Rating: 
Summary: A true western classic
Review: Along with Clint Eastwood, John Wayne is the greatest on-screen cowboy of all time. This 1970 western film proves that and so does so many other great movies he's starred in. "Rio Lobo" has plenty of action and gun fights (The train robbery is especially fun to watch) and some of the dialoge was hilarious. I've seen this about a million times and I still like it. Go add "Rio Lobo" to your western movie collection today!
Rating:
Summary: A true western classic
Review: Along with Clint Eastwood, John Wayne is the greatest on-screen cowboy of all time. This 1970 western film proves that and so does so many other great movies he's starred in. "Rio Lobo" has plenty of action and gun fights (The train robbery is especially fun to watch) and some of the dialoge was hilarious. I've seen this about a million times and I still like it. Go add "Rio Lobo" to your western movie collection today!
Rating: 
Summary: Rio Con Queso
Review: By 1970, John Wayne had his Oscar in his pocket and Rio Lobo on some inspection looks like just a lot of good, clean fun he and the cast decided to have, with no particular regard for making cinematic history. The plot rambles and has some implausabilities-like why does the Duke, who plays a Yankee, go home to Blackthorne, Texas? And Jorge Rivero as a Confederate officer takes some getting used to. Same thing, different reason, with Jennifer O'Neill. She seems too contemporary for a historic setting and her acting is questionable. However, by dogies, she is just so beautiful (and one of the hottest actresses in demand in the early 70's) that she can be forgiven for any dramatic failings.
One of the strengths of the film is the Duke's self-deprecating humor is in fine display, and so is John Wayne himself. Chisum, which was made about this time, is a better film in my estimation, but Mr. Wayne is practically relegated to a supporting player in it. In Rio Lobo he is in almost every scene and that alone makes it a pleasure to watch. Jack Elam hams it up and David Huddleston adds a nice touch of comedy. Trivia buffs will enjoy Sherri Lansing (future studio head) in the near buff and George Plimpton, fresh off his Paper Tiger days, getting a bit role as a short-lived bad guy.
As for improving the movie, it suffers because the death of the lieutenant, which is the main motivating force for Wayne's character to go after the bad guys, is little seen by the audience. We need to connect with this guy so we feel strongly that justice must be done. This character should have been played by a well-known actor in a cameo role. An obvious choice would have been Patrick Wayne. Then the audience would know the character even though their presence onscreen is brief and make a stronger emotional connection with them. Another thing is the sheriff of Rio Lobo is supposed to be a really mean hombre, but we don't have enough scenes with him to establish this. At the very least, a scene should be added where he brutally questions the Sherri Lansing character and scars her. It wouldn't have to be graphic-just enough to once again emotionally connect with the audience.
Mr. Wayne's DVDs are not getting the attention that his fans deserve! George Plimpton had a television special on making Rio Lobo-this should be an extra included. And, my gosh, The Alamo had 500,000 feet of film shot-some by John Ford. What do we get in bonus material? ZIP! NADA! JACKSQUAT! C'mon Hollywood, this is THE most important film actor of the 20th Century! Get off yer duffs and find this stuff. This is HISTORY!
Rating:
Summary: Good movie!
Review: Howard Hawk's swansong is a good one. The train robbery at the beginning of the movie is exceptionally done, and it gets this film off to a fast start. It sags a bit in the middle, but is bolstered by the comic performance of Jack Elam, who is downright hilarious. Great gunfight at the end. Supporting actors are OK, but could have been a whole lot better. You couldn't find two more beautiful women than Jennifer O'Neill and Sherry Lansing, and they certainly add to the dynamics of the movie.Duke, as usual, delivers a fine performance. The similarities in plot line to El Dorado and Rio Bravo are obvious, but Hawks again does a very nice job. Jack Elam's character really saves this movie, though, because the middle is downright slow. Overall, not John Wayne's best, but good.
Rating:
Summary: Good movie!
Review: Howard Hawk's swansong is a good one. The train robbery at the beginning of the movie is exceptionally done, and it gets this film off to a fast start. It sags a bit in the middle, but is bolstered by the comic performance of Jack Elam, who is downright hilarious. Great gunfight at the end. Supporting actors are OK, but could have been a whole lot better. You couldn't find two more beautiful women than Jennifer O'Neill and Sherry Lansing, and they certainly add to the dynamics of the movie. Duke, as usual, delivers a fine performance. The similarities in plot line to El Dorado and Rio Bravo are obvious, but Hawks again does a very nice job. Jack Elam's character really saves this movie, though, because the middle is downright slow. Overall, not John Wayne's best, but good.
