Tombstone

Rating:
Summary: Throw down, boy!
Review: Let's face it. There are 'guy' movies and there are 'girl' movies, also known as 'date movies' or 'chick flicks.' Anything with Hugh Grant qualifies as a date movie, while "Fried Green Tomatoes" is a chick flick. "Beaches" is a chick flick. "Steel Magnolias" is most definetly a chick flick. "Tombstone"...well, if you like spicy hot buffallo wings dripping with bleu cheese, cold beer, and football, this movie is for you.

Critics of "Tombstone" -- and you know who you are -- point out its cliched plot, which is more or less based on the real-life fued between ex-lawman Wyatt Earp and his brothers Morgan and Virgil, and their friend John "Doc" Holliday, and a gang of transplanted Texas outlaws called the Cowboys, which culminated in the world's most famous shoot-out, the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. They point out that some of the dialogue is stilted and hokey, if not outright ridiculous. They shake their heads at gunfights which rage for minutes with no one troubling to reload and the villains seemingly unable to hit anything except trees, windows, dirt, and if they are very lucky, the non-lethal areas of our heroes. I look upon these souls with pity. Because they are missing the whole point of this classic, pen-ultimate "guy" film: GUILTY PLEASURE.

Like football, beer, and the afformentioned spicy chicken wings, "Tombstone" is not good. It is just fun. I would even argue that movies like this are the whole reason movies were invented in the first place (and keep in mind the first silent pictures were Westerns). You can save your message-laden morality plays and Oscar-grubbing prestiege pictures for when you are trying to impress your girlfriend's parents at dinner, because after desert, chances are your future father-in-law will light up a stogie and fire up this DVD over that copy of "Yentel" on the coffee table. And thank goodness for that! Would you rather watch Barbara Streisand in drag or Kurt Russel bash some foul-mouthed cowboy over the head with his own .44?

How can you go wrong with a cast that includes apparently every working character actor in Hollywood? In addition to Kurt Russel (Wyatt) and Val Kilmer (Doc), you've got Sam Elliot (Virgil), Bill Paxton (Morgan), Billy Bob Thorton (the very unfortunate Faro dealer), Powers Boothe (Curly Bill), Michael Biehn (Johnny Ringo), Michael Rooker, Charlton Heston (yes, Charlton Heston), Jason Priestly (Billy), Billy Zane (the actor in the kilt), and even that guy that played Lowell on "Wings" ? The answer is, you can't. This (Vista) DVD is money well spent, because in addition to a few minutes of extra footage (which, by and large, doesn't add much to the viewing experience) there is a supplementary disc loaded with extras. As if you needed them!

The flick opens with a demonstration of first-class villainy on the part of the Cowboys, who are led by the cheerful, opium-smoking and apparently insane Curly Bill Brosius, and his right-hand man, the homicidal gunslinger Johnny Ringo. They crash the wedding of a Mexican lawman and substitute the traditional throwing of rice with the throwing of lead. This establishes them as worthy bad guys, and the credits haven't even rolled yet!

Cut to the arrival in Tombstone of Wyatt Earp, played by Russel. Wyatt is a weary former town marshal with, shall we say, a phyiscal approach to problem solving. Before he has spoken a word of dialogue, he hosswhips a stablehand for maltreating his trusty steed. Minutes later, he strolls into a salloon and gives loudmouth card dealer Billy Bob Thorton perhaps the most humiliating verbal and physical thrashing in cinematic history, spitting out lines like "Are you gonna do something about it, or just stand there and bleed?" before tossing him out through the swinging doors. And this is just his first day in town! Wait until he gets comfortable!

Wyatt is joined not only by his brothers, but by his tuburculois-stricken gunman-gambler pal Doc Holliday, who gets even better dialogue than Wyatt, and gets to say it in a marvelous Tidewater-aristocratic drawl while strolling about town in his cape. The only thing deadlier than Doc's three-gun pistol rig is his own death-wish. Never mess with a man whose motto is: "Say when!"

