Reviews

A great cast headlines this enjoyable Errol Flynn western. Randolph Scott and a young Humphrey Bogart co-star in an action-packed story that starts at a Civil War prison camp and ends thousands of miles away in a desert with an old-fashioned circle-the-wagons gun battle. Flynn plays a union spy sent to stop a Confederate officer, Scott's character, who is trying to smuggle a gold shipment into the South. Humphrey Bogart plays an amusing role as a villainous Hispanic bandit who also wants a piece of the gold. A bit cheesy in parts, but this is one of Flynn's better westerns. Not too shabby. 3 out of 5 action rating

See it – Like all good Sam Peckinpah directed films, this one is exciting from start to finish. This movie came right before he did "Wild Bunch," and you can see the similarities in the fight scenes. Starting with "Wild Bunch," Peckinpah began pushing the envelope and trying to get away with more and more (violence, nudity, etc). I like "Villa Rides" because it's kind of his last normal, old-fashioned movie. He doesn't try to get all Tarantino on us; he just makes a great action movie. Yul Brynner (with hair) is pretty good as Villa, considering Brynner is actually Russian (not Mexican). A young Charles Bronson steals many of the scenes as Villa's tough, Bad-A right hand man. The movie also co-stars Robert Mitchum. This is a big epic full of sweeping battle scenes and a great cast. I'm surprised more people haven't heard of it. 4 action rating

See it – This WWII gem is almost impossible to find, but it is an underrated war classic that shouldn't be forgotten. It has a clever title, considering it is about a man who loves war, but is also quite a "Casanova" with the ladies. Steve McQueen plays a reckless, hotshot bomber pilot more concerned with women and personal glory than the safety of his crew. But his friendship with his trusted co-pilot, played by Robert Wagner, is put to the test when they both fall for the same girl. For the haters out there who think McQueen was a one dimensional actor, you need to watch this movie. It is one of his best acting performances, hands down. He does a magnificent job of playing a man too confident for his own good. Unfortunately, this film is very talky, and there are only 2 aerial battles. But the final battle is a heroic conclusion to a movie that deserves the "epic" label even more than Memphis Belle. 2 action rating.

See it – Don't expect too much action in this one. It's about a wagon train on the Oregon trail, but most of the conflict comes from within. So why see it? First of all, the cast is an all star lineup including Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum, Richard Widmark, and a young adorable Sally Fields. Unfortunately, there may be too many actors, because we don't really get to know any of them very well. A second reason to see it is because it is much darker than most films during this time. The ending is pretty dark and there is a love affair that occurs that is harmless by today's movie standards but no doubt pushed the envelope back in the 60's. I would compare it to a movie like "Major Dundee" because it has great veteran actors but only a few memorable moments. Rent don't buy. 2 action rating

Skip it – There are a lot of positives that make this a unique western that's worth a watch. There's good dialogue, a rousing musical score, beautiful cinematography, and a great acting job by William Holden. Unfortunately, this is more of a buddy movie than a good old-fashioned western. I've even heard some comparisons drawn to "Brokeback Mountain," although I personally would disagree. The story is about two ranch hands who decide on a whim to rob a bank, and the chain of events that unfold as a result. It is part "Sundowners" and part "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." The two men are an unlikely pair, but they become close friends as a result of their desperate situation. The first half of the movie feels like a comedy. The second half gets a lot better, with a couple gunfights and some Peckinpah-esque slow motion violence. Unfortunately, this western is too long and just too sluggish to keep an action buff entertained. But I believe that it is good enough to be considered a classic. 2 action rating

You've probably already seen this exact same story several times, right down to the horribly cliché ending. Not only does it offer nothing new, it makes the "Underworld" trilogy look like a masterpiece. Caught up in the vampire/werewolf craze, this film never should have been made. It is unoriginal, unentertaining, undeniably predictable, and just unfortunate. You keep expecting a twist that never comes. The unnecessary violence is straight from an 80's B-movie, and the action scenes have no "wow" factor at all. I literally felt bad for the great actors in this film. Anthony Hopkins and Benicio del Toro aren't bad in their roles, but when "Teen Wolf" is more entertaining, you're in trouble. 2 out of 5 action rating

