An epic adventure, and a very dark, wonderful drama.

Rating: 10/10 (30 May 2016)

This is one of Sergio Leone's great masterpieces, maybe third in rank after "Once Upon a Time in the West" and "Once Upon a Time in America. "But please don't consider it "third rate" - if you value Leone, you will be blown away.
The story takes place in Mexico during their revolution. James Coburn,in probably his greatest role, is a dynamite expert who flashes back traumatically to his past as a revolutionary in Ireland. Though Coburn is amazing, Rod Steiger is his equal as a Mexican bandit with his own views about revolution. In fact, in one moment of rage, Steiger's character "Juan" sums up "revolution" so effectively that"John" (Coburn) tosses his copy of Bakhunin into the mud.
The cinematography is fantastic, the music by Ennio Morricone (what else to say). The staging of the scenes is magisterial, ala Leone.
Essential to the story is the theme of betrayal and the karma of betrayal, both on a personal and political level, which enriches the depth. It has some of the most horrendous images of counterrevolutionary mass slaughter and political execution you might see.
It conveys very well that if you are up against a fascist ("Nazi") - you know what you do? You kill the mofo.
There are scenes of tragic sadness, and there is, all the way through, great humor.
Leone's facial close-ups are used very effectively, most especially in the flashback scenes to betrayal in Ireland. Do NOT MISS the extremely subtle eye-gaze movements in those scenes, they are absolutely crucial!
I watched this film on the big screen many years ago, and just viewed it online again today. I have never forgotten it, it is seared in memory.
Got a light? "Duck, You Sucker!"