Fluentiama Perfect cast and a good story

UnowPriceless hyped garbage

Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Skyler Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

ElMaruecan82 "Pale Rider" is a Western with such an aura, such an attitude and such a stance over the Western myth that it's almost a miracle it could flirt with self-consciousness while never sinning by it. Clint Eastwood might be the only director still capable of such miracles. The actor has always been a man of a few words, of stares that could speak more ominous statements than a Samuel L. Jackson's monologue. His ways of standing, looking, existing could exude more magnetism than the Magnificent Seven put together. But more than his natural blessings that made him a man women liked and men wanted to be like, Eastwood had an all-American attitude toward the frontier spirit. He who was made a star through Western (before Leone, there was 'Rawhide') he returned back the favor after the disastrous failure of "Heaven's Gate" seemed to have sealed the genre's fate. It's like Eastwood and Westerns form a natural cycle, they both define one another, as if there was a true predestination in his name being an anagram of Old West Action. Though "Pale Rider" isn't much about the Old West as it is about action, the film retells the story of George Stevens' "Shane" with miners replacing homesteaders and standing in the way of a powerful and influential industrialist named Coy LaHood (Richard Dysart) who believes he and progress make one. His attempt to buy 'tin pans' out and to threaten them through acts of intimidations almost destroys their spirit until a mysterious rider comes into the picture and prove that before being about action, Westerns are about 'states of mind'.I mentioned Eastwood's natural aura because it's integral to the story's believability. Alan Ladd was good at Shane but he wasn't exactly threatening, he had to prove his worth at gun, at fist-fight and through a few one-liners such as "I like it to be my idea". Eastwood doesn't even need himself, only a silhouette appearing and then vanishing before you notice it, a weak lighting that can only reveal his piercing eyes or just being mentioned in a conversation. When young Megan (Perry Sidney) buries her dog, killed by LaHood's men, she has a prayer where she begs the Lord for help, her "please" has that childish resonance that indicates how hopeless they are. Eastwood intercut it with his arrival, it's not played for subtlety but to establish his mystical charisma.The man, like Eastwood's seminal antihero, has no name, he is called the Preacher. He doesn't quote the Bible much but he saves the day in more than one occasion, without leaving mortal casualties... not yet anyway. He accepts to help the miners, but they didn't ask for help, just for him to stay as if his presence was healing their spirit already. But Eastwood counterbalances the sanctification with the idea of a pending doom. His entrance coincides with a 'Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse- recitation and he obviously fits the description of "Death". But as he said it himself: "God works in a mysterious way", you can't explain providence, but you just can tell that there's something providential about the man, even if he means Death.And in the same vein of intelligence, it also means that there's something 'evil' about LaHood even if he means Progress. He knows "blood is a big expense" and tries to get the Preacher out through bargain and only resorts to violence in extreme cases, but for all his malevolence, he's got a business to run, and his interactions with this son (a youngish and thin Chris Penn) and his men aren't those of an evil mastermind briefing his troops. There even comes a point where the Preacher starts to negotiate with LaHood, and submit his offer to the miners. Intelligently enough, the Western is able to deconstruct a few tropes for the sake of three-dimensional characterization.On a similar level, it also depicts Hull Barrett (Michael Moriarty) not as a Beta Male but as a decent human being, brave enough to defy LaHood's thugs, to support his family and to take care of Sarah, Megan's mother (Carrie Snodgress), even waiting that she makes up her mind to get married but as the Preacher said "it might be along wait". It might take longer as both daughter and mother are infatuated with the Preacher (can we blame them?). But while it's a sort of teen crush for Megan, for Sarah, it's like a nasty teasing from fate. She's been abandoned by a man she truly loved -as she tells Megan she's a child of love- and her feelings toward the Preacher are worryingly the same.Maybe there's the idea that some things or some people are too grand to stay, their appeal is eternal but they're not meant for the common people though there is nobility in being a simple, decent and hard-working human being. The Preacher incarnates an idea of the Old West, a few words, but action, spirit, courage and determination... and a few resurgences of the past here and there. The past is a lone rider throughout the story, it's the dog's death that trigger's Penny's desire for revenge, it's Sarah's past with men that forged her suspicion and made Hull her whipping boy, and there's something about the Preacher's past hinted through some wounds and lines of dialogues that takes its full meaning when his nemesis is brought up in town, Marshal Stockburn played by an equally intimidating John Russell.The hints about the past mystify the film and let it venture in the realms of fantasy but without getting too far from the Western narrative. Eastwood's directing is confident enough and allows him to get away with contrivances... what can't be explained isn't forced fantasy, but meaningful mystery. (Still, the greatest mystery of all is that it seems to have escaped everyone's attention that the film is a remake of "Shane", as there's no mention of "Shane" in Ebert's review or on Wikipedia.)

punishmentpark There is a lot of beautiful scenery in 'Pale rider', which is probably the best thing about it. The story, about a group of 'tin pans' who are in conflict with the big shot gold digger who owns most of the land around them, and more specifically, the girl who prays to the Lord to help them and then a tall, dark stranger is sent their way, could have worked, but things stay pretty simple, clichéd and blunt.The hero is always there at just the right moment and is basically a western Superman, even if he is also referred to as Death himself. The intended dramatic impact of the two women who both have their hearts set on the hero and the other man (Hull Barrett) who quietly wants to be part of the 'family', remains pretty much absent, all the more because the films switches between Eastwood's macho efforts, Superhero gunslinging, simplistic moral lessons and some bloody killings. But I wasn't much impressed with Sydney Penny's acting either. The rest of the cast did okay, mostly.Maybe this one is simply not for me, even if I was certainly mildly amused by most of it. 5 out of 10.

