Tombstone [Blu-ray] [1993] [US Import]

In a world full of Western movies, do we really need another re-telling of the gunfight at O.K. Corral? If it involves Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer and Sam Elliott, the sexiest mustache's in the history of man and enough masculinity to warrant a label warning of sudden pregnancy, than yes. We most certainly do.Tombstone is 1993 a movie written by Kevin Jarre, who was also the original film director. He was given the boot at some point in early production and the job of director was given to George P. Cosmatos. The film has an impressive all star cast with the likes of Bill Paxton and Michael Biehn of Alien fame, as well as the great Powers Boothe. Many other familiar faces of the time pop up and is a great who's who of actors. As I mentioned above, the film is a depiction of the lead up to and execution of the legendary gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona 1881. It also features events of the the Earp Vendetta Ride, the repercussion of such events.Despite being a well used subject matter in cinema, this event in history still provides and excellent backstory to put to film. We see the legendary Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) and his two brothers settle in Tombstone and eventually getting themselves involved in stopping the criminal activities of the Cowboy gang. All this takes place alongside a very sick yet scene stealing Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer). In typical western style, there's a lot of drama, shoot outs, death and destruction. If you've seen this story told or any other of the genre, there's no real surprises here.However, when you look at the skill put into the acting from the all star cast, it makes it worth every penny. Val Kilmer and Kurt Russell steal the show with some great one liners. Whilst Doc is a sick laid back individual, more intent on utilisation sarcasm to get his way, Wyatt is a meaner more intense personality that knows how to deal with situations through force and intimidation. The combination of the two characters are some of the best chemistry in any western, in my opinion. Naturally, you love to hate the bad guys. Curtis Bill lights up the screen with that sinister smile that only Powers Boothe can do. Johnny Ringo, he doesn't come across in the fore front much but Biehn makes him look mean and intimidating with added venom from some one liners that really sting. You want these men to get their comeuppance.Much like every other western on bluray, the scenery just looks gorgeous. The natural lighting, blue skies, the yellow hue of the sand covered environments and wooden towns just look fantastic. The transfer quality is pretty clean and has aged very well. It's certainly a nice upgrade from the old muddy looking DVD. When I played the film on the big screen, we were all impressed at how well the film has aged. It's not the sharpest looking transfer but seeing it look so colourful and lively was a great experience.Tombstone is one of those movies that people either look at as a great film of its time or just another re-telling of the same old played out story. It gets a lot of comparisons to the Kevin Costner Wyatt Earp film but has a completely different tone. That film is a lot more dead pan serious where this is more about having fun and looking good whilst doing it. I highly recommend putting this film in your collection if westerns are your thing. It's a good easy watch with a great cast, a horrendous amount of fantastic one liners and some of the finest looking manly men in show business!As Jack Burton always says... what the hell!

