Wild West Heroes

Amazon.co.uk Review

Director Lawrence Kasdan (The Big Chill) clearly set out to make an old-fashioned Western, but he couldn't help bringing a hip, self-conscious attitude to the proceedings. Silverado thus finds its own funky tone--sometimes rousing, sometimes winking. Four cowboys--Kevin Kline (a distinctly modern kind of Western hero), Scott Glenn, Danny Glover, and the rowdy young Kevin Costner--converge on a little Western burg called Silverado. Kasdan peppers the somewhat generic action with smart dialogue and a parade of quirky supporting players, including John Cleese as a sheriff who seems to have stepped straight from a Monty Python sketch into an Old West saloon. Bruce Broughton supplies the music, a real throwback to the glory days of thundering Western themes. One thing's for sure: Silverado's a lot more fun than the later Kasdan-Costner Western, Wyatt Earp. --Robert Horton, Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

It lacks the spaghetti style,charm and music.......2007-09-06

A good western, and yet. For one it is slightly too slow at times. That makes the film a little bit lengthy and that is not good in a western that must have a constant rhythm and when it slows down it is to create suspense in a situation that requires it. Here we have slow scenes that are not in anyway suspenseful. The second reason is that this film has little originality. It is a clear assemblage or patchwork of many references and borrowings from all the previous westerns ever made. And it is very difficult to invent anything in 1985 after also the Morricone and Clint Eastwood films, not to speak of the black and white TV series mile Dead or Alive. It is entertaining because of the way things are assembled and that is nearly all. Two elements create some perspective. First the presence of black settlers that reveal the strong racist trend in the West. Then the character of Stella, a midget saloon manageress. But apart from these two elements the rest is pretty standard. But I must admit the setting, the scenery is particularly beautiful. Some of the mountain and desert scenes are in gorgeous natural surroundings. Then the theme of the rotten sheriff (two in the film mind you, one rotten by authority and the other rotten by the local rancher) and the theme of the rancher who decides to push away, and kill if necessary, the farmers are very ordinary and common place, and once again nothing new is really added to the theme. All these borrowing, even in 1985, make the film systematically anaphoric and that is a shortcoming. Even the street duel is banal: check in Back to the Future III, the "character" of Clint Eastwood makes that anaphoric reference a lot more creative. Not here.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines

Good fun, but a little wobbly under the weight of the story.......2005-07-04

The all-star cast doesn't prevent the storyline from getting in the way at times - I watched this with my partner and we both agreed that there were too many characters with too many small plotlines all tangled together making it a bit confusing to remember who was who and what their motivation for their actions were. This movie certainly could have benefited from more focus. All that said, we did enjoy it, the director obviously is a big fan of the western genre as he recreated the feel and style very well.

A Rip-Roaring comedy Western For all Fans.......2001-02-25

Starring Kevin Klin, Scott Glenn and Kevin Costner this is charming tale is a must for all western fans. Directed by Kevin Reynolds this homage to the classic genre is both thrilling and funny. Watch out for appearnaces from such stars as John Cleese and Jeff Goldblumm in this charming, action packed comedy western.

Average customer rating:

Silverado [1985] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
Starring: Kevin Kline , Scott Glenn , Kevin Costner , Danny Glover , and Marvin J. McIntyre
Director: Lawrence Kasdan
Manufacturer: Columbia TriStar
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

All Action & Adventure | Action & Adventure | Categories | DVD | Video

Westerns | Action & Adventure | Categories | DVD | Video

All World Cinema | World Cinema | Categories | DVD | Video

Other Languages | World Cinema | Categories | DVD | Video

All Children's DVD | Children's DVD | Categories | DVD | Video

Easy Listening | Music DVDs | Categories | DVD | Video

Region 1 | Special Features | DVD | Video

DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00004W48X
Release Date: 1999-06-01