The Long Riders
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Canada
Movie Reviews of The Long Riders
Movie Review: STYLISH WESTERN
Summary: 4 Stars
I SAW THIS MOVIE AT THE AGE OF 15 ON THE BIG SCREEN WITH STEREO SOUND AND IT WAS TRULY AN EXPERIENCE.THIS REALLY ISNT A MOVIE SUITED TO THE SMALL SCREEN AS ITS EXPLOSIVE IMPACT IS CERTINELY COMPROMISED BY WATCHING IT ON THE TUBE. BUT SHORT OF A RE RELEASE I GUESS VIDEO WILL HAVE TO DO.
THE FIRST THING THAT STRIKES THE VIEWER IS THE RUSTIC, WINING ALMOST EERY SOUNTRACK BEAUTFULLY DONE.
THE FACT THAT VARIOUS ACTING BROTHERS PLAY VARIOUS OUTLAW BROTHERS IS AN EXTREMLY UNIQUE AND REALISTICLY NOVEL APPROACH.
BROTHERS LOOK LIKE BROTHERS, SOUND LIKE BROTHERS. I DISAGREE WITH ANOTHER REVIEW OF THIS FILM. I THINK THE CASTING WAS PERFECT AND VERY EFFECTIVE.
AS AN AMETEUR HISTORIAN OF THE OLD WEST, I THINK THE STORYLINE FOLLOWS FACT ABOUT AS WELL AS ANY DRAMATIC REENACTMENT IS GOING TOO.
AND THEN THE DIRECTION IS EXPERTLY DONE BY WALTER HILL WHO MUST BE A PECKINPAH APPRENTICE. THE CLIMACTIC FINALLY OF THE FILM IS THE GANGS BOTCHED BANK ROBBERY IN NORTHFIELD MINNESOTA WHERE YANKEE SQUAREHEADS SHOOT THE GROUP TO RIBBONS. THE SLOW MOTION WAS NOTHING NEW BUT SLOW SOUND WAS. YOU CAN HERE THE ZIPPING OF THE MISSILES JUST PRIOR TO THEIR SPLATTERING IMPACT INTO FLESH.
IF YOU READ THE ACTUAL ACCOUNTING YOU WILL FIND THE MOVIE PLAYS TRUE RIGHT DOWN TO ONE OF THE YOUNGERS GETTING SHOT THROUGH THE JAW.
THE STUNT WORK WAS NOTHING SHORT OF EXCEPTIONAL AND THE EDITOR DESERVES RAVES TOO.
THERE IS A LITTLE BRIEF NUDITY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT AS IT DOESNT WORK IN A WESTERN, BUT THATS ABOUT MY ONLY COMPLAINT.
THE MUSIC IS WELL WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION BY ITSELF.
TURN THE LIGHTS OFF, LIMIT DISTRACTIONS AND CRANK THE VOLUME. THATS THE ONLY WAY TO WATCH THIS SHOW.
OVERALL IT IS ONE STYLISH WESTERN DESTINED TO BE A TRUE CULT CLASSIC.
Movie Review: A flawed but beautiful western
Summary: 4 Stars
The script is a cliched mess, filled with lines that are forced retro-mythological and obvious, not to mention monosyllabic. Jesse's marriage proposal is a lumbering embarrasment.Several of the performers appear to sleepwalk through their roles. Although this isn't the case with the wry performance of David Carradine who delivers his finest peformance and the spicey Pamela Reed as an iron tough and manipulative Belle Starr.
And yet this film by director Walter Hill somehow works. The photography by Ric Waite is absolutely dreamlike in its frail beauty. The costume design is romantic without being frilly. The cutting is tight. Hill's framing is carefull and rich and most of all, Ry Cooder's magnificent score breathes poetry.
All of these technical elements add up to make a flawed, but rich western film well deserving of a bigger following. Personally, if I could walk out of real life and into the imagined world of a film, this film, along with "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", "A Hard Day's Night", "The Adventures of Robin Hood" and "Lonesome Dove" would be one that would be ideal.
The technical achievements of this film all work together to overcome its other limitations. It is a film that truly creates a unique atmosphere of a time and place that really didn't exist in history but rather in folk tales and American Legendary Dreams.
This DVD, although devoid of any extras (I would love to have Walter Hill's commentary!)gloriously transfers Waite's photography.
My advice is to buy Ry Cooder's soundtrack on CD, put in the DVD, turn down the sound and enjoy.
Movie Review: BEST WESTERN - Hands Down
Summary: 5 Stars
WARNING!! BIASED REVIEWER!!Sorry, but I have little appreciation for Westerns. They tend to be preachy and predictable, with no moral ambiquity. Good guys, Bad guys, pat happy endings. Not so with this intelligently crafted film. It steers clear of the cactus cliches, while coupling reasonably accurate American history with superb story telling. The actual brothers portraying the historical brothers schtick is more than just a casting gimmick. It serves the film well, as the performances are excellent throughout the entire cast.
As far as the DVD goes, expect no extras, and good audio & picture quality, and you won't be disapointed.
Movie Review: One of the Top Five Westerns Ever Made
Summary: 5 Stars
There is not a single misstep in this movie. From the clothes, to the language, to the attitudes, you are taken back in time and kept there for a fascinating story. I love westerns, am very picky about them, and this one is truly one of the best. Wonderful direction and cinematography. The attempted escape in Minnesota should be considered an absolute classic. And look for an amazing fight scene involving Cole Younger, Belle Starr, and Sam Starr. Or as Belle would say, "Have a chew!"Movie Review: Honest movie
Summary: 5 Stars
One can be as favorable as one wants, but the James-Younger gang were criminals that saw the big "bucks" in front of them and that is what counted. The movie tries to be accurate, yet sometimes it sounds a little stiff. Nevertheless, anybody who is interested in a straight forward story is going to be fine with this one.Certainly recommendable.