This isn't just a film about the gunfight at the OK Corral, it is a film about the Earps and what became known as the Earp Vendetta Ride. It simply had the misfortunte of being up against another film about Wyatt Earp that starred Kevin Costner in his prime.Wyatt Earp (19 March 1848 - 19 January 1929) was at various times in his life a gambler, saloon keeper, farmer, gold miner and lawman.Virgil Earp (18 July 1843 - 19 October 1905) mainly a gambler but also a well known lawmanMorgan Earp (24 April 1851 - 18 March 1882)John Henry "Doc" Holliday (14 August 1851 - 8 November 1887) dentist, gambler and gunfighterThe film Tombstone follows the move of the Earp brothers Wyatt (Kurt Russell) and Morgan (Bill Paxton) at the silver mining town of Tombstone, in Arizona, after leaving Dodge City, where older brother Virgil Earp (Sam Elliott) had just Tombstone been appointed deputy US Marshal.The film doesn't quite stick to the facts - leaving out some of the Earp brothers and the trial of Wyatt and the others for murder after the gunfight at the OK Corral.Wyatt and Morgan didn't arrive together. Missing are older brother James (who arrived with Wyatt) and worked as a barkeep, and younger brother Warren arrived later with Morgan. Then finally Doc Holliday arrived. Holliday is portrayed by Val Kilmer, who succeeds in stealing every scene that he is in.The trouble between the Earps and the cowboys after Virgil accused Frank McLaury of stealing army horses and mules and altering the brands - usually known as cattle rustling. The Cowboys were well known for cattle rustling, if you had any animals and they were missing then they were usually in the possession of the Cowboys.After several stagecoach hold-ups and shootings tensions between the Cowboys and the Earps were at breaking point and this was the build up to the famous (or infamous) Gunfight at the OK Corral. A few minutes that have since gone down as legend.Interestingly (and missing from the film) after the gunfight, the corrupt sheriff Johnny Behan arrested the Earp brothers and Holliday, and they faced trial for murder. Ike Clanton's testimony was said to have been extremely unbelievable - the towns people knew him as a bully and a thug, yet he said that he was terrified and feared the Earp's as they had repeatedly bullied, frightened and intimidated him.It was Ike Clanton's own contradictory and confused testimony that cleared the Earps and Holliday. Claiming that the Cowboys had merely been trying to enjoy the evening air and that they were not in the habit of carrying guns went against every witness that had given evidence at the trial, including his own men. He also claimed that Wyatt, Morgan, Virgil and Doc had confessed separately to him that they were responsible for the stage coach robberies and murders.Wyatt took advantage of a law that allowed him to read a prepared statement without being cross-examined by the prosecution. He read his statement, in a calm and controlled manner, which detailed the troubles between the two groups, how they only wanted to disarm the men and that they had to fire in self-defence. That, along with the respected witnesses, cast enough doubt on the case that the jury decided to free them.It was after this that the Cowboys decided to assassinate the Earps, and so Wyatt (with the help of an ailing Doc Holliday and a posse) embarked on the vendetta ride, for the blood of those who had harmed his family.Wyatt Earp had been friends with notable Wild West figures such as Wild Bill Hickcock and Bat Masterson. As well as western movie stars such as Tom Mix, William S Hart and even a young John Wayne.Kurt Russell is an established authority on Wyatt Earp and it shows in the fact that the story is about Wyatt's Vendetta Ride and what caused it, rather than the usual Gunfight at the OK Corral.It is a shame that the time constraints meant that so much of the story of the Earps, the Clantons and the Cowboys had to be missed out.Personally, if Mr Russell ever decided to make the story of the Earps into mini series I'd watch it and I'd buy it too, if it was done to the same standard as this movie.As I have previously said Val Kilmer steals the show as Doc Holliday with a performance that should have earned him awards. But to mention Mr Kilmer with out mentioning his `huckleberry' Michael Biehn would be a crime. Biehn portrays Johnny Ringo, an educated man who Holliday calls the "deadliest pistoleer since Wild Bill", and a wonderful foil for Kilmer to play off.Yet by picking out those I don't want you to think that the others aren't as good, the entire cast is amazing, without exception this film should have been award winning - the only reason it wasn't is down to Hollywood politics and the movie industry snobbery. Shame on them.This is a well made, well acted, and exceptionally underrated film - it is what a true western should be. Outstanding.--- Side Note ---The US region 1 double disc set is well worth a look. If you have a universal player then they are worth the money. You get a disc of extras, as well as a director's cut of the movie. I rate both versions of the film, but the director's cut is a more fulfilling film.

Worth keeping. With multiple directors responsible for the finished film - including Kurt Russell it's surprising the quality on show. But Val Kilmer and Michael Biehn take the acting honours. The start of the movie is deliberately violent to establish the "cowboys" as a powerful gang and place the Earps in a town under threat. The gunfight at OK Corral is dealt with quickly and the action afterwards is presented documentary style, fast cutting, no scene setting and a voice over. That just left the Johnny Ringo gunfight to be dealt with.