ivo-cobra8 Disclaimer: If you are a viewer that mainly prefers art-house-type movies, then you might as well ignore this review. In addition, if you're not able to take Clint Eastwood's best climaxed action packed masterpiece western film, ignore this review, as well. We'll both be better off.Pale Rider (1985) is my third favorite Clint Eastwood western film in my top 5 Eastwood western films. It is a film that I truly believe that it is a stone cold classic climaxed epic western. I think this was the last one Clint Eastwood's masterpiece. I know a lot of people are rooting for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Unforgiven as been Eastwood's best masterpiece, I don't. I think they are both classics and a great western films but not Clint Eastwood's best that will be still Pale Rider for me, that is my opinion! This western classic is action-packed filled with climaxed in one of the most exciting showdowns ever. This was the second Clint Eastwood's western film when I saw a child and I have grown up watching this movie. Clint Eastwood did a solid acting performance as the same time he gave performance as the director. I love this movie and it I still going to be my favorite Eastwood film. Great movie one of the best westerns I've seen more complex storyline, more serious a great movie.Plot: A mysterious preacher protects a humble prospector village from a greedy mining company trying to encroach on their land.This was the film that was 12 years absence from Eastwood's western movie since "High Plains Drifter," which Clint Eastwood brings back his "Man with No Name" character first seen in A Fistful of Dollars (1964). This was the biggest hit in 1985, since Eastwood returned playing mysterious stranger with no name. The film is fast paced, exciting and you root for Eastwood's character. The End has the best shootouts ever. I seriously loved the shootout Eastwood pulled off. John Russell as Marshal Stockburn was a fantastic villain with his seven deputy's. The violence in this movie is gore and very bloody. The film isn't that long it is fast paced filled with a lot of excitement and action. It is an action-packed adventure climaxing in one of the most exciting showdowns ever filmed. I love this film to death and it is rousing entertainment with Eastwood at his best! A grizzled Clint--"squint, squint, squint like Clint"--reprising another, more earthly version of his avenging and vengeful angel role, is about as guilty a pleasure as one could ask for in a Western. Michael Moriarty is surprisingly good in his role as the hapless gold-panner-become-family-man. Richard Dysart is quite good as the mean-spirited town boss. Well-paced, with the occasional light touch. There is, in fact, "nothing quite like a good piece of hickory." We also have Richard Kiel in this which I remember him from James Bond 007 - The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979) as my all time favorite villain character Jaws and of course young Chris Penn who sadly died 10 years ago and is no longer with us anymore. A classic western in the old style. A true example of how your sins will find you out and that sometimes miracles do happen....... in the wild west :P It is True, Eastwood's spaghetti westerns are all classics, but in this, he returns to the genre with maturity as an actor and complete control over the product as director. There's an air of mysticism that transcends the story line yet is integral to the subtext, while avoiding clichés that could have trivialized his return to the open prairie.Overall: This western movie has everything in it that I love: it is a true American western movie, a mysterious rider who helps poor harmless people against tycoons, nice shootouts and the story with actors is great. I love this film it was my second western film with Clint Eastwood that I have saw as a kid. This film get's a perfect 10 and it is well paced flick that I love.Pale Rider is a 1985 American western film produced and directed by Clint Eastwood, who also stars in the lead role. The title is a reference to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, as the rider of a pale horse is Death.10/10 Grade: Bad Ass Seal Of Approval Studio: The Malpaso Company, Warner Bros. Starring: Clint Eastwood, Michael Moriarty, Carrie Snodgress, Christopher Penn, Richard Dysart, Sydney Penny, Richard Kiel, Doug McGrath, John Russell Director: Clint Eastwood Producer: Clint Eastwood Screenplay: Michael Butler, Dennis Shryack Rated: R Running Time: 1 Hr. 56 Mins. Budget: $6.900.000 Box Office: $41,410,568

Python Hyena Pale Rider (1985): Dir: Clint Eastwood / Cast: Clint Eastwood, Michael Moriarty, Carrie Snodgress, Sydney Penny, Richard Dysart: Western filled with disgusting images of excessive violence. I am not sure what the title is implying. Perhaps the rider lacks colour. Perhaps a trip to the spa will fix that problem. Clint Eastwood directs and portrays a character he has played countless times in a film recycled from other westerns. He is a mysterious man called Preacher who arrives in a California gold rush where a mining syndicate feuds against independent prospectors. He encourages these idiots to grow a pair and fight back with his help. Eastwood eventually shoots up the entire town. Flawed with its view of violence as a problem solver. Familiar plot with bang bang throughout. Eastwood is a skilled director but this character is hardly new to him. Flat supporting stereotypes played by Michael Moriarty, Carrie Snodgress, and Sydney Penny. They all sit there with their hands together hoping Eastwood will solve their problem. There is a big difference between how Gary Cooper deals with a similar issue in High Noon, and how Eastwood tackles the problem here. Richard Dysart plays the idiot villain threat whose personality is no different than any other Western town villain. There is nothing featured here that hasn't been done before. The result is a pointless graphic mess that should be used for target practice. Score: 2 / 10