| Overall Grade: |
D |
|
| Story: |
D |
|
|
| Acting: |
C |
|
|
| Direction: |
D |
|
|
| Visuals: |
A |
|
|
A Poor Excuse for a Remake
by Rob (movies profile)
Jun 27, 2008
32
of
47 people found this review helpful
If you've seen the original 3:10 to Yuma, don't bother seeing this one. It has one of the worst scripts ever for a western. We are introduced early to the character played by Christian Bale. We are told that he has lost a leg in the Civil War, but you would never know it by the lack of even so much as a limp by Bale. Towards the end of the film, he and Russell Crowe leap from the roof of one building to another, and race through the town of Contention, dodging bullets.
It is never established why the Crowe character needs to remain alive, no matter what. There are dozens of times during the unfolding of the plot that a real 19th century rancher would have shot him and claimed the "wanted dead or alive" reward, rather than continue to protect Crowe while he kills the members of the posse one by one.
Amazingly, no one ever thinks to gag Crowe so that he won't reveal his position with the posse, or inform his gang members of the strength of the posse. While confined to the hotel, the marshall opens the window so that Crowe can talk to his men and plan his escape.
The last straw is at the end of the film, when Crowe, after Bale has been shot by Crowe's gang, kills the remaining gang members, puts down his gun, and climbs aboard the 3:10 to Yuma, entering the prison cell on the train under his own power. To preserve the chance for a sequel, the director has a shot following the train as it leaves the station, and Crowe whistles to his horse. The animal, having heard its master's voice above the din of the steam locomotive, immediately runs to the train car where Crowe is riding, presumably so that Crowe can make a magical escape.
The only redeeming feature of this film is the visual artistry, including the cinematography, costuming, and set decoration. The make-up is believable in parts, but after a severe pistol whipping, Russell Crowe has a little blood on his lip. I hope some day that characters in a movie suffer pain like real people suffer, and do not immediately leap off the surgical table after being shot in the abdomen and begin riding a horse and wrestling with bad guys.
Most of the faults of this film are in direction and script. There were three writers of this travesty, and the discontinuity shows.
Rent the original and skip this one. |
My Public Profile 
