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Summary: This Movie is as Good as ' The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly '!!
Review: In Short and sweet review of this violent western epic, to me this is a great film to watch, and the music is HOT!! Whoops, did I mention the word violent, eh? Well dear friends, the old west days were not all "sugar & spice with every thing nice" and NO "tip toe thru the tulips", was not to be had in that xtreme violent times of yore! Both ' The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly ' and this film are very real, as real as it can be.
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Summary: my favorite western
Review: If there ever was an western opera this is it. In classic Leone fassion no character is truely good, just not as evil as Frank. Our anti hero Harmonica is out for vengence for a wrong that writing about would only detract from the film. Leone's style has been copied many times over but never as good. In this his masterpiece we spend minutes between dialogue which gives us time to take in every inch of the west and the sorted characters that inhabit Leone's films. There are no white hats, no clean shaven hero or classic lady needs saving. It feels as if you can almost smell the dust on the jackets and persperation on the brows. The tempo of the film has peeks but slows to a great build for the finale. Ennio Morricone's score keeps the pace of the film and at times makes my chest swell and heart flutter. I grow sad now with the passing of Charles Bronson. Although he made a career out of Death Wishs in the later years, this film shows how much more he had to offer.
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Summary: The Classic Spagetti Western
Review: Anyone who enjoys westerns, especially the early Clint Eastwood movies will want this movie in their collection. This is is the best of genre. Jack Elam's cameo performance in the opening is a real must see. The cast is great with Jason Robards and Charles Bronson turning in some of thier finest work. Henry Fonda is excellent as the heavy.
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Summary: I knew a DVD version would be released soon!
Review: Back in late April I got word that this epic movie would be shown once on the 22nd of June, a Sunday, on TCM (Turner Classic Movies) at 6PM Eastern. Generally, I don't remember such details, but a movie like OUTW is a rare film that should be considered by ANY lover of the cinema, especially those interested in independent flicks, cinematic musical scores or film production. I made mention in a forum discussing OUTW in June that a DVD should be coming out soon since the wide screen transfer (which looked like a direct transfer from the original print), was aired on TCM and discovered now that it would finally be released! About letterboxed and pan & scan: If you liked the movie while watching the butchered versions on television from years ago, you'll be amazed at the wide screen transfer, since the movie was filmed in Techniscope @ 2.35:1. Some of you shudder at the new "letterbox" release of movies, feeling that the film is not filling your standard TV screen, but this reviewer is a photographer who understands how cropping kills what an image is trying to show. You'll actually be getting the other part of the movie that the television execs chopped off to fit the movie onto your screen. Some still don't understand how this works, so at the bottom, I'll give you an example that might help. Sergio Leone intended this movie to be seen in widescreen on a large screen, and your 19" typical television really doesn't do justice to the film. I'm sure he's smiling more now since his films can be appreciated on larger screen TVs or the projection monitors in the aspect he had intended. But make no mistake. You should easily be entertained by watching OUTW on any screen because it's simply that great. From Sergio Leone to Carlo Leva (an uncredited member of the set decoration team) and from Henry Fonda to Luana Strode (the Indian woman, uncredited in the movie and actually the wife of late actor Woody Strode, who plays Stony [the bald man] in the opening scene), every member of the cast and crew gave their all in the production of this movie, which I consider one of the best epic movies ever made. Why? Everything comes together. The story, lighting, framing, acting, and those amazing close-ups in which Leone brought out the intensity of the eyes. Watch the eyes, because the way the actors used theirs is incredible. You'll see that the film grabbed you when you start whistling or humming the music (Ennio Morricone's scores) even decades after watching it. The music is still in my head after I first saw it on TV in the 1970s. A particular thanks and sincere homage to Leone, Fonda, Strode, Frank Wolff, Jason Robards, Al Mulock, and most recently, Charles Bronson. They and all others involved in OUTW who have passed are timeless with the production and release of this beautiful movie. Okay, for the ones who want to understand about letterbox... this is a crude but effective way to demonstrate what happens when a movie is "reformmated to fit your screen." Find a business envelope and draw a simple sunset scene where the sun is on the extreme left and two stickfigure people are on the extreme right. Imagine the scene as real in your mind and then with your pretty scene facing you, stand in front of your TV set and hold it between you and the set until the vertical edges of the envelope match up with the edges of the screen. As you mask the TV with the envelope, you'll see those same bars above and below on your set which demonstrates the letterboxing on your TV. Now, pull your picture towards you until 3 sides of the envelope meet up with 3 of the 4 sides of the edges of your screen behind it. Once you do that, fold the envelope back where the remaining 4th edge of the screen meets behind your drawing. The 2/3rds of the picture you folded back represent your TV screen format. The other part (either the sunset or the people enjoying it) would be cropped if your image were transferred to your TV screen to fill it. The envelope's size represents what the film format of OUTW is. That part of the envelope you folded back is the amount of movie that has to be cropped out, or "reformmatted" to fit your TV, which effectively kills the moment. The cropped areas are what should be restored in the DVD, scenes that enhance the enjoyment of what Leone intended you to really see.