Great Western

Great western

The Gunfight at the OK Corral has been portrayed more than any other event in frontier history on the big screen. There are six - at least - films directly about the subject (Frontier Marshall, My Darling Clementine, Doc, Hour of the Gun, Wyatt Earp, Gunfight at the OK Corrall and this one) and many more Westerns take elements of the historical dynamic, notably Warlock.Tombstone manages to be both the most historically accurate AND the most exciting, which is no mean trick in a film made for a fraction of the Lawrence Kasdan/Kevin Costner epic released shortly afterwards and a production plagued with directorial changes and mass cast sackings as - on-set- the underwhelmed actors and production crew struggled with a 'difficult' script.Kurt Russell portrays Wyatt Earp as a very tough man who is tired of being a 'legendary' law officer and just wants to make some money. However - at the prompting of his brothers - Virgil (Sam Elliott) and Morgan (Bill Paxton), he is sucked into taking on the 'Cowboys' - who are described in Robert Mitchum's narration as 'the first organised crime gang in America.'They weren't, but they were pretty nasty and - when suitably prodded - capable of collective, violent and vengeance driven, action. Wyatt Earp wanted to be sheriff of Tombstone so was really not running away from his peacemaker past. It's the only glaring historical mis-step and, in my opinion, foregiveable.For what Tombstone delivers is an utter credible portrayal of 1880s frontier life, personified by the former dentist and current gunfighter/gambler Doc Holliday.Holliday has been portrayed by some heavy-hitting actors - Kirk Douglas, Jason Robards, Dennis Quaid - but no-one gets as close to capturing the drunk, consumptive, Southern gentleman psychopath as Val Kilmer in this work. Kilmer is, frankly, astonishing and as someone who endured his work in turkeys like The Saint and Alexander, I do not bandy praise about this actor lightly. Doc Holliday's most recent biographer - who knows the real man rather than the Hollywood legend - praises Kilmer effusively and there is no higher accolade, in my opinion.In this new DVD special edition, the biggest irony is that George Pan Cosmatos - who died a couple of years back - is able to make such a joyous director's commentary considering - in some ways - star Kurt Russell was 'meant' to be directing. Cosmatos was a bit of a hack - notable for Stallone vehicles Cobra (urgh) and Rambo Two (double urgh), but this was the work of his life and in its energy, design and look, Tombstone - bathed in South west sunshine - is just superb.You don't believe me? Check out the clip on You Tube of the actual gunfight - Thomas Haden Church acting his little socks off. Then trust me, the rest of the film is that good.The extras are cute, but don't add a whole heap. There are better documentaries on the real incidents in Tombstone. It doesn't matter. This is a great film. If you love westerns - even if you don't - this should be on the shelf.My only regret is that Kevin Costner - who is the best Wyatt Earp ever on screen - is not in this instead of the Lawrence Kasdan film. His morally upright, unsettling intensity would make this film perfect and I'm talking Godfather Two perfect.Wonderful.

Great film. Val Kilmer superb.

One of my favourites and one I keep coming back too

The theme seems to be a common theme in movies with dogs literally acting out their lives, standing a bit longer here to look around, because that's what you do, constantly minding your attitude, yet easily moved to sway by the simplest of temptations.It's interesting to note the lady actress received a good luck wish on her conquest of Wyatt Earp at the beginning by her actor boyfriend. Pair that with her without any previous acquaintance to any of them bursting into the wives' room, putting on a play, with what appears to be the male actor boyfriend in a hooded cloak, no cowboy-hat, bursting in after her with a shotgun, firing a couple of rounds, and the stage has been set.They gratuitously instigate the conflict after the OK Corral shoot-out, the red scarf carrying Cowboys notifying the Earps it wasn't them, yet the Earps not getting it. The male actor boyfriend got killed for what he did, but none of that is spelled out in the movie.Every single person in the movie is just an actor, acting out their lives, because they feel that's the way they should live their lives. There isn't a single bit of free will in any of this movie and that's also what makes it so bold and interesting. Who and what is good and bad flips over and over at a coin toss when you think about it. It's all just play, with no-one knowing anything.

Good movie. Disc arrived in good condition and protected package.Movie is a classic in its own time.Great actors and great action. To me it is a collection item also

Est-il encore possible de ke renvoyer ?

