Badland

After reading all of the pompous low reviews I had to review. OK, to start off with, Tombstone, it is NOT. But neither did it have the budget for the actors, good writing, time, etc. But if you can stomach the melodrama, if you can get past the "supposed" proper English of the late 1800s, and get past the cliches (but let's face it, there's hardly anything truly original nowadays), if you can get past these, then it's actually not too bad of a movie. Yes, it's a cookie cutter western, but no, it's not a horrible one either. But if you're into flying hero's, exploding heads and zombies, please stay away from this movie and keep your comments to yourself.

With so many experienced actors in this film, one would have thought they would tell Justin to "StFU!" and just directed their own scenes. But that ain't what happened in this waste of cellulose. The first black senator was Hiram Revels who took his seat in 1870. So this story had to have taken place after then. Lee could have given a 1866 Winchester to Sorvino and she wouldn't have looked so awkward handling a rifle. Nice lookin horses though and Mira Sorvino definitely put the weight on in all the right places.

Deep down this is a love story which was sweet.

The violence is typical of a Western and this is a slow burning story.

The detective is very Rick Grimes in his acting.

If you want to watch something on a rainy day that doesn't need all of your attention or you want something that doesn't need loads of concentration then this is perfect.

No swearing and no nudity.

Although this movie has three western heavies in Jeff Fahey, Bruce Dern and Amanda Wyss. It seems that the movie's heart fell out of its chest after the beginning of chapter three. Too much reliance on a predictable western routine and cliche scenes makes the second half of this movie fall apart. The first half had actual heart and interest, but then it feels like a different movie and forced one at that after the third chapter.

Badland is a tinge of the old spaghetti western mold. Makely plays Matthias Breecher: think Eastwood, Bronson, Stallone and Wayne mixed together. Bruce Dean and Wes Studi provide solid performances. Jeff Fahey and Makely have a great old fashioned shoot out at the end. I'd be willing to buy the dvd.