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Summary: Bronson is King!
Review: Sergio Leone managed to cement himself in fim history, when Once Upon A Time in The West was released. The film stars, Claudia Cardinale, Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, and a very underatted Charles Bronson. The shots and scenes are long, and very creative. The movie is very involving, and every time Charles Bronson is on screen, the mood is immediately lightened up. The visuals are stunning, and the story about revenge is brilliant. Leone used flashbacks, and quick, smart dialogues to keep up the suspense. Although many people may find that this movie runs a little too long, it is definitely a milestone in filmmaking. Also a mention to the ever consistent Ennio Morricone's beautiful score, like the unforgettable and haunting harmonica theme. I'm glad that this film is being released on DVD, as it should have a while ago. This a definitely a must have film for your collection.
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Summary: Absolutely the Greatest Western Ever!
Review: Folks, anyone who loves fantastic cinema, not just fantastic Westerns, absolutely must see the uncut, full 3-hour, LETTERBOX version of the masterpiece, Once Upon A Time In The West. This film competes for #1 in my top ten list, Western or otherwise. Don't make the mistake of watching the hack versions on T.V., you have to see it all on DVD. The stunning cinematography is scored beautifully, and is guaranteed to leave a nostalgic lump in your throat. Acting, directing, even the lighting is flawless. It's about as perfect as filmmaking will ever be. DO NOT miss this one.
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Summary: great western..but not the best ever
Review: I love this movie also, and am tremendously excited about it coming to dvd. However, please! Some of your overwrought fans should realize the best western ever made is the Duke's RED RIVER and a verrryy close second the Duke's THE SEARCHERS. WATCH THEM AGAIN OR THE FIRST TIME...and then decide . Having grown up watching westerns as a youngin' in the 1950's, both in vast numbers on t.v and in the movies, I feel absolutely qualified to make these statements.
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Summary: Once Upon a Time in the West
Review: When it comes to Sergio Leone, most people like to hold up THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY as his best movie, but believe me, one viewing of ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST will convince you that Leone definitely hit his stride with this western masterpiece, even without the aid of the great Clint Eastwood. Leone's signature closeups, dramatic pauses, duels, and ever-moving camera abound in OUATITW, but it's the injection of touching humanistic stories and the railroad tycoon subplot that enriches this flick above the rest. Best western ever? Maybe. It's definitely high on the list. Best Leone flick? Definitely. A must-have? Absolutely. Oh, and did I mention the score? ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST has the best western score ever, even better than THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN. I hate to use the word "haunting", but that's what it is, and it matches the feeling of the picture exactly. Buy this DVD already.
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Summary: Encore
Review: The 2nd best western of all time - after the Outlaw Josey Wales.
Captivating characters and story from beginning to end...like reading a good book. As a bonus you will see the greatest gunfight ever filmed (next would be the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly).
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Summary: SIMPLY AWESOME!!!
Review: THIS MOVIE IS THE GREATEST WESTERN EVER MADE AND ONE OF THE TOP FILMS EVER MADE!!!
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