Cowboys and Aliens (2011) is a sci-fi movie based on the graphic novel of the same name.
Synopsis: In 1873, Arizona, a stranger (Daniel Craig) awakens in the desert and wanders into a small town called Absolution. He's injured and has a mysterious metal shackle on his left wrist. Soon, he discovers that the rundown looking town and its fearful residents are being taken "care" by an iron-fisted man called Colonel Woodrow Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford). The town's sheriff, Sheriff John Taggart (Keith Carradine) recognizes the stranger as the wanted outlaw named Jake Lonergan.
Not long after that, the town is attacked by "visitors" from the sky. Many helpless residents are abducted by the monsters. Jake, Dolarhyde, and a mysterious woman named Ella (Olivia Wilde) join forces to rescue the abducted residents. Along the way, they have to recruit allies - outlaws and Red Indian tribe - even if this is the most absurd plan of all.
Three big names - Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde - this is the strongest reason to why you should watch this movie despite its absurd storyline. Daniel Craig is best known as James Bond, Harrison Ford as Hans Solo and Indiana Jones, and Olivia Wilde as Quorra in Tron: Legacy.
Now, let's talk about the absurd storyline. It's a not-so-ordinary blend between science-fiction (due to the presence of extraterrestrial beings), religion (due to frequent usage of preaching elements, e.g. prayers, faith, the Lord; and also the Red Indians' ancient practices), and 19th century Western culture (cowboys versus the Native Americans, i.e. the Red Indians).
Well, let's see what director Jon Favreau has to say. He sought in Cowboys & Aliens a plausible approach to how humans from the late 19th century could confront extraterrestrial beings armed with advanced weaponry. He also sought to maintain a Western tone as aliens appeared in the film and the science-fiction element to stand on its own.
He said of both genres, "It's about finding the intersection of those two genres... If you do it right, it honors both, and it becomes interesting and clever and a reinvention of two things that people understand the conventions of, instead of just a retread or remake or sequel or reboot of a film you've seen before." [via]
The special effects are pretty cool. The aliens look like those from the 90s sci-fi movie, which makes more sense because the story's plot is set in the late 19th century and all the human beings of that era had were horses, shotguns, handguns, and spears. LOL!
Overall, this is an interesting and entertaining movie with ample actions that will keep you seated throughout the entire movie. Have fun watching!
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