Cliff Note Reviews #11

Cliff Note Reviews is an ongoing series where I briefly state my thoughts on recent films I've watched but don't have the desire to create a full review surrounding.  Short and to the point opinions on films that might make decent weekend watchers when you have nothing else to do, films to completely stay away from, and occasionally a few highly recommended films that I simply don't feel need to be given a full review due to already overexposure.

A Fistful of Dollars (1964)

Ironically, as a big Eastwood western fan I don't know if I've ever seen A Fistful of Dollars in it's entirety before, the ending of course is iconic western cinema that has been duplicated in the likes of Back To Future Part III.  I had completely forgot this was a remake of Yojimbo by director Akira Kurosawa, a film I struggled to stay awake through almost a year ago.  Interestingly enough (according to IMDb.com) Kurosawa made more money off his 15% worldwide gross cut and certain exclusive distribution rights of A Fistful of Dollars in a handful of countries (which he obtained through a copyright lawsuit against the filmmakers) than he ever did off Yojimbo.  I can't say that's a surprise, considering I've sat through Yojimbo, which is definitely an acquired taste.  For me A Fistful of Dollars is highly superior in all regards, especially entertainment.  It's Eastwood's first big foray into a major starring role and undoubtedly jump started his film career that would go on to spawn two more Italian westerns with director Sergio Leone and an excellent catalog of American westerns.  And to think Clint Eastwood was behind a long list of A-list actors at the time (Henry Fonda, James Coburn, Charles Bronson) who were offered this role before he was eventually recommended by his Rawhide co-star who was offered it (and turned it down) before him! 9/10

For A Few Dollars More (1965)

Sergio Leone's follow up in The Man With No Name series sees Clint Eastwood return this time as a bounty hunter referred to as Manco (meaning one handed as Eastwood's character does almost everything, even fistfight, one handed, while the other hand is hidden behind his poncho and only used to quick draw).  Manco teams up with Col. Douglas Mortimer (Lee Van Cleef), another bounty hunter, as they go after recently escaped prisoner El Indio whose got a $10,000 bounty on his head.  Manco is in it purely for the money, Mortimer has a personal interest.  This time around Eastwood's role suffers slightly having not as much screen time due to co-star Van Cleef (who while a great presence in the film still doesn't match the grit of Eastwood), but For A Few Dollars More offers the same caliber of entertainment gained in A Fistful of Dollars which I slightly prefer.  8/10

Timecop (1994)

Jean-Claude Van Damme stars as Walker, a police officer whose recruited into a top secret government program that regulates time travel and prevents those from the present attempting to use it for personal gain.  When Walker gets wind that a politician overseeing the program, and who is seeking presidential election, is using time travel to attempt to procure his control of the United States, he has to find a way to stop him.  Personally I'm more of a Steven Seagal guy, and from what I've heard Seagal thinks Van Damme is pretty much a pansy, but I digress, Timecop is pretty enjoyable for what it is, pure action camp.  The writers don't try too hard to keep all the time travel non-sense very cohesive, but if you can overlook the series of plot-holes and are a fan of unadulterated action, then it's definitely worth checking out. 7/10