Posted on 01/11/2010 11:34:55 AM PST by stillafreemind
Not only are there no stand outs as far as actors go, but writers don't seem to be able to come up with an interesting western story line without nudity, extreme violence and horrible language. Why is that? How did Gunsmoke last those many years without nudity? A shy grin, wink and a nod between Matt Dillon and Kitty was sufficient and somehow much more palatable than seeing them rip clothes off and get down to business.
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Yes. And Gene Hackman killed them.
I used to love westerns, but it seems (to me) that real heroes like that became unpopular. I think maybe it had to do with the whole idea that America was not particularly good.
Lomesome Dove?
Outlaw Josey Wells?
The Unforgiven?
Open Range?
Shane, The Searchers, Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, Josey Wales......could go on forever...
The remake of 3:10 to Yuma was extremely good. It was kinda violent ... but then, so was the old west. I don’t recall nudity in it — but, I’m very pro-naked, so I wouldn’t see that as much of a downside.
SnakeDoc
Perhaps the settings will change from one frontier, the old American West, to another, namely space settlements. The 1979 (?) film “Outland” was a fairly close homage to “High Noon.”
Writers spew out the mindless trash today becaue they have no background in honest to goodness writing. Nor do they have the historical (dumbed down school, history etc). What they do write reflects their own lifestyle, and that ain’t pretty.
The Left wasn't going to make any progress at all if society held to those values -- so they spent a few decades sweeping it all away.
And here we are.
I understand your list. But the Eastwood ones are pretty bad when it comes to just violence for violence sake. I do enjoy the Lonesome Dove series though.
You have presented a very “clear case”! I so agree.
The best Western I’ve seen lately is the remake of 3:10 to Yuma with Aussie Cowboy Russell Crowe.
Clint Eastwood...Unforgiven. Open Range. Lonesome Dove.
I thought Lonesome Dove was awesome too. I’d like to add Tombstone with Kurt Russell, Silverado and Unforgiven.
My all time favorite Western:
“The Professionals”
Loved Lee Marvin!!! That guy was a blue ribbon bad a#@!!
“Silverado” was wonderful — but that was 1985.
Open Range...best gun fight finale, ever!
I think the decline of westerns is partially due to the rise of insidious political correctness. No longer is it OK to use words like “Indian”, “Injun”, “Chinamen”, etc and it’s certainly not PC to show women in being little more than servants or prostitutes (the occasional Annie Oakley aside). Hearing Wayne complain about ‘Native Americans who only want to peacefully co-exist’ just isn’t quite the same thing, ya know?
Plus, the whole thing about how politically-incorrect and damaging to little Tommy and Janey a good old-fashioned GUNFIGHT at high noon is. Oh no!! A gun!!
I cannot emphasize how much I hate “PC” and am just trying to help answer your question.
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