Competent movie but not great

Rating: 6/10 (2 April 2008)

I watched this film and expected to really like it as I enjoy Russell Crowe usually and think Bale is watchable in the main also.
I had to take the DVD back the first time due to it stalling so watched it a second time from the beginning. At the end , I was pretty unmoved I m afraid . Ticked some boxes but a Red River or Unforgiven it is not. Some good moments however especially where Wade just kills some of his captors for singing a song or for insulting their own mothers . These bits seemed original but his good guy turn at the end to let Bale be a hero seemed to me beyond the Pale especially running through a hail of bullets to reach the train and risk getting killed seemed a Damascus Road moment too far for me . Not bad but I would not really want to watch it again whereas I quite enjoy seeing Val KIlmer doing his Doc Holliday impression whenever it shows up on TV. BUt hey its all about opinions eh!