The Wild Bunch - The Original Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)

I wont review the film. Its a classic that you'll either love or hate (I loved it). I'm only going to comment on the Blu Ray transfer aspect. Simply put, this a a beautiful film to watch on your new HD set and Blu Ray player. Anytime you see somone talking about how "such and such film is an ok blu ray transfer, but since its from way back in the 90's, what would you expect" just ignore that excuse. The picture quality and sound in this late '60s film is outstanding. Definitely worth replacing a standard DVD with. I like the suplemental features, although frankly I rarely watch the extra features of any DVD. I dont know what was on some of the older "special edition" DVDs of this title, so I cant compare.

In this movie, Peckinpah dishes up violence like a glutton at a smorgasbord finally released from an enforced diet. It might have gotten a bit ridiculous except that William Holden, who anchors this film, keeps it within the realm of believability.

Although purportedly a western, The Wild Bunch is really a buddy film that takes place in the Wild West--including the Mexican west for a good part of the film.

This film is well staged and tightly scripted with fine acting by a great ensemble cast. Those that abhor excessive violence may prefer Peckinpah's Ride the High Country, but this is an exceptional Western made by a great director at the top of his game.
The Shut Mouth Society
The Shopkeeper

I cannot agree that this movie is among the best westerns of all time. This film is violence for violence's sake with little purpose behind it. There is so much and so mindlessly portrayed that it is boring after the opening scene. To my mind "Open Range," "Dances with Wolves," "Silverado," "High Noon," "The Searchers," "The Shootist," "Stagecoach," "They Wore a Yellow Ribbon," "True Grit," "Cheyenne Autumn," "Lonesome Dove," "Fort Apache," and "The Man who Shot Liberty Valence" are all much better westerns. At least those come immediately to mind. I'm sure there are more. TWB isn't a bad film, and Edmund O'Brien's performance is above his average presentation. I didn't even recognize him at first. But alas, the film just isn't great.

In my opinion, the Wild Bunch is the greatest movie ever made. However, Warner Bros. after all these years, still refuses to release the uncut original version of which was some 160 minutes in length. The slow motion violent scenes in the "shoot-out" situated within the township have been deleted. The sand-storm has been deleted and some of the violent scenes in the final shoot-out at the end had been deleted. The original uncut version had been removed from the theatres in Australia and replaced with the directors' cut of some 145 minutes in length shortly thereafter.
Please pressure Warner Bros. to right their wrong and release the uncut version as its violence would pale into insignificance with some of its contemporary adult rated gory movies.

Regards,
John Oates,
New South Wales,
Australia.

Many people have reviewed the Wild Bunch so this is a review of the HD-DVD only.

The picture is wonderful. I have this movie on LaserDisk and I A/B it with the Disk

Again, the picture is wonderful but the 5.1 Dolby is a joke. I have seen this movie in 1969 and it was in mono. The LaserDisk is also in mono.

So think of this movie and a stereo upgrade from mono. In this fashion it is very good.