ridiculous rating

People are voting emotionally.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

Wow, this jaded viewer has finally been convinced that there's a spaghetti western out there to match Leone's in craft. The Big Gundown is a beautiful and florid movie that has a protean narrative, playing with sympathies, exploring sexuality and eroticism, being downrightly philosophical at times, and always fun.There's a scene in Robert Bresson's movie Lancelot du Lac, a movie where you mostly see big-headed though slightly vague and navel-gazing Arthurian knights, where one peasant prophesises to another that, "He whose footfalls precede him will die within a year." "Even if they're his horse's steps?" "Even then. he whose footsteps proceed him shall die within a year". It's a moment's contrast that illuminates the whole movie. Remarkable strange to see that sort of moment pop up in a spag. There's a scene where Corbett enters a bordello to question a prostitute, he barges into the place, and a ponchoed local moves to the side and around him, without anger, like one of these ephemeral shoal fish, flashing out of the way of a tuna. The next guy in the room looks at him with the same sort of understanding, in the manner of a person who treads softly. The meek shell inherit the earth.It's a film that's often boldly homoerotic, with guns very much positioned in as phallic a manner as possible, and a suggestive shot of three bullets superimposed on three men's groins. The "thorn" scene between Cuchilio and Corbett heightens this impression quite a bit and the men never seem quite at home with women.It has a similar sort of mythic feel to it that is often commented on with Leone. There's this weird predestination that sees protagonist and antagonist separate and meet up in the most unlikely of manners. It's one of the most surreal movies I've seen for a while, particularly the part where the bull wrangling takes place, eroticism incarnated, made all the more weird because it positively looks like the grass has been painted green.The only thing that I felt it lacked was a score that matched those of the second two "Dollars" movies. It was Morricone again, good, but not the same deal.

A truly dreadful film with some of the worst dubbing of all time. Worse, apparently some scenes were filmed, then their continuations were shot based on OTHER scenes! One example (from many): during a gunfight a woman is clearly shot seriously, probably fatally, and the camera shows her slumping to the floor. Seconds later, she is apparently unhurt, begging Van CLeef not to go!! A real laugher, made with high school talent, poor direction, and dubbing that is (like I said) so poor it makes Chinese Kung-Fu movies look good! If you need a laugh, and there is absolutely nothing else to do, and if you must, watch this film...but mostly to see how NOT to make movies. Van Cleef must have groaned when he saw this piece of garbage.

This film is often referred to as "the best non-Leone spaghetti western." That may very well be true. For me, it's difficult to decide because there are a couple of others that I like about as much as this one. This movie is brilliant. It has everything that makes the spaghetti western such a great film genre.The music score is a masterpiece. It is one of Morricone's best. The title song sends shivers up my spine. I love the voice, the melody, and the lyrics. It is absolutely unforgettable. The melody of the theme song keeps on recurring, but in totally different ways, each one unique and wonderful, sometimes haunting, sometimes playful, and sometimes serious. There are parts where the music is choreographed with the action on the screen in a way very reminiscent of the Leone westerns. Cuchillo's run through the cane fields is driven by the corresponding music, making the music and the action inseparable. The musical accompaniments to the gunfights near the end of the film are operatic, suspenseful, and appropriately grandiose. This score is not background music. It is a dominating force in this movie, and could even be considered the most important part of the film. Ennio Morricone may very well be the biggest "star" of the spaghetti western genre, even though he never physically appeared in a single one of the films! Director Sergio Sollima uses politics and social commentary not only to get a message across, but also to make us relate to and sympathize with some of the characters, and to despise some of the others. He also throws in some great strange, eccentric, and over the top characters (no spaghetti western is complete without em). You just gotta love the lady ranch owner and her lovesick ranch hands, and the nazi-like Baron Von Schulenberg with his monocle and Dracula cape. That baron really gets on Lee Van Cleef's nerves, and Van Cleef has a couple of great smart-ass remarks for him. This is classic stuff all the way.Lee Van Cleef is perfect for the role of Corbett. This is classic Van Cleef, playing the cool, confident, unflinching bounty hunter type. Sollima definitely picked the best possible actor for the role. The same can be said for his choice of Tomas Milian for the role of Cuchillo. Milian plays the part of a man that is being hunted like an animal. He sometimes has to act and think like an animal would to stay one step ahead of his predators. Milian conveys this very well. I can't imagine anyone else in this role.See this movie! And if you are a spaghetti western fan, you need to have it, so find it and add it to your collection!

Lumpy and uneven production hurt an interesting story. It's a shame that this isn't better but if you consider the conditions films like this were made under it's a good job.Van Clief does a variation of his role in "For A Few Dollars More" and succeeds. He carries the film, without him the movie would probably be unwatchable. Milan is his usual "poor everyman" but is less assured in the role. His character seems to be aimed at defiant 14 year old boys which is at odds with the more adult themes the film is based on.The cinematography ranges from very good to harsh. The music is a Morriccone classic but is crudely edited during the course of the film. THe final showdown is strange as there are really two showdowns. The dubbing is passable but doesn't help.Not counting the Leone films this is a top level Italian Western.