A great 'recent' western,with a classic feel.

Rating: 9/10 (25 February 2007)

After having seen some other westerns from the late 80s-mid 90s,and having heard from friends about this movie,i decided to pick up Tombstone.The movie was a lot better then i ever thought it would be,and it has the look and feel of a great film,from maybe the 60s or 70s.
The plot:
After having retired as a lawman,Wyatt Earp decides to live in the town of Tombstone with his two brothers and his best friend Doc Holiday.When he gets to to the town,Earp finds out that there is a gang terrorising the town called The Cowboys.Everyone knows that The Cowboys think they are above everyone (even the law!) As Earp and his family and friends stay at Tombstone,he realises that he must come out of retirement and get everyone to to stand up to them.So Earp gets his family and friends to take out The Cowboys.This will lead them to Arizona for The Shootout at The o.k. Corral.But not all of Earps friends and family will be alive after the shootout.
View on the film:
Direction/screenplay,the film is directed by George (Rambo 2) P.Cosmatos and the screenplay is by Kevin Jarre.After having seen this film,i am suppressed that Cosmatos is (i feel) really under-rated as a director.The thing that Cosmatos does really well,is instead of letting the action drown the film down,he uses it at the right moment,so that the film is more a really great character piece.
Screenwriter Jarre does a great job with the characters,in giving them all there own time to build,and having the characters speak in a very "natural" way,so you can tell how much they are really good friends to each-other.The cast.
Whilst this film is a fantastic ensemble film,i have to point out the major to actors of this film.The first is Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday.I have to say that this is one of Kilmers best performances.(Along with his acting as the charismatic Jim Morrison in Oliver Stones flawed movie The Doors.) The other performance is Kurt Russell as the legendary Qyatt Earp.Russell (who has done some fantastic work with director John Carpenter and in the much under-rated film Breakdown,) does a really good job playing the every man,who you can see wants to do everything to help the people in the town.Acoures these two actors would not be able to work in such a great group of actors,that includes-Sam Elliott,Powers Boothe and the very under-used Bill Paxton and Michael Biehn who all make the film work with there strong support work.
Final view on the film:
A western that anyone can enjoy (even those who usually don't like westerns.)