3.10 To Yuma [DVD]

I came to this film through a Amazon recommendation, every now and then I work my way through the work of one actor/actress. The past few months this has been Christain Bale. He has quite a body of work to go through. I wasn't really a fan of the genre (westerns) but after watching this I've changed my mind. Performances from all the cast are thrilling, moving, emotional and beautiful. A visually rich film that depicts the era very well. The story is a simple one a struggling rancher (Christain Bale) agrees for a price to take a captured robber (Russell Crowe) to the train, where he will be taken to Yuma to be hanged for his crimes. A lot happens along the way and an unexpected tentative friendship is formed, which leads beautifully to the ending. I've yet to see the original ( I will seek it out, as I love old movies!) but older family members who have seen it and have viewed this have rated this version higher. Well worth a watch, so glad I've added this to my ever growing collection of DVDS (streaming is fine but personally I prefer physical media). As I have enjoyed this so much I have just purchased 'Hostiles' DVD starring Christain Bale.

Even though I'm a Brit, I love a western. Vengeance, desperation, prowess, man's desire for recognition and ability to provide are key elements.3:10 to Yuma is perhaps the only film that champions the outlaw. Usually it is white hat Vs black hat. However, the black hat in this story is truly empathetic. He punishes disjustice and attempts to avoid hurting those deemed innocent (in his eyes). Leading to one of the most interesting dynamics in cinema. Russel Crowe and Christian Bale deliver perfect performances. Their dynamic is so interesting, the outlaw befriending and even perhaps recruiting the desperate veteran determined to make his family proud.This is a rare film and I highly recommend it.

Since the heyday of the 50's, there have been attempts to re-imagine the Western during each successive decade. This film is a remake of an earlier film and features a really strong couple of lead characters in Russell Crowe and Christian Bale. I have previously very much enjoyed Crowes' historical films like "Galdiator" and "Master & Commander" but had been out off by the dreadful Robin Hood film. "3.10 to Yuma" isn't quite up to the standard of these films and neither Bale's nor Crowes' characters are allowed to either develop or be given the lines that marks the near contemporary film "Apaloosa" as being far more radical. Instead, this film is probably the most "traditional" of all the recent Westerns made of late and swaps earnest endeavours for something historically accurate for nearly two hours of action. This is not a film that subverts the tradition of the Western or overs anything at all original. What is does offer is 2 hours of chases and gun-fights as well as menacing villains - this is a film that would not seem too different from it's ilk made 60 years ago. (albeit the scenery and effects are obviously hugely superior.)The story is pretty run of the mill. Crowe's villain is captured through his casualness and is then escorted to a pioneer train where his captors must get him to board the 7.10 train for Yuma. Along the way, Bale's son turns up to join the unprepared team escorting Crowe and are picked off, one by one, by either the villain, Crowes' band of robbers or indians. This culminates is a shoot out where Bale's hero seems to be exceedingly mobile for a man with one leg! It is a bit silly but hugely entertaining.This is a film which Crowe seems to coast through and where Bale is probably under-used. There are better examples by both of these actors yet the whole film is wildly entertaining and a return to the kind of idiom originally the forte of John Wayne or Alan Ladd. I watched this with my Dad and we both lapped this film up just as much as we did 35 years ago when I was small! After various Kevin Costner Westerns where it is surprising that none of the cowboys declare themselves to be vegetarian, this new version of "3.10 to Yuma" is a welcome return to the expectations of fans of this oeuvre of film.

Action from the beginning. Two great actors in the prime roles and kept you wondering just what would happen next. One of the best endings to a film I have seen for a for a while I am so glad I bought and watched it. It will now go among my classic cowboy films and watched again. Great film...

Fast arrival in mint condition

I've never seen the original, so I can only speak of this version on it's own merits.Put simply, I just wasn't that impressed with this film. I think Crowe and Bail both put in good performances and I liked their characters, but the story and the way it was presented just weren't much good.The idea that putting a career outlaw on trial to inevitably hang is so important that it's worth the lives of all those trying to get him to a prison train is just a bit silly. Hundreds of bullets being fired at relatively short ranges but nobody getting hit despite not being in cover is just a bit silly. Having a kid who's sole facial expression throughout the entire film is a kind of fearful shock is a bit silly. And the ending was just... yeah, a bit silly.In short, the film is just a bit silly. It's disappointing because with just a little effort, the silliness could have been excluded, and that would have made this a much better film. As it is, it's strictly average.

Good story and the acting is A+ and if you like Russel Crowe would definately recommend