Friday, January 19, 2007

Man-Movies (1)

You know what man-movies are, don't you?

I'm talking about the kinds of movies men watch that are full of fights, explosions, guns, explosions... and guns. Throw in some sports and perhaps a bit of gratuitous frontal nudity, and we're all set.

Oh, I know that many of the people reading this are women,and that women may like some of these movies, too, but that doesn't really matter. These movies were made for men, but if our wives, girlfriends, lifepartners or whatever want to enjoy them with us, so much the better!

By now, the men reading this post are smiling, and the ladies are probably rolling their eyes... but you gotta love the man-movie... it is the antithesis of the chick-flick.

In this genre, you won't find anything like "The Ya-Ya Sisterhood", or "Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants", "The Notebook", or "Thelma & Louise".

Here are some prime examples of the movies that I am talking about:

The Outlaw Josie Wales
Tombstone
Armageddon
Saving Private Ryan
The Big Red One
The Delta Force
Blackhawk Down
Hang 'em high
A Fist Full of Dollars
Magnum Force
High Plains Drifter
Slapshot
The Deer Hunter (especially the prison camp scene)
The Green Berets
Monty Python & The Holy Grail
Training Day
Pulp Fiction
True Grit
Enter The Dragon
Blazing Saddles
Fists of Fury
Reservoir Dogs
...and anything from the Three Stooges!

TTBM and Grimm are probably already listing titles in their heads. I won't go on about what makes a movie a man-movie, you'll figure it out soon enough.

Today's review is of a splendid little western from 1993 called: Tombstone

This movie is my second favorite western, immediately following "The Outlaw Josey Wales".

Have any of you seen this movie? It stars Kurt Russel, Bill Paxton, Val Kilmer, and Sam Elliot, as Wyatt Earp, his brothers Virgil and Morgan, and "Doc" Holliday.

To make a long story short, Wyatt Earp and his posse gun down a gang known as the "Cowboys" and rid Tombstone, Arizona of their evil influence. Along the way, Wyatt falls for the pretty singer/actress (played by Dana Delaney) that has recently come to town.

Although Kurt Russel was good as Wyatt Earp, my favorite character was John "Doc" Holliday, as portrayed by Val Kilmer (his finest work, as far as I am concerned).

This movie lasted about 90 minutes, but, in that time, some twenty-odd people are either shot or stabbed... men, you just gotta love it!

DISCLAIMER: I know that some of you ladies probably like some of the movies that I mentioned... but these really are made for us men.

10 comments:

Kelley said...

I can't let you get away with taking Monty Python & The Holy Grail as a man-movie! That one belongs to us ladies, too. One of my favorites of all time, GF!

Although you can have The Deer Hunter. All yours, as is anything else with a prison camp scene. ;)

Anonymous said...

I second the complaint about Holy Grail, definitely not just for men. Same goes for Blazing Saddles as far as I'm concerned.

That aside, what your list really made me think was, "What would you men do without Clint Eastwood?"

Gunfighter said...

C'mon, Kelley... it is a movie made for men... how many men do you know that can recite whole scenes from that movie!

It's ours! You ladies can borrow it, but it's ours! Mwahahahahaha!

Tasha said...

I could watch Pulp Fiction, Enter the Dragon, Training Day, and Monty Python & The Holy Grail every day! Maybe growing up with so many brothers altered my taste in movies.

Anonymous said...

I've got to jump on the Monty Python & The Holy Grail bandwagon. I love it, too!

Tombstone is a great movie! One of my favorites. Doc is my favorite character, too. He has the best lines in the movie and was just way cool.

And I love Pulp Fiction, too. I had to introduce that one to Dave!

Grimm said...

Yep, Val Kilmer's Doc Holliday stole the movie and I agree it is his best work.

I remember Kevin Costner came out with a Wyatt Earp movie later that year that paled miserably in comparison.

"I be your huckberry."

Anonymous said...

lol, yes, I LOVE that movie, I just said to someone yesteday who put and open challange regarding a theological debate on a message board I frequent "I'll be your huckleberry"!!! I recall that we had a certain dance to complete..."

To which they replied: "Black Adam? I was just foolin'

Then I said: "Really? I wasn't"

lol

O.K. I know the quote may not be exactly right, but ya'll who saw the movie got my drift. Val Kilmer's best role!

Gunfighter said...

Welcome DJBA!

I recognize your name from some other blogs.

Glad to know that there are as many people that enjoy that movie as much as I do.

GF

The Thinking Black Man said...

GUNFIGHTER!
You KNOW I was grinning when I read this post! and, yes - I was thinking of a few too.

Now while YOUR list borders on perfection... can I just sprinkle in:
The Godfather I & II
Rocky I & II
The Magnificent Seven
The Guns of Navarrone
The Dirty Dozen


Then I'll be happy!

GF III sucked. I refuse to acknowledge Rocky's 3,4 or 5 and while Force 10 from Navarrone was alright it just wasn't THE GUNS...

You can appreciate GUNS, right, GUNFIGHTER?

GUUUUUUUUNZ!

Gunfighter said...

TTBM,

I feel you on your list!

The omissions were an oversight, I assure you.