See it – This is a uniquely gritty and depressing war drama. Notice I said drama. This is an entirely too-long movie that has just enough action to keep you interested. It has three battle scenes, but then again it is a three hour movie. The ratio of talking to fighting is not satisfactory for it to be called a great action movie. Having said that, it is still a great movie. Marlon Brando plays a "nice nazi" and is phenomenal in his role as usual. The other two main characters are Americans played by Dean Martin and Montgomery Clift. The movie is about the separate stories of these three men. Eventually, all three of their paths cross. A pretty cool idea for a cool war drama. Brando looks cool in his aviators too. 3 out of 5 action rating

See it – This is the prequel to the classic movie "Zulu." Starring an aging Burt Lancaster and Peter O'Toole, it chronicles the events leading up to the battle at Rorke's Drift in "Zulu." Made 15 years later, it is not quite the classic that its predecessor was. But this is still an underrated action movie. Some people even consider this to be one of the better prequels ever made. While it is slow towards the middle, the final battle is epic and spectacular. The battle lasts about half an hour, and it is well worth the wait. Once again, the British are outnumbered and surrounded. But in this movie, the combat scenes are larger-scale, and spread out over rolling hills as the Zulus send wave after wave from different directions. At the end, an officer tells Peter O'Toole's character that the sky above Rorke's Drift is "red with fire." This, of course, implies the events of its sister movie. I would definitely recommend "Zulu Dawn" to fans of "Zulu" and fans of all war movies. 2.5 action rating.

See it – The ending ruined this one for me, which is a shame because it is a unique film. It's a sword and sandals movie about the Cossacks in the Baltic War, and stars Yul Brynner in the role that he was quite literally "born to play" (being Russian-born). There are sweeping battle scenes with hundreds of extras, and even a few swashbuckling sword fights. Unfortunately, Tony Curtis (as Brynner's son) hogs most of the scenes, and the battles are too brief. Every time a battle looks like it's about to get good, it will abruptly end. Honestly, the main reason I'd even see this movie is to watch the scene that undoubtedly was stolen by Monty Python's Holy Grail when the guy's pushing a cart yelling "Bring out your dead!" 3 action rating.

Skip it – This WWII espionage movie could have been much better. The plot, which is based on a true story, has so much potential, but it never delivers. Christopher Plummer plays a former bank robber and "safe-cracker" who, after being imprisoned, volunteers his skills to the Germans so that he can be released. But who is he really working for? Is he a double-agent, or possibly a triple-agent? After watching the movie, I still don't know the answer to that question. This movie doesn't flow well, and there seems to be holes in the plot. Yul Brynner plays a mysterious German officer who happens to be an anti-Nazi. While Brynner is great as usual, Plummer doesn't bring much on-screen chemistry. And the director, who also directed a few James Bond movies, tries too hard to make Plummer a "007" kind of character. The main problem is that this movie is just boring. Not enough action to make it worth the watch. 1.5 action rating

Skip it – Steer clear of this so-called "western." After watching it, I was literally embarrassed for Jimmy Stewart. He probably accepted the role because this movie was directed by John Ford, but this is easily Ford's worst movie. Not to mention just an all around bad western. It has absolutely no action. It attempts to be humorous but fails at that as well. Perhaps this film about white children kidnapped by Comanches was considered profound back when it was originally made. But if that was the case, it has aged horribly. Ford is not known for having heavy action scenes, but usually he can at least weave a great tale. This one has neither. Don't waste your precious time with this one. 0.5 out of 5 action rating.

See it - Not to be confused with Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven," this is one of, if not the best, of Burt Lancaster's westerns. Better than "Scalphunters" and "Valdez is Coming," but in my opinion not quite as good as the action-packed "Ulzana's Raid." The plot is very similar to "The Searchers," only it is about an Indian girl raised by whites instead of a white girl raised by Indians. The movie is very well made, the story is heartfelt, and Lancaster and co-stars Audie Murphy and Audrey Hepburn are fantastic. It is pretty slow, but the ending is worth the wait. The 20-minute shootout at the end is one of the greatest finales I've ever seen in a western. 3 action rating.

