Never Too Late to Catch the 3:10 to Yuma
by Jaden
3:10 to Yuma (2007), directed by James Mangold, gives the original film a run for its cattle.
I watched the 1957 version of 3:10 to Yuma at the New Beverly Theater shortly before receiving the 2007 movie screener. Assuming the Yuma remake would pale in comparison, I didn’t bother watching it until last night, a year later, when there was nothing new left in my cabinet.
Sadly, we are well past voting season because I was completely blown away by the acting performances of Christian Bale, Russell Crowe, Logan Lerman, and Ben Foster that were downright dirty sexy good.
When I see good acting, credit must also be given to the writers and director; dialog, editing, sound, and instruction all play into a fine cinematic performance.
Elmore Leonard wrote the short story from which Halsted Welles wrote the screenplay for the 1957 3:10 to Yuma .
Screenwriters Michael Brandt and Derek Haas successfully met the challenge of reworking the script for a modern audience, capturing the ghostly voices of our wild western past.
Though most reviewers agree that acting and cinematography are stellar in both movies, the scene actions of the 2007 script are up for debate.
Gary North says, “3:10 to Yuma may become a screenwriter’s classic, moving from scene to scene like an accelerating tidal wave of implausibility.”
Joel Haber wrote of the 2007 version, “ultimately I felt the movie failed because it was simply unbelievable.”
Nicklaus Louis commented to Joel Haber’s post:
“I started writing my thoughts on what I felt was a pretty darn good ending (that would be the one you hate), but it got too long for a simple comment and it turned into a blog post.”
I agree that the 2007 version becomes increasingly outrageous, but I do not see this as a negative, rather I see it as a positive. My jaw dropped for the second half. “What — did that really just happen?!” Having surprises jump out of an old movie was great fun for me.
Since I was not expecting something realistic when I watched Yuma, I enjoyed the wild thrills of the new script and the heavy dose of moral meaning that was maintained from the original story. Thrills and morals are what westerns are all about, aren’t they?
My favorite script lines from 3:10 to Yuma:
Ben Wade (the villain): You look kinda skinny.
Woman (barmaid): I don’t feel skinny.
Ben Wade: I don’t mind skinny girls, so long as they have green eyes. Do you have green eyes?
Woman turns around slowly, eyes downcast, slowing turning as Man puts his hand on her cheek. Finally, she raises her head, and opens her eyes, brown.
Ben Wade: That’s okay, they don’t have to be green.
Passionate kissing.
The original 3:10 to Yuma is first-rate; I did not think it could be any better.
For the 2007 version, the writers layered in several strong new subplots and exciting twists. Some new scenes were over-the-top Hollywood style, but overall, the 2007 film seemed more accurate in its depiction of the 1800s, it felt like a lot of research had been put into the new version. Fantasy based on historical fact pleases me most.
To escape reality, grab yourself a bottle of whiskey and sit yourself down on the couch to watch 3:10 to Yuma. Watch the 1957 version first, then some time later, saddle up for a wild ride to Yuma 2007 style. Yee-hah!
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4 Responses to “Never Too Late to Catch the 3:10 to Yuma”
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I saw this back in January (before SizzlingPopcorn.com existed) and liked it, but I can’t really remember it. I’ve never seen the original 3:10 to Yuma. My dad probably has a copy of it somewhere as he really likes westerns.
I loved the new version. Saw it first, and still think the newer one is superior to the older one.
It really is about escapist reality, both versions are. Most westerns, in fact, are. Yet they also usually have a good moral message of some sort, and both versions did. Still, the newer one feels grittier, and has more heart. Can anyone really say the old version brought them to tears at least once? Because I know quite a few people who were moved to tears during the second one.
Improbabilities and all. I consider the new Yuma to be a sleeper hit, one that didn’t get quite as much attention as it should have at the box office, but that has made almost as much in rentals and in DVD sales individually as it did at the box office alone.
Not bad for a genre that’s “dead.”
I also have to add, I agree with James Mangold in that I don’t see Ben Wade as a villain. An anti-hero is the best description for him. Someone who is self serving but still has the ability to do good. Just a man, trying to survive. When you look at him that way, all his actions, especially the ending, make a lot more sense.
Christian Bale… ♥_♥ ::drool::