The Searchers [Blu-ray]
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Movie Reviews of The Searchers [Blu-ray]
Movie Review: Perfect retouching for a classic!
Summary: 5 Stars
This classic came up alive and flawless after Blu-Ray technology. A must buy for the fans!Movie Review: Only $8!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Only eight dollars for one of the best westerns ever. Duh. Buy it.Movie Review: A CLASSIC WESTERN...
Summary: 4 Stars
This film, directed by the legendary John Ford, and starring John Wayne in the leading role is a western that has achieved mythic proportions. Touted as one of the greatest westerns ever filmed, it is, I will grant you, an entertaining film. In it, John Wayne plays the anti-hero, Ethan Edwards, an ex-confederate soldier, who goes to Texas in 1868 to visit his brother and his family on their ranch in Texas. While visiting, a report of marauding Indians in adjacent land draws out the Texas Rangers and Ethan, who joins them. When they discover that a decoy has been used to lure them away from the settlement, they hurry back, only to find that Ethan's family was masacred and his two nieces gone, taken captive by Comanche Indians.
Ethan goes to the rescue, joined by Martin Pawley (Jeffrey Hunter), a friend of the family who is himself part Indian. After a while, they discover that only the younger niece, Debbie, has survived. Their quest to bring Debbie back, or so Martin thinks, takes place over a period of five years. At some point along the way, Ethan's relentless quest for Debbie seems to undergo a transition from rescue mission to execution squad in the belief that it is better to be dead than to have "gone Injun".
The film suffers somewhat from revisionist history and its own stereotypic portrayal of Indians. They are portrayed as either savages or buffoons fit only to be the butt of jokes. Moreover, the character of Ethan is an enigma, as he changes from heartbroken uncle to death squad killer in his relentless search for his surviving niece. Ethan embodies hatred and racism, concepts that are tantalizingly laid out but never fully examined or explored, which is why Ethan remains an enigma.
Debbie, played as a child by Lana Wood and as a teenager by Lana's older sister, Natalie Wood, is a symbol around which Ethan's character gets its raison d'etre. It is she who gives him the will to go on, whether it be for the right or wrong reasons is another issue. Natalie Wood is lovely as the older Debbie, though the makeup has to go, as it serves to take away from the rusticity of the film and jerk the viewer back to Hollywood. This was typical of films in those days. No matter what the situation, the women were always in full makeup.
Still, notwithstanding some of the film's political incorrectness and incongruent production values, it is still an entertaining film and about as good as westerns get. John Wayne is memorable as Ethan Edwards. Handsome Jeffrey Hunter gives an excellent performance as Martin Pawley. Ward Bond, as captain of the Texas Rangers, is terrific. The rest of the supporting cast give performances that vary in quality. Still, this film remains the quintessential western flick and one worth watching.
Movie Review: A Western Epic
Summary: 4 Stars
"The Searchers" is probably the most admired western by John Ford
with John Wayne.
I have viewed the films numerous times over the years and have collected
the film in VHS & several versions of DVDs as the technology advanced.
Due to various quality of the film in DVD forms, I have reservations on how
great this film is until I viewed this Blue-Ray disc.
Wow, such magnificent rocks, canyons and plains; such blue skies, white
clouds and yellow sand dunes of the various locations including Monument Valley.
For the first time, I can see clearly the night scenes, the emotion-filled eyes
of John Wayne (agreed, this is his best performance in film).
Ford and his cinematographer Winton Hoch lighted each scene carefully
with shadows, colors and textures.
In this Blue-Ray format, many scenes have the quality of a painting.
If you pay attention, you'll find the costume design and production design
were carefully co-ordinated.
For example the scene when Wayne walked into a Mexican bar, his royal blue
shirt matched the blue bottles behind the bar.
This film has a strong story with message, fine characterizations of a large
cast, many finely orchestrated action sequences and comedy.
It is the last part that I found the film a bit over played, especially towards the end.
The light-heartedness diminished the strength of this complex western.
I understand the motives of Ford inserting humor in his films.
It is because he loved the people in his films and the actors who played them.
However, personally I prefer straight-laced westerns like Ford's "The Man Who Shot the
Liberty Valance" which I think is Ford's best western, with Wayne.
Movie Review: Movie is a classic, blu ray treatment of it doesn't add much
Summary: 4 Stars
I have always loved John Wayne movies,and considered "The Searchers" to be one of the best. My opinion of that remains unchanged, however, I didn't see much different between the standard DVD version and the blu ray version of this movie. My TV, TV cables, and blu ray player are all top of the line and I have watched other blu ray discs on it and have been wowed by the detail and clarity. This movie didn't really offer much more then the standard DVD version. It's only priced a few more dollars above the standard DVD so its not that much of a risk and if you want the newest version of this movie, you will have it, but if you want to save a few bucks and get the same quality picture just go with the Standard DVD version. I don't think this is anyone's fault, I just think that the movie technology of the 1950's doesn't convert well to Blu ray, but thats just one guys opinion. Either way the movie is excellent.