Epic Western: Difference between revisions
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The '''''Epic Western''''' is a sub-[[genre]] of the [[Western movie]]. |
The '''''Epic Western''''' is a sub-[[genre]] of the [[Western movie]]. |
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An archetypical example is ''[[Once Upon a Time in the West]]'', a lengthy revenge epic directed by [[Sergio Leone]] and starring [[Charles Bronson]]. Other movies that may be considered archetypes of the sub-genre include ''[[The Searchers (film)|The Searchers]]'' with [[John Wayne]], Leone's [[The Good, the Bad and the Ugly]], and ''[[How the West was Won]]''. |
An archetypical example is ''[[Once Upon a Time in the West]]'', a lengthy revenge epic directed by [[Sergio Leone]] and starring [[Charles Bronson]]. Other movies that may be considered archetypes of the sub-genre include ''[[Debbie Does Dallas]]'', ''[[The Searchers (film)|The Searchers]]'' with [[John Wayne]], Leone's [[The Good, the Bad and the Ugly]], and ''[[How the West was Won]]''. |
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Epic Westerns draw from the [[Norse Saga]] technique. They tend to be long, sweeping, and complex, with often-shifting [[Wiktionary:alliance|alliance]]s. Characters are more deeply drawn than [[Shoot 'em up Western|shoot 'em up]] Westerns, sometimes acting as forces for [[Goodness and value theory|good]], sometimes [[evil]]. Men are often caught in situations not of their own choosing, and must surmount fantastic difficulties. A common technique is the portrayal of someone who never wants to resort to [[violence]], but is forced to do so due to circumstances beyond his control. |
Epic Westerns draw from the [[Norse Saga]] technique. They tend to be long, sweeping, and complex, with often-shifting [[Wiktionary:alliance|alliance]]s. Characters are more deeply drawn than [[Shoot 'em up Western|shoot 'em up]] Westerns, sometimes acting as forces for [[Goodness and value theory|good]], sometimes [[evil]]. Men are often caught in situations not of their own choosing, and must surmount fantastic difficulties. A common technique is the portrayal of someone who never wants to resort to [[violence]], but is forced to do so due to circumstances beyond his control. |
Revision as of 22:04, 20 June 2009
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The Epic Western is a sub-genre of the Western movie.
An archetypical example is Once Upon a Time in the West, a lengthy revenge epic directed by Sergio Leone and starring Charles Bronson. Other movies that may be considered archetypes of the sub-genre include Debbie Does Dallas, The Searchers with John Wayne, Leone's The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, and How the West was Won.
Epic Westerns draw from the Norse Saga technique. They tend to be long, sweeping, and complex, with often-shifting alliances. Characters are more deeply drawn than shoot 'em up Westerns, sometimes acting as forces for good, sometimes evil. Men are often caught in situations not of their own choosing, and must surmount fantastic difficulties. A common technique is the portrayal of someone who never wants to resort to violence, but is forced to do so due to circumstances beyond his control.
Many critics have also drawn comparisons with Greek mythology, with Martin M. Winkler comparing The Searchers to Homer's Iliad, and specifically the character of Ethan Edwards to Achilles.
See also
External links