L
The Last Hard Men![]() This Charlton Heston and James Coburn western is one of the better westerns that came out of the late 70’s…which means absolutely nothing. While it does a good job of keeping an old-fashioned western feel (rather than a weird 70’s vibe), it is an unmemorable and disappointing movie. Its main shortcoming is its lack of action. There is a quick fight in the beginning, and another at the end. They are excessively violent, and filmed in slow-motion as if to trick us into thinking the fight scenes are cool. Crap in slow motion is still crap. 2 action rating.
|
|
The Last Train from Gun Hill![]() See it – A man with high ideals stands alone in a town that’s sitting around, waiting for him to get killed. We’ve seen this premise before with movies like “High Noon” and “3:10 to Yuma.” But each one has a unique plot in its own right, and the similarities that exist are the vital basics that make a western great. In this western masterpiece, Kirk Douglas plays a sheriff who seeks vengeance against the men who murdered his wife. When he tracks them down, he discovers that one of them is his best friend’s son. His friend, played beautifully by Anthony Quinn, owns the town and will do everything in his power to make sure Douglas doesn’t get on the last train from Gun Hill. 2.5 action rating.
|
|
The Last Valley![]() This is an exceedingly strange movie that blends war with the concept of a utopian society. It takes place in Germany during the Thirty Years War. War and plague have ravaged the entire country, except for one small hidden valley in the mountains. When a small band of soldiers, led by Michael Caine, discover this valley, they decide to join with the villagers in order to co-exist. Eventually, they must defend the valley from outsiders. The two main battle scenes that take place during the film are pretty good, but they are few and far between. Also, this film would have been better if it was made before 1970. The director decided to focus on religion rather than war. Although religion was the conflict that started the Thirty Years War, it is portrayed in a fanatical way that only the 1970’s could offer. 2.5 action rating
|
|
The Last Wagon![]() This movie is a delightful little romp, but unfortunately “delightful” doesn’t usually make for a great action movie. This Richard Widmark film is more of an adventure movie than a western. After a wagon train is massacred by Apaches, an outlaw comes to the aid of the survivors (most of them women and children). But this movie is exceedingly cheesy, and may as well have been made by Disney. Danger awaits around every corner, but there aren’t really any major battle scenes. This disappointing adventure-western should have been a lot better. 2 action rating.
|
|
The Law and Jake Wade![]() See it – This is one of the best westerns you’ve never heard of. It stars Robert Taylor and Richard Widmark, but this is really Widmark’s movie. He is devilishly charming and witty in the bad guy role he perfected. This is a very well-made, high quality western. It has a great script, and it is intriguing from start to finish. There are a couple gunfights, an Indian battle, and one of the more clever finishes you’ll see in an old-school western. 3.5 action rating.
|
|
Lawman![]() See it – This is a good Burt Lancaster western, but it is a bit cliché and the ending might ruin it for you. Lancaster plays the stereotypical “hard-nosed” lawman. Robert Ryan co-stars as the stereotypical “washed-up” sheriff who is owned by the stereotypical wealthy and powerful cattle baron. The story itself is very similar to parts of other westerns such as “The Proud Ones” and “Firecreek.” But if it’s action you want, it’s action you’ll get. There are 4 pretty good gunfights, each better than the one before it. The final showdown is one of the bloodiest and most senselessly tragic endings you’ll see in a western. 3.5 action rating.
|
|
The Longest Day![]() See it – One of the best war movies ever made, and perhaps the greatest cast ever assembled…period. Watch Robert Mitchum and Jeffrey Hunter storm Omaha Beach. Watch Henry Fonda lead the landing on Utah Beach. Watch John Wayne and the 101st Airborne march to St. Mere Eglise. And watch Robert Wagner and the cliff assault at Pointe du Hoc, which is one of the best battle sequences ever filmed. The events surrounding D-Day are all relived on an epic scale. A timeless action movie that you’ll never get tired of watching. 4.5 action rating
|
|
Lost Command![]() See it – This isn’t a great war movie, but it’s a pretty good action movie. Anthony Quinn leads French commandoes against a band of rebels in the Algerian War for Independence. The title is a bit misleading. It’s not about a group of men who have gotten “lost” behind enemy lines. It’s about Quinn’s character, who loses command of his unit after a campaign in Middle China, and is given one last chance in Algeria to redeem himself. Willing to do anything to complete his mission, Quinn and his men eventually become anti-heroes. The story doesn’t flow particularly well, but the action and adventure is definitely there. 3.5 action rating
|
|