The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Just finished watching "The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly," released by Metro Golden Mayer back in 1966.
Confession time, I have never seen "A Fistful of Dollars" and "A Few Dollars More," the previous two movies in director Sergio Leone's classic Spaghetti Western trilogy, but that is not required to watch this movie, at least in my opinion.
The Man With No Name is perhaps actor Clint Eastwood's most iconic and remembered role outside of Dirty Harry.
"The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" is a lengthy epic set in 1862 in New Mexico during the Civil War. Many people are unaware of the Civil War history depicted in this film, which is a valuable reason in itself to see it. The Union Army turned back a serious Confederate push through the Southwest to reach California at the 1862 Battle of Glorietta Pass, a battle regarded by historians as one of the key engagements of the Civil War. This film is set in the aftermath of the battle, during the Confederate retreat following the destruction of its supply trains.
"The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly" chronicles an effort by three outlaws to recover $200,000 in Confederate gold buried in a cemetery. The outlaws, each out for himself. form shifting alliances and fight with each other to recover the stash. Clint Eastwood plays a taciturn bounty hunter known as Blondie. Lee Van Cleef, the most vicious of the three, plays a sadistic killer, Angel Eyes. The third outlaw, Tuco, played by Eli Wallach, is a comic figure yet also ruthless and unrelenting in killing and in his quest for the gold. These three outlaws at times team up and work together, especially Blondie and Tuco, when it seems advantageous to do so. But they also will abandon, double-cross, and kill each other without compunction, when given the need and the opportunity.
It's the grey areas of each character that makes "The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly" compelling to watch. Even Blondie, who is "The Good," is compassionate enough to ease the passing of a dying soldier, but not too compassionate enough to not steal his belongings.
There was a proposed sequel and a script for "The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly 2" was written, but Eastwood turned it down because he didn't want to work with director Sergio Leone ever again. Perhaps also intriguing, is the notion that Eastwood knew that Spaghetti Westerns had run their course - much like the current decline of superhero movies now.
Strongly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Good-Bad-Ugly-...
Confession time, I have never seen "A Fistful of Dollars" and "A Few Dollars More," the previous two movies in director Sergio Leone's classic Spaghetti Western trilogy, but that is not required to watch this movie, at least in my opinion.
The Man With No Name is perhaps actor Clint Eastwood's most iconic and remembered role outside of Dirty Harry.
"The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" is a lengthy epic set in 1862 in New Mexico during the Civil War. Many people are unaware of the Civil War history depicted in this film, which is a valuable reason in itself to see it. The Union Army turned back a serious Confederate push through the Southwest to reach California at the 1862 Battle of Glorietta Pass, a battle regarded by historians as one of the key engagements of the Civil War. This film is set in the aftermath of the battle, during the Confederate retreat following the destruction of its supply trains.
"The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly" chronicles an effort by three outlaws to recover $200,000 in Confederate gold buried in a cemetery. The outlaws, each out for himself. form shifting alliances and fight with each other to recover the stash. Clint Eastwood plays a taciturn bounty hunter known as Blondie. Lee Van Cleef, the most vicious of the three, plays a sadistic killer, Angel Eyes. The third outlaw, Tuco, played by Eli Wallach, is a comic figure yet also ruthless and unrelenting in killing and in his quest for the gold. These three outlaws at times team up and work together, especially Blondie and Tuco, when it seems advantageous to do so. But they also will abandon, double-cross, and kill each other without compunction, when given the need and the opportunity.
It's the grey areas of each character that makes "The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly" compelling to watch. Even Blondie, who is "The Good," is compassionate enough to ease the passing of a dying soldier, but not too compassionate enough to not steal his belongings.
There was a proposed sequel and a script for "The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly 2" was written, but Eastwood turned it down because he didn't want to work with director Sergio Leone ever again. Perhaps also intriguing, is the notion that Eastwood knew that Spaghetti Westerns had run their course - much like the current decline of superhero movies now.
Strongly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Good-Bad-Ugly-...
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