"Ich kann das Geld in dieser Stadt förmlich riechen ". Die Brüder Wyatt (Kurt Russell), Virgin (Sam Elliot) und Morgan Earp (Bill Paxton) sind berüchtigte Gesetzeshüter, die mit ihren Frauen in das aufstrebende Tombstone ziehen, um Geld zu machen. Von ihren Gegnern als Dienstmarken tragende Zuhälter betrachtet, die rücksichtslos die geschäftlichen Interessen der Stadt und damit auch ihre Eigenen vertraten. Ihre Gegner Curly Bill Procious (Powers Boothe), Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn), Ike (Stephen Lang) und Billy Clanton (Thomas Haden Church) gehören zu den roten Scherpen tragenden "Cowboys". Eine Bande von Gesetzlosen, die als Viehdiebe, Bandidten und Mörder in der Gegend zwar berüchtigt waren, allerdings auch in der aufsteigenden Boomtown Tombstone ihre Freunde hatten.Es ist ein Zusammenschluss, der auf Zusammenhalt und Ehre basiert und somit Vorläufer als des organisierten Verbrechen in den USA gilt.Die Earps sind vorläufig nur am Geld interessiert, dass diese aufsteigende Stadt aufgrund einer dort entdeckten Silbermiene zu bieten hat.Wyatt wird Kartengeber im "Oriental" und ist dort mit 25 % der Einnahmen gut am verdienen. Dort treffen sie auch auf Wyatts alten Freund Doc Holiday (Val Kilmer), ein eiskalter Killer aus den Südstaaten, der sich in der trockenen Umgebung von Arizona eine Linderung seiner Tuberkulose erhofft.Wyatts Frau Mattie Blaylock (Dana Wheeler Nicholson) ist immer mehr unglücklich und zunehmend eifersüchtig, weil Wyatt ein Auge auf die Schauspielerin Josephine Marcus (Dana Delany) geworfen hat, die mit ihrem Ensemble in der Stadt dauergastiert.Nachdem der durchgeknallte Curly Bill ein chinesisches Opiumhaus besucht hat, schießt er unter Drogen mitten in der Stadt um sich, er schiesst auch in Richtung Mond. Die nächste Kugel kriegt aber spontan der alte Stadtmarschall Fred White (Harry Carey jr.)ab, der sich ihm nähern und die Waffen abnehmen wollte. Die Earps geben ihre Neutralität auf und sind ab diesem Zeitpunkt Gesetzeshüter. Der konflikt gipfelt sich in dem legendären Gunfight am O.K. Coral.In nur 30 Sekunden fallen bei der Schießerei etwa 30 Schüsse, drei Menschen sterben und auch danach regiert nur noch die Rache...Sehr oft wurde diese legendäre Schiesserei und die Geschichte von Wyatt Earp und Doc Holliday verfilmt.Die bekanntesten sind Faustrecht der Prärie (John Ford, USA 1946 mit Henry Fonda und Victor Mature), Zwei rechnen ab (John Sturges, USA 1957 mit Burt Lancaster und Kirk Douglas), Die fünf Geächteten (ebenfalls Sturges, USA 1967 mit James Garner und Jason Robards), Wyatt Earp (Lawrence Kasdan, USA 1994 mit Kevin Costner und Dennis Quaid) und alle sind sie gut gelungen. Die beste Verfilmung ist aber tatsächlich den griechischen Regisseur George Pan Cosmatos mit seinem 1993 entstandenen "Tombstone" gelungen.Klasse ist vor allem die famose Darstellung von Val Kilmer als Doc Holiday, für die er nach meiner Meinung sogar eine Oscar-Nominierung verdient hätte.Der Film ist mit seinen 134 Minuten sehr vielschichtig, nimmt sich auch ausführlich Zeit für seine Nebenfiguren und lebt von tollen Bildern, von grossen Gesten und seiner spannenden Geschichte, die hier - anders als in den anderen Filmen - seine Helden auch sehr ambivalent zeigt und nicht unbedingt das übliche Gut/Böse Schema des Westerns bedient.Ein grosses Western-Epos ist den Machern da gelungen....Auf der zweiten DVD befindet sich ein Making of mit den Unterteilungen "Die Darsteller", "Wie man einen authentischen Western macht" und "Die Schiesserei am OK Coral"Ausserdem das Original Storyboard des Regisseurs "Die OK Coral Szene".

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