This western, a remake of a 1957 film, is centred on two men. One is honest rancher, Dan Evans, a man who is in financial trouble and fears losing his ranch and letting down his family. The second is Ben Wade, the leader of a band of gangsters, who is captured after a raid on a stagecoach carrying railway wages. Needing the money, Evans volunteers to be part of the group escorting Wade to the town of Contention where he is to be put on the 3:10 train to Yuma. It won't be an easy journey; they will pass through territory occupied by renegade Apaches and have to face members of Wade's well-armed gang who are determined to set him free.

Having enjoyed the 1957 version of the film I was interested to see how this would compare... I think it compares well. The story might be relatively simple but that doesn't lessen the film. It provides several impressive action set pieces; from the stage coach robbery at the start to the gunfight in Contention as Wade's gang try to stop Evans getting him to the train. Despite the impressive action it often feels character driven as we learn more about Evans and Wade. Both are interesting although Wade is slightly more so as there is a degree of ambiguity about the character... he is an unapologetic villain but can be kind at times. The cast is impressive; particularly Russell Crowe and Cristian Bale who are on great form as Wade and Evans. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to anybody who enjoys westerns.

There are so many remakes and imitations on the screen these days that I'm tempted to borrow a line from a thirty-year-old movie myself and remark that if the MBAs who greenlight these projects had an original thought it would die of loneliness.

The original was a modest black-and-white Western of relatively low budget and a more or less satisfying 1950s ending. The poor rancher (Van Heflin then, Christian Bale now) gets to successfully deliver his carefree prisoner (Glen Ford then, Russell Crowe now) to the train on time and collects the money that will save his ranch.

This rifacimento isn't badly done but it's gargantuan by comparison. It's updated. Currently, the word "updated" can only mean more brutal, sexier, bloodier, sadistic, muddier, dirtier, and characterized by filthier language. All the modern conventions are adhered to.

Gone are the familiar studio back lots. Gone are the sunny days of dusty streets at the imitation ranches outside of Los Angeles. This was shot in northern New Mexico in the winter and it looks it. Everyone seems cold, dirty, and grim.

Again, that's not necessarily bad news. The historic Old West, though probably nothing much like this, probably resembled the remake more than the original.

But, unpretentious as the original was, I think I prefer it. There was only one deliberate murder in the original, and a fairly gruesome one. A hapless helper is hanged by the neck in the hotel lobby. We don't see the lynching but the image of the abject body is startling. This one has multiple killings -- more than I could count, since I have only ten fingers, not counting the extra pinky, and can no longer reach my toes. Russell Crowe is a convincing enough chief heavy but lacks the fake charm that allows Glen Ford to talk barmaid Felicia Farr into bed.

Crowe has only to say a few words to Farr's replacement, Vinessa Shaw, before the cut to the bedroom scene, giving the viewer a chance to ogle her nude body, which, as a matter of fact, is worth an ogle or two.

Ford kills nobody but here Crowe murders two of his captives. In one case he creeps up on a sleeping figure and stabs him in the chest with a stolen fork -- whap whap whap whap. It's kind of disgusting. It projects the sense that the producers were pandering to an audience of violence-hungry kids who must have their periodic fix. The original was all tension. This one is tense enough, but the bloodletting seems designed to make us sigh with relief. At last, some gore after all that talk.

The original ended with Heflin getting Ford on the 3:10 to Yuma Territorial Prison (which is still there and can be visited). A Hollywood ending, one might say. This one finishes with the rancher being plugged full of holes by one of Crowe's gang, then dying in the arms of his teenaged son. Looking down at Bale's dying body, Crowe has a ludicrous epiphany, draws his gun, whirls around, and instantly kills off the gang that has just saved him from the rope, one by one. Unlike the original, the remake must end, as it started, with a cascade of gore. Then Crowe turns the whole movie into self parody by jumping aboard the train to Yuma and climbing into the barred cell. There has never been a hint of remorse in his attitude before, nothing but deadpan stoicism, so this comes as a complete surprise. Yet, although the climax must be bloody, the producers don't want the bad guy to go free, so at least a part of the old Hollywood ending is retained after all -- even if it must be forced onto the narrative like a one-size-fits-all sock that doesn't fit.

What will they come up with next? How about Roy Rogers' "Son of Trigger," only with Keanu Reeves, and this time we kill Trigger and then eat him. It will probably make a nickel or two. Is the portfolio of Hollywood's ideas completely bankrupt? It's a legitimate question.

It seems as though back in the fifties every other western seemed to have Frankie Laine singing the theme song. The 1957 version of 3:10 to Yuma is one of my favorite westerns. Part of the reason is that theme which echoed through out the film.

What I liked about 3:10 to Yuma is that the hero/protagonist is an ordinary man trying to support his wife and two sons through some very hard times. When a killer is caught and because he needs the money he agrees to help transport him to Yuma State Prison on the 3:10 train from Contention. A lot happens between the capture and the boarding of that fateful train.

Russell Crowe and Christian Bale make admirable updated substitutes for Glenn Ford and Van Heflin. Though Ford's performance as the sly rogue of a gunman is good, the previous film was driven by what I always considered Van Heflin's greatest screen role.

The original holdup was hardly the violent affair that this one was. Only one shot was fired and that was by Ford when the shotgun guard momentarily overpowered one of the gang. That's here too, but the holdup itself was taken from The War Wagon.

One part was totally eliminated and that was the part of the town drunk, played by Henry Jones in the original version, who was the only other man to volunteer his services. Jones was killed in a gut wrenching scene then, but in fact my favorite scene from the original was when Heflin's wife Leora Dana pleads with him to let Ford go, he responds with a heartfelt speech about how he couldn't look himself in the face after the sacrifice the town drunk made. I've seen the 1957 version dozens of times and am never failed to be moved by that scene.

In its place the part of the oldest son is built up and conversely the wife's part is cut down. Young Logan Lerman plays the older son who tags along after the group taking Crowe to Contention. Lerman is 14 and he and Bale have the usual father/son issues. Lerman feels his Dad to be a failure with things going so wrong against them. Bale and he bond during the shared experience and you know no matter what the outcome of things, he'll leave a good legacy for his children.

The usual tension between Bale and Crowe is present as it was in the original when Ford kept trying to bribe Heflin. Added to this is a whole lot of violence, most of it started by Ben Foster who's part as the young punk outlaw in the original was played by Richard Jaeckel. Foster is one murderous thug in this film, only Crowe is able to keep him somewhat in line.

The characterization is still there, the violence is expected in this day and age even though a lot of it is gratuitous. This version of 3:10 to Yuma is fine, but it can never take the place of the original in my affections.

This review is dedicated to young Harve Stewart of Stephenville, Texas and one of the Professional Bull Riders best young stars. I saw an interview with him where he mentions this is a film he likes. I liked it too, but I would commend him to watch the original 3:10 To Yuma which is just one of the best western dramas ever made. It was out in 1957 and I was 10 years old at the time. I'm old enough to be Harve's grandfather and I'm sure back in the day 3:10 To Yuma was enjoyed by his real grandparents in the theater.