Arizona, 1873. The small desert town of Absolution is a close-knit yet uptight community where strangers aren’t welcome. The streets are harshly run by iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford). But when a stranger (Daniel Craig) with no recollection of who he is or where he has come from stumbles into town, Dolarhyde’s power is put to a test. The only clue to this drifter’s past is a mysterious shackle attached to his wrist.Soon after wandering into town the Stranger is captured and held under strict surveillance by Colonel Dolarhyde. But when a space craft lands... in Absolution, the town soon comes to the realisation that this lone ranger may be their only hope in the fight to survive this alien invasion.From renowned director Jon Favreau (Made, Iron Man) comes this action-packed extravaganza filled with blistering special effects and witty dark humour. -M.F. [show more]
Not quite as bad as it sounds sci-fi western, that just about manages to survive its ridiculous premise with star power and good special effects. A pointless storyline sees cowboy Daniel Craig wake up with amnesia and a strange, futuristic bracelet on his arm, turns out he's a wanted outlaw, and dictatorial sheriff Harrison Ford plans on bringing him in...and then some aliens show up. Yes, director John Favereau ('Ironman') seems to believe that the mere concept of aliens in the old West is such an outrageously brilliant idea that it warrants an entire movie. It doesn't. That said, the on-screen duo of a droll Daniel Craig and no-nonsense curmudgeon Ford make for an engaging double act, Olivia Wilde provides the eye candy as a mysterious woman and the aliens themselves are quite well designed. In what appears to be his only inspired directorial decision; Favereau makes good use of CG and animatronics; so what we get are creatures who are a cross between Sammael from 'Hellboy' meets the bugs from 'Starship Troopers' with the head of a mutated piranha and the unique digestive capabilities of the Reaper vampires in 'Blade II'.
Harrison Ford is always a cool actor to watch and he makes the best of a duff role here, shooting and scowling his way through a pedestrian, cliché ridden script. Managing to traverse the limitations of both director and material, Ford draws out some laconic wit and utters the rare, smirk inducing one-liner. The Native Americans are largely depicted as a bunch of hollering, whooping savages who get to double team the Space aliens with the European aliens who stole their land. Ford's adopted Native son / butler was some kind of an attempt at redressing the racial balance but Adam Beach's character ultimately comes across as an Uncle Tom rather than a multicultural hero.
'Cowboys & Aliens' could've been a total disaster, what it is however, is a run-of-the-mill, well-produced, instantly forgettable film that adds nothing new to either genre. I wasn't bored but nor was I particularly interested. In fact, it almost makes you want to give 'Wild Wild West' another chance...almost.
We will publish your review of Cowboys & Aliens - Triple Play (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy)[Region Free] on Blu Ray within a few days as long as it meets our guidelines.
None of your personal details will be passed on to any other third party.
Sci-fi meets Western in this Jon Favreau-directed alien adventure based on the 2006 graphic novel by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg. In the 19th-century Wild West, loner Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig) stumbles into the desolate Arizona desert town of Absolution, which is presided over with a rule of iron by the megalomaniacal Colonel Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford). With no memory of his past and a mysterious shackle around his wrist, Jake soon learns that he is a wanted man - but his predicament is swiftly overshadowed by an invasion of alien marauders intent on abducting the townspeople. With the help of mysterious traveller Ella (Olivia Wilde), Jake pulls together a posse of his former opponents - who, now united against a common enemy, prepare to fight for the survival of humankind.
This site uses cookies.
More details in our privacy policy
