The best western that has been done in a while

Rating: 10/10 (7 May 2007)

I am a real fan of the old westerns and have found the modern westerns lacking in what the old westerns stood for but in Tombstone, I have found the modern equivalent of the best old westerns that starred actors like John Wayne and Gregory Peck.
Tombstone is about Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) who moves to Tombstone to retire from the law and settle as a businessman in the town. He moves to the town with his brothers Virgil(Sam Elliott) and Morgan (Bill Paxton)to start a new life with them but through a series of run-ins with the cowboys, a murderous bunch of outlaws, realises he can't live the save life he wanted and has to step up to the plate and keep law and order in the town but after his brother is killed, he becomes focused on killing all the cowboys for what they have done and vows he will wipe out all the cowboys completely so they can't rise again to cause more mayhem to the area.
This film has a lot of tension from the start when the brothers come across the cowboys and it builds and builds till you get to the point where your stomach is in knots because you are sucked into the movie and can't stop feeling jumpy when the two gangs clash. You are especially on tenterhooks when the Earps and Doc Holliday confront the gang at the O.K Corral and the director heaps more tension on as the two gangs freeze, waiting for the other to move first and you are on the edge of your seat waiting for the action to start again and when it does, it doesn't let up on the tension. It is quick and there is no hesitation as in the past, you had to be prepared to kill or be killed and you needed to be at the top of your game to survive. Even after the gun battle, there is still more suspense and apprehension about what will happen next and how it will finally end.
This film is very much a morality tale. None of the bad guys survive not even Doc. The scene where Doc dies is not heroic, it is just unremarkable. He is in bed and knows from the feeling in his toes that it is time for him to leave the earth.
What is touching is the relationship between Wyatt and Doc. They love one another like brothers and Wyatt is the only softness Doc has in his heart because he's had to survive living in the wild west and his life-threatening illness and to do so he had to be able to defend himself when the situation called for it. He is always there for Wyatt and what's sad is he is the only friend Doc has. Doc dies alone, not wanting his friend to see him in pain so he still protecting Wyatt.
I also liked the rivalry between Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn) and Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer). They are equals, very intelligent men but also very deadly and they seem to understand where the other is coming from.
I can't imagine anyone else in the role of Doc, Val Kilmer, makes that character his own. The accent, mannerisms and the whole essence of Doc has been skillfully crafted by Val. He does get all the best lines in the film and he delivers them with a tinkle in his eye.
I like that the film ends on a happy note with Wyatt finally going to Josephine and just living for the moment like Doc told him to. It is not to mushy for the boys who watch the film and there is enough romance for the girls to enjoy.