6 Unconventional Westerns

Westerns do not have to be set in the mid-to-late 1800s America. Sometimes, a story set in the distant future or other lands can still contain elements of a classic western. Those are the type of movies and TV shows that I highlight today. Also, this is not a list, but rather a collection of fiction that portrays a different take on the western genre.

Firefly / Serenity

Firefly and Serenity are an obvious pick for an unconventional western. Taking place in the distant future where humanity has spread across the stars, space is like a wild frontier with outlaws and smugglers. Everyone knows Firefly as the TV show that ended well before its time. While its short run is unfortunate, we will always have Joss Whedon and company's brilliant first season of television and the feature film, Serenity.

Back to the Future Part III

The third and final part of the madcap time-travel classic, Back to the Future Part III is a fun adventure through the old west with Doc Brown and Marty McFly. It might not be a stellar film by any stretch of the imagination, but it is full of classic western references and witty humor.

The Good, the Bad, the Weird

A South Korean film set in 1800s Korea, The Good, the Bad, the Weird is inspired by Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Western, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Much like the original film, it features a memorable cast of cool and zany characters, with Song Kang-ho as the "Weird" being the standout. This South Korean take adds an eastern action flare with lengthy action sequences with practical stunts and superb direction. If you enjoy westerns, foreign films, or entertaining action comedy, give this one a watch!

Trigun

Yes, I know what you are thinking: "An anime? Who would watch that weird Japanese stuff?" But hear me out. Trigun is a sci-fi action comedy set on a new plant that humanity colonizes, and it is a barren wasteland, just like the Wild West. The series follows Vash the Stampede, a man with a 60 billion "double dollar" bounty on his head. What makes Trigun unique is that it starts out as an action comedy with wacky characters and fun action, and then shifts gears to a serious series with complex themes of heroism. Interestingly, the writer of the original comic (manga) that the anime was based on is a Christian, which is evident by the themes expressed. It explores the consequences of a hero that refuses to kill, like Batman, and how that can lead to even more deaths of innocents.

Cowboy Bebop

Another anime, Cowboy Bebop, a classic that everyone should have at least heard of by now, is set in the future where humanity is spread across the stars where bounty hunters, referred to as "Cowboys," roam the galaxy in search of their targets. That's the premise of Cowboy Bebop, but that is only the beginning. The series is heavily influenced by American filmmakers, and the soundtrack varies from smooth jazz to classic rock with each episode being titled after a style of music. Once you get past the slow start, Cowboy Bebop is an unforgettable classic that should be watched by all; I even own the Blu-Ray set! If you are not sold on it after episode 1, skip to Episode 5; that should sell the show to you.

Rango

An animated film starring Johnny Depp, Rango is one of the funniest animated films of the last few years. The plot is a fun twist on classic western stories with animals and shockingly detailed 3D animation.

What are some of your favorite Unconventional Westerns? Have you seen any of the films on this list? Please let me know in the comments, and do not forget to check out my Top 10 Westerns list in the following links: Part 1 & Part 2.

Unless I think of one final post tomorrow for Emma, Plain and Tall's Legends of Western Cinema week on A Lantern in Her Hand & Meanwhile, in the River...., this is the end of my western posts. Thanks everyone for reading, and I hope you have found a few new westerns to watch. My Top 25 Sci-Fi Movies list continues next week, so be sure to check back for that!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

The Good, the Bad, the Weird Review

The Good, the Bad, the Weird puts an Asian spin on the classic Spaghetti Western with a lot of stunning action and hilarity.

As the name suggests, The Good, the Bad, the Weird is heavily inspired by Sergio Leone's classic, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, and while not necessarily a remake, the film shares several similarities. Regardless of whether or not you are a fan of the original, The Good, the Bad, the Weird is likely to please action, comedy, and western fans alike with the film's plethora of expertly choreographed and filmed action set pieces that rely on practical effects and impressive stunts rather than computer graphics.

Directed by: Kim Jee-woon
Genre: Action, Western, Action Comedy, Comedy
Release Date: July 17, 2008
Running Time: 139 minutes
MMPA rating: R

The Good: Awesome action scenes throughout, Strong performances all around, Impressive stunt work, A homage to classic American action flicks, Fun soundtrack, Unique cast of characters, A few unexpected plot twists, Kept me laughing throughout, Tons of entertainment value,

The Bad:

Warning: This film is rated "R" for mature content and is not recommended for younger audiences.

