Movie Review and Thoughts about Films (Essay Sample)

Student Name
Instructor
Course
Date
Review of Shane, 1953
The western genre of film, whose characteristics prominently include savage Indians, gunslingers, lawless countryside, and cowboys, signifies a film theme that was prominent from the early 1900s to the late 1970s. George Stevens directed and produced the film Shane, a screenplay adaptation, in 1953 in which a mysterious rider named "Shane" is the protagonist.
This film typifies the western genre films by the approach the director adopts in depicting the character of Shane. Shane embodies the masculinity that was revered in the American Old West. For instance, Shane’s arrival at the homestead of Joe is unannounced yet his gun slinging abilities attract the attention of Joey, the son of Joe. In addition, Shane is depicted as the stoic hero – a favorite character in westerns, when his overnight stay at Joe’s homestead results to the uprooting of a tree stump that had overwhelmed Joe for two years (Stevens). In the western genre of films, stoic heroes are often portrayed as single although affectionate towards women, act according to their own principles, are part of the mainstream culture although their participation is discretionary, and that they value honor and sacrifice over anything else. The character of Shane meets all these stereotypes in different situations in the movie. For instance, although there is an affectionate relationship between him and Joe’s wife, Shane avoids being drawn in because of his honor. Honor also obliges Shane to sacrifice his friendship with Joe when he prevents Joe from going to challenge Ryker and his gang. Moreover, Shane’s identity with the mainstream culture – gun slinging in this case is evident but he is at liberty to choose when to demonstrate it.
Context wise, the environmental settings of the film depicts the untamed American Wild West that is replete with marauding outlaws such as Ryker’s gang who terrorize new settlers that include Joe. Although the film concludes with the departure of Shane after he kills Ryker and Jack Wilson, fearlessness of Shane in confronting these outlaws demonstrates the film’s main theme – honor and sacrifice. Interestingly, Shane’s character fades mysteriously in the same fashion it appeared.
Review of the Naked Spur, 1952
Anthony Mann directed this film in 1957. The film’s storyline revolves around Howard Kemp, a bounty hunter on the trail of Ben Vandergroat, who is wanted for murder and bank robbery. Lina Patch is accompanying Vandergroat. Although Kemp accepts the assistance of two strangers in capturing Vandergroat, the film’s plot is characterized by mind games between the five individuals as they traverse the Rocky Mountains (Mann). Eventually, Howard Kemp and Lina Patch who survive the ordeal.
Just like Shane, the background of Howard Kemp is mysterious throughout the film until in the last moments of the film. The heroic nature of Howard Kemp is evident by his life story – an ex-civil war soldier who bounty hunts to recover lost wealth. Incidentally, western genre films often make their lead characters wealthy enough so that their independence and principled lives can be possible. Moreover, the film’s environmental setting is characterized with open spaces, which are suitable for the thrilling horse chases involving Indian tribes and the company of Kemp. In fact, the inclusion of Indian tribesmen on horses who are engaging in gunfights with Caucasian Cowboys is the ultimate symbol of the western genre of films.
In the film, all the major male characters depict the ideal stereotypes in that era – men intent on meeting their goals no matter the sacrifices they have to make. Howard symbolizes the ideal stoic hero. He is focused, thirsty for revenge, and still affectionate towards women. In this case, Howard Kemp is attracted t...