h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Finally got to see one of those films I've always wondered about last night - "Heaven's Gate".

This was an epic Western that flopped big-style and, I think, bankrupt the studio who made it. The American critics hated it, but in recent years it has been re-appraised as a forgotten classic, that was attacked by reviewers for political reasons.

It was a good film, I can see why it's been re-appraised. But it's no forgotten masterpiece. There was some cheesy dialogue (at one point the head baddy refers to himself as "ruling class" which is just corny (although admittedly, this line gets a great comeback from Kris K ) .The same villain also consistently referred to the immigrants as "thieves and anarchists" over and over again - as if he couldn't say one without saying the other. Oh yeah, and I'm sure at one point Walken rides by a huge line of immigrants shouting "Why don't you go back home?!" (what could the director be trying to *say*? )). Also, at the start it was too damn confusing. Christopher Walkens a baddie! Or is he? Yes he is! We're not sure! er....... I'll let you see the film and you can find out

And who was that girl that was shacked up with the (older) Kris Kristoferson? And is it in her contract that she run around naked at least twice in the film (the second time for reasons I couldn't quite grasp)?

However, it was a good story with some fine performances (I especially liked John Hurt's drunk, who hung out with the baddies even though he vocally despised them). It also had a great, explosive, final gunfight-cum-bomb-chucking which is where I assume a great chunk of the budget went!

So, yeah, I was pleased to see it at last and find out that, yes, it was badly treated on it's release. Definitely worth checking out if you like Westerns, even if it isn't "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly"