I just watched for the 11th or 12th time. I lost count. Of course in the Old West (even the Italian version) you can never lose count of how many bullets left in your gun. That's a fatal error.
Why this is one of the greatest films of all time
1. It is an adrenalin rush to watch. I saw it first run in a theatre. At the 16:00 mark after the first shootout, a guy two rows in front stood up and yelled an expletive. He was that excited.
2. Launched Sergio Leone, one of the greatest and least appreciated directors of all time. See my IMDb review of ONCE UPON A TIME IN America.
3. Launched Ennio Morricone, another top man in his field. I actually purchased the soundtrack to this film, never did that more than three times in my life.
4. It rebooted Eastwoods career WHICH was OVER. He took the cash and forgot the movie, even forgot the title, until he heard he was the #1 box office star in Europe. He was stunned.
5. It created a new genre of movies, something few films can claim. There were several dozen "italian westerns" before the trend expired.
6. Possibly the best adaptation of a Japanese film (Yojimbo) into one of the best western scripts of all times. Like an MMA match, the story just builds and builds and the music carries you along.
7. Launched the anti-hero into the mainstream, something not even the French could do and Lord knows they tried.
8. Introduced Gian Maria Volontè one of the best villains of all time.
9. Created a trope that you can never forget once you have seen the movie. Like the Rope a Dope. Only with bullets.
10. Created a signature "glance" for Eastwood which he used in later films.
11. Showed the world it was possible to have a hit film even with major dubbing.
12. One of the greatest "comebacks" for a hero ever, after a beating, a trope everyone used after that. Look at the Mel Gibson films.
Did I mention this is one of the greatest films of all time?
Why this is one of the greatest films of all time
1. It is an adrenalin rush to watch. I saw it first run in a theatre. At the 16:00 mark after the first shootout, a guy two rows in front stood up and yelled an expletive. He was that excited.
2. Launched Sergio Leone, one of the greatest and least appreciated directors of all time. See my IMDb review of ONCE UPON A TIME IN America.
3. Launched Ennio Morricone, another top man in his field. I actually purchased the soundtrack to this film, never did that more than three times in my life.
4. It rebooted Eastwoods career WHICH was OVER. He took the cash and forgot the movie, even forgot the title, until he heard he was the #1 box office star in Europe. He was stunned.
5. It created a new genre of movies, something few films can claim. There were several dozen "italian westerns" before the trend expired.
6. Possibly the best adaptation of a Japanese film (Yojimbo) into one of the best western scripts of all times. Like an MMA match, the story just builds and builds and the music carries you along.
7. Launched the anti-hero into the mainstream, something not even the French could do and Lord knows they tried.
8. Introduced Gian Maria Volontè one of the best villains of all time.
9. Created a trope that you can never forget once you have seen the movie. Like the Rope a Dope. Only with bullets.
10. Created a signature "glance" for Eastwood which he used in later films.
11. Showed the world it was possible to have a hit film even with major dubbing.
12. One of the greatest "comebacks" for a hero ever, after a beating, a trope everyone used after that. Look at the Mel Gibson films.
Did I mention this is one of the greatest films of all time?