A Fistful of Dollars
As much as I adore Kurosawa, as much as I love Yojimbo and think it is a great film-this is better.
It isn't a copy, rip-off, plagiarism...it is a remake that the Italian studio did not get the proper authorization to make.
But god, the atmosphere! This was the big spark that forever changed the Western and took it out of tired cliche. You can feel the ambiance of the arid desert landscape in your bones. The little details just are incredible and make this extremely limited production actually breathe in front of you.
It is incredible to see Sergio Leone so completely in control of his style at this stage in his career.
I've seen this countless times and it is a fast, swift, grainy, dirty, vibrant little masterwork. The 35mm print from MGM is stunning to see firsthand. The new Blu-ray looks okay via reviews, but I want to import the Italian one someday.
Classic in every sense-the Morricone score, Eastwood's first turn as the "nameless" poncho wearer, the villains, the cinematography, the landscape, the taut storyline, the one liners...just phenomenal. The magic lies in it's almost serial-like feel.
4 iron plated balls out of 4 ponchos.