Once Upon a Time in the West

Rating:
Summary: Perry
Review: This a most currently the best western out. I an a big fan of Clint Eastwood, however, this movie with Henry Fonda playing a bad guy is great! Rent it first, I bet you will but it.

Rating:
Summary: Best Western Ever Made
Review: Other reviews have already said it. Once Upon a Time In the West is the best western ever made. Henry Fonda is the personification of evil. The slow pace, film score, majestic photography, superb acting, and inspired vision combine to make a spellbinding work that rivets you to the screen even when nothing is happening.. To be appreciated the film must be seen wide screen. It is inexplicable that this masterpiece has not been released on DVD. I have seen over 3000 movies in my life. Once Upon a Time in the West is in my top ten. Every now and then it will come to the Castro in San Francisco. The theater is always packed; the film always begins with loud applause, and always ends with a standing ovation. People will often go to see it twice, knowing there may be many years before they can see it on the big screen again. The next best thing will be the release on DVD, an event that will be cause for celebration by film lovers around the world.

Rating:
Summary: A cinematic masterpiece.
Review: It's rare that you find a motion picture film where characters are given their own themes. This is one of those rare treats. With an opera score, Leone achieves a pinnacle of cinematographical architecture. Even the scenes complained about as being tedious and long have achieved their purpose - to make the viewer experience the tedium the characters experience! Leone is truly a master of utilizing the camera as a character of the story, a technique which so many in Hollywood seem to not understand.

This is not a film to be watched as the exposition of an interesting plot with entertaining dialog and catchy one-line retorts. One would not view a Monet exhibit and comment on being able to see the brushstrokes, nor would one listen to Beethoven and complain that there are too few instruments. This film should be treated similarly.

Rating:
Summary: Make This DVD The Definitive Version !
Review: Who ever makes This DVD better make it the best it can be!
Digital sound
Widescreen
Original cut (not choped up version!)
Remasterd
Lots of extras
Or as you can see their will be alot of upset people.
Thats all we ask.

Rating:
Summary: the best
Review: THE MOST REAL PORTRAYAL OF THE OLD AMERICAN WEST EVER MADE.

Rating:
Summary: Please release on dvd soon
Review: This is a must release, must own digitally remastered on dvd. When will it happen???

Rating:
Summary: Slick Design Western
Review: The coolest western of all time. Incredibly shot, with the atmospheric Morricone score. The opening shot is still the longest single tracking shot in movie history. When Leone was filming it he had the actual score played on loud speakers as it was filmed.

Detailed characters, weathered faces and a finale which leaves you breathless... Bring it out on dvd with digital sound PLEASE!!!

Rating:
Summary: High Art as Spaghetti Western!
Review: Occasionally, one encounters an example of film, music, etc. which transcends its genre to become a major artistic achievement. "Once Upon a Time in the West" does exactly that. Director Sergio Leone did virtually nothing that he hadn't done in his string of prior westerns; this time he created a work of stunning beauty, riveting tension and dense emotional impact.

The bare bones outline of the story (written by Leone, Bernardo Bertoluci and Dario Argento) is almost a western cliche: unscrupulous railroad tycoon wants land owned by local homesteader and sends hired gunman to persuade him to vacate. Gunman kills homesteader but homesteader's widow, with help from locals, triumphs in the end. But reducing this movie to the above is like Woody Allen describing "War and Peace" as "about some Russians". Gabriele Ferzetti, as Morton (using crutches and wearing a neck brace) hires gunman Frank (Henry Fonda) to "clear away obstacles" as his railway extends. Fonda plays about the most chilling villain in movie history. Utterly amoral and with a sadistic element barely concealed by his coldness Frank murders an entire family (including the young son). When Morton later admonishes "I told you only to scare them" Frank answers matter of factly "People scare better when they're dyin'".

Opposing Morton and Frank are characters whose goodness lies well below layers of complexity. Widow Jill, played by Claudia Cardinale, is a former New Orleans whore, taking advantage of a marriage proposal in order to begin again. She projects alternating facades of toughness and fragility, concealing real durability. she's unafraid to do whatever is required for survival but does spend a lot of time being bullied by the men around her and she immediately elicits our concern. The brilliant Jason Robards plays local outlaw, Cheyenne, who has cowed the entire community, but finds it in himself to care about Jill and to take up her cause. Laconic Charles Bronson is Harmonica (so named by Cheyenne), a man who is tailing Frank. Beyond this we know nothing and learn little until the end.

Like most Leone works, "Once..." is a visual treat (one should consider the surprising aesthetic effect his visuals had on an audience used to the comparitavely tepid Hollywood Western). The director outdoes himself here, using Montana's Monument Valley to great effect and rendering his characters true to period (grimy, unkenpt and probably malodorous) and simultaneously visually arresting. He uses lengthy shots of the actor's eyes, particularly in the climactic scene. Fonda's blues convey the icy murderousness of his character and a little squint by Bronsonsets up the "why" of their relationship. Leone's long stills, whether of people or scenery do not bore, rather small tics, gestures and movements become heightened in importance.

In addition, the score by Ennio Morricone is brilliant. Each major character has a musical motif which supports without being intrusive. Much of the incidental music is also well done (listen to the percussion/piano background during Frank's shootout with his former employees). Morricone's score also seems to heighten its absence. Long stretches of silence or desert sounds create a tension which slowly builds, then either climaxes or ebbs.

I first saw this movie in 1970, not too long after is was released. When I left the theater I found it occupying my head more than just about any film I'd seen to date. I've seen it on late night television about a half dozen times but bad editing turns it into nothing more than a pretty good movie (kind of like trimming "La Guernica" to make wallpaper). I was thrilled to see that it had been released intact and have watched it several times since getting a copy. It still occupies my head for a long time afterward.

Rating:
Summary: Very cool western!
Review: A spaghetti western to go in the hall of fame! The musical representation of the characters is great! The cool gunslingers are awesome! Henry Fonda is sexy & frightening all at once! The story is powerful! The climax is orgasmic! A must-have for all cowboy fans!!!

Rating:
Summary: Best Western Ever
Review: Right from the opening scene to the final show down it holds you spellbound Not many movies can go the first 10 minutes without a word said and hold you transfixed.Needs to be put on DVD with Dolby Digital to make it even bettor.