Patrick Sweeney Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Continuing our quest for the perfect movie, my wife and I watched The Wild Bunch, Peckinpah's ode to the aging west. When it came out in 1969, the violence was so graphic it was termed "pornographic" by some reviewers. And yet, looking back on it, Pekinpah was almost coy about the violence. Yes, we see spurting blood from gunshots, and bodies litter the landscape, but he doesn't give us the full slo-mo shot of the hit. He cuts a frame before, and comes back (after showing us the reactions of others) to show the results for a moment. And the lessons? Even thieves have honor, even if they each define it differently. And Ernest Borgnine was a greatly under-appreciated actor. No one did "evil smirk" better, and the look of joy at the thought of the impending violence when they've just killed the General and realize that they can wipe out the whole sorry mess of banditos, is priceless. (Sorry for the ugly mess that was that sentence.) We bought the restored version, with the "slow parts" put back in. The scene when Pike realizes that the guy he deliberately left behind was the grandson of his friend, tells you everything you need to know about Pike: he regretted doing it, but he'd have done it even knowing it was Frankies grandson. Gotta watch it again. Soon. And yes, I searched for this movie. I remembered reading something before, but I guess that file stack is lost to the aether of the digital age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kellyn Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Truly a great movie and one of the best Westerns ever. Great moments: Pike taking off his hat before the bridge blows. Angel blasting his ex- while she's sitting on the Generalissimo's lap, licking his ear. (Es su novia!) "If they move, kill em." Blasting the German officer with the .45. "Mexico, Lindo" "It just looks like more of Texas." (or something like that) While Rio Bravo remains my favorite Western, this is a close 2d. John Wayne could not stand this movie (nor did he like the spaghetti westerns), which is largely a rejection of the Western as he and John Ford filmed them. Funny, that I should like almost diametrically opposed movies. I think the end signifies the end of the Old West and the Wild Bunch willingly goes out in a blaze of glory (once again the evil smirk) rather than face modernity and its railroads, cars, boredom, and civilization. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightloop Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Great Movie.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Orr Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 It's a long way from Audie and Roy. I couldn't believe it the first time I saw it. I still watch it about every time it comes around. Do we have a favorite western thread? If not we could start from here (The Wild Bunch) and go in decending order. Two Sixguns Up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ima45dv8 Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 It's a long way from Audie and Roy. I couldn't believe it the first time I saw it. I still watch it about every time it comes around.Do we have a favorite western thread? If not we could start from here (The Wild Bunch) and go in decending order. Two Sixguns Up! Add "The Professionals", with Lee Marvin and Burt Lancaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackdragon Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 I concur! Thumbs up! Ivan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikW Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 After they killed the general, you think they plan to take on everybody else? I think they stand there stunned for a moment, shocked at the lack of response. Then they realize they can get away with what was supposed to be a suicide mission. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD45 Posted March 4, 2005 Share Posted March 4, 2005 It has always been one of my favorite westerns of all time. Red River is my favorite Wayne movie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Sweeney Posted March 4, 2005 Author Share Posted March 4, 2005 No, they planned to get Angel, regardless of the cost. Once they shoot the General, and everyone is frozen, they realize that they're wolves in a bunch of sheep in wolves clothing. They can kill the whole sorry lot if they have just a bit of luck, and even if they don't it will be fun, as Pike said "I'm tired of running." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markm Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 Just picked up the directors cut, what a difference in movie making. Whats old is new again, and better than ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
et45 Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 Let's Go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP5_guy Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 Back in the mid-80s I had an opportunity to see in a theater at the American Film Institute (at the Kennedy Center) what was at the time the only known intact (had been "lost" in a vault at a studio) 35mm print of "The Wild Bunch". This was a big deal, since well into the 1970s most film prints going to movie theaters were 16mm. It was also what is now called a director's cut, and it was spectacular in the quality. I would love to see it again on the big screen. DVDs are great, but give me a quality print in Technicolor and I'll be at the front of the line to get in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M118LR Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 A GREAT MOVIE. I saw it again last week on cable. I have a copy on VHS and DVD. The DVD is the Directors cut. A lot of good lines in the movies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek45 Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 Silver Rings ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightloop Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Great Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVC247 Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 It was an excellent movie, and groundbreaking for its time, but I don't know if it'd make my top 10 western list. Unforgiven and The Shootist are the two best westerns ever (IMHO), and if you ever want good lines you can find them there. "It ain't about being fast, or even accurate. It's bein' willing. Most men will bat an eye or draw a breath before pulling a trigger. I won't." That's from memory but close enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemo Posted August 3, 2010 Share Posted August 3, 2010 Had to resurrect this one because I just watched "The Wild Bunch" for the first time this past weekend. I was very impressed with this movie. Compared to other westerns of the time this one seems groundbreaking, in plot and cinematography. In what year does the story take place? I wonder if all the guns were correct for the period? Awesome flic nonetheless. Will buy it for my collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Orr Posted August 3, 2010 Share Posted August 3, 2010 I saw a "western" the other night with the latest rat pack as the stars...... blah.... The Wild Bunch still rocks 5 years after Patrick made the first post in this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nashvillebill Posted August 3, 2010 Share Posted August 3, 2010 (edited) Had to resurrect this one because I just watched "The Wild Bunch" for the first time this past weekend. I was very impressed with this movie. Compared to other westerns of the time this one seems groundbreaking, in plot and cinematography. In what year does the story take place? I wonder if all the guns were correct for the period? Awesome flic nonetheless. Will buy it for my collection. Great movie, and good question. Got me to wondering also, Googled it, found this on IMDB. I don't know how accurate it is , but it's interesting. "The machine gun used at the end of the film is a Browning model 1917, the film is supposedly circa 1913" Edited August 3, 2010 by nashvillebill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Thomas Posted August 3, 2010 Share Posted August 3, 2010 I love The Wild Bunch, but it's just awfully hard to make a case against either Once Upon a Time In the West, Red River or The Outlaw Josey Wales as the best Western ever made. I'd go Once Upon a Time In the West, myself. Though The Wild Bunch is certainly one of the few films even worthy to be mentioned in the same breath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powder Finger Posted August 3, 2010 Share Posted August 3, 2010 The most important part was the best movie line of all time. "Howd you like to kiss my sisters black cat's ass?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillD Posted August 3, 2010 Share Posted August 3, 2010 Tell Them Valdez is Coming, with Burt Lancaster. Written by Elmore Leonard. Love those movies. I've bought a bunch of the old ones..... I liked Edmund O'Brien character in The Wild Bunch. "They! Who the hell is they?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midvalleyshooter Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 SASS was inspired by this movie. Hence the crew that runs (owns) SASS calls itself "The Wild Bunch". Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midvalleyshooter Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 "We want Angel." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUhUAa3y4rE Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemo Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 "It's covered you two-bit redneck peckerwood!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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