Rating: 
Summary: What about a DVD release?
Review: A Fistful of Dynamite is a very enjoyable western full of plenty of action that. A Mexican bandit, Juan, robs a stagecoach with his gang of family members when he runs into IRA fugitive and demolitions expert, John Mallory, on his motorcycle traveling across the desert. At first, they do not get along, but soon begin working together. Juan and John become involved in the Mexican Revolution and Juan inadvertently frees hundred of political prisoners from what he thought was a bank. Eventually, the two become heroes of the revolution. Along the way, a sadistic officer with his well-armed militia begins to track them down for all of the trouble they have caused. This is a very exciting movie with plenty of good action scenes as well as great, fully-developed characters. A Fistful of Dynamite is not Sergio Leone's best movie, but it is still very good and well worth a watch if you can find a copy. Rod Steiger and James Coburn are great together as the two men who team up to work together during the Mexican Revolution. Their friendship is the high point of the movie along with the impressive action sequences, most notably the bridge explosion halfway through the movie. I've always thought this was one of Coburn's best performances, and Steiger is no slouch either. This is a great spaghetti western that does slow some with politics, but it is still a great movie. I hope this one gets an official DVD release since the VHS copies are getting harder to find. The VHS is of decent quality, but deserves a better release. For a great action movie with excellent characters and action, check out A Fistful of Dynamite!
Rating:
Summary: A-1 Sergio Leone western, great Coburn & Steiger roles too!
Review: I hadn't seen this film in years but it was showing the other night when I was at my mother's house. We were both riveted by it and I suddenly remembered seeing thie Sergio Leone movie as a kid and being haunted by the music as well as the plot. The plot involves an Irish revolutionary who is experienced in blowing things up who escapes the law in Ireland, goes on the lam and ends up in Mexico, only to be taken in by a bunch of criminals (the boss played to perfection by Rod Steiger) who nickname Coburn "Firecracker" for his amazing skill with dynamite. The whole bunch is, in turn, caught up in the Mexican Revolution.
I know this was supposed to be a part of a trilogy by Leone but this movie stands alone just fine. Both Coburn and Steiger play guys who are, at first, totally self-interested and then begin to need each other but so slowly that it is completely believable. Nothing seems inevitable in this movie and saccharine, sentimental and schlocky this movie is not.
After watching this, I just wondered: WHY don't they make movies like this anymore, not only full of action and pure macho (there are plenty of those movies still being made) but the kind of male characters that have some depth, heart and believable, unique personalities?
Rating: 
Summary: A Fistful of Dynamite
Review: I saw the original movie on TV and I thought it was great. So I purchased it from Amazon.com (VHS) and little did I know it was an edited version. They need to release a DVD/VHS uncut version. The edited version messed up the whole movie.
Rating:
Summary: I was 13 all over again...
Review: I saw this movie in '72 at its debut. I didn't know anything about the politics or who the actors were. I was 13 years old and out with my friends. "DUCK, YOU SUCKER!" was written across the marquee (the original title) and we just had to see this movie. It might have been the action or it might have been puberty, but I fell in love with this movie. Years later, after the re-release on video, I got to see the movie all over again. Unlike the unfortunate "HARD DAYS NIGHT," this movie WAS just as good as the first time I saw it. Leone got the mix right. This film flows with style. James Coburn (one of my favorite actors because of this role) has a natural understated manner played against the mad fire breathing Rod Steiger. This pairing resulted from the practice he had with the infamous Clint Eastwood / Eli Wallach characters in "THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY." Like all Leone films, the music will stay with you long after the film. Morricone's soundtracks were always ahead of their time. Always haunting and heavy handed. The movie is full of contrast. The IRA soldier on the run meets with an unlikely rebel army...on the run. Steiger is the black kettle constantly boiling over while Coburn is the subdued warrior looking for his last battle. Steiger desperately needs this crazy bomber "with the balls like the bull" to help him focus his rage into a winning campaign. Coburn needs a constant distraction from painful memories of a home he cannot return to. The flashbacks are frequent and confusing, but it all comes together in the end. My political views swung from the left when I was a child to the right when I knew better and I still get caught up in the revolution in this movie. I was delighted to see this movie re-released on video and will be the first to buy it on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: I was 13 all over again...