Wyatt, Doc and Co. have made the ultimate Western mistake. They have Tried To Leave the Past Behind Them. Fools! Don't they know that only breeds mayhem?

Now, understand that Tombstone, Arizona in 1889 is like a college town the day before graduation where in addition to being drunk and violent, all the men are carrying guns and big ... buck knives. The Cowboys run the show and don't rightly appreciate Mr. Earp and his pals throwing their weight around. Before long, insults turn to fisticuffs, which turns to gunplay, which turns to Wyatt Earp using his boot spur to give cowardly Ike Clanton a no-frills facial massage, saying, "All right you cur! You've called down the thunder....you tell 'em I'm coming, and hell's coming with me!"

When Wyatt says stuff like that, you should take him at his word.
Stupidly, the Cowboys don't, and luckily for us, the OK Corral shootemup is just the beginning of the mayhem. Suffice to say by the time the final credits roll, Boot Hill is a growth industry.

This is a great, fun movie that is not meant to be taken seriously, as Kevin Costner's pompous, overdrawn "Wyatt Earp" apparently was. It's just entertainment, and the actors, most especially Val Kilmer, have a blast living out their childhood fantasies of playing Once Upon a Time in the West. You will too. Like Wyatt, "I'll take my oath on it."

The fight's commenced, folks....now get to fightin' or get away!

Rating:
Summary: The Best Western Ever Made. One of the best flicks ever.
Review: This is entertainment. Loaded with fantastic storytelling, through both character development and narration. Kilmer and Russell both give the performances of a lifetime. The entire ensemble cast was perfect. The costuming, cinematography, imagery and script were all unbelievable.

This film has the tendency to come across as a big budget, blockbuster wannabe. And it should have been. However, there are layers to this movie that require multiple viewings to really find. The "Revelations" references are brilliant, and inspiring. (at least to me)

Other reviewers mention the cameos and small supporting roles. I think Billy Bob Thornton steals that show.

Buy it. Watch it. Great Movie.

Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE GREAT MODERN WESTERNS!
Review: Along with the Outlaw Josey Wales, this is one of the great Westerns of the last 25 - 30 years. The cast is absolutely fantastic and there's really not a weak performance.

Kurt Russell is great as Wyatt Earp and Powers Boothe and Michael Biehn are fantastic as two of the villians. But perhaps the best performance was Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday, suffering from alcoholism and tuberculosis, but always there to help out in gun fights.

Great action, great drama! The DVD adds in severa minutes of deleted footage along with commentary, featurettes, and more. A Must See!

Rating:
Summary: A Perfect Western
Review: I've read the other glowing reviews for this film and I have to agree. This is one DVD I watch over and over again. There were so many great actors in this one, and not just the A-listed ones. Everytime I watch this film I wonder how come Val Kilmer never won an award or was even nominated for his portrayal of Doc Holiday in this film. I truly enjoy a good western and I put this one right up there with "The Outlaw Josey Wales" and "High Plains Drifter".

Rating:
Summary: Legends Reborn
Review: Being from Arizona and growing up with the legends of Tombstone, I am immediately skeptical of any Hollywood western that tries to depict the actual story on screen. I was very impressed with Tombstone. The way the movie presented the actual lives of the Earps, who all REALLY had ex-prostitute wives and of Doc Holiday, who really wasn't a very good guy, are worth recognition. Being careful not wash the dirt off the story by Hollywood splendor, the film delivers a very gritty and accurate account of the events leading up to and after the now famous gunfight at the OK Corral. The film also reminds us that the "heros" in the story weren't powerful, heroic or perfect men, they were just men. It is also worth noting that Val Kilmer gave one of the most incredible performances of his career as Doc Holiday, a shady southern gambler inflicted with tuberculosis. I fully recommend this movie to anyone looking for a great modern western.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing DVD!
Review: Everything about this DVD is worth the [money]. First and foremost, the director's cut of the movie is so good it makes you wonder why it wasn't released to theaters like this. The theatrical release was like a middle age Young Guns, but this edition of the film is a real character study. Now, they movie does play fast and loose with the facts, but hey, we are here to enjoy ourselves, and this movie does that. For all of you who appreciated Val Kilmer's Doc Holliday there are more scenes with him, and it will make you wish that he was the focus not Wyatt Earp. The second DVD has some great extras and a really good behind the scenes look at the movie. If extras are you thing you won't be overwhelmed, but you won't be very disappointed either. It isn't the most packed DVD, but it isn't baren either. It is a good look at the movie, and it makes you appreciate the film a bit more, which is what a good DVD extra should do. BUY THIS DVD SET!