See it – Not a run-of-the-mill submarine movie. James Garner stars as an underwater demolitionist expert in World War II who just happens to be fluent in Japanese. But for some reason he is hand-picked by the government to go on a secret mission that requires neither. His mission involves hitching a ride on a submarine, commanded by an uptight captain who does everything strictly by the book. The submarine takes Garner's character undetected to a Japanese island, where his mission is to scuba dive from the sub to the island, sneak into the enemy outpost, and photograph documents for military intelligence. Most of the movie takes place on the sub. The sub encounters an enemy battleship and enemy planes. The best part of the film is the last 30 minutes, when Garner's character finally gets off the sub and gets to sneak around in the jungle. Despite its unique plot, the rest of the movie is very average, including the action. 2.5 action rating.

See it- This superb actioner is very light-hearted, but packs quite a punch. Adventure meets war when hunters in Africa run into Germans during World War I. This underrated film starring Lee Marvin and Roger Moore has a recipe with just the right blend of comedy and action. But its Marvin who offers the lions share of the hilarity in the first half of the movie. The second half of the movie is much more serious, as the two main characters volunteer to go on a dangerous mission with the objective of blowing up a German battleship docked for repairs. To those who don't like this movie, I say, in the words of Lee Marvin, "See you in a minute…We'll shout at the devil together!" 3.5 action rating

Skip it – People associate the words "cavalry," "Indians," and "John Wayne" with the word "action movie." But where's the action in this one? This is a very disappointing western because it has only two small skirmishes in the entire movie. They are not even long enough to be called battles. Sure, John Wayne is great in his role as an aging cavalry officer mere days away from his retirement. But this is a cavalry "fort soap opera," and if you're not careful you'll find yourself nodding off to sleep. This is the second of the John Ford/John Wayne cavalry trilogy of 1948-1950. Wayne's character is different than the one he plays in "Fort Apache" and "Rio Grande." Yet this story has several characters from those other movies played by the same actors (ex. Ben Johnson as "Tyree" and Victor McLaglen as "Quincannon.") FYI, Even though the trilogy has overlapping characters, it is not meant to be watched in any particular sequence. 1.5 action rating

See it – This is one of your future all time favorite westerns. Every once in a while, there comes along an action movie that has it all. Excitement, adventure, romance, comedy, a great story, and a great soundtrack. It is even rarer to find all these in a western. Impossible, you say? Well, you've never seen "Shenandoah." This is one of the best movies ever made about the Civil War. I would also venture to say that this is Jimmy Stewart's best western. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll quote it, you'll want to own it. As far as action goes, this is second to none. There are gunfights, train hijackings, prison breaks, and huge sweeping battle scenes. Best of all, this classic is as watchable today as it was when it first came out. Go watch this movie immediately, I'm not even joking. 5 action rating

Skip it – While this ranks among Audie Murphy's best westerns, it's far from spectacular. The plot, however, is unique. It is the story of an innocent young man who was raised in the mountains by his outlaw father. When his father gets injured, he is forced to go for help, and in doing so enters society for the first time. The naïve young man gets in to trouble, and it doesn't help matters any when the townspeople find out his true identity. While the plot is original enough, nothing else really stands out about this film. It co-stars a very young Tony Curtis and a very old Burl Ives, who starts getting annoying after he sings his fourth song. There is not very much action, and there are twice as many songs as gunfights. 2 action rating

Skip it – This movie has a very "old" feel to it. Unlike other classics made during this time, it has not aged well. Also, it lacks the Hollywood heroics usually associated with a war movie. It is for this unique reason that a lot of people actually like this unconventional 1945 WWII movie co-starring a super young Robert Mitchum. I could compare it to "Band of Brothers" because the story is about the unit rather than a single main character. Replacements come and go but the story always focuses on the unit. But "Band of Brothers" actually had some good fight scenes. This movie only has one good combat sequence. So instead, I will compare this film to "All Quiet on the Western Front" because instead of focusing on combat, it focuses more on the rain and mud and "trench" hardships of the war. 1 action rating

