What is the Appeal?

It's my favorite movie of all time. I love Tuco's greedy mannerisms, as well as Blondie's stoic & calm demeanor under pressure. However, I know what you mean about a movie that everyone else seems to like that you just don't get for some reason. I'm the same way with Kubrik's "A Clockwork Orange." I can't stand that movie, yet everyone else falls over themselves calling it one of the greatest classics ever made.

This film has the man that every man wants to be, the entertaining man that every man wants to meet, the evil man that every man wants to kill and the music that every man wants to play/write.

"gonna throw, my raincoat in the river...gonna toss, my umbrella in the sea"...Sammy Turner.

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The music, the beauty of its setting and cinematography, in combination with its loneliness and slow, deliberate pacing, and the purity of the stripped down characters and plot... Each of its best elements can be found in some other film, especially in other westerns, but rarely assembled so perfectly as here. And, really, again, the music...

As for historical context, there is a long answer to give, but i think i'll take a shortcut and just say, watch more, and earlier westerns, to understand this film as a stylization and subversion of their tendencies. Also, try Kurosawa's Yojimbo and Sanjuro, if you haven't already, to understand the immediate inspiration for this type of character.

And remember, it's campy, weird, sometimes a little surreal... The film can suffer from taking it too seriously—it should be fun. But if you are in the mood for a western, I can't think of a better one.

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I don't know what to tell you. I'm a Gen-X child, and this is my favorite movie of all time. It's just everything in it that's attracted me. The acting, setting, music, story, pace, etc., is just perfect.

wish I could tell ya

I don't know man, it's always been that way for me. The first time I saw this movie I literally knew nothing about it except "Good Western" and it blew me away.

The movie is just cool as hell. Great cinematography, great characters and the final showdown is nothing short of amazing. Clint Eastwood is just a total badass in a very well made western. If you don't see why it's rated so highly I feel bad for you. Not my favorite but got a 10 easily from me. 1 of about 20 out of 1250+ to do so.