Movies-TV

It's okay...

..."Young Guns" is about Billy the Kid (Emilio Estevez) and his gang of regulators' ride for revenge of the killing of their father-figure (Terence Stamp). Their gang slaughters and murders dozens of rogue cowboys, justifying their cause because the cowboys killed ONE guy. Unfortunately the writers went with the "young and hot" theme instead of a more dramatic one.The gang of regulators consists of "Doc" (Kiefer Sutherland), Chaveuz (Lou Diamond Philips), Charlie (Casey Siemaszko) and a few others. The three said actors probably deliver the best performances, and Estevez the worse.
His "hot, psychotic" cowboy shtick gets old (and annoying) after the first half-hour or so.Another problem with the writers: their consistency sucks. The regulators are supposed to be loyal and honorable, yet in the last scene they leave "Dirty Steve" (Dermot Mulroney) and their lawyer to be shot and killed by the bad guys. The lawyer - being a lawyer - I can understand, but why their own friend? Unbelievable.Of course, the action is well done. The ending shootout in a burning house is supremely entertaining, and even touching. Unfortunately, their just isn't enough action to save this."Young Guns" is an entertaining movie, but not one you'd want to watch twice, 6.5/10.

an apology for a western that is not authentic

I always thought of this film as a western for young people. I don't understand the "brat pack" label. Are all young actors from the 80's members? Because Emilio Estevez is the lead actor, is the whole therefore considered tainted? Is Repo Man similarly tainted and deemed worthless? I could give some pretty friggin' nasty labels to some John Wayne films I've seen. Must a film induce a coma to be considered classic? Is Die Hard a classic or just a decadent 80's action film? And please don't tell me there's such a thing as a thinking man's western. Is Young Guns not a quality western since it lacks some vacuous, ponderous shots of deserts with a raspy-voiced squinty eyed god-fearing fat alcoholic moron squinting into the sun and speaking like a disgruntled janitor about how he's going to get his revenge on someone who done wronged him? I always thought Young Guns was exciting and funny with a cast of youthfuls who make the 'mistake' of acting youthful in front of the screen. And as for Terrence Stamp? He's friggin' horrible! He gets blown off the screen literally and for which this viewer is eternally grateful. The only other actor miscast is Charlie Sheen. The rest of the cast is great. Certainly Keifer Sutherland, Casey Siemasko, and Dermot Mulroney are actors who don't deserve to be lumped with the likes of Molly Ringwald and Andrew McCarthy. And if Emilio Esteves isn't quite as brilliantly one-dimensional as Clint Eastwood, he at least creates some emotions for his character. And Jack Palance is comically unhinged as the film's true psychotic. If John Wayne were in this film he would be a bearded bad guy who gets his brains blown out. And that's the way it should be. For this is a late 80's western and there is no other western like it. And one final word: why is it American films (particularly westerns) are always judged based on films that came before. Granted, art is always influence by other art. But in this case the comparisons don't make sense. Young Guns is influenced by some westerns, but in execution, tone, and style it is a complete original. It deserves mention with The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time In the West, My Darling Clementine, One-Eyed Jacks, Johnny Guitar, The Long Riders, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Tombstone as one of the great westerns. But if you're over 21 just go get hammered and watch TNT to get your weekly western fix you friggin' republican.

Well worth seeing

Young Guns is very entertaining, not just another western. Character development is superb with excellent performances by all the actors. Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen and Lou Diamond Phillips play off of each other very well. The relationship between Estevez as Billy and Sutherland as Doc provide for some very funny moments in spite of the fact that the overall tone of the movie is fairly intense. The violence and language definitely make this movie inappropriate for young children.

Young Guns (Special Edition)

Young Guns is an excellent western movie filled with great talented actors who came together and put on a fantastic movie.

the best pair of westerns ever!!!

young guns and young guns 2 sizzle with awesome action sequences, and alot of smart humor.an a+ .

"I like these odds!"

Although I like westerns there aren't too many that you can watch over and over again. Young guns 1 and 2 are exceptions. They are without doubt two of the best westerns ever made. They are traditional as they follow the 'rules of westerns' but they differ also, being more based on character than most other westerns. Emilio Estevez was great as Billy, playing him as the legend suggests, attractively wicked and high spirited. These two are my favourite movies of all time and can never be replaced.

