ChanFamous
I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.
Ogosmith
Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.
Roxie
The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;
Tony
Really liked this film today as much as the first time it was released. Give this sort of cast the story it tells it's hard to fail. The start is very true to the events that happened, and shines a light on who is good or bad in a lawless society. The modern day heroes of the West usually played as law-men one day and outlaws the next.. The Earp brothers and Doc were a legal mob running Tombstone, the OK corral was a massacre of their rivals under protection of the law. It's a strange thing about society that we look back on some outlaws as heroic, where as, if it was happening today we'd want them hunted down and removed.
eric262003
It could be something worthy to laugh about knowing that the young pedigreed performers from the Hollywood industry would be seen wearing Western gear and sporting cowboy duds. However, the idea by director Christopher Cain and script writer John Fusco tied in with a more authentic feeling of the frontier characters that were portrayed in 'Young Guns" from 1988. This serves as an indication of what young outlaws and enforcers had to go up against during a time where they only key thing to do is survive. As a trivial fact, Billy The Kid was only 22 when he died. Like these pedigreed upstarts, the many gunslingers in the Old West were trained to fight from childhood. Therefore, it was spot on that the principal cast were hungry youthful individuals making names for themselves. "Young Guns" strives to set its sight on delivering an accurate portrayal of the old frontier, however, the main premise is to focus on the life of William Bonney who would later mark his name as Billy the Kid. We see the evolution of Billy the Kid (an energetic Emilio Estevez) back when he was an apprentice to philanthropist John Turnstall (Terence Stamp) who was raising an elite of young fighters in adapting to the dangers the living conditions of the old west. When Turnstall is killed, the gang turn to the trustworthy Billy the Kid for leadership, thus the bloody hunger for revenge comes into fruition. The rest of the gunners include Doc Scurlock (Kiefer Sutherland), Jose Chavez (Lou Diamond Philips), Dirty Steve Stephens (Dermot Mulroney), Charlie Bowre (Casey Siemaszko) and Dick Brewer (Charlie Sheen). During the bloody trail, they go trough some familiar conflicts in their personal lives that will likely roll your eyes, but that burden is upstaged by really memorable scenes. While there's a lack of creating an original characterization of Billy the Kid as an energetic psychopath, Estevez does give his character a more natural modern-day approach. Billy is not that far from Estevez's previous character from the film "Repo Man". The scenes that were downers comes from Sutherland's scenes where Doc falls in love with an Oriental lady and wants to abandon the group. Cain does successfully capture the moments which the battles and shooting action takes place that's filled with graphic violence and fever-pitch energy. The memorable scene where Billy the Kid goes on a rampage and kills a few captured antagonists showcases just how messed up and dangerous this character truly is. Another memorable scene is where he brings down a potential bounty hunter that goes down with a tad of black humour. Director Cain must got the knack of getting a feeling for the Western genre. From the accents, to the clothing, to the settings and to the lingo that the characters have utilized along the way through each scene. In addition to that he has hired many familiar faces who have been in Westerns over the years including Jack Palance as the evil despicable Murphy (who could play evil better?), In addition to that, Patrick Wayne (son of Western icon John Wayne) has a cameo as Pat Garrett, the lawman who killed Billy the Kid. Sure it has a reminiscent of the old Westerns he father starred in back in the 1950's, but John Wayne would've easily killed these pampered heroes blindfolded. It's pretty weird for me to say this, but when the sequel came out, "Young Guns II", I thought that film was more improved due to the energetic direction from New Zealand born director Geoff Murphy. But if you like Westerns with a Billy the Kid character upgraded to fit the style of the 1980's then this movie is something or you to enjoy.
Matt Greene
Young Guns is a classic western adventure told through the lens of a big '80s action flick, cheesy guitar rock soundtrack and all. As a guy who loves "movie-moments", it's perfect. (Talking to the guy in the bar who wants to kill Billy the Kid. Discovering the traitor in the group. Shooting dude in the bathroom. The final standoff. Peyote.) Other than Sutherland's blandness and Sheen's accent, the performances are characters are a great hang.
SnoopyStyle
William H. 'Billy the Kid' Bonney (Emilio Estevez) has trouble with the law. John Tunstall (Terence Stamp) takes him in just as he has done with several other young men. They call themselves Regulators. One day, Tunstall is killed by his competitor rancher Murphy (Jack Palance)'s men. Sheriff reluctantly deputizes the Regulators to bring the murderers to justice. However, that's just the start of an all out war.This is the best Brat Pack western. Emilio Estevez goes nuts in this movie. His manic laugh makes this movie. Oddly, Charlie Sheen plays the reasonable leader of the group. Kiefer Sutherland falls for Murphy's china doll Yen Sun. Lou Diamond Phillips is the Indian. Casey Siemaszko and Dermot Mulroney round out the Regulator crew. History be damn. This is fictional. Although there are some famous names for the characters. This is just a bunch of young guns having fun playing cowboys.