Plot: 8.3/10- The Good, the Bad, the Weird tells the story of three gunman, Park Do-won (The Good), Park Chang-yi (The Bad), and Yoon Tae-goo (The Weird) as they all try to find and steal the map to treasure from each other.

Along their journey, many other factions ranging from the Japanese to local gangs become involved resulting in an insane race with everyone trying to obtain the map. While not the most complex plot, the film delivers enough twists and turns to keep things interesting. In addition, the movie is well paced considering that almost half the movie is an action scene. Also, the film does not take itself too seriously, and providing the audience knows that the film is an action comedy, the lack of seriousness is most definitely a positive.

Characterization: 8.5/10- Just like the film that inspired it, the three main characters are all very fun and entertaining to watch. Tae-goo is positively hilarious with his comical antics providing much of the film's humor. Park Do-won is essentially the Clint Eastwood type character, and while he is not given as much characterization as the others, he is well realized enough to be a memorable character.

Park Chang-yi is an excellent antagonist with a menacing presence that is even better than his counterpart in the original. Aside from the three main characters, no other character is particularly fleshed out, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Action: 9.9/10- The action scenes in The Good, the Bad, the Weird are all around phenomenal! Aside from one of the early action scenes having a tad too much shaky-cam, every action set-piece is filled with superb choreography and excellent direction. The film takes the typical western shootouts and adds a lot of Asian flare and style that makes for some of the most entertaining and inventive gunfights that I have seen. Along with the impressive gunfights, there is a great chase scene that is reminiscent of Indiana Jones in many ways. In the chase scene, there is a lot of stunt work and use of practical effects with little to no CGI being used, which is always great to see. The only possible complaint that some viewers might have is that the action scenes are too long, and while some of the action set-pieces are upwards of 20 minutes in length, the film manages to insert just enough humorous moments and occasional witty dialogue to keep things from getting bland.

Acting: 9.2/10- Being a Korean film, the entire film is in Korean (with a small amount of Japanese), and therefore is subtitled. Song Kang-ho's performance is positively hilarious as Tae-goo! His expressive performance is able to convey what he is saying regardless of the language barrier. Lee Byung-hun's menacing presence is perfect for the antagonist of the film! In fact, he is one of my new favorite actors after seeing him in the recent American films Red 2 and G.I. Joe: Retaliation, which is one of the main reasons I decided to check out the film in the first place. Jung Woo-sung gives the most subtle performance of the three, and it works for the type of character he plays.

Soundtrack: 9.3/10- Dalparan and Jang Yeong-gyu's score is weird and wacky in the best way possible. It takes a few minor cues from Ennio Morricone's iconic work, but adds in some oriental flare and a generally fun tone that results in a score that works great in the action scenes, as well as on their own.

Humor: 9.710- The Good, the Bad, the Weird is one of the best action comedies ever made, therefore it is loaded with plenty of humor throughout! In general, the film does not take itself too serious and that is one of its strongest aspects. Often, the humor comes from the character Tae-goo, and his hilarious antics. The type of comedy ranges from physical, to situational, with a little bit of witty dialogue and fun jokes that kept me laughing throughout. Also, the film manages to insert comedic moments into the action scenes that do not lessen the excitement of the action.

Entertainment Value: 9.9/10- From the opening scene to the credits, I was thoroughly entertained! The movie is just pure fun! However, the film does slow down a bit in the middle, but thanks to the fun dialogue, it did not bore me.

Overall: 9.2/10- Overall, The Good, the Bad, the Weird is fun from start to finish. It has loads of expertly executed action scenes, plenty of humor that kept me laughing, and pays homage to some of my favorite westerns and action films; what more could you ask for?

Closing comments: Even if you are not a fan of Asian cinema, this is a great place to start (providing you are old enough) due to its easy accessibility for any audience. Heck, even my brother enjoyed the movie just as much as I did.

Recommended for: Action fans, Western fans, Action Comedy fans, Comedy fans, The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly fans,

Note: The Good, the Bad, the Weird was my first forte into Korean films, and it was a great place to start. You should still be able to find it on Netflix and Amazon Prime users.

Click here to check out more of my movie reviews.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.