Lots of great stars = entertaining movie

With a brilliant collection of characters, this
movie proved to be one of the more entertaining
modern day westerns. Charlie Sheen, Keifer
Sutherland, Emilio Estevez, Lou Diamond
Phillips and the other guys all shined in this
movie, making it memorable in a landscape
of a lost art form. Sure, some movies have tried
to equal this film's motif (American Outlaws,
Texas Rangers, Ride With the Devil, etc.) but
all have failed in the process. Coupled with
some good shoot-out scenes, this proved to
be a rather entertaining movie.

Lots of Sound and Fury

This western is another view of the Lincoln County War, the commercial rivalry between business owners over cattle, government contracts, etc. John Tunstall offers a home to young men. Dolan and Murphy are in cahoots with Sheriff Brady; they are against any competition. Will they eliminate it? [There is no mention of the economic depression of 1876 and its effects.] The story seems to be aimed for the audience of today, not for historical accuracy. But who can say undocumented events didn't happen?] The New Year is celebrated by firing guns into the air (a custom still observed). Soon fireworks will provide safer and saner noisemakers. The Murphy-Dolan gang shoots Tunstall to eliminate competition. So what will his cowboys do?

Alex McSween, Tunstall's lawyer, gets the Justice of the Peace to deputize Tunstall's cowboys. William Bonney serves a warrant to Henry Hill, and others. They find and stop more of Murphy's men. Bonney is shown as blood-thirsty. `Buckshot' Roberts comes to collect a bounty on these deputies. Things go bad. Billy the Kid led his men to ambush Sheriff Brady, a cold-blooded murder. The Governor puts a $200 bounty on Billy, and revokes their status as deputies. Billy is wanted for murder by the law. A bounty hunter meets Billy and makes one mistake. Billy and his gang are chased by a larger band.

The film shows the gang fleeing to Old Mexico. [Had Billy left the Territory of New Mexico his future would be different.] The film recreates the famous siege and burning of Alex McSween's store. It is dramatic entertainment, but I wonder how accurate it all is? The burning house leads to a desperate escape attempt. The film ends by telling about future events. [Robert M. Utley's book on Billy the Kid provides a more historical account.]

"I Ain't Left Handed!"

Young Guns could be seen as the one that started it all. This great western adventure has inspired over a decade of imitators on the big and small screen, but none of them nearly as successful or as fun as this one.

Young Guns, of course, tells the story of William H. Bonney, the young New Mexico outlaw better known to history as Billy the Kid. Billy is taken in by the kind-hearted English merchant John Tunstall, who is invloved in a trade dispute with local Irish mob boss John Murphey, a powerful member of a circle of corrupt New Mexico politicians known as the Santa Fe Ring. After Murphey's Boys assasinate Tunstall, The Kid and his Regulators are deputized to bring in the perpatrators. But instead of issuing the warrants as ordered, Billy goes on the war path, knocking off Tunstall's killers, becoming outlaws in the process, and escalating the war, intending to ultimately bring down Murphey and the Ring. What ensues is action adventure history as Billy and his Regulators ride across the New Mexico desert with guns blazing.

Despite it's Hollywood overtones, this a great western adventure that unlike many earlier Billy the Kid films, shows time went into researching the actual history of the events that shaped Billy's short but famous life. Emilio Estevez, as Billy, plays a darkly likable outlaw leader alongside his brother Charlie Sheen as Dick Brewer, the foreman of the Regulators. A fantastic supporting cast including Keiffer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Jack Palance, Terrence Stamp, and many others bring this classic 80s western to life . Young Guns inspired in me an intense interest in the history of the West as well as a love of great western movies like this one. Check it out.

The best movie of all!

This, in my opinion, is the best movie of all. If I filled out the question Favorite Movie in my senior survey for the high school annual, this movie would be it. Emilio Estevez is great at the part of Billy the Kid and there's a lot of action and gunfights in it. Estevez also brings in some humor in the movie. Brian Keith did good in his role as the old man who guns down Charlie Sheen and he probably had the funniest part in the movie.
Just imagine being so calm in shooting at 6 guys who are armed as well. I felt such excitement at the end when Estevez jumped out of the chest where he was hiding in and shooting like a maniac at the corrupt lawmen. All six characters, with the exception of lean, calm Charlie Sheen, live up to the tagline on the cover of the movie; Six reasons why the West was wild. Casey Seizmasko plays a good role as one of the childish of the Regulators, but then makes an awesome change at the end. I really don't like westerns, but I like historic movies, and this one is the best of them all, and the best overall. I recommend this movie to anyone.

