Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Classic Newman and Redford (The Sting)- the two have some serious chemistry. They play real life outlaws. Ross (The Graduate) is a love interest who doesn't get in between these two friends as they run from the law. IMDb writes, "Butch and Sundance are the two leaders of the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang. Butch is all ideas, Sundance is all action and skill. The west is becoming civilized and when Butch and Sundance rob a train once too often, a special posse begins trailing them no matter where they run. Over rock, through towns, across rivers, the group is always just behind them. When they finally escape through sheer luck, Butch has another idea, 'Let's go to Bolivia'. Based on the exploits of the historical characters." All in all, I say: SEE IT - it's pretty funny.

Stagecoach

Filmed in 1939 by John Ford (The Grapes of Wrath). Geronimo is on the loose and a group of people are trying to get from one place to another via a stagecoach. It is a classic plot - people forced to be together must get to know each other in order to survive. Wayne (The Green Berets) is a gunslinger of sorts. IMDb writes, "The passengers on the coach include a a drunken doctor, two women, a bank manager who has taken off with his client's money, and the famous Ringo Kid, among others." All in all, I say: SEE IT considering when it was made it's a masterpiece.

The Wild Bunch

AWESOME! This is in my top 10 favorite westerns of all time.

Peckinpah's (The Rifleman) masterpiece was deemed the most violent film ever when it was released. It holds some record for most killed or most bullets, or something like that. "If they move kill 'em." IMDb writes, "An aging group of outlaws look for one last big score as the "traditional" American West is disappearing around them." Awesome assembly of actors and I love plots where progress is coming and it's the group one last hurrah so to speak. Holden (Sunset Blvd.), Borgnine (The Dirty Dozen), Ryan (Bad Day at Black Rock), O'Brien (White Heat), Oates (Badlands), and Johnson (The last Picture Show). "They abandon their careers for the simpler life of retirement. They enjoy this time, they live their fantasies. During this time the law is always on their tracks, bounty hunters. The further into their fantasy they get, the closer their demise seems to get. When one of their own is captured they are faced with the choice of escape or what is certainly a suicide mission to attempt and free their fallen behind comrade. For them it is not a choice." All in all, I say: SEE IT

Dances with Wolves

I know - everyone who is anyone has seen this. You know me - I loathe films that are widely embraced by the majority of Americans. I was into this film - I liked the costumes, the languages, and the actors. It was very authentic - it was also very long. The soundtrack is epic. Here is my problem: they KILL THE WOLF - they kill almost all the animals and innocents in this - it gets me angry. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - you've already seen it anyways.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

A must see for all film lovers. It is THE movie to see on mental health care in the US. IMDb writes, "Upon admittance to a mental institution, a brash rebel rallies the patients to take on the oppressive head nurse." Nicholson (The Shining) portrays the rebel, Fletcher (Flowers in the Attic) portrays the nurse, and DeVito (Cheers) is a patient. All in all, I say: SEE IT. There are some very sad parts and some funny parts.

The Dirty Dozen

Classic war movie - dozens of movies have stolen this plot - it has been made over and over again. A slight influence on Tarantino. Marvin (Who Shot Liberty Valance) is the leader of a band of hand selected murderers who he wants to take behind enemy lines during WWII to assassinate some German Naziis. Borgnine (The Wild Bunch), Bronson (Once Upon a Time in the West), Sutherland (MASH), and Savales (Kojak) portray convicts. Brown (The Running Man) is the only minority and this causes a very tense moment in the film. I was blown away the first time I saw this - so many famous actors. I was on edge wondering who would survive. All in all, I say: SEE IT - classic WWII film.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

IMDb writes, "A senator, who became famous for killing a notorious outlaw, returns for the funeral of an old friend and tells the truth about his deed.."Stewart (Vertigo) is the Senator and Wayne (True Grit) is the old friend; I think you can guess who shot Liberty Valance played by Marvin (The Dirty Dozen). All in all, I say: SEE IT. Three powerhouses in this and none trying to out stage the other.It was directed by John Ford (The Searchers) who loved Wayne; they made dozens of films together.