A good Western?

Rating: 7/10 (11 April 2008)

I must admit I have always loved westerns. So, when I heard that Christian Bale and Russell Crowe were going head to head, I was very exited. I saw the original years back and liked the film. This movie is considerably better. The acting is solid all around. I love seeing Peter Fonda. I wish he was a little more active. His career never got the bounce it deserved after his "comeback" film, Ulle's Gold. The two leads are predictably excellent. My main problem with this film is with Crowe's character. His transformation from beginning to end seems forced. There is nothing in the movie which seems to pull him towards his actions at the end of the movie. The bond between him and Bale does not seem authentic. The best Westerns are usually clear cut stories about good and bad. This movie is more about redemption. The rest of the movie is good enough that it's flaws are forgivable. I would recommend this movie to fans of Action movies as opposed to Westerns. It just doesn't feel like a Western.