Thats a fargon lie and you KNOW IT!

This is the best movie ever. If you enjoy movies that you can watch over and over then this is one for you. If you like to watch movies with a perfect mix of bad [guy] lines and funny lines then yep, this movie is for you. William H. Bonnie aka "Billy the Kid" is played by Emilio Estevez who was made for this role. Almost everything in the movie can be related to what actually happened. The sequel is neither true nor that good. It has Christian Slater playing a cowboy...enough said.

A MUST SEE

I can't believe how anyone can talk bad about this movie.
This movie is why I lived in New Mexico for 5 weeks recently.
To travel and see the OLD WEST.
After having read about it I know that some of the facts are bent. Well, IT'S A MOVIE.
Its called Entertainment.
All of the actors had their special moments, the dialog was well writen and sometimes humorous.
The tension between the brothers(emilio and charlie s.) in real life's characters, Billy and Dick Brewer were very convincing. I believe Dick called Billy a little rodent and certainly meant it.
Dirty Steve was just soooooo dirty, it was gross, but right on.
When Chavez admitted to putting a knife to Dirty Steves throat everynight, ... They don't show that part on TV!
YOu can tell the bond between these boys and feel for how they got themselves into this situation.
But like I said- It's just a movie, it's HOLLYWOOD.
And darned it, it's entertaining!
A note about costumes,With one scene being rather cold outside, I wonder how they managed to stay WARM in those rags???
It isn't always balmy in New Mexico in the winter.

Emilio Estevez proves he's NOT a star

Just a terribly acted movie. Forget about the inane plot, forget the historical inaccuracies, forget the annoying cheesy rock soundtrack, the overriding problem is just dreadful acting all around. The lowlight being Emilio Estevez in the main role, he is simply awful, every line is cringe worthy. Lou Diamond Phillips gets his chance to humiliate himself with a monologue about his tribe being massacred. Quite obvious why his and Emilio's careers quickly vanished, they are just brutal. Charlie Sheen showed good sense choosing a character that gets killed off early, he can't take any blame. 4/10.

It grew on me

The first time I saw it, I thought it was too silly ever to watch again. But a friend made me watch it again, and it grows on you. The shootouts are especially brutal. Not gory, just brutal how they all last about 10 seconds, and then there's a bunch of people dead on the ground. DVD technology hugely helps this one, too: I got it down to about 25 minutes by skipping from the opening titles, to the spy scene, to the outhouse, to the street shootout, to the ten even, to the last stand. 25 minutes. Don't have to waste time on extraneous things like character development or love interests. And the tag line is "Regulators! Let's rack out!" as I am now often heard to shout in random, crowded situations.

Best movie on Billy the Kid

I love this movie about Billy the Kid and his gang of Regulaters. Every one knows of the story and history of Billy the Kid and the mystery if he did or didn't die or lived to a ripe old age.(my opinion is that he lived to a ripe old age). Emilio Estevez played the part of Billy perfectly I think he did a great job. I don't watch westerns alot but this was one I really enjoyed so check it out.

The best western I've ever seen!

Young Guns and Young Guns 2 are the coolest westerns on the planet. Full of breathtaking action scenes and witty humor, Young Guns is a treat for an western or even non-western fan. After seeing this video, I actually went out and bought a set of cap guns.

Review and answer to previus question

Great, great movie!
NAVY BEAN: The guys are yelling "Regulators!" not 'regulations'.
That's what they called themselves....a title given to them by the gentleman that took them in at the beginning of the flick.

A semi-successful attempt to revitalise the western genre for a 1980s audience.

