Randy A Salas
Screenwriter
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2002
- Messages
- 1,348
Ron, be sure to watch it again with the commentary track, which doubles as a fun guide to all the film's references to classic westerns.
Ron - I envy you for your first experience with this magnificent film.
And welcome to the fan club.I stake my claim as the youngest member.
Which soundtrack should I watch?
The restored mono track or the DD track?I'd vote for the latter. It's very well done--spacious without sounding artificial, and the gunshots have a nice oomph to them.
The whole tiered release of the FOTR series leaves a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth. It's all that more disappointing that everyone seems to eat it up with a spoon.John, two things.
One, let's just talk about Once Upon A Time In The West DVD.
And two, we know you hate the LOTR films on principle, but you don't have to go and insult the people that love those DVD's.
I blind bought this on tuesday and cannot wait to see it. I love westerns and the Man with No Name Trilogy. I cannot believe that I have never seen this. I am really looking forward to it now after this thread.
Justin, please let us know what you think.
I had a lot to write today, but I'll be brief for
now as I wish to wait till more of you have seen
this film first. I don't want to introduce spoilers.
I really sat down last night and gave this thought.
For years, I considered Braveheart to be
my all-time favorite movie. Being a child of
the 70s, most of the film I know is between the
decade before and those that followed.
I have a been a fan of Sergio Leone for quite
some time. I grew up on all his Eastwood Spaghetti
westerns. I am well aware of his unique style.
Once Upon A Time In The West had all the
elements of The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly,
but it looked as if Leone had refined all his
talent over the years as if just practicing to
make his masterpiece.
For those yet to see this film, you may not want
to read past this point...
The very first 10 minutes of the film is where
I was grabbed. That entire train station scene
is perhaps one of the greatest in cinematic history.
It's full of Leone's trademarks -- lots of various
wide shots and reaction shots. What makes the scene
so incredible is that all of it moves to the beat of
natural sound -- a telegraph, a rusty windmill,
creaking floors, etc.
The bad guys are mean. The good guys are straight
faced. The dialogue is clever. Never before
have I watched a western that plays so cool. This
was a grand piece of entertainment that I look
forward to watching again later this week.
Then you have something to look forward to because I consider "The Searchers" as one of the greatest films ever made. It is in my top ten favorite films of all-time and it's probably a film, I've watched more times than any other.As far as Westerens are concerned, I think The Searchers is pretty good. Lots of people share the opinion that its one of the greatest films of all time, but I fail to see what elevates it above say Stage Coach and My Darling Clementine let alone great westerns like High Noon, Rio Bravo, Once Upon A Time In The West, and the Man with no name trilogy.
What do people think of the commentaries? I'm dying to hear what John Carpenter has to say about this, given that he loves westerns and this isn't Rio Bravo.
What makes the scene so incredible is that all of it moves to the beat of natural sound -- a telegraph, a rusty windmill, creaking floors, etc.
Ennio Morricone had a role in that natural rhythm. He helped "orchestrate" those sounds, a result of the influence of concerts he attended in which all of the "music" was created by objects, such as a ladder, not traditional instruments. It's discussed some on the commentary.
I love the windmill.