Silverado

Rating:
Summary: Borrows Effectively From the Classics
Review: In the well-made documentary that accompanies this collectors edition DVD release, the Kasdan brothers admit to being fans of the classic western films. They have incorporated many techniques of that genre in this fine film. The super cast includes Kevin Kline, Scott Glen, Kevin Costner, and Danny Glover as the four leads with Brian Dennehy, John Cleese, Jeff Goldblum, and Linda Hunt in supporting roles.

The film starts with a light flavor as we are introduced to the various characters but takes on an increasingly dark character as it rushes toward the foreseeable conclusion. This movie is meant to be a sort of compendium of all that is good about westerns and in that regard it performs admirably.

The DVD video quality is good but grain is noticeable in some scenes. Sound quality is quite good and the film was nominated for awards in that category. The aforementioned documentary is well worth watching and includes deleted scenes as well as insight from the Kasdan brothers and the actors. I would have liked to see more extras but this rarely happens with films from this time period due to the extra cost that would be involved.

All in all, a very good film presented in an attractive package that will appeal to DVD collectors.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Modern Western
Review: I love Western movies. Especially John Wayne Westerns. "Rio Bravo", "Hondo", "True Grit", "The Searchers", and more. I first watched this movie at my uncle's house, thinking that because it was a more modern movie, I wouldn't really like it that much. And let me tell you something. I was watching it, mesmerized for the whole 132 minutes of it! It was superb!

It's a typical western story. There's the good guys who fight for justice, and the bad guys, who are greedy, selfish, and cruel. But the story line and plot was good, centering on the four main actors, Kevin Kline (Paden), Scott Glenn (Emmett), Danny Glover (Mal), and Kevin Costner (Jake). The suspense keeps you on the edge of your seat. The ending is such a good one, too.

As soon as I could, I bought this DVD and I don't regret it. You can watch this movie so many times and you still won't get tired of it. The DVD has lots of special features. I loved watching the "Making of Silverado" documentary, learned a lot about the movie. I love the production notes. This is a movie you can't miss!!

Rating:
Summary: Modern Westerns
Review: This is one of the first I'd title a modern western. Everything you love about the old westerns without the cheesy earlier filmmaking. Great cast, classic plot, very well-done!

Rating:
Summary: top-notch western
Review: Silverado is one of the best of the modern westerns. At a time when westerns were out of favor in Hollywood, Lawrence Kasden (writer of Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi) wrote and directed this 'feel-good' western. It's not the gritty western of Leone or Eastwood's Unforgiven, but more like a John Ford/John Wayne western of the 40s and 50s. There is a lot of killing, but no gratuitous violence, and none of it glorified. It has a huge cast (though Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Kevin Costner, and Danny Glover are the principal actors) with some great performances, and many that are surprising. John Cleese has a surprisingly good role, and this is one of Costner's better roles, before he became too big for himself. It is shot beautifully (out in New Mexico). The score is huge and wonderful. They built the largest 'western' town to make this movie. And the opening sequence is a good one.

There is no commentary on the dvd, but it does have a really good making of documentary. Anyone who wishes to make a making of documentary should watch this one to see how it is done.

I can't say that this movie is for everyone, but if you like westerns at all, this one will take you back.

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous soundtrack
Review: With so few westerns being done anymore, perhaps "Silverado" has no real competition. However, this is a soundtrack written in the grand western movie traditions ala "The Big Country," "The Magnificent Seven," and "The Cowboys." Truly one of the all time best western soundtracks ever. Grand as the vistas in the movie it accompanies, dramatic and thoughtful where it needs to be. This movie without the music wouldn't be nearly as rich and full...the music IS a character in the movie.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Modern Western
Review: I love Western movies. Especially John Wayne Westerns. "Rio Bravo", "Hondo", "True Grit", "The Searchers", and more. I first watched this movie at my uncle's house, thinking that because it was a more modern movie, I wouldn't really like it that much. And let me tell you something. I was watching it, mesmerized for the whole 132 minutes of it! It was superb!

