|
Rating:  -
Delivered this classic promptly.
Wish we had a remastered HD version of this. One of Bronson's best in my opinion. Lots of action, a reasonable storyline, and great scenery.
Rating:  -
As a scholar of Apache culture and history, watching "Chato's Land" again after so many years has been an earth shaking experience for me. When the film first came out, I had read dozens of books about the Apache and was familiar with the stories of Chato. So, for whatever reasons, when I viewed "Chato's Land" in 1971 I saw it with preconceived notions that lead me to feel that it was an excellent movie--one that I would always "remember" and look forward to seeing again. More to the point, my western raising still influenced what I saw and heard--ignoring the falsehoods, stereotypes, and media manipulations. Even worse, my memory filled in the gaps and glossed over the content of "Chato's Land" with knowledge about the real person. Hence, it was with high hopes that I ordered and re-watched "Chato's Land." What a disappointment!!!
In all fairness, I must acknowledge that I have found nothing to suggest that "Chato's Land" was ever intended to have anything to do with the real person, who was part of Geronimo's group of Apaches initially, but eventually left and joined the Army scouts, rising to the rank of Sergent. IMDb provides the following summary of the movie:
After Pardon Chato, a mestizo, killed a US marshal in self-defense, a posse pursues him, but as the white volunteers advance deep in Indian territory they become more hunted then prey, leading to internal strife. They rape Chato's squaw, and are hunted down to the last man by the unrelenting warrior.
But this has little bearing on the quality of the film. First off, it should be pointed out that the movie is, in many ways an anti-Viet Nam movie, and certainly is frequently referred to as a revisionist western for the portrayal of the so called "Indians" as the "good guys" and the mixed bag of deviant "whites" as the "bad guys." Yet, as the movie makes clear, Chato is not an Apache, but a "half breed" or in Spanish a "mestizo" (also a derogatory word). Second, my problems with the movie are not with the drama--or even the basic story line--but with the perspective, attitude and language of the film. A bitter example of the use of language is the constant use of the Iroquois word "squaw" (vulgarity for a woman's vagina) to refer to the non-white women in the movie. Then there is the notion that killing "Apaches" (which refers, seemingly, in the film to any non-white) is the right thing to do, morally correct, and fun.
While Bronson may be at his "best" in "Chato's Land," and the film may have been "good" when it came out, it is no longer a film I would consider worthy of watching--except to have a laugh, perhaps. So, unless you desire further indoctrination into how to hate and mistreat others, I suggest you consider another movie. Unfortunately, I cannot in good faith recommend any movie as an outstanding movie about the Apaches. While "Broken Arrow" with James Stewart is fun to watch, it still has many problems and is a fairly "romantic" portrayal of the Apache. "Geronimo," while based on Briton Davis' outstanding book, was badly adapted for the screen. The real problem with making movies about Native Americans is that any really good movie is bound to be viewed as uninteresting because most Americans are not really interested in truth; as Dorothy Johnson writes in "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," when the legend is believed to be the truth, print (or go with) the legend.
PS--Mimbres are a division of the Apaches, not a unique tribe of people.
Update--1 July 2008: If this review was not helpful to you, I would appreciate learning the reason(s) so I can improve my reviews. My goal is to provide help to potential buyers, not get into any arguments. So, if you only disagree with my opinion, could you please say so in the comments and not indicate that the review was not helpful. Thanks.
August 14, 2008: I have attempted to get Amazon to post an edited version of this review seven times now. Since they don't seem to want to do that, I will attempt to simply add the new version here:
I am editing my review in response to comments made by B. DeLeon addressing the fact that my review is overly scholarly, and, more importantly to me, arrogant. While I probably will not be able to tone down the scholarly nature of the review, I do hope that people will find this review non-arrogant, and, instead, helpful--even if you disagree with my opinions.
Let me start by stating that I am not reviewing Charles Bronson's, or any other actor's, performance in "Chato's Land." I am reviewing the film based upon how I perceive the movie's effects on viewer's attitudes about Apaches, and Native Americans in general. While I did not originally praise Bronson's (and Jack Palance's) performance, I would like to acknowledge that now. Second, I agree that my original review was overly scholarly to the point of forgetting/failing to address that "Chato's Land" is not a historical fiction, but a western genre film.
As a scholar of Apache culture and history, watching "Chato's Land" again after so many years has been an earth shaking experience for me. When the film first came out, I had read dozens of books about the Apache and was familiar with the stories of Chato. So, for whatever reasons, when I viewed "Chato's Land" in 1971 I saw it with preconceived notions that lead me to feel that it was an excellent movie--one that I would always "remember" and look forward to seeing again. More to the point, my western raising still influenced what I saw and heard--ignoring the falsehoods, stereotypes, and media manipulations. Even worse, my memory filled in the gaps and glossed over the content of "Chato's Land" with knowledge about the real person. Hence, it was with high hopes that I ordered and re-watched "Chato's Land." What a disappointment for me personally! However, in re-watching the film several times since I originally wrote this review, I can state that I did hold this movie to too high of standards.
In all fairness, I must acknowledge that I have found nothing to suggest that "Chato's Land" was ever intended to have anything to do with the real person, who was part of Geronimo's group of Apaches initially, but eventually left and joined the Army scouts, rising to the rank of Sergent. IMDb provides the following summary of the movie:
After Pardon Chato, a mestizo, killed a US marshal in self-defense, a posse pursues him, but as the white volunteers advance deep in Indian territory they become more hunted then prey, leading to internal strife. They rape Chato's squaw, and are hunted down to the last man by the unrelenting warrior.
