Rating: 
Summary: Excellent movie, but ... come on!
Review: --hardly the greatest ever. Ponderous. Too long by an hour. And, even with that length, some of it makes little sense. A truly great score lifts the picture onto a level that the rest of its components don't merit. It's a good movie, but it doesn't stand with THE WILD BUNCH et al. Get a grip, people!
Rating: 
Summary: THE BEST WESTERN EVER MADE...QUITE POSSIBLY!!!
Review: First off, the movie is in 2.35:1. There has been some discussion as to this point, with several people wondering about the initial disclosure that the movie would be released in 1.77:1. 2.35:1 is the original aspect ratio that was seen during the movie's initial theatrical release. All of the italian actors are dubbed, after all, Sergio Leone is italian and the movie was shot in Italy except for the scenes on the road leading to a local "watering hole". These scenes were shot in Arizona's Monument Valley. I have seen every John Ford movie made and recognize every one of the rock formations that Ford so beautifully shot in his western trilogy: Fort Apache, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and The Searchers. I won't go into too much depth as to the plot other than to say the movie is certainly an allegory on good vs. evil, revenge, and certainly the ending of the western "horse culture" giving way to "the Iron Horse". I have already mentioned three of John Ford's masterpieces that also happen to be on numerous people's greatest Westerns of all time, as they are certainly on mine. Before I bought the OUATITW dvd, I would have said that for me, Ford's and John Wayne's "The Searchers" was the greatest western of all time (it was John Wayne's favorite), and it still may be. But after seeing "Once Upon a Time..." on dvd with its brilliant remastering of sight and sound and seeing it in its full aspect ratio, I could be persuaded that "Once Upon a Time..." could have usurpted the title from "The Searchers". But whether "Once Upon a Time..." is number one, two, or seven on the greatest list, it is most assuredly on the list. "Once Upon a Time..." did not even receive a nomination for Best Picture when it came out, much less receive the award, but that travesty was due to Hollywood politics at the time and had nothing to do with the greatness of "Once Upon a Time...". The musical score by Ennio Morricone has got to be THE GREATEST score for any movie ever made. Better than "The Magnificent Seven", better than "Dances With Wolves", and better than another Leone/Morricone collaberation, "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly". The music is haunting, truly. And if that weren't enough, all of the major characters have their own musical riffs that introduce them and follow them throughout the movie whenever they are the focal point of a scene. Very clever and rarely seen. I know that I said at the outset that I was not going to talk much about the movie, and here I've gone and done exactly that. This review was to concentrate on the absolute perfection of the dvd itself, and I do mean perfection. Besides the aspect ratio and musical score, the remastering of the images defies belief. It's like looking through air in real life. You can see the pores in the faces. I have never seen a more pristine dvd ever, and I've got at least 1,000 of them. Utterly flawless! (P.S. Alot of movie goers have seen at least one or more of Sergio Leone's movies, but few have ever seen the man. He did keep a low profile. But if you would like to see him, get his also brilliant "Once Upon a Time in America". He is the ticket seller who sells Robert DeNiro a bus ticket out of town. This man is truly one of the greatest directors of all time.)
Rating:
Summary: For once, Paramount has done it right.
Review: REALLY, unusual for Paramount because:1. they have done a superb job tranfering it to DVD (it looks like it was filmed yesterday and not in 1967!) 2. they have released it with loads of extras 3. they have preserved the original aspect ratio (anamorphic!) 4. they have released it at a bargain price (2 DVD set)
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely the finest Western film ever made!
Review: They don't make them like this anymore! Sergio Leone's love of the U.S. and in particular, the "old west" is readily apparent in this cinematic masterpiece. Unlike Leone's wonderful "dollar" pictures, this is a true Western with all of the elements that define it: a frontier between civilization and the wilderness, the civilized folk in peril, and a hero who must save them by employing the same skills as those who threaten and then take his dangerous skills away with him to the next frontier when the peril is over (e.g., Shane is an archetype of the true Western). What makes this a highly unique film is that Leone gives us two heroes, one that fits the myth of the Old West in Harmonica (Charles Bronson) by being larger and better than life, and a more realistic hero with both good and bad qualities, Cheyenne (Jason Robards). One in (dusty) white, the other in earth tones. One who goes off into the sunset, light shining on him through the door as he leaves, and one who exits the way that all humans eventually do, without grandeur. The Morricone soundtrack is nothing short of amazing and you'll want to crank this movie through your stereo or home theater system for sure! Henry Fonda, who usually played heroes, turns in a terrific performance as one of the most evil screen villains ever. This film is required viewing for all film buffs and "students" of the Western and it's so rich in its imagery and dialogue you'll catch something new each time you watch it. Although most of the film was shot in Europe, keep your eyes open for director Leone's homage to the Western films of John Ford: he came all the way to the U.S. just to film one brief scene in Monument Valley!
