After the long walk to clear my mind, I came home to find that Tombstone would air just for my viewing pleasure. Since the movie airs on the History Channel, every 30 minutes or so, a couple of historians come on and give you some very interesting facts about Wyatt Earp. This first discussion involves the type of gun Earp carried and how he buffalo whipped bad men. I don't mind the break in by the historians due to my keen interest in history.
A while back I blogged about Josephine and Wyatt. I choose to believe they had a long, happy romance. The other couple that fascinates me from the movie, as well as history, that being Big Nose Kate and Doc Holiday. Their relationship embedded with angst, thievery, disease and difficult dilemmas also endured. Although I'm partial to Sam Eliott's gruff demeanor, deep voice and rugged appearance, who plays Virgil in the movie...my favorite character from the movie can only be Doc Holiday.
Doc carries a multitude of wonderful lines. His tense exchange with Johnny Ringo is a parallel sub plot in the movie. The conflict presents itself with the exchange in Latin between Doc and Ringo which results in Doc's memorable shot glass scene. Ringo isn't a foil for Doc...they're exactly the same, but on opposite sides of the O.K. Corral.
I suppose the same case could be made for us living here and them living there. I don't have to name names, the scenario is the same all over. We're exactly the same, flesh and blood...bones, a body that feels pain, love and enjoyment, experiences hardships and celebrates the victories...we're just on opposite sides of the O.K. Corral.
4 comments:
That is a very nice scene indeed in a very good movie. Who's portrayal did you prefer as Wyatt Earp, Kevin Costner or Kurt Russel? Kurt Russel fits the romantic old west image of Earp, with his square jaw and handlebar mustache, more so than Costner IMO. Val Kilmer, with his portrayal very nearly did steal the movie from the lead. That's something I enjoy, when the secondary actor very nearly rides off with the movie. A nice choice all in all.
I prefer Kurt Russel's portrayal over Costner's. I liked Costner in Dances With Wolves, he does the loner well, but for some reason his interaction with others doesn't come across well on screen. His character in Bodyguard with Whitney Houston...very dismal. You can't say enough about Kilmer's character...I know just about every line of his from the movie. Kilmer started out playing the antagonist in most of his movies. Do you remember The Good, The Bad & The Ugly? I love Spaghetti Westerns; but that movie definitely introduces the concept of the good good guy the good bad guy and the bad bad guy...I think Kilmer's best roles are as the good bad guy...:)
I wish they made Wyatt Earp with Russel instead of Costner. Add in Kilmer for Holiday and that might of actually have been a good movie.
Yes, I believe you are right :) BUT then again, wouldn't it have been just a cheaper rip off of Tombstone? :P
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