But this has little bearing on the quality of the film. First it should be pointed out that the movie, according to critics and film scholars at the time, is in many ways an anti-Viet Nam movie and a "revisionist" western FOR ITS PORTRAYAL of the so called "Indians" as the "good guys," WHILE DEPICTING the mixed bag of deviant "whites" as the "bad guys." Yet, as the movie makes clear, Chato is not an Apache, but a "half breed" or in Spanish a "mestizo" (also a derogatory word). Second, MY PROBLEMS WITH THE MOVIE ARE NOT WITH THE DRAMA--OR EVEN THE BASIC STORY LINE--but with the perspective, attitude and language of the film. WHY? BECAUSE RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT MOVIE PORTRAYALS EFFECT ATTITUDES ABOUT THE PEOPLE PORTRAYED. RESEARCH ALSO SHOWS THAT VIEWERS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR CONCERN OR LACK OF CONCERN ABOUT THE PORTRAYALS, TEND TO FIND DEROGATORY IMAGES AND WORDS USED IN A FILM TO BE QUITE "ACCEPTABLE." A bitter example of the use of language is the constant use of the Iroquois word "squaw" (vulgarity for a woman's vagina) to refer to the non-white women in the movie. Then there is the notion that killing "Apaches" (which refers, seemingly, in the film to any non-white) is the right thing to do, morally correct, and fun.
Rating:  -
Exxelent film with one of my favourite actors. High credability as indian, but really he is polish.
A must in anyones moviarchive.
Rating: -
Though I would consider Charles Bronson to have been one of my more favorite actors, I had never seen this movie until a recent airing on the Western Channel.
Just a few comments: I enjoyed the movie and will certainly watch it again. I would also say for me the picture is on the same level as Breakheart Pass or a few other pictures from Charlie. Which means that it is a solid 3 to 4 star movie. Yes, I know, we have a non-Indian playing an Indian, well, that is how they did it back then. Also it isn't historical either, but then I doubt very much that it was meant to be. Accept it for what it was meant to be and is: entertaining fiction.
A couple problems with the film: it does seem somewhat dated, the kind of low budget early 70s Hollywood movie being put out back then. And I would hesitate to use the word 'western' for this track and chase movie. A western novel of today would label it "historical fiction" not western. Good Hollywood here, but bad history. But then the movie is only fiction, isn't it. No connection to the real Chatto and his famous raid.
I generally do not like chase and track down movies or books, but somehow with this one it never gets tiring as many do. And what a neat trick to have a few of the trackers begin to kill each other. How the hunter again can become the hunted. They begin to aid Chato in their own destruction.
One reviewer mentioned the word 'mimbreno' but the word as applied to Apaches is normally either seen as Mimbrenos or Mimbres. I must have missed the mentioning that Chato was of the Mimbres Apache tribe, will have to pay closer attention next viewing. The Mimbres were a part of the Chihenne group located near the Mimbres River and Mimbres Mountains of New Mexico. The locale of the shooting of the movie probably was not N. Mexico, but it does have some of that quality to it. A couple of the more recognizable members of the Mimbres Apache would be Victorio and Mangas Coloradas.
All-in-all this is an enjoyable film, not a western in any sense of the word, but never-the-less a movie with a raw, stark, alkaline feel to it.
Semper Fi.
Rating: -
Chato's Land
Right from the very first shot you know something special is about to happen. At the same time, it's pretty well clear how the story is going pan out. The interest lies in seeing precisely how the posse will disintegrate. No spoiler here. It's a study in characters. The mind of Chato, the half-breed Apache, is inscrutable and impenetrable, although, at the same time, his motivation is crystal clear. The white men all have their own personal agendas. Only Ezra knows his own mind and has the independence to stand firm. He doesn't join the gang. Some of them go along just to be neighborly. Even the three repulsive brothers are shown a little sympathy: it's possible to see that filth has a reason for being the way it is. Jack Parlance has an unusual role. A veteran of the Civil War, he retains traces of the character of an upright Southern soldier and a gentleman, but has seen too much and is mentally defeated. He still sees himself as heading a troop of cavalry, and dreams he's still riding out to get "that b@#$%, Grant". Although he's blue-eyed, with Slavic features, Bronson is perfect as the half-breed. The outcome is satisfying, but grim. Some decide they've had enough when it's too late. Those who are more or less innocent fall the way of the rest, through lack of backbone. Well-acted, well-shot, well-written: a good movie with a moral applicable to both past and present. Those who know their own country will win.
Recommended for Charles Bronson fans
Gunner January, 2008
Television Show
Collectibles
Movie Searches
|
|
|
Search for posters,
art prints, photos, collectables, merchandise, toys, t-shirts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Join the Nielsen//NetRatings Research Panel and you could win a new car, a dream vacation, a dream home makeover or $50,000 Cash!
TV Guide
Program listings, celebrity profiles, industry
gossip, movie reviews, puzzle.
More
Entertainment
& TV Magazines
This site is
Hosted
by Bluehost
Read
my Bluehost Review
Original Superhero & other designs for t-shirts, bumper
stickers, prints, mugs, and other cool merchandise. |
|
