3:10 to Yuma

I just LOVE watching a good western. Last night I conned a friend into watching "3:10 to Yuma", which I thought was great the first time, and loved it even more the second. The second time I get to watch a film, I look closely at certain aspects. Bascially, the first time I watch a movie, I react merely to storytelling. Then, the second time, I study some things. For example, in "3:10" I watched the change in the son of Christian Bale's character (I'd give away the details more, but GO see the movie! It's out on DVD now). The third time I watch this film? Oh, yeah, in true Joe fashion, I will begin ripping it apart, and find all that was wrong with it. I should NEVER have taken all those film courses back in college. Now, I can't watch a movie the same way as most people. I also hate seeing movies with casual movie goers. When somebody says, "National Treasure is the bomb?" I... well... I... Ummmm... I just look at them and smile. Inside I say, ...hmmm... I guess it depends on the movie. In terms of "National Treasure," I guess I would think, "Nicolas Cage can't act his way out of a paper bag." Damn, I hate that actor. I guess it is good to see what was probably a whiney-geeky kid back in high school become rich and famous. Yet, I didn't want to watch that kid back then, and I sure as hell won't pay $1919191o11 to watch that kid now! You know what I mean? Sorry, Nick Cage, but... I... I just don't get you. "Ghost Rider?" What the fuck, Man? You said you may do a sequal to it if the script is better? Better? If "Ghost Rider" only dealt with cockroach sex and your attempt to exterminate them? That would be better!!! Anyway, I got off task. We went to see "Enchanted" as our family Christmas moive. It was fine movie, I guess. Decent family fare. BUT, there was a bad trasnsition in the film from one scene to another that caught my attention, and that caused me to skip my first two steps on go into critical mode. It was instant. From that moment, I was ripping it apart in my mind. As I tried to discuss it, I got the usual response, "I just go to movies to watch them." Well, it was something along those lines. I sighed, sat back and said, "That's why I go to movies alone." Amy Adams saved it, if you ask me. But, still, I was reminded on why I see movies alone. That is why I will continue to do so. Personally, I don't watch movies. I want to experience them. We don't go to the Art Institute of Chicago to look at pretty pictures. We go to have experiences. That is how it is with me and movies. I lie in the "Movie as art" camp. I don't want to pay for pretty pictures. I want substance. Last night I watched "Syriana," and was happy I did. That was a good example of a movie experience. It was a little hard to follow, but I turned it off thinking. Perfect.

But, my talking about movies wasn't the point of all this at all. I just wanted to say that after watching "3:10 to Yuma", as I do with most westerns, I wish I could've been a cowboy. I really do. But, not just any cowboy. I would've been a rough and tumbler cowboy with a quick shot and macho attitude. I would've been a real bad ass cowboy. They would've called me "Joe the Cowboy." And, that name would've sent shock and fear into the hearts of men. Nobody would want to tick off "Joe the Cowboy," nobody!

Later