Cowboys & Aliens (2011)

Title: Cowboys & Aliens

Director: Jon Favreau

Based on the Comic Book: Cowboys & Aliens

Comic Book Written By: Fred Van Lente & Andrew Foley

Comic Book Drawn By: Dennis Calero & Luciano Lima

Starring: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, and Olivia Wilde

Rated: PG-13

Released: 2011

Rating: 4/5

Oscars: N/A

Basic Plot: Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig) wakes up and doesn't remember who he is. He then gets involved with a plan to stop aliens from invading Earth.

Combing a Sci-Fi and Western Film into One
This is the highlight of the movie. It combines sci-fi and Western film elements so well that it doesn't feel like one takes center stage over the other. The first part of Cowboys & Aliens is strictly a Western. If you like sci-fi and Western movies I highly suggest you go see this movie.

The Aliens
In the comic the aliens talked, in the movie the main aliens don't. This is a little bit disappointing. However, what the aliens look like and their technology do look pretty cool. There is one alien that does talk, though.

The One Annoying Character
Percy Dolarhyde (Paul Dano) is the most annoying character in the film. Funnily enough, he's the one that drives a good chunk of the plot along. Luckily he is gone for a good majority of the film. He is captured by the aliens pretty early on so you don't have to put up with him that much.

Final Thoughts
I am a big fan of science fiction so I went into the film purely for that element. The fact that it was also a Western film was a big bonus. I was sad about what happens to Olivia Wilde's character, but it was very fitting. This movie does have some romance which fits the tone the movie sets. I saw this movie a few weeks ago (when I was up in Lake Tahoe, California) and so am sorry it took so long to get this review up.

Cowboys & Aliens: Trailers vs. Comic (jashycam 25)

Click to Play

After finishing the comic Cowboys & Aliens I start to have bad feelings about the movie being a faithful adaptation of the comic.

If that version does not work, try this version:

The Title Cowboys and Aliens

Sometimes movie titles are boring (The Town), sometimes they are interesting (Angels and Demons), and sometimes they are funny: Cowboys and Aliens.

I have never played the game Cowboys and Indians, but I am aware of it and so like the title Cowboys and Aliens for a few reasons.

1.) It's a good play on words.
It lets you get a nostalgic feeling while giving a sense of adventure.

2.) It mentions aliens.
I love science fiction and so, with a promise of aliens, I am ready to see this baby.

Mind you, I am not seeing this movie because of the title (though it does play some part in the decision), but because it contains two actors that I like. They are, of course:
Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford.

Note: I also know it's based on a comic.