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Product Description: No Description Available.
Genre: Feature Film-Action/Adventure
Rating: R
Release Date: 8-JAN-2008
Media Type: Blu-RayAmazon.com: Here's hoping James Mangold's big, raucous, and ultrabloody remake of 3:10 to Yuma leads some moviegoers to check out Delmer Daves's beautifully lean, half-century-old original. That classic Western spun a tale of captured outlaw Ben Wade (Glenn Ford)--deadly but disarmingly affable--and the small-time rancher and family man, Dan Evans (Van Heflin), desperate enough to accept the job of helping escort the badman to Yuma prison. Wade, knowing that his gang will be along at any moment to spring him, works at persuading the ultimately lone deputy to accept a bribe, turn his back on "duty," and go home safe and rich to his family. That the outlaw has come to admire his captor intriguingly complicates the suspense. All of the above applies in the new 3:10, but it takes a lot more huffing and puffing to get Wade (Russell Crowe this time) and Evans (Christian Bale) into position for the showdown. Mostly, more is less. To Mangold's credit, his movie doesn't traffic in facile irony or postmodern detachment; it aims to be a straight-up Western and deliver the excitement and charisma the genre's fans are starved for. But recognizing that contemporary viewers might be out of touch with the bedrock simplicity and strength of the genre--not to mention its code of honor--Mangold has supplied both Evans and Wade with a plethora of backstory and "motivations." At the overblown action climax, the crossfire of personal agendas is almost as frenetic as the copious gunplay. (By that point the movie has killed more people than the Lincoln County War.) Best thing about the remake is Russell Crowe's Ben Wade, a Scripture-quoting career villain with an artist's eye and a curiously principled sense of whom and when to murder. As his second-in-command, Ben Foster fairly pirouettes at every opportunity to commit mayhem, and Peter Fonda contributes a fierce portrait of an old Wade adversary turned bounty hunter for the Pinkerton detective agency. --Richard T. Jameson
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Customer Reviews:
- What's Your Price?: With his family on the brink of losing everything, Dan Evans (Christian Bale) agrees to help the Southern Pacific Railroad bring a wicked villain, Ben Wade (Russell Crowe), to justice. Justice happens to be at the train station in Contention, where Wade is expected to hitch a ride on the 3:10 to Yuma and imprisonment. The only things stopping Evans and his allies from making it to Contention is Wade himself and his vicious gang, headed up by the overprotective and violent Charlie Prince (Ben Foster). This sounds like a fairly standard plot for a Western, but there are many, many more layers to this tale.
**Potential Spoilers**
First of all, the primary characters of Wade and Evans undergo changes as they trek to Contention. Evans is out to save his family and home as well as prove to his eldest son that he really is a good father. Wade constantly tempts Evans with promises of money and being allowed to live if he'd only set him free. It brings to mind the temptation of Jesus by Satan in the Bible. I know that may be somewhat of a stretch, but it did remind me of that. Wade begins the journey as a heartless, cruel and calculating criminal who develops something of a friendship with Evans. You'll have to watch the film if you want to decide if the changes are good.
Ben Foster's character, Charlie Prince, represents both the reality and the mythos that is the outlaw of the American West. He's a young, desperate man with no real direction other than to steal and murder in order to fill the emptiness he was left with after the Civil War. Where the character takes on more of a mythological presence is the fact that he's a dead shot until he's shooting at the hero and he's a stereotypical right-hand man to the boss.
Evans' son, William (Logan Lerman), is another character who is equal parts reality and myth. He quickly becomes a man on the journey due to his circumstances. He also learns that his father is a much greater man than he appears to be. In the beginning, however, he's a stereotypical headstrong son who seemingly hates his dad.
**End Spoilers**
The cast of this story, which includes Peter Fonda, Luke Wilson, Gretchen Moll, and Dallas Roberts, does a great job. The music brings back fond memories of larger-than-life Westerns. Director James Mangold manages to keep all of the action and plot development on an even keel. At no point was I bored with the film nor did I find it too unbelievable when compared to other films of the genre. Yes, outrageous things happen, but fans of the Western will know that such things have to occur in order to elevate the heroes to another level.
I must also highlight the wonderful documentaries included on this disc. Not only do they give the viewer an insight on the making of the film, you also learn a bit about that amazing (and violent) time in American history that has spawned so many films such as this one. In true Wild West fashion, the O.K. Corral manages to get mentioned in one of the documentaries. If one event embodies the true heart of outlaws and gunmen, that's the one.
I highly recommend this film to fans of Westerns. I recommend it also to people who enjoy stories of good versus evil, temptation, and action films. Although I rented this film, I plan to make it a permanent part of my collection very soon. - Major plot holes and unrealistic action don't detract from a well acted production: This western turns into Midnight Run towards the end. A one legged rancher is suddenly leaping rooftops like Spiderman and a notorious killer turns into a sympathetic buddy. It's absurd and insults the audience at times. In one scene the one legged rancher can barely hobble around, 1 hour later he is running the 40 yard dash in 4.5 seconds and jumping higher than Lebron James.
It won't matter for most viewers. Despite the nonsensical portrayal of the action, Crowe and Bale carry the film. Just as Crowe can carry most mediocre action films, he works hard to bring his character depth even tho the script forces it on us.
Bale also provides a realistic sense of a man trapped between a rock and a hard place. While its painful to watch the 1 legged rancher turn into a cybernetic super hero in the final chase scene, he manages to pull it off.
While I felt insulted by the film maker's lack of concern for realism on any level, there is a good reason Crowe and Bale are on the cover of the DVD. Excellent actors carrying mediocre scripts and production, as usual in hollywood these days. - best western movie: stunning graphics and sound
excellent storyline
a masterpiece
must have movie, also for people that normaly not into westerns
- A contemporary yet classic Western: 3:10 to Yuma is similar to The Red Badge of Courage (Wordsworth Classics), where a man has something to prove - to his family, friends, and peers. Dan Evans (Christian Bale) is a former sharpshooter in the Union Army who was injured during war, and has since moved on to the town of Bisby, an arid, poor, primitive land of ranchers and farmers. It turns out, however, that Evans was wounded in the leg during a retreat, and he desperately wishes to prove himself to his adoring family.
Meanwhile, Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) leads a gang of outlaws who rob stagecoaches. The most memorable of Wade's men is Charlie Prince, a vile, psychopathic character with an itchy trigger finger and absolutely no remorse. Wade - a slick-talking con-man who attacks foes through gunplay and/or psychology - and the gang particularly love to attack shipments protected by the Al Pinkerton protection agency; they've hit a string of 21 straight worth over 400K in losses.
During one peculiar scenario, Wade decides to stick around a town, post-robbery, while unprotected. In a matter of no time he's captured by the authorities, one of which is Byron McElroy, a bounty hunter left alive from the most recent crime. They plan on moving Wade from Bisby to Contention where they will put Wade on a 3:10 train to Yuma. There is a dilemma, however, because there aren't enough men to escort Wade to Contention without the probability of losing him in an attack courtesy of Wade's gang. It is with Dan Evans' desire to prove himself to his children, and the promise of $200 for his services, that he decides to join the dangerous mission of bringing Wade to justice.
What follows is great drama, action, and even a bit of comedy. One of the better gun-scenes that I can remember serves as a worthwhile culmination of the film.
Eventually, Evans teaches his sons that when faced with situations that are sure to spell your doom, and when all others lack the courage and/or conviction to do what's right, that a man's actions, morals, and ethics are all that counts.
I highly recommend this film. - Great Movie: Two of my favorite actors in a not-so-favorite genre and I loved it. Now I just need to see the original.
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