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best "New" Westerns Ever
Review: Do not hesitate. How can all of us be wrong? I promise you will love this movie. It has everything a good movie requires to survive over time. I have watched this movie numerous times and enjoy it more and more each time. One of my favorites by far.

Rating:
Summary: I said throw down, boy
Review: I'm not that big on westerns, but this movie and Unforgiven really hooked me. There was enough variety between the characters in this one to keep the film interesting. Doc Holiday was comical, Wyatt serious, and Ike was more repulsive than an Oscar-unworthy Michael Moore.

A few flaws with the film...when Curly Bill emerges from the tent high on opium, he uses his six shooters to shoot about 50 bullets into the air. Also, when he shoots at the window, the window shatters about two full seconds after he fires.

But I can't say I was disappointed to see the tight-wearing ballerina man took a bullet, thus ending any further torment we'd have endured from his Shakespeare babbling hom-o-ramas.

Entertaining and justice-serving.

Rating:
Summary: great dvd
Review: George P. Cosmatos epic western 'Tombstone' is the western genre at its fullest capability. It's the story of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and his brothers, especially focusing around Tombstone and its aftermath. Kurt Russell plays Wyatt Earp, Val Kilmer plays Doc Holliday, Sam Elliott plays Virgil Earp, Bill Paxton plays Morgan Earp, Powers Boothe plays Curly Bill, Michael Biehn plays Johnny Ringo, Jason Priestley plays Deputy Billy Breckinridge, Stephen Lang plays Ike Clanton, Thomas Haden Church plays Billy Clanton, Dana Delany plays Josephine Marcus, Billy Zane plays Fabian--all play their roles brilliantly. Charleton Heston, Billy Bob Thornton Wyatt Earp III, and Micheal Rooker have cameos and Robert Mitchum narrates. I mean with a cast like that how can you go wrong. The story is great, the cinematography is great, the writing is great, and the production value is great. You cannot go wrong with this film. And the dvd is a 2 disc set, packaged very nicely in a slipcover case with a map of Tombstone. It contains a commentary track, a three part making of featurette, a 'tombstone timeline', the OK Corral storyboard sequence, Faro for the computer, and other extras. It's a great movie and a great value for the dvd package.

Rating:
Summary: Mixes Both The Old And New West
Review: Bruce Broughton's work on director George P. Cosmatos's Tombstone is my favorite film score from the composer. Since the film has all the trademarks of a western but still manages to be very different, Broughton's score does the same thing. The music captures the spirit of the of the old west with an expansive theme and in track 5's Thespian Overture. As the score plays out though the music takes a few great twists. Some of the best twists can be heard in both Street Standoff and The OK Corral cues. The tension builds in these tracks using quiet rumblings and little guitar. In the latter track, the music falls off mid-point and then comes back with an almost millitaristic sound. Lots of drums, horns, and a fraction of synthesizer, but not too much.. thanfully. All of this stuff makes for a great soundtrack to a great film.

The music on the CD represents a fairly complete score. There are 18 tracks on the disc and it has a generous running time of 66:42. It also has a word from the composer about his work in the liner booklet. The CD is highly recommended