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If there were a 10-star rating, this action/western would certainly warrant at least eight stars. If you never had the opportunity to see this film, you clearly have missed what is probably the best western/action/war/gang type movie ever made. This is perhaps a unique genre with some possible similarity to an earlier film, THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN. Director Sam Peckinpah stuck his head through the porthole of time and produced a movie with a level of violence and malevolence wrapped around a time in the Mexican Revolution when life was cheap and gold was available to those cruel enough to do anything. Enter the "wild bunch"; a gang of 1912 ex-military men who had fought the good fight for the U.S. Army in the Spanish American War, but now were nothing more than mercenaries for profit. The cast of characters, led by William Holden, with his second in command, Ernest Borgnine, along with Robert Ryan, Warren Oats, Edmond O'brien and others weave a tale of death and violence through South Texas and Civil War torn Mexico, all for the pursuit of gold. This pursuit gradually turns to vengeance as their own violence begins to be dwarfed by the level of cruelty displayed by the Mexican commander and his troops towards the simple people caught up in the conflict. The resulting battle and level of graphic violence that results far exceeds anything ever before seen on film. When critics first screened this production, they were horrified! They predicted nothing less than absolute rejection by the movie going public. They were wrong. This movie was such an overwhelming success, that thousands of viewers went to see this movie dozens of times! This picture subsequently ushered in the era of blood-n-guts special effects that was to define all future action style movies, and elevated director Sam Peckinpah to the status of one of the greatest action directors of all times. This is a hard core movie of realistic action and is very violent. It is not for children or the squeamish. It is the definitive action/western/cowboy movie. EXCELLENT!Read full review
This is a great 2 disc set; Disc 1 is The Uncut Directors Cut, which gives more depth to the relationships of The Bunch itself, as well as to that between Pike and Thornton. The movie as released was great - this version is even better! Disc 2 contains some terrific documentaries on both the making of the film and the life & career of Director Sam Peckinpah. Together they make for one hell of a set! 2 Thumbs Up, 5 Stars, A Perfect 10!
Surely, the best film of it's kind, in it's time. One of the last films of it's kind. This was before CGI. It's all real, and raw. Even the story was original. The "Soprano's" before the "Soprano's". At first glance one would think this was a film about BAD guys, as the story progress' one see's that they are human beings with human problems, and they try to recitify their past their way. I had seen this film when it was first released, it didn't make sence to me. My mind was trained to think a certain way (I was young). Now it's like discovering a gem.
Very good star studded movie. Lot of action and action packed shoot out at the end! If you like action this is a good one. One warning is they show some topless nudity in several scenes. Didn't expect that in a film this old.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Lots of action, lots pf well-known actors and enjoyed watching it again after so many years. Violent gunfights, of course, but based in a true historical era the American Southwest.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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