Classic western for the modern viewer

Rating: 8/10 (7 September 2007)

I really love westerns. The stories, the gunfights, the scenery, the slightly over-the-top characters- all of it. However I'm in my 20s and the heyday of westerns was long before my time (many thanks to cable and premium channels for keeping them alive.) They are dated, both in quality of filming and acting and in freedom of expression. This 3:10 to Yuma captured the spirit of those old westerns with today's more serious acting and improved cinematography and special effects.
The plot was the very definition of a western: war veteran family man, failing ranch, greedy railroad men, gang of outlaws with a dashing leader. Much like the previews suggest and enjoyable the entire time. The acting may not have been "oscar caliber" but everyone was right on character. Ben Foster had no problem on screen with Christian Bale and Russell Crowe, and even the young Logan Lerman (had to go look his name up) held his own. Nice to see Peter Fonda and Alan Tudyk, minor characters but memorable moments.
The violence was stronger than back when, though not deserving of the R it was given. PG-13 only I would think, comparable to the X-Men series or teen horror movies. The eldest son was played by an actor too "young" to see an R movie! PG-13 also for the mild-strong language and sexual situations more vague than a Viagra commercial.