Young Guns is one of the only Hollywood westerns made during the 1980s, where it sits solitarily alongside the likes of Pale Rider and Silverado. By this time, the general public perception was that westerns had nothing new to offer. However, in this bloodthirsty and fast-paced retelling of the Billy The Kid legend, script-writer John Fusco and director Christopher Cain manage to find a few new angles. By populating their film with hot young talent, then cranking up the violence-levels like some modern retread of The Wild Bunch and underscoring the film with a pulsating rock soundtrack, the makers have found a reasonably effective way of breathing fresh life into a tired old story.Idealistic rancher John Tunstall (Terence Stamp) harbours a plan to recruit the wild and reckless youths of the Wild West to work on his Nebraska ranch. By showing them the care and patience they've never known, he soon gets these seemingly undesirable youths to become conscientious and hard-working ranch-hands, and even provides them with enough basic education to read and write. The plan falls apart when a rival rancher, Lawrence G. Murphy (Jack Palance), hires a gang of desperadoes to kill Tunstall. Following his death, Tunstall's young workers are determined to avenge their mentor. Initially they set about gaining their revenge legally, working as dedicated deputies out to nail those responsible for his murder. But their approach to the job proves so violent and trigger-happy that they themselves are quickly branded as outlaws. Under the leadership of the most hot-headed of their number William Bonney (Emilio Estevez), the youths leave a trail of corpses across the west as they track down their enemies. Soon Bonney earns the nickname Billy The Kid, and he and his gang of "young guns" become the most feared gunslingers around, hunted by the law and the lawless alike.Young Guns helped to launch quite a few careers. Estevez had already done some decent films prior to this one (Repo Man, The Breakfast Club and Stakeout spring to mind), but this was the first time that he was given the opportunity to grab a role by its throat. Among the many others making a name for themselves are the likes of Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charlie Sheen, Dermot Mulrooney and Casey Siemaszko. Meanwhile, seasoned old pros like Stamp and Palance provide the kind of expert support that they've done throughout their careers. While the pounding rock score and Brat-pack casting might provoke head-aches among western purists, it makes the film lively and energetic. The shootouts become increasingly stylized as the film draws to its blood-spraying conclusion. This stylization might be off-putting for some, but for others it adds to the film's sense of confident, over-the-top enjoyment. Young Guns is a fairly successful action film which definitely puts the "wild" back into the "west".

Good Western

Jon Tunstall (Terence Stamp) is an English cattleman who takes in outlaws to help him on his farm and help them prepare for a life in the new world as well as putting a roof over their heads.In this group there is mild mannered Doc (Kiefer Sutherland in a brilliant performance) Chavez (Lou Diamond Phillips in his best performance to date) as well as Charlie Sheen, Dermot Mulroney and Casey Siemasko they are band calling themselves the regulators competing against rivalman L.G Murphy (Jack Palance in a terribly underrated performance) for land and power Into this war enters Billy (Emilio Estevez in an awesome performance) he fits in well with the rest of the regulators and gets on with Tunstall.Tunstall is brutally murdered forcing the regulators from their home they are deputized by Tunstall's lawyer Alex McSween (Terry O Quinn) hoping to bring justice to those who killed Tunstall and one day getting to Murphy who ordered the killing.This is where Billy's wild side comes out and Estevex really has fun playing him he takes the regulators authority too far and they soon become the hunted.Its a bit of a slow start but after the death of Tunstall it really picks up speed its non stop action and thrills right to the end with gunslinging a plenty and lots of huge gunfights and deaths the setting is a brilliant typical wild west setting and is brillaintly detailed with lots of cool starsApart from the action and carnage the other huge strength here is the acting Emilio Estevez is pretty much an evil good guy as really gets into the character, Kiefer Sutherland is more subtle and polite and not a very violent person, Lou Diamond Phillips character is a typical hardman he plays the role very well, Charlie Sheen's character Richard "Dick" Brewer is my favourite out of the lot even if he isn't in the film as much as the others (he dies quite early in) its still a good performance So overall i would hugley recommend this film to Western fans, Action junkies (even a touch of romance) or just people who like a good film you will not be disappointed however it lacks a little as it is not very rewatchable but from time to time give it a try and cheer yourself up 8/10 8/10

Death is dealt and mocked by young guns.

A brat pack resembling a "Wild Bunch" lets the bullets fly as Billy the Kid(Emilio Estevez)and his gang of "Regulators" are on the run into old Mexico where they are demi-legends. Action packed to say the least. Some fine performances turned in by some popular young stars:Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips and Charlie Sheen. Also in the cast are Patrick Wayne, Jack Palance and Terence Stamp. And an un-credited cameo by Tom Cruise. This shoot-em-up shoots the hell out of a lot of 'em out there. Duck and reload. You can almost smell the gun smoke. A terrific modern western about the late 1870s wild west.