We’ve been watching more Clint Eastwood movies lately. I’ve liked them all along, but Frank wasn’t too keen on “buying” any DVD’s of them. He loves John Wayned movies, so that’s what we’ve been building a collection of for some time.
At church a few weeks back we were discussing movies with some other folks, and Clint Eastwood movies came up as a topic. 🙂 One family then lent us “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” on DVD. It’s been years since I’ve actually seen any bits or pieces of that flick. It’s a movie you have to see the whole of as a whole. It’s great stuff.
We just watched “Hang ‘Em High!” last night. Rented. It’s a classic from 1968. I’ve seen it frequently enough on commercial TV. It’s much better as a straight run movie. [as all movies really are!]
So, we don’t outright own either of the ones I just mentioned. They are on my “want to get” list. We have a few others already. Mr. Eastwood makes a great western. He’s Mr. Man of Few Words, and often Man With No Name. He looks great in a hat and coat of the 1800’s western wear genre. He looks great with a Marshall star badge on his shirt.
He’s not a “Christian” man in any of his character portrayals. He’s a man. With morals, but not particular “Christian” morals. If that makes any sense. So why watch him? Why not? Why watch any other movie? Most movies don’t have “Christian Moral Characters” in them. Should they, now that’s another topic altogether.
John Wayne is another one to consider. He has good flicks too, some characters more moral than others. His westerns are a different genre than Eastwoods. Eastwood’s are reality-like, while Wayne’s are High-Character-like. Big difference in how it plays out on screen and in ones head. I like Eastwood, he’s subtle. Intense. Thinking. Action. A Good Guy. Wayne is louder, talks more, and is the other things that I listed about Eastwood, besides “subtle”.
Let’s put it another way. Wayne is American. In today’s Americanizational way of thinking. That’s why I like him some.
But why do I like Eastwood more? … he lacks that “Americanization” thing. It’s like this: He’s a guy living in his time, the time in the movie, be it 18– whatever. There’s no big flag waving kind of thing. That, I like. Lack there of, in other words.
Ok, the other thing: Eastwood and guns. I love the way he shoots.