3:10 to Yuma

Remaking old westerns has its own place in movie making, its not something new but the good remakes of older films are few and far between. Here we have a story that was ripe for a remake, with all the action and suspense that would be pumped into a modern story. The two stars that drive this film are Christian Bale and Russell Crowe, and with their high intensity acting there is whole new life to this story that was originally told in 1957. Director James Mangold does an outstanding job at keeping the action and tension levels high, and considering the other movies that he has made over the years this isn’t surprising he’s had lots of practice.
After agreeing to help transport Outlaw Ben Wade to the prison train, rancher Dan Evans fights his own personal demons while battling Wade’s henchmen. Many of the action sequences are fast paced, and as in most westerns there is some gun play involved, but there is nothing that is portrayed as out of the ordinary. All of the stunts and sequences are believable and that lends to the authenticity of the tale that is being told. The deeper story of good vs. evil isn’t as blatant as some but with the roles that Bale and Crowe turn out it is easy to see this interaction at its best.
From beginning to end this story grabs you and you’re left with the feelings that if you turn away your going to miss something that is very important to the narrative. I was flabbergasted at how good this film is, it kept my interest faster than most remakes do and I was completely drawn to the characters and the lives that each of them had to lead in order to accomplish what they thought was their lots in life. If you haven’t seen this film, and your in to westerns, this is one you have to check out, it has all of the action of a modern film but has a great story which is what drove the westerns of the 50s and 60s.