See it- This is a diamond in the rough. It is relatively unknown but a must-see for Gary Cooper fans. Cooper plays his usual character of a man on a mission to redeem himself, but this is not a typical western. Exciting from start to finish, it's the story of the inception of counterintelligence used by the Union in the Civil War. It is not necessarily James Bond with a cowboy hat. It is still very much a western, and a refreshingly good Civil War movie for a change. Movie buffs will also get a kick out of a young Fess Parker. Full of twists and lots of battle scenes, it's a good old-fashioned, fun movie. 4 action rating

See it – Let's be honest, the main reason you'll want to watch this movie is to see Sean Connery as a cowboy. But this is a surprisingly good rip-roaring western. In fact, the strangest thing about this movie is that it revolves around a group of British hunters on a big game hunt, and none of the British characters are played by Connery. He plays the American. The only western he ever did, Connery doesn't even attempt to change his accent, but it's okay. This is an action movie, and it is as exciting and action-packed as they come. The hunting party is attacked by Indians, and James Bond…I mean Shalako, has to save the day. This movie is a mix between "Duel at Diablo" and "Last of the Mohicans." Plus, the story was written by the legendary Louis L'Amour himself, so that should be enough right there. 4.5 action rating

See it – I'm always a sucker for a good Civil War movie. If you are anything like me, you're always on the lookout for another film with a fresh depiction of that fascinating, yet tragic period in United States history. I like this one because it tells the story from the Confederate perspective. Van Heflin, Lee Marvin, and Richard Boone star in this exciting and relatively unknown film about a band of Confederate Rebels who escape from a Union prison camp. They escape to Canada, and start planning "The Raid" on a Northern Yankee town. Of course this movie is very "old-fashioned," but I guess that's why I like it. 3 action rating

See it- Raise your hand if you like a rousing World War 2 suicide mission movie. Well here's one you may not have even heard of. A team of soldiers with special skills attempt to tunnel into a Nazi fortress to break out an Italian prisoner of war. When things go wrong, they must use their skills to make one last desperate attempt to accomplish their mission. Great action scenes include a rooftop gunfight, the hijacking of a Nazi boat, and a long escape/battle through the Balkan mountains. Unfortunately, like all good B-movies, it has its share of corny moments. For instance one of the soldier's special skills is forgery. It's kind of hard not to chuckle when the soldier, after being tortured, says with a straight face, "It's okay, they didn't hurt my writing hand." This war film has no huge movie stars, but familiar faces include Stewart Granger, Raf Vallone, Mickey Rooney, and Henry Silva. 3.5 action rating.

See it – The Sabata trilogy is the epitome of spaghetti westerns -a bit cheesy, but immensely entertaining and full of clever ways for people to get shot. Nearly all other spaghetti westerns fall short when compared to "Sabata," "Return of Sabata," and my favorite of the trilogy, "Adios, Sabata." Lee Van Cleef stars in this one, and although he's not exactly a super star, he does a great job in the role. This film is a western version of a 70's James Bond movie. There's plenty of gadgets and a sinister villain who enjoys diabolical death games. This movie doesn't always flow, and it doesn't always make sense, but who cares? It's hard to find a more action-packed western. 5 action rating.

See it – This war classic is the true story of John F. Kennedy's adventures as a PT captain during WWII. It's a bit slow in the beginning as Kennedy, played by Cliff Robertson, puts together his first crew and fixes up the broken down PT109. But before long, the pace quickens, and the action in this one never lets up. The crew goes out on mission after mission, stopping only to refuel before going out again. PT stands for "patrol torpedo." The small vessels were useful in attacking larger surface ships because of their speed and maneuverability. The ironically sad part about this movie is that JFK's assassination actually took place the same year this movie came out in theaters. But the film, which focuses mainly on JFK's heroism in keeping his men alive, is a fitting tribute.

See it – This is the very best movie adaption of a video game to date. But it's not in very good company, so is that really saying much? The story has been very "Disney-fied." The actors were poorly chosen, and they are obviously not Persian (look, I don't care if they're white, but at least put make-up on 'em). There is also that fun, comedic, "Pirates of the Caribbean" type atmosphere that is present in all Disney movies. That being said, this is not a live-action "Aladdin." This is an exciting, sometimes spectacular adventure movie with plenty of desert battles, rooftop chases, daring escapes, and non-stop Arabian action.