moriarty@fluke.UUCP (Jeff Meyer) (07/08/85)
Let me get the particulars out of the way first: Remember, for the people
of my age group who have some interest in film history, all those "Epic
Westerns" that were done during the late 40's and the 50's, full of big-name
stars and all having the same plot with variations. Well, _Silverado_ is
basically one of these movies, re-animated with massive doses of today's
quality actors and actresses, a truly epic score, and 70mm and Dolby stereo.
Let me make this clear: there is absolutely *NOTHING* original in
_Silverado_ -- not the script, not the plot (reminds me of the Errol Flynn
vehicle _Dodge_City_), not the characters, not the score, not even the
photography (John Ford did much better panoramic shots in his films).
But....
I've never seen an old-style western on the big screen (I saw it at the
Seattle Cinerama Theatre, with a huge screen and great sound system), and I
always wondered, when seeing them on the tube, how could they be that
stirring? Well, with a big screen, and a big score, and a full house -- let
me tell you, I haven't gotten a rush like this since _Star_Wars_. Yup,
kids, let me tell you, I think _Silverado_ (if it's shown in big theatres
and with Dolby) could be a huge hit. It has the exuberance and
old-fashioned adventure style that _Star_Wars_ had; and, more importantly, I
think it is one of those "Let's go see it again" movies -- people go, every
Friday and Saturday night, to see the film, cheer, initiate people who
haven't seen it before, etc. It's like a concert experience. The night I
saw the sneak preview, the audience was made up of a slightly older audience
(no doubt lured by Lawrence Kasdan's credits on _The_Big_Chill_) were
cheering and applauding like kids, and when the scenes come up with the four
main characters riding together, with the score booming out like crazy, I
thought people were going to throw their hats in the air. History repeats
itself, I guess.
On the acting level, everyone does a competent job, with standout
performances by Scott Glenn (Alan Shepard in _The_Right_Stuff_) and (I
believe) Keven Costner as two brothers returning to Silverado to clean up
the town, Linda Hunt as the recepiant of Kevin Kline's affections (I never
would of thought of her as the heroine -- she does a very nice job), and
Brian Dehanny, once again a heavy after his brief role as a friendly alien
in _Cocoon_, as a wonderfully rotten chief villain/sheriff.
Two points: This thing is BUILT for a sequel (get the last line), which I
admit I wouldn't feel too badly about; and John Cleese wins this year's
award for Funniest Entrance Line.
My recommendation: Pay $4 to see it in a crowded Friday or Saturday night
showing, and make sure it's 70mm and Dolby. If you do this, I think I can
promise you quite an experience (especially if you've never seen a western
on a big screen).
"He was sweet and sincere and giving and good... AND A
CHERISHED NEIGHBOR UNDESERVING OF SUCH A FATE!!
"Nevertheless, better him than me. Amen."
Expect the Unexpected.
He does. ---> Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.
UUCP:
{cornell,decvax,ihnp4,sdcsvax,tektronix,utcsri}!uw-beaver \
{allegra,gatech!sb1,hplabs!lbl-csam,decwrl!sun,ssc-vax} -- !fluke!moriarty
ARPA:
fluke!moriarty@uw-beaver.ARPAmoriarty@fluke.UUCP (Jeff Meyer) (07/08/85)
A TALE OF TWO WESTERNS, PART II: Silverado
Let me get the particulars out of the way first: Remember, for the people
of my age group who have some interest in film history, all those "Epic
Westerns" that were done during the late 40's and the 50's, full of big-name
stars and all having the same plot with variations? Well, _Silverado_ is
basically one of these movies, re-animated with massive doses of today's
quality actors and actresses, a truly epic score, and 70mm and Dolby stereo.
Let me make this clear: there is absolutely *NOTHING* original in
_Silverado_ -- not the script, not the plot (reminds me of the Errol Flynn
vehicle _Dodge_City_), not the characters, not the score, not even the
photography (John Ford did much better panoramic shots in his films).
But....
I've never seen an old-style western on the big screen (I saw it at the
Seattle Cinerama Theatre, with a huge screen and great sound system), and I
always wondered, when seeing them on the tube, how could they be that
stirring? Well, with a big screen, and a big score, and a full house -- let
me tell you, I haven't gotten a rush like this since _Star_Wars_. Yup,
kids, let me tell you, I think _Silverado_ (if it's shown in big theatres
and with Dolby) could be a huge hit. It has the exuberance and
old-fashioned adventure style that _Star_Wars_ had; and, more importantly, I
think it is one of those "Let's go see it again" movies -- people go, every
Friday and Saturday night, to see the film, cheer, initiate people who
haven't seen it before, etc. It's like a concert experience. The night I
saw the sneak preview, the audience was made up of a slightly older audience
(no doubt lured by Lawrence Kasdan's credits on _The_Big_Chill_) were
cheering and applauding like kids, and when the scenes come up with the four
main characters riding together, with the score booming out like crazy, I
thought people were going to throw their hats in the air. History repeats
itself, I guess.
On the acting level, everyone does a competent job, with standout
performances by Scott Glenn (Alan Shepard in _The_Right_Stuff_) and (I
believe) Keven Costner as two brothers returning to Silverado to clean up
the town, Linda Hunt as the recepiant of Kevin Kline's affections (I never
would of thought of her as the heroine -- she does a very nice job), and
Brian Dehanny, once again a heavy after his brief role as a friendly alien
in _Cocoon_, as a wonderfully rotten chief villain/sheriff.
Two points: This thing is BUILT for a sequel (get the last line), which I
admit I wouldn't feel too badly about; and John Cleese wins this year's
award for Funniest Entrance Line.
My recommendation: Pay $4 to see it in a crowded Friday or Saturday night
showing, and make sure it's 70mm and Dolby. If you do this, I think I can
promise you quite an experience (especially if you've never seen a western
on a big screen).
"He was sweet and sincere and giving and good... AND A
CHERISHED NEIGHBOR UNDESERVING OF SUCH A FATE!!
"Nevertheless, better him than me. Amen."
Expect the Unexpected.
He does. ---> Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.
UUCP:
{cornell,decvax,ihnp4,sdcsvax,tektronix,utcsri}!uw-beaver \
{allegra,gatech!sb1,hplabs!lbl-csam,decwrl!sun,ssc-vax} -- !fluke!moriarty
ARPA:
fluke!moriarty@uw-beaver.ARPApreece@ccvaxa.UUCP (07/10/85)
> It has the exuberance and old-fashioned adventure style that > _Star_Wars_ had; ---------- As everybody said at the time, Star Wars IS a Western. -- scott preece ihnp4!uiucdcs!ccvaxa!preece