she is just so beautiful (and one of the hottest actresses in demand in the early 70's) that she can be forgiven for any dramatic failings.
One of the strengths of the film is the Duke's self-deprecating humor is in fine display, and so is John Wayne himself. Chisum, which was made about this time, is a better film in my estimation, but Mr. Wayne is practically relegated to a supporting player in it. In Rio Lobo he is in almost every scene and that alone makes it a pleasure to watch. Jack Elam hams it up and David Huddleston adds a nice touch of comedy. Trivia buffs will enjoy Sherri Lansing (future studio head) in the near buff and George Plimpton, fresh off his Paper Tiger days, getting a bit role as a short-lived bad guy.
As for improving the movie, it suffers because the death of the lieutenant, which is the main motivating force for Wayne's character to go after the bad guys, is little seen by the audience. We need to connect with this guy so we feel strongly that justice must be done. This character should have been played by a well-known actor in a cameo role. An obvious choice would have been Patrick Wayne. Then the audience would know the character even though their presence onscreen is brief and make a stronger emotional connection with them. Another thing is the sheriff of Rio Lobo is supposed to be a really mean hombre, but we don't have enough scenes with him to establish this. At the very least, a scene should be added where he brutally questions the Sherri Lansing character and scars her. It wouldn't have to be graphic-just enough to once again emotionally connect with the audience.
Mr. Wayne's DVDs are not getting the attention that his fans deserve! George Plimpton had a television special on making Rio Lobo-this should be an extra included. And, my gosh, The Alamo had 500,000 feet of film shot-some by John Ford. What do we get in bonus material? ZIP! NADA! JACKSQUAT! C'mon Hollywood, this is THE most important film actor of the 20th Century! Get off yer duffs and find this stuff. This is HISTORY!
Movie Review: Not the best, but entertaining
Summary: 3 Stars
OK, it's not the best western ever produced. It's more of a full color film in the style of the old Republic westerns of the 30s and 40s. What it does have is a pretty fast moving story line, scene stealing character actors, and very pretty music (except for Jack Elam's mouth harp...).John Wayne is moving from leading man with love interest to lovable old coot. Jorge Rivera takes over as the hunk. This is early in his acting career and very early in his English, but he's a doll to look at and OBTW, he does an outstanding leap over a fence. Christopher Mitchum looks very much like his father, and the chemistry between him and Wayne is similar to that of his father and Wayne (see Bob in El Dorado and Chris later in Big Jake).
This was Jennifer O'Neal's first movie, and it shows. But Wayne was famous for introducing new actors, even when it was clear they needed practice. Must have been because of the way Wayne himself was mentored in the 30s by John Ford, et. al. Watch his early work and see his own improvement.
Sherry Lansing was sexy and later vengeful. In the latter role, she, too, chewed up the scenery. She could have had a respectable acting career, but chose to shatter the movie mogul glass ceiling instead, and more power to her.
Then there's the scene stealers. David Huddleston can steal one just by being in it. Victor French is both scary and a coward simultaneously, a hard combination, but he can certainly pull it off. Hank Worden only had one scene, but he's as neat as ever. And finally, Jack Elam was a scenery chewing, crazy eyed loonie, with some of the funniest lines in the whole movie.
No, it's not the best, but I like it. It will always be in my personal movie stash.
Movie Review: Swaggering. Funny. Corny. Comfortable.
Summary: 3 Stars
Confederate soldiers are helping to fund their losing cause at the end of the Civil War by stealing gold shipments from the railroad. Colonel McNally (John Wayne) is assigned to stop them. An ingenius robbery plot is executed by the French/Mexican confederate Captain, Jorge Rivera but is foiled at the last minute. And somewhere in the Union army two traitors remain at large...
Years later, the circle is reformed when a helpless maiden, Shasta, (Jennifer O'Neill) rides into town at the same time as retired Colonel McNally. She is looking to bring to justice the very cads that McNally is still searching for. Add the rebel Captain and seargent and the team is nearly complete as justice swings out to seek its final judgement on the villains.
Who swaggers more convincingly or rides taller in the saddle than John Wayne? From beginning to end, the viewer is compelled to smile at the bravado, warmth, and fun of the film.
Made 35 years ago, this is without doubt, the corniest of the John Wayne westerns. The Duke and Jack Elam turn in the best performances of the bunch. John Wayne is "comfortable" in every respect!
Movie Review: Not one of the Duke's better movies
Summary: 3 Stars
As many other reviewers have noted, Rio Lobo is not one of John Wayne's better western tales. Overall, it is pretty entertaining, but there is not much new to offer. In fact, the Duke kind of seems over the hill in this one.
The plot is pretty simple to follow, and there are some pretty good gun fights. But, the acting is pretty lacking. Therefore, I do not recommend watching this movie, unless you are a pretty big John Wayne fan. If not, check out some of his earlier Westerns.