3:10 to Yuma

I wasn't going to do a review of this movie until I saw the original (1957) On Demand last night. The similarities are interesting, but what really interested me were the striking differences. The film follows Dan Evans, a poor drought-stricken rancher struggling to feed his family and keep his home. His life is forever changed by a chance meeting with Ben Wade and his criminal gang. The new version of this film portrays a much more in-depth character study than the 1957 version, which focuses on the story and the wild west hero cliche.

Dan takes on the job of escorting Ben to Contention, AZ mostly because he is offered money but also because he feels a sense of failure in his life, and shame in the eyes of his two boys. This journey and general theme remains consistent in both versions of the film, as does much of the dialogue.

Where the two films are surprisingly different is in the violence and resolution. The bad guys are far more sinister and heartless in the newer version, which is a sign of the times, as audiences have become much more bloodthirsty (to steal an observation from Steven King). The ending of the original version was surprising to me in its formulaic good triumphing over evil theme, probably because I saw the updated version first.

The new version lost some of its effectiveness to me because it stuck with most of the original storyline, but threw in the new and questionably improved ending with more entertaining violent sequences, and far more lead slinging.

Audiences seem to have an insatiable desire for new and shocking changes to old Hollywood film standards. This is very evident in the disparities between the two versions of this film. I would recommend seeing both. The updated version is a great Western, one that is rare in today's day and age. I would go as far as to put it up there with Unforgiven and Tombstone, however, I did not appreciate the ending for various reasons.

Overall, entertaining and a great, timeless story. 1957 version - 5/10, 2007 version - 7/10.