Thanks for checking out our Forgotten Fridays feature. This is a feature to review some older films that maybe you have forgotten about or maybe never got around to seeing that we just want to share. They may not be old, maybe not forgotten, but they are not new. Just fun to share.
Today, we review Tombstone
Genre: Western
Directed by: George P. Cosmatos
Staring: Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliot, Bill Paxton, Michael Biehn, Powers Boothe, Dana Delany
Released: December 25, 1993
THE GENERAL IDEA
Former lawman Wyatt Earp, his two brothers and friend Doc Holliday settle in the town of Tombstone in order to lead a profitable and peaceful life but soon come into conflict with the Cowboys, a band of outlaws led by the Clanton brothers. This retelling of the Earp/Clanton feud also follows up the gunfight at the O.K. Corral with a look at the bloody consequences of the showdown.
THE GOOD
Taken right from the historical records of the story of Wyatt Earp and the Showdown at the OK Coral, this is a great Western tale. The strong bond of brotherhood is perfectly played out between Russell, Kilmer and Elliot. And Val Kilmer is as charming and socially seductive as the legendary Doc Holliday was told to be. Some of the most amusing parts of this movie are scenes with Kilmer in them.
The setting is gritty and realistic. The sweat is real. Everything about this makes you feel like you are in the wild west. No candy coating here. The director was quoted as saying the “mustaches and lightning were all real” and even had them wearing cotton clothes as was appropriate to the time. Dialogue quoted in newspapers of that time was even used. Even a decendant of the real Wyatt Earp was in the cast. Very authentic.
The story paces out well, and you feel their pain in this unwanted struggle. The action is great, and the passions are very real.
And then there is Dana Delany who is utterly beautiful and a clear distraction to Wyatt Earp as well as the viewers.
THE BAD
I can’t think of a part of this movie I don’t like. In my memory, Tim Curry was Curly – leader of the Cowboy gang but it was Powers Boothe who also played a cowboy in Deadwood.
OVERALL
A great and mostly historical adaptation with some other fun thrown in. A great story of a man who just wanted to settle down and conflict got in his way.
Love this movie.
Since all of these Forgotten Friday reviews are going to be what I would already give a high rating to, I had a Tv, Rent or Buy scale going on, but it would seem that an overwhelming majority of my picks get a BUY rating.
So with every Forgotten Friday you see from now on, you get to rate your anticipation for yourself!
TV – If you are at least a little curious, catch it if it comes on TV.
Rent – If it is something you have heard of and forgotten, or just remember enjoying this as much as I did once upon a time, go rent it.
Buy – But if you are like me, and you agree with my review you should go buy it. If its featured here, I already have.
