Theosophic Misfits

This review refers to the new version

'3:10 to Yuma' is billed as a Western... while is true in the sense that it's set in the old West.  But it could be set in any time, any where, and I think the overall feel of the movie would essentially be the same because the movie may be set in the old West, but it's about the men and not the place...

Tho, of course, an argument could be made that the place made the men... but I digress...

The most interesting thing about the movie is Ben Wade, played by Russell Crowe.  He's the villian - the one that the others are taking to the train referred to in the title.  Dan Evans, played by Christian Bale, agrees to go on the journey ostensibly for the money... but it's more than that... It's for a semblance of honor, and for the respect he lacks as a failing farmer who was injured in the war...

And while Bale's character is interesting with motivations and rationales you learn throughout the movie... it's Crowe's Wade who is the real factor of interest, precisely because you never really learn his rationale or motivations.  You never really see what's going on in his head.  You get glimpses and pieces - but these glimpses seem to contradict each other, and leave you with the sketch of a very complicated killer...

The movie is slow and plodding in places... but the character study is fascinating...

I'll give it 3 to 3/12 stars out of 5.  It would get more if the pace had been geared up a notch...
_________________
"... he who dares not grasp the thorn... should not crave the rose..."

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best night and day to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle any human being can fight and never stop fighting. --e. e. cummings

[blackrose]

This review refers to the new version

'3:10 to Yuma' is billed as a Western... while is true in the sense that it's set in the old West.  But it could be set in any time, any where, and I think the overall feel of the movie would essentially be the same because the movie may be set in the old West, but it's about the men and not the place...

Tho, of course, an argument could be made that the place made the men... but I digress...

The most interesting thing about the movie is Ben Wade, played by Russell Crowe.  He's the villian - the one that the others are taking to the train referred to in the title.  Dan Evans, played by Christian Bale, agrees to go on the journey ostensibly for the money... but it's more than that... It's for a semblance of honor, and for the respect he lacks as a failing farmer who was injured in the war...

And while Bale's character is interesting with motivations and rationales you learn throughout the movie... it's Crowe's Wade who is the real factor of interest, precisely because you never really learn his rationale or motivations.  You never really see what's going on in his head.  You get glimpses and pieces - but these glimpses seem to contradict each other, and leave you with the sketch of a very complicated killer...

The movie is slow and plodding in places... but the character study is fascinating...

I'll give it 3 to 3/12 stars out of 5.  It would get more if the pace had been geared up a notch...
_________________
"... he who dares not grasp the thorn... should not crave the rose..."

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best night and day to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle any human being can fight and never stop fighting. --e. e. cummings

This review refers to the new version

'3:10 to Yuma' is billed as a Western... while is true in the sense that it's set in the old West.  But it could be set in any time, any where, and I think the overall feel of the movie would essentially be the same because the movie may be set in the old West, but it's about the men and not the place...

Tho, of course, an argument could be made that the place made the men... but I digress...

The most interesting thing about the movie is Ben Wade, played by Russell Crowe.  He's the villian - the one that the others are taking to the train referred to in the title.  Dan Evans, played by Christian Bale, agrees to go on the journey ostensibly for the money... but it's more than that... It's for a semblance of honor, and for the respect he lacks as a failing farmer who was injured in the war...

And while Bale's character is interesting with motivations and rationales you learn throughout the movie... it's Crowe's Wade who is the real factor of interest, precisely because you never really learn his rationale or motivations.  You never really see what's going on in his head.  You get glimpses and pieces - but these glimpses seem to contradict each other, and leave you with the sketch of a very complicated killer...

The movie is slow and plodding in places... but the character study is fascinating...

I'll give it 3 to 3/12 stars out of 5.  It would get more if the pace had been geared up a notch...
_________________
"... he who dares not grasp the thorn... should not crave the rose..."

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best night and day to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle any human being can fight and never stop fighting. --e. e. cummings

[blackrose]

This review refers to the new version

'3:10 to Yuma' is billed as a Western... while is true in the sense that it's set in the old West.  But it could be set in any time, any where, and I think the overall feel of the movie would essentially be the same because the movie may be set in the old West, but it's about the men and not the place...

Tho, of course, an argument could be made that the place made the men... but I digress...

The most interesting thing about the movie is Ben Wade, played by Russell Crowe.  He's the villian - the one that the others are taking to the train referred to in the title.  Dan Evans, played by Christian Bale, agrees to go on the journey ostensibly for the money... but it's more than that... It's for a semblance of honor, and for the respect he lacks as a failing farmer who was injured in the war...

And while Bale's character is interesting with motivations and rationales you learn throughout the movie... it's Crowe's Wade who is the real factor of interest, precisely because you never really learn his rationale or motivations.  You never really see what's going on in his head.  You get glimpses and pieces - but these glimpses seem to contradict each other, and leave you with the sketch of a very complicated killer...

The movie is slow and plodding in places... but the character study is fascinating...

I'll give it 3 to 3/12 stars out of 5.  It would get more if the pace had been geared up a notch...
_________________
"... he who dares not grasp the thorn... should not crave the rose..."

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best night and day to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle any human being can fight and never stop fighting. --e. e. cummings