Don’t go into 3:10 to Yuma like I did, ready to see a film about a gunslinger versus the law with a clearly defined hero and villain. The story that unfolds is much more layered and complex, with the central characters flawed and their motivations tinged in striking shades of grey. Director James Mangold (Walk the Line) pointed out that while most people recall the older Westerns as the “black hat/white hat” stories, the majority of the classic films of the genre did not have clear-cut good guys and bad guys. Mangold and screenwriters Michael Brandt & Derek Haas wove a myriad of layers into the central characters Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) and Dan Evans (Christian Bale) and thus effectively evoke the best of what the genre has ever offered.

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The first rumblings from Touchstone Pictures over “The Alamo” centered around how authentic their 2004 cinematic version would be. Historians were used as technical advisors, insuring the accuracy of the events portrayed on screen. Unfortunately, while the filmmakers were worrying about getting the history right, they forgot they were making a movie that needed to flow narratively and work as entertainment for the masses.

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An ex-con returns to his rural Ontario roots and outwits a corrupt and wealthy thoroughbred owner trying to take over a slew of local farms. Ray Dokes, a charming ex-ballplayer, returns from jail to discover the rural landscape of his childhood transformed by urban development. Determined to stay out of trouble, Ray heads to the farm of his old friend Pete Culpepper, a crusty Texas cowboy who trains losing racehorses and whose debts are growing faster than his corn. Sonny Stanton, gambling addict and spoiled heir to a thoroughbred dynasty, is in the process of buying up an entire concession of farmland to build a casino and golfing resort, and the only one brave enough to stand in the way of Sonny is Etta Parr, Ray’s old flame, who might be willing to forgive Ray if it wasn’t for her pride and common sense. The situation is a minefield, one Ray is determined to avoid. He hooks up with Chrissie, a sexy, sassy and talented jockey and steers clear of Sonny. But when a ten-million-dollar thoroughbred goes missing from the Stanton Stables, Sonny pushes things too far and forces the sale of the community’s remaining farms. Ray reacts by coming up with a plan to stop Sonny in his tracks and right a few wrongs in the process. The scheme is unlikely and audacious; the players are as unpredictable as nitroglycerin. One false move and Ray will land back in jail. And the smart money is against him. Written by Anonymous

When a Midwest town learns that a corrupt railroad baron has captured the deeds to their homesteads without their knowledge, a group of young ranchers join forces to take back what is rightfully theirs. In the course of their vendetta, they will become the object of the biggest manhunt in the history of the Old West and, as their fame grows, so will the legend of their leader, a young outlaw by the name of Jesse James. Written by {gsm1224@ix.netcom.com}

Some time after the Mousekewitz’s have settled in America, they find that they are still having problems with the threat of cats. That makes them eager to try another home out in the west, where they are promised that mice and cats live in peace. Unfortunately, the one making this claim is an oily con artist named Cat R. Waul who is intent on his own sinister plan. Unaware of this, the Mousekewitz’s begin their journey west, while their true cat friend, Tiger, follows intent on following his girlfriend gone in the same direction. Written by Kenneth Chisholm {kchishol@execulink.com}

Stranded in 1955, Marty McFly receives written word from his friend, Doctor Emmett Brown, as to where can be found the DeLorean time machine. However, an unfortunate discovery prompts Marty to go to his friend’s aid. Using the time machine, Marty travels to the old west where his friend has run afoul of a gang of thugs and has fallen in love with a local schoolteacher. Using the technology from the time, Marty and Emmett devise one last chance to send the two of them back to the future. Written by Vampire Sharpshooter

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In 1945 a train pulls into Black Rock, hardly even a whistlestop, and lets Macreedy off. He wants to give a local Japanese farmer his son’s war medal, but the townsfolk will have nothing to do with him. Written by Ed Stephan {stephan@cc.wwu.edu}

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In 1848, a New York bank wants to put a railroad across Mexico, so it buys up small banks around Santa Rita, Durango, and evicts farmers on the proposed rail line who owe money. The bank’s henchman is the murderous Jackson. He runs afoul of two women, María, the tough but uneducated daughter of a farmer, and Sara, the European-educated daughter of the owner of one of these banks. To feed the now landless people and to seek revenge, María and Sara become bank robbers, veritable Robin Hoods. But Jackson and his hired guns are after them. What are the women’s options? Written by {jhailey@hotmail.com}

During the civil war, injured Yankee soldier, John McBurney is rescued on the verge of death by a teenage girl from a southern boarding school. She manages to get him back to the school, and at first the all-female staff and pupils are scared. As he starts to recover, one by one he charms them and the atmosphere becomes filled with jealousy and deceit. Written by Col Needham {col@imdb.com}