Rating:
Summary: A guilty pleasure
Review: I'll make this short and sweet. Lobo has an affectionate place in my heart. Yes it's the third time we've seen this movie, Bravo and El Dorado are basically the same thing, except they're better overall. BUT, Lobo is so much damn fun. I used to watch it with my grandfather and we'd die laughing at many of the film's fine comedic elements. Jennifer O'Neill is awful, but so cute, Elam is fine as usual, Victor French is slightly wasted but also good - etc. etc. Duke is... well playing a part he could do in his sleep, but he is none the less likable and funny "don't say COMFORTABLE". And the true star of the film is without doubt, Jerry Goldsmith's score. It only clocks in at around 40 minutes worth of music. BUT, oh what a great 40 minutes they are. For Jerry's score and the film's wonderful comedic underpinnings, I have no choice but to say it's a keeper!
Rating:
Summary: Hawk's last western.
Review: Not quite as good as Rio Bravo and El Dorado, Hawk's last western is still quality material and recommendable because of story-line and the presence of Wayne and Elam. Jorge Rivero and Christopher Mitchum make very weak sidekicks but the girls are a delight to watch! Although slightly disappointing compared to Rio Bravo and El Dorado still worth buying. 3 and a half star!
Rating:
Summary: Not the best, but entertaining
Review: OK, it's not the best western ever produced. It's more of a full color film in the style of the old Republic westerns of the 30s and 40s. What it does have is a pretty fast moving story line, scene stealing character actors, and very pretty music (except for Jack Elam's mouth harp...). John Wayne is moving from leading man with love interest to lovable old coot. Jorge Rivera takes over as the hunk. This is early in his acting career and very early in his English, but he's a doll to look at and OBTW, he does an outstanding leap over a fence. Christopher Mitchum looks very much like his father, and the chemistry between him and Wayne is similar to that of his father and Wayne (see Bob in El Dorado and Chris later in Big Jake). This was Jennifer O'Neal's first movie, and it shows. But Wayne was famous for introducing new actors, even when it was clear they needed practice. Must have been because of the way Wayne himself was mentored in the 30s by John Ford, et. al. Watch his early work and see his own improvement. Sherry Lansing was sexy and later vengeful. In the latter role, she, too, chewed up the scenery. She could have had a respectable acting career, but chose to shatter the movie mogul glass ceiling instead, and more power to her. Then there's the scene stealers. David Huddleston can steal one just by being in it. Victor French is both scary and a coward simultaneously, a hard combination, but he can certainly pull it off. Hank Worden only had one scene, but he's as neat as ever. And finally, Jack Elam was a scenery chewing, crazy eyed loonie, with some of the funniest lines in the whole movie. No, it's not the best, but I like it. It will always be in my personal movie stash.
Rating:
Summary: Haven't we seen this story before?
Review: Rio Lobo is a good John Wayne western that borrows from several of his previous movies. The story is about a Union colonel trying to find out who the traitor was in his unit that sold information about gold shipments to Confederate guerillas. Along the way he helps a town escape the wrath of a rich landowner and a corrupt sheriff. The story may seem similar, but this still is a very entertaining movie. What John Wayne movie isn't? The story blends action and story together in this exciting western. The Duke is great once again as Cord McNally, the Union colonel in pursuit of traitors. Jorge Rivero is awkward as Pierre "Frenchy" Cordona, the Confederate guerilla who helps Wayne. I don't know whether it is actually Rivero talking or someone dubbing his lines in, but it just sounds funny. Joining them are Jennifer O'Neill, Christopher Mitchum, Jack Elam, and Victor French. Elam is great as usual in his role as the eccentric old man in the town. The DVD has a good widescreen presentation that looks cleaned up compared to the one shown on TBS. Otherwise, there isn't any extras added on. This was Howard Hawks last western, and he made a good one. Good story and exciting action. Deserves a watch if nothing else for those who haven't seen this late Duke western!
Rating:
Summary: Haven't we seen this story before?
Review: Rio Lobo is a good John Wayne western that borrows from several of his previous movies. The story is about a Union colonel trying to find out who the traitor was in his unit that sold information about gold shipments to Confederate guerillas. Along the way he helps a town escape the wrath of a rich landowner and a corrupt sheriff. The story may seem similar, but this still is a very entertaining movie. What John Wayne movie isn't? The story blends action and story together in this exciting western. The Duke is great once again as Cord McNally, the Union colonel in pursuit of traitors. Jorge Rivero is awkward as Pierre "Frenchy" Cordona, the Confederate guerilla who helps Wayne. I don't know whether it is actually Rivero talking or someone dubbing his lines in, but it just sounds funny. Joining them are Jennifer O'Neill, Christopher Mitchum, Jack Elam, and Victor French. Elam is great as usual in his role as the eccentric old man in the town. The DVD has a good widescreen presentation that looks cleaned up compared to the one shown on TBS. Otherwise, there isn't any extras added on. This was Howard Hawks last western, and he made a good one. Good story and exciting action. Deserves a watch if nothing else for those who haven't seen this late Duke western!
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