This movie is probably most well known for the unusual choice of weapon used by the hero in the final showdown, but as fun as that is, there's more to this movie than that. The plot is not complicated or even very original, and there are slow patches, but it has enough unique elements in it to keep the viewer interested.
As in many westerns, the characters in this movie are archetypes. When confronted with a choice of action, the viewer can usually correctly predict what the characters will do. This could have been a bad thing, but the writing in this movie is intelligent enough to present the characters with choices that are not always clear-cut. For the good characters, sometimes the choice comes down to picking the lesser of two evils; interestingly, the same is true for the bad characters as well.
Despite their archetypal nature, there is room for character development. In a scene near the end of the movie with no dialogue or action, the viewer is presented with a still life of a room, and from what is shown on screen and the character development that has occurred, we can tell what happened, why, and what the situation is now for the hero.
Overall, an entertaining, non-standard western with some above average writing, and worth a viewing.
As in many westerns, the characters in this movie are archetypes. When confronted with a choice of action, the viewer can usually correctly predict what the characters will do. This could have been a bad thing, but the writing in this movie is intelligent enough to present the characters with choices that are not always clear-cut. For the good characters, sometimes the choice comes down to picking the lesser of two evils; interestingly, the same is true for the bad characters as well.
Despite their archetypal nature, there is room for character development. In a scene near the end of the movie with no dialogue or action, the viewer is presented with a still life of a room, and from what is shown on screen and the character development that has occurred, we can tell what happened, why, and what the situation is now for the hero.
Overall, an entertaining, non-standard western with some above average writing, and worth a viewing.