Rating:
Summary: The DVD version = Everything and more
Review: Just received the DVD version. WOW! For the movie itself, A+ color, image quality and sound. FINALLY!!!!!! Includes two DVD's with 4 hours of add-ons. Some of the scenes are among the best ever filmed. At times the music and the imagery combine to amazing effect (e.g. when Mrs. McBain waits for no one to pick her up, walks into the train-station and then the camera pans over the roof out onto the city-center. Absolute perfection.). Low price. 2 CDs. One of the greatest movies of all time. Get it.
Rating:
Summary: On my top ten list.
Review: This film has many elements that make it memorable and worthy of repeat viewings. Even though highly regarded by film critics, it is under-rated by the general public. The plot unfolds slowly but is ultimately rewarding. The suspense builds towards action and the dialogue is spare but intelligent. The scenes take place against beautiful backdrops, and are delivered by a great looking and talented cast. Bronson is in his best role ever. Fonda plays against type. The soundtrack is haunting at times.
Many recent films overload on dialogue, non-top action and sound effects in an ascending cycle of one upmanship. Perhaps they cater to audiences with short attention spans nurtured by 15 second TV commercials, or the fast cut editing of music videos. Too bad. Something is gained, but much is lost. Leone has crafted a masterpiece here with scenes that linger, both on the screen and in your mind. The action stands out because it is contrasted with slow suspense. The visuals are beautiful enough to deserve more than 2 seconds of screen time. The music is purposeful, operatic at times, and thematic of the characters. There are no explosions that I can recall, which is not to say that the film isn't explosive at times. There aren't enough films like this one. It's thoroughly satisfying.
Rating: 
Summary: easter eggs?
Review: I picked up the UK release even though I reside in the U.S. It is beautiful and although it may leave you begging for more it could have been a lot worse. I think owners of this disk may want to investigate the possibility of supplements not listed (Easter eggs) I popped the disk into my computers dvd drive and somehow ended up viewing a newly designed film trailer which by the way was very cool. I am now wondering what other goodies may be hidden on the disk (or disks) we don't know about.
Rating:
Summary: A dynamite package!
Review: This is a beautifully packaged 2-DVD set of the quintessential Western saga. The movie never looked so good as it does in this restored version. Sergio Leone's masterpiece turned the notion of a Western on its head, most visibly by portraying Henry Fonda as a bad guy. The star-studded cast plays their low-key roles to the hilt. None better than Bronson, who was really in his element in this movie. But, all the credit should go to Leone for coming up with a fantastic story that weaves together so many themes of the West into one of the most evocative films ever made. Leone never loses his step, building the movie thematically, with a musical score that lifts the film to the level of opera. This was the crowning achievement of Leone's "spaghetti" westerns.
Rating:
Summary: Magnificent By All Standards
Review: This long-anticipated DVD release is based off the material from the Italian DVD release that has been circulating in Europe for at least a year. The listed Aspect Ratio of 1.77 indicates that it's been enhanced for 16x9 screens, thus is presented in the original cinemascope. As for the film itself, it's Leone working at the top of his powers. Everything he learned and turned inside out about the western during the Man With No Name trilogy, Leone exploits to great heights. Performances and excellent - particularly Henry Fonda. How come mondern cinema icons won't play dastardly villians when they're career moves into that second stage. Claudia Cardinale holds this film together as the woman targeted by all sides. A suprising turn is Jason Robards as Indio, he's youthful maniacal performance as the escaped bandit give the film the kind of flourish and panache you just don't see anymore - maybe because a seriously skilled actor of Robards caliber wouldn't play in the blood-fest like this; too bad though, would love to see someone like Anthony Hopkis a role like this. If you've seen the movie before and want a DVD version, you'll definitely pick this up. If you haven't seen this before (wow), buy it sight unseen -- you'll enjoy it. The opening scene is worth purchase price!!!!
Rating:
Summary: A contender for the best Western ever made
Review: Although directed by Sergio Leone of the Dollars Trilogy/Eastwood fame, Once Upon a Time in the West has no humor in it - it's deadly serious. And many feel it's the best Western ever made. Stellar casting contributes to the success of this movie: Bronson, Fonda, Robards, Cardinale, lordy, what more can you ask for?
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