It's a typical western story. There's the good guys who fight for justice, and the bad guys, who are greedy, selfish, and cruel. But the story line and plot was good, centering on the four main actors, Kevin Kline (Paden), Scott Glenn (Emmett), Danny Glover (Mal), and Kevin Costner (Jake). The suspense keeps you on the edge of your seat. The ending is such a good one, too.

As soon as I could, I bought this DVD and I don't regret it. You can watch this movie so many times and you still won't get tired of it. The DVD has lots of special features. I loved watching the "Making of Silverado" documentary, learned a lot about the movie. I love the production notes. This is a movie you can't miss!!

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous soundtrack
Review: With so few westerns being done anymore, perhaps "Silverado" has no real competition. However, this is a soundtrack written in the grand western movie traditions ala "The Big Country," "The Magnificent Seven," and "The Cowboys." Truly one of the all time best western soundtracks ever. Grand as the vistas in the movie it accompanies, dramatic and thoughtful where it needs to be. This movie without the music wouldn't be nearly as rich and full...the music IS a character in the movie.

Rating:
Summary: I sure love a western...
Review: Having grown up on 1950's Saturday afternoon matinees, I tend to judge movies on a feel good scale. Never mind if the director was politically correct or if the script was an homage to another era. A movie passed muster if it accomplished a few simple things: Did I wish there was more movie to watch as the end credits rolled? Did the movie pass the Suspension of Disbelief test? Did I cheer the hero and boo the villain? Did I leave the theatre wishing I was one of the characters or that I lived in that time/place? Silverado achieved all that and more.
So what if the story was formulaic? Who cares that in the real west there weren't any quick draw gunfighters who wore their guns slung low? And we won't quibble about the violence or language being whitewashed to qualify for a PG-13. The movie was entertaining and believable. It was easy to determine who the good guys were (even if they wore a black hat). And the ensemble cast made each character memorable. Kevin Costner's unaffected portrayal of Jake ("All I did was kiss a girl") and the great Joe Seneca as Ezra Johnson are two standouts. The scenery and music were spectacular and the sets and costumes made me wish I could sit propped up against a jailhouse wall dressed like Sheriff Cobb. Or back out of a saloon and get two bad guys at one time.
I've been waiting patiently for the sequel. Or maybe Jake was just foolin' about when he turned on his horse and yelled, "We'll be back!"

Rating:
Summary: A review about the actual soundtrack
Review: This refers to the great musical score to a very good movie. The music not only fits with the film, but it also is outstanding as a symphonic composition. It's very lively, and completely beautiful. A great score should be able to make you relive the excitment of the film when you hear it, and still make you feel something even if you've forgotten the plot of the film.

The soundtrack is a bit short, and there is music in the movie that didn't make the CD. However, all the main themes from the most memorable scenes are here.

It's perfect as a soundtrack to the movie, and excellent standing alone as a composition. If you can get a copy, it's worth it. One of those gems that a lot of people have forgotten and not many have, but good enough so that it never should have gone out of print.

Rating:
Summary: A Western with Attitude
Review: I have mixed emotions about this western because it seems to combine just about all the elements of entertainment except Ethel Merman out in the street, singing "Silverado, It's a Helluva Town!" while Fosse-trained dangers prance around her. Several people die in this film. Others are brutally beaten. There is at least one victim of racial discrimination. And yet we encounter substantial humor which is sometimes hilarious. Sheriff Monty Python makes a brief appearance in the form of John Cleese. The acting is superb. The plot proceeds expeditiously to an inevitable confrontation. No loose ends. Director Lawrence Kasdan and his brother Mark co-authored an action-filled script which is uncommonly literate. John Bailey's cinematography is superb. No single performance stands out because all are outstanding. Great casting. Of special interest to me is Kevin Costner's portrayal of Jake, a happy-go-lucky gunslinger. I wish Costner had demonstrated comparable energy and enthusiasm in subsequent roles. Obviously, the Kasdans love westerns. Obviously, their cast and crew had a jolly time making this film. After seeing it again recently, however, I appreciated more than I had before the undertone of seriousness.

What to make of all this? Frankly, I encourage everyone to relax and enjoy it.