I wasn't really sure what to expect since this movie was completely unmentioned in virtually any media. No synopsis in the paper, no early reviews or criticism. (This may be the only review you'll read of the film.) The most one would probably catch in passing is that James Van Der Beek is in it--so it must be "Dawson's Creek" with Horses, right? Aston Kutcher co-stars [insert the obligatory "Dude, where's my horse?" jokes, getting them out of the way...]

So, when nothing's out there bashing or praising such a small-release film, and you've got a blank slate, this is usually the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised.

Honestly--a good movie, good cast: Dylan McDermott, Alfred Molina, Robert Patrick, Lenora Varela. A bit typical, if you like westerns...evil cattle thieves, raiding and pilliaging must be brought to justice. But highly decent handling of the subject.

Trevor Rabin's score--for those of you who have heard American Outlaws, you're almost expecting that music...except you don't hear it. There are Rodeo-like moments in the score, where you can hear the Coplandesque influence. There is a traditional Rabin-march/theme, for the legendary Rangers, and some softer, quieter moments, slightly reminiscent of Enemy of the State. It's encouraging, because you can hear a touch Rabin's influence, yet you can determine that it isn't thematically or structurally similar to anything he's done in the past. (There aren't a lot of minor-key progressions.) Haven't heard anything of a score release, but it's not outside the realm of possibility.

Just look and laugh:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/movie-1111103/

I also read something funny over at http://filmforce.ign.com :

In case you haven't noticed, there's one glaring omission from this week's reviews: Texas Rangers. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your point of view, the film didn't screen widely enough for us to catch a preview showing. That's usually a sign that the studio isn't too confident in it's product, and given the constant release delays that have plagued this film, I'm not hold out much hope.

So inspiring! What a cast this movie has: Van Der Beek, Usher (yes, the singer), Robert Patrick, Randy Travis (yes, the singer), Ashton Kutcher! Rachael Leigh Cook!? What was Dylan McDermott thinking?! But like I said, it could be good, right? You think... Maybe? Naaah!

wonder if Usher and Randy Travis have a musical number together? And maybe Usher can get Cook out on the dance floor again and they can teach the Rangers some totally unrealistic dance that they could all do together at their totally unrealistic prom!? Oh wait! That's been done. But then again, so has this. Where's my badge and gun? See ya next week folks! I'm off to the movies.

2. Whose life, anyway?

3. Granted, my own humble definition of life may translate as pretty pathetic from the viewpoint of some if not many on this board, but it is my own, and I will not live it taking someone else's opinion for what I have not witnessed with my own eyes and/or ears. (Particularly not from something called "rotten tomatoes"...)

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hasta:
Making fun of movies before you've seen them is what life is all about, you poor soul!

---

Yes, each composers have their own styles. One may be more electronic while another one use always live orchestra. One can be similar to another, while the other one can be very original. If the guy is asked for a lot of project, maybe he have a talent and some peoples like what he does don't you think?

Now, more than ever before, a composer is asked to redo one of his previous score when he do a movie. They get the guy, because he did that style of music and that's what they want. Anyway, Rabin is not worst than any other composers, and Williams is not better than any other composers. They all have their own styles and that's it. And I like that because we can have many differents style and enjoy them.

You can give your opinion about a work done by a composer. But you can't say that somebody suck. The person who suck in that case, is the person who say that somebody suck!

That's my point.

I honestly think branding a composer as such is childish...if you don't like synths or his style that is one thing...to say they suck is not a very well thought out cattle brand.

quote:

---

Originally posted by madono_x:
Rabin's style is ZIMMER'S STYLE!!Trebor copy every note of hans zimmer's:broken arrow,drop zone,point of no return,days of thunder,etc.... but in bad

---

By your arguement, though, all movies must be made closer to the time they occur in history, and <shug> like "sands in the hourglass, so are the days of our lives." If you want to take the position that older is better, fine, but there's something about going to see a western in the movie theater these days, so it's fine by me if they keep making westerns.

I would suggest that if this was not the case, we would see more westerns, directed by the top tier directors of this era, and the results would be at the very least equal in quality to Ford or whomever.

My original point was that Texas Rangers actually is a good western, if a bit generic/traditional storywise.

and in addendum...

I apologize if I'm not sitting home polishing my Sergio Leone DVDs, as though I somehow disrespect the western canon of filmdom by suggesting that James Van Der Beek makes a decent Texas Ranger....

I never saw American Outlaws so I have nothing to say upon that subject. Good score, though.

The western is truly America's greatest contribution to movie making, and it's sorry that the genre has lost a bit of momentum. I like to think that it somehow is "reincarnated" in movies like Star Wars, and Broken Arrow, but, gosh, that must be some kind of heretical statement in and of itself....