Review: I saw this movie in '72 at its debut. I didn't know anything about the politics or who the actors were. I was 13 years old and out with my friends. "DUCK, YOU SUCKER!" was written across the marquee (the original title) and we just had to see this movie. It might have been the action or it might have been puberty, but I fell in love with this movie. Years later, after the re-release on video, I got to see the movie all over again. Unlike the unfortunate "HARD DAYS NIGHT," this movie WAS just as good as the first time I saw it. Leone got the mix right. This film flows with style. James Coburn (one of my favorite actors because of this role) has a natural understated manner played against the mad fire breathing Rod Steiger. This pairing resulted from the practice he had with the infamous Clint Eastwood / Eli Wallach characters in "THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY." Like all Leone films, the music will stay with you long after the film. Morricone's soundtracks were always ahead of their time. Always haunting and heavy handed. The movie is full of contrast. The IRA soldier on the run meets with an unlikely rebel army...on the run. Steiger is the black kettle constantly boiling over while Coburn is the subdued warrior looking for his last battle. Steiger desperately needs this crazy bomber "with the balls like the bull" to help him focus his rage into a winning campaign. Coburn needs a constant distraction from painful memories of a home he cannot return to. The flashbacks are frequent and confusing, but it all comes together in the end. My political views swung from the left when I was a child to the right when I knew better and I still get caught up in the revolution in this movie. I was delighted to see this movie re-released on video and will be the first to buy it on DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: Change of Pace
Review: I saw this movie when it was originally released, mainly because of James Coburn, whose work in "Our Man Flint" (ok, so I was only 17) I had also enjoyed. Be warned, this movie is really two movies in one. The first half is a light comedy, but the second half turns dark and sad. James Coburn projects an undercurrent of a man who may not regret his past, but would like to re-live it. The movie is set in the American West in the early 1900's. Coburn is an Irish Republican Army terroist who had to flee Ireland and is trying to hide out. Rod Steiger plays a Mexican peasant who robs people for a living. After robbing a custom stagecoach, Coburn happens along and Steiger tries to have some fun with Coburn. Without giving the movie away, the results are not what was expected. Coburn and Steiger end up going after the same goal, for differnt reasons. Again, the result is not what either expects. The end result is a lesson learned by both. The acting play between Coburn and Steiger is very good, the story is definitely original, and many emotions are touched. This movie will stick with you for a long time.
Rating:
Summary: Strange and entertaining political Leone western
Review: Originally and horribly titled "Duck, you sucker", Fistful of Dynamite is a very political western circa early `70s. Rod Steiger plays the role of a Mexican bandit who ends up in a partnership with James Coburn.Coburn is an expat Irish revolutionary, complete with dynamite and a motorcycle on the run in Mexico. Both are simply excellent in their roles even though Coburn has a tendency to fall in and out of his Irish accent. Politics plays a central role in this film. It opens with a quote from Chairman Mao on the nature of violence and revolution. The first scene is chock full of class warfare as Steiger's character is humiliated by the upper-class riders on the stage. Slowly Stieger is converted from bandit to revolutionary by Coburn. This is also one of Leone's most violent films (which is saying a lot); in one scene government troops are shown massacring hundreds in retaliation for rebel attacks.
You don't have to be left wing to enjoy Fistful of Dynamite. Neither side is really pictured in a positive manner; even the rebel leadership is duplicitous and even treasonous. In the end this is a very entertaining film, which has been in the shadow of Leone's other works. Interestingly he originally wanted to call this "Once Upon a Time, a Revolution", the first part of a Once Upon a Time trilogy. And of course don't miss the eerie and downright weird Ennio Morricone score (which I've been looking for since I watched this film).
Rating:
Summary: Italian restored DVD release far exceeds the MGM R2 DVD
Review: Possibly my favorite of the Leone films. Please note that the R2 Italian restored DVD release of this film is FAR superior to the R2 Uk release in terms of both picture and sound. Look for the screenshot comaprisons on the web, they're out there. The Italians have fully restored the picture and have remastered the soundtrack in 5.1 dolby but unfortunately is in the Italian language only with NO subtitles whatsoever. The Italian release also includes a short documentary on Leone as well. Let's just hope that the powers that be can 'acquire' the Italian restored transfer for the Region 1 release. The films of Sergio Leone deserve nothing less...
Rating:
Summary: Italian restored DVD release far exceeds the MGM R2 DVD
Review: Possibly my favorite of the Leone films. Please note that the R2 Italian restored DVD release of this film is FAR superior to the R2 Uk release in terms of both picture and sound. Look for the screenshot comaprisons on the web, they're out there. The Italians have fully restored the picture and have remastered the soundtrack in 5.1 dolby but unfortunately is in the Italian language only with NO subtitles whatsoever. The Italian release also includes a short documentary on Leone as well. Let's just hope that the powers that be can 'acquire' the Italian restored transfer for the Region 1 release. The films of Sergio Leone deserve nothing less...
Rating:
Summary: A great film by a great director!
Review: This movie has been one of my favorites for years. James Coburn and Rod Steiger are great in their roles, expecially Steiger. The story about a Mexican bandit who's drawn unwilingly into a revolution by an Irish explosive expert combines both superb action scenes, great drama, humor and also has a brilliant score by Ennio Morricone. A must for Leone fans and everybody else should try to see it if they get a chance!
|
