Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely Classic Western
Review: The next paragraphs may make it sound like I don't like this movie, because it's predictable - quite the contrary! This is the absolutely classic western story line: Band of hapless miners/farmers/ranchers/shopkeepers/insert-your-favorite-group-here is being harassed by the local big-shot bully, who is generally making their lives miserable and difficult. Loner-type hero rides into town/camp/the ranch, and helps out a main character that's about to get the snot beaten out of him/her. Instantly, The Lone Stranger is elevated to an almost hero-like status, and the miners/townspeople/what-have-you convince him to stay and help them out. Despite the fact that he has no vested interest in these folks, they touch something deep within him, and he knows it's the right thing to do, so he stays.With somewhat of a heavy hand, it is insinuated that this man is more than he seems - in this case, a preacher with a deadly aim, great fighting skills, and possibly checkered past. Still, he helps miners in their plight against the rich miner who's trying to drive them off of their legal claims, as the miner takes ever more violent strides in his quest. Not only is he evil because of trying to drive off The Decent Folk, but he uses terribly destructive methods to mine for the gold; he yields more ore more quickly, but the area left in his wake is completely destroyed. Of course, at least one of the good miners falls victim to the rich bloke, further steeling everyone's resolve; it's not just A Principle involved, now. During the course of the film, naturally, the female characters fall in love with the preacher (who has no name, though you're not surprised by that, are you?) but he's just not a man to be had. Why, he's a loner, and he'll always be moving on from place to place, perhaps trying to escape his misdeeds of the past, perhaps trying to reconcile the two halves of himself, perhaps just enjoying a wandering lifestyle. Ah, the romantic West! The final confrontation comes, comprising of a really amusing shootout with 6 corrupt deputies, and then, finally, the preacher confronts his old nemesis, a corrupt marshall.
Still, despite the fact that this is indeed one of America's oldest stories, it's an entertaining movie. Even though you are absolutely certain of what's going to happen, the ride is still a good one. Sometimes, there's comfort to be found in stories we know - hence the rich oral tradition of many cultures, retelling the same story over and over, even though everyone knows how it goes, many sit completely enraptured through it. A story need not be new to be good. Young Clint Eastwood is great as the preacher (and as the producer/director,) and Michael Moriarty does a wonderful job as well. This is a must-see western, simply for the sake of seeing this particular story well-told.
Rating: 
Summary: "...and it's rider's name was death"
Review: The situation is familiar enough, previously dramatized in another film, Shane (1953): A stranger appears and becomes involved with good people who are being tormented by a powerful adversary as they struggle to eke out a living as miners camped along a river. Eastwood has duly acknowledged several similarities with Shane while explaining that he wanted to create his own version and commissioned a script based on that basic situation. As for the film's title, as she was reading the Bible with her mother (a widow, played by Carrie Snodgrass), Megan Wheeler (played by Sydney Penny), comes upon this passage: "And I saw, and behold, a pale horse, and its rider's name was death, and hell followed him." Soon after, a lone horseman (Clint Eastwood) dressed as a preacher, rides into camp. His name is never revealed, nor is his background, but the miners soon realize that the Preacher is probably much handier with a gun than he is with holy scripture. Of course, the confrontation with LaHood and his hired gunmen (led by a man named Stockburn) is inevitable. There is a vague but inescapable implication that the Preacher may have once ridden with Stockburn. There is no doubt that they once knew each other. To his credit, Eastwood underplays any Biblical implications. In fact, most of the action occurs slowly. Opportunities to develop a sub plot are rejected, probably because Eastwood wants to sustain the focus on the conflict between decency and mendacity. Although the widow is obviously "taken" with the Preacher and he feels at least some attraction to her (as was also the case with Shane and Marion Starret), the Preacher rides off as the film ends, as does Shane. Hull Barret is Joe Starret's counterpart. Both are willing but neither is equal to the challenge of saving their friends from oppression. Shane and the Preacher become involved because they care about the good folks, of course, but also because (it is implied) their destiny is to confront and eliminate evil, then depart. Stockburn is a contract laborer, as is Jack Wilson in Shane. Literally, a hired gun. Nothing personal, although Stockburn (as portrayed by John Russell) seems to me somewhat world-weary whereas Wilson still seems to enjoy killing whomever he must to complete an assignment. One final point: I have admired as well as enjoyed the development of Eastwood's skills as a director over several decades, beginning with Play Misty for Me (1971). I think there is much greater diversity in his selection and presentation of material as a director than there is as an actor. Some have characterized this as a "noir film" and in certain respects it is. The somber tone he establishes and then sustains in Pale Rider (1985) may well have contributed to the effectiveness of a comparable tone in later films, notably Unforgiven (1992). I am eager to see what new challenges he takes on in films yet to be directed but I am equally eager to see relationships of those films with earlier works such as this.
Rating:
Summary: A decent western for the Eastwood fan!
