V
Valdez is Coming
See it – This western packs a lot of wallop into less than 90 minutes. Burt Lancaster plays Valdez, an ex-Apache fighter turned lawman in this classic revenge tale. After a wealthy man gets away with a crime, Valdez seeks justice. Unfortunately, the ending in this one is horrible. Seriously, it’ll actually make you angry. Other than that, a pretty good western. 4 action rating.
|
|
Valhalla Rising
After he escapes from captivity, a mute one-eyed Viking joins up with Crusaders on their way to the Holy Land. After getting lost at sea, the Crusaders reach land only to realize that they are not in the Holy Land. They are in a strange new world. A very dark, chilling film that could have been a lot better, but chooses to set itself apart from the normal entertainment of Hollywood movies. This is not an action movie by any means, although there are a few quick, gory fight scenes. The film is very slow and “artsy,” choosing to focus on cinematography and slow motion close-ups rather than the actual story-telling and traditional entertainment. 1.5 action rating
|
|
Vengeance Valley
There’s a reason you probably haven’t heard of this little-known Burt Lancaster western. It’s no t bad, but there are so many other westerns with virtually the same plot that are better. Even though it came before the “Man From Laramie” and “Big Country,” it’s not as good as either. See those movies instead Then of course there’s the action, or lack of it. Nobody fires a gun until the very end. This is more of a cattle-drive cowboy movie than a shoot-em-up western. But it’s not as good as “Red River” either. So why watch it? 2 action rating.
|
|
Vera Cruz
See it -Like a fine wine, Gary Cooper seems to get better with age. One of his last westerns, this one’s a beauty. Compare it to the “Magnificent Seven” in quality, action, and great actors. This one’s got Burt Lancaster and a young Charles Bronson and Ernest Borgnine as cowboys who join Cooper as guns-for hire who go down to Mexico to help fight in the Mexican Civil War. Along the way, they discover there may be some gold involved, and human nature takes over. Non-stop action and a climactic finish! 4 action rating
|
|
Villa Rides
See it – First things first, this movie is about Pancho Villa, thus the name. All right, I’m glad we got that straightened out. Anyways, like all good Sam Peckinpah - directed films, this one is exciting from start to finish. This movie came right before he did “Wild Bunch,” and you can see the similarities in the fight scenes. Starting with “Wild Bunch,” Peckinpah began pushing the envelope and trying to get away with more and more (violence, nudity, etc). Almost like a Quentin Tarantino type of director. I like “Villa Rides” because it’s kind of his last normal, old-fashioned movie. He doesn’t try to push the envelope; he just makes a great action movie. Yul Brynner with hair is pretty good as Villa, considering he’s Russian (not Mexican). A young Charles Bronson steals lots of scenes as Villa’s tough, Bad-A right hand man. The movie also co-stars Robert Mitchum. This is a big epic full of sweeping battle scenes and a great cast. I’m surprised more people haven’t heard of it. 4 action rating
|
|
The Violent Men
Glenn Ford is pretty darn good as a reluctant hero in this average western. But the story is nothing you haven’t seen before. Edward G. Robinson plays a land-grabbing cattle baron who tries to run off Ford’s character, and in doing so starts a war. There’s a few good gunfights, but not enough to justify the title of the film. 3 action rating.
|
|
Virginia City
See it – A great cast headlines this enjoyable Errol Flynn western. Randolph Scott and a young Humphrey Bogart co-star in an action-packed story that starts at a Civil War prison camp and ends thousands of miles away in a desert with an old-fashioned circle-the-wagons gun battle. Flynn plays a union spy sent to stop a Confederate officer, Scott’s character, who is trying to smuggle a gold shipment into the South. Humphrey Bogart plays an amusing role as a villainous Hispanic bandit who also wants a piece of the gold. A bit cheesy in parts, but this is one of Flynn’s better westerns. Not too shabby. 3 action rating
|
|
Viva Zapata!
This is definitely not one of Marlon Brando’s best, but it’s not his fault. He plays a pretty good Mexican with his mustache and fake eyelids. But the movie is altogether too long and too slow. A very unentertaining story that’s basically the same as Pancho Villa. The only thing different is that his name is Zapata. This movie really offers nothing new. 1.5 action rating
|
|
Von Ryan's Express
See it – An outstanding action movie. Undoubtedly Frank Sinatra’s best war movie. Compare it to the “Great Escape.”It’s the story of Allied POW’s who hijack a train in WWII. Riveting from start to finish, you won’t be able to look away. 4.5 action rating
|
|
