Cowboys & Aliens

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Review by Sean Lynch

Is there anything better than a Western? An alien movie, perhaps? What if both were combined into one flick that was faithful to both genres? 

Well, that's a tad lucky isn't it, because Iron Man  director Jon Favreau has done just that with the aptly titled Cowboys & Aliens.

Kicking off in 1875 New Mexico, a mysterious stranger (Daniel Craig) with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution.

The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don't welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford, in his finest form since Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade).

But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known.

Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. Lucky for them, he's a bit of a badass.

As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and where he's been, he realises he holds a secret that could give the town a fighting chance against the alien force. 

With the help of the elusive traveler Ella (the not-as-hot-as-usual Olivia Wilde), he pulls together a posse comprised of former opponents-townsfolk, Dolarhyde and his boys, outlaws and Apache warriors-all in danger of annihilation.

United against a common enemy, they will prepare for an epic showdown for survival.

Despite what many reviewers have said thus far, there is actually quite a lot of fun to be had with Cowboys & Aliens. Favreau's ability to weave action, adventure and character into popcorn affairs is a genuine gift that I feel many have taken for granted.

The performance he gets from Ford is an achievement unto itself (considering Ford has been sleepwalking for the last decade or so), while Daniel Craig is thoroughly convincing as the no nonsense dark stranger - the ultimate cowboy, albeit a slightly boring one.

The film was initially intended to star Favreau's Box Office pal Robert Downey Jnr, a move which may have removed some of the impressive physical presence brought by Craig - but greatly improved the personality Favreau despereately tries to inject into Craig's character. There are plenty of opportunities for humour, some actually in the script, that just aren't sold the way Downey Jnr may have.

The theory is, you can make an actor look like a hero - but you can't give a person personality if they are made of stone.

This slight hiccup aside, Cowboys & Aliens delivers everything it promises and as a result, is one of the most unique and fresh ideas to hit screens in some time.

DVD Special Features

Commentary by director Jon Favreau, Featurettes which include Conversations with Jon Favreau and a Making of the movie in HD.

Conclusion: Movie 80% Extras: 60%