Review: There is no doubt that this film clones some of Shane, but it also has a unique story to tell. Typical of many westerns, especially Eastwood vehicles, you have this stranger that arrives "out of the blue" to protect the abused. If you enjoy westerns, like Clint Eastwood, & don't mind some violence, then this is not a bad flick. Just try & put "Shane" out of your mind & enjoy it for what it is--escapist fare, lacking in any serious socialogical or psychological statement.
Rating:
Summary: Better than "Unforgiven"!!!
Review: This Clint Eastwood western got little attention in 1985, but it still holds up well today, with Eastwood playing the man with no name mantra, it starts out with many outlaw cowboys terrorizing mountain settlers who they are trying to run off because of possible gold that could be there, we discover that the town's owner wants the mining expedition all to his self & will do anything to acquire it, this is where Eastwood comes in, in which he helps the settlers keep what is theirs, with Michael Moriarty(Law & Order) as the settler's leader & Sydney Penny(T.V.'s All my Children) as his stepdaughter who developes a fixation on Eastwood, we learn he is a priest or so we think who has sort of a mysterious past & not much is known about him, when the town's owner realizes they have outside help, he attempts to bribe him to join his cause, when that fails he then hires a ruthless sherriff & his 6 deputies who uphold whatever law there is to the highest bidder, a sherriff which Eastwood has a past with, but not much is revealed about their past, in which they have a showdown towards the end, this movie has many subplots in it that really work & the look on the shrriff's face when he realizes who he is up against is creepy, I am not sure if Eastwood was trying to make a sequel to "Outlaw of Josey Whales" or what, but it sure plays on that theme as if the sherriff was one he missed in that one, or vice versa, & is better than "Unforgiven" which in some ways could be a sequel to this one, but this one stands out & could be a stand alone movie, it should be noted that Eastwood directed all 3 films, & might have had that intension all along, I used to like "Josey Whales" the best, but this one is the better one I think!!!
Rating: 
Summary: No Alan Ladd
Review: This is of course a rip-off of "Shane," but with the plot modified so Clint can beat up and shoot more people. Otherwise, it follows the classic original right down to ending with a youngster standing on the edge of town shouting "I love you" as the hero rides off (but not wounded as Ladd's character was). One parallel does not work, though. In the 1950 version, we can understand why the Jean Arthur character will be attracted to the clean-shaven, quiet-spoken, peace-preferring Shane. But why would the Carrie Snodgrass character and her nubile daughter played by Sydney Penny possibly be drawn to the scruffy, menacing Preacher, who too obviously relishes the destruction of other human beings?
Rating:
Summary: An 'Above-Average' Movie
Review: This movie just came out a bit over average in my opinion. Frankly speaking, I was sort of disappointed with this movie and I will explain why below.
The plot was not creative at all. Clint Eastwood rides in a settlement of Independent Miners whom a criminal Tycoon is trying to run out. They are sitting on a gold mine and the greedy Tycoon wants it for him even though he already owns all the surrounding area. Clint Eastwood who dresses up as a Preacher rescues the miners from this Tycoon and his minions.
So, for the Hardcore Fans of Western-genre, the story is pretty much average and a rehash of many older stories and movies. Thus, this movie looses 1 -2 stars there.
This movie also does not have good 'shooting' scenes. Only in the final climax scene does Eastwood actually shoot up the criminal marshall and his deputies and that too is not as good. Lack of enough gunslinging made me want to give it another star less.
You will notice a SHARP contrast to 'Outlaw Josey Wales'.
Rating:
Summary: My all-time favorite Western
Review: This movie, though a little dry and slow-moving in some places, is incredible. The passionate storyline of the struggle of the tin-pans against the evil villan who runs the local town is riveting. Eastwood's character is intense and he portrays him in a way only Clint can do. The retributions paid to the evil are awesome and the ending shootout scene with the duster-clad Marshal Stockburn and his deputies was intense. I especially enjoyed John Russell's performance of the crooked lawman, who I feel was one the best aspects of the movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Action Movie!
Review: This was a very good movie. Clint Eastwood plays a hired gunfighter who comes to the rescue of the miners in a local
mining town. Michael Moriarity plays the role of the tycoon and
the villain to the hilt. This movie has an excellent plot. The
action in this movie is unparalled. Clint Eastwood lives up to
his role of a hired killer to the maximum. The scenery in this movie is also award winning. The action as always lives up to
all expectations. Once again Clint Eastwood is the quiet,always
dangerous stranger who saves the day. Be sure to watch this movie. It has good action as well as good acting. This is an
entertaining movie.
Rating:
Summary: A great western
Review: This was a very suspensful movie. Clint eastwood does a great job with an exceptional cast. Directed by: Clint Eastwood Cast: Clint Eastwood,Richard Kiel,Chris Penn,and Michael moriaity
Rating:
Summary: Exciting Eastwood western
Review: Whether viewed as an homage to (or ripoff of) "Shane," or an inferior retread of Eastwood's own "High Plains Drifter," the director-star's last western prior to the Oscar winning "Unforgiven" is beautifully photographed, well-acted by a terrific cast (most notably Michael Moriarty), and exciting, if not particularly deep.
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