The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (4KUHD)

I’ve heard these Kino Lorber releases of the “Dollars Trilogy” criticized, or at least to be reported as not the best releases of the film. (Another boutique Blu Ray company also released them, Arrow maybe). But I have to say, they look and sound phenomenal. On a 4K tv with surround sound system (even basic and low end like I own), they’re awesome. The visual quality is great, sharp and contrasty, but no waxy skin AI upscaling. Natural grain from the film. The colors are pristine, and allegedly there’s more of a warm tone to the overall picture compared to the “better release”? But it’s a dusty western (and one of the greatest westerns of all time, if not the greatest). It works. I have zero complaints and am happy I picked up this, as well as Fistful of Dollars. Just need to find For A Few Dollars More to complete the collection. Highly recommend!

This standard definition, two-disc collectors set of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is likely to be valued by anyone familiar with the film and who recognizes it for the unique role it has played in filmmaking. Though not a high-def offering (you'll have to find that at The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo in Blu-ray Packaging) ), this remastered video which includes a substantial amount of original content not seen in the US edition, is a wonderful package. The video quality has been improved through remastering techniques, the surround-sound audio has been included, and the package contains a number of little "gift" items that, although are not necessarily expensive, are quite enjoyable in their own right. For example, the package includes a small set of four original posters for the movie in Italy, Japan, Spain, and the US printed in high quality gloss embossing on card stock. These are physically small, but are so lovingly printed that they are delightful. In addition, a small booklet with items of note from the movie is included, also on high-quality print and paper. Then, in addition to the movie itself (which is on one DVD) a second DVD containing an entire series of extras and bonuses finishes off the set. For the price, its a "tidy little sum" (to quote Angel Eyes), and should more than please any fan of the movie. It's a nice little collectors item package. It is not necessary, and is probably too difficult a task, to here write a long passage about the move itself. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is one of those films that was transcendental, that made its mark so strongly that, for many fans of the genre, divides what "came before" with what "came afterward." Its one of those movies that even those with little interest in Westerns could recognize as substantially different and a substantial contribution to moviemaking. Was it the filming techniques, with ultra-wide angle vistas interposed with tight shots of actors eyes? Or was it the script that asked fundamental questions about life while masquerading as a "Western"? Or was it perhaps the acting, with a magnificent performance of Tuco and also of Blondie, both of which from that point mark both actor's careers? Or was it the haunting and unmistakable music by Sergio Leone that is instantly recognized the world over, even by those who have never seen the movie? Or a combination of all these? I'm not sure, but I, like many others, upon first seeing this movie was instantly and acutely aware that this was something different, something moving and powerful, something with a message, something that bore (and still bears) repeated viewings, something that played around with deep issues and questions in life, and did so in a truly artistic way. Yes, it is hilarious--picture the opening scene where Tuco comes breaking through the windows with the giant turkey bone in his hand and turkey hanging out of his mouth--and yes, we can choose to watch the movie with any number of mindsets. But there are few movies--and this is one of them--where the viewer can be lifted out of the seat into a world of the storyteller so strongly that one truly forgets that it is a movie being watched. It happens more than once in this movie (in the graveyard scene, in the civil war bridge attack scene, and in the stagecoach scene, for example), but few movies ever can reach this level of narrational power. Its irrelevant that it is a Western. These are just the accouterments that allow the story to progress. Its about greed and wealth, law and order, haves and have nots, war and peace. And more than that. Someone once said to me, "Why is it called 'The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly'? There's not really anyone good, bad, or even (really) ugly in the movie!" But you see, that's one of the keys here. If you are looking for "good," "bad," or "ugly" in the story, you've started on the wrong foot. So, maybe, its one of the most deceptive titles in moviemaking. And maybe that's part of the clue to the story itself. Five stars for this wonderful little gift package of one of my favorite movies.

On the heels of a "Fistful of Dollars" and "A Few Dollars More", this film is the greatest of the Italian trilogy as Wallach and Van Cleef add perfect balance to Eastwood in this western thriller set in the Civil War, in the midst of Confederate General Sibley's failed attempt to wrest New Mexico from the Union. What is superior in this film, compared to the two earlier films with Van Cleef and Eastwood, is the addition of the excellent actor Wallach who plays the unprincipled, unflinching, killer Tucco who adds a constant, light and subtle comical touch to the film that invokes timely humor, literally tongue in cheek, into the many tense action scenes. Eastwood, as Blondie, is still the man with no name, speaking only a few words but speaking poignantly, as the dominant, cool good guy with Van Cleef as the methodical, steely eyed nemesis, a perfect foil for Eastwood. Wallach (Tucco) serves as a bridge between the two characters, making allegiances with who ever serves him the best. In other words, none can completely trust the other. This full version has several previously uncut scenes that add several minutes to the movie, some of which are helpful and a few may seem a little long such as the dessert scene where Tucco seeks revenge over Blondie. However, the film never loses its original punch and the sound track is unforgettable and it is used delightfully to kick up an action scene. Long after the movie is over, the music will continuously echo into your brain as the music never seems dated and the mere sound of the music heard anywhere brings you back to the film. Sergio Leone, who directed and wrote the script, pulls together one of the largest casts and production sets as he utilizes sets featuring whole towns and large scale battlefields. Some of the scenes of the Civil War are confusing such as the mix of what appears to be butternut uniformed Confederates mixed with the Union army at a bridge head. They may be "galvanized Yankees", confederates that traded sides after capture or they could be western volunteers. Leone pulls out the stops to create realistic battlefields, uniforms and gear although the battlefield bridge scene looks a bit over the top as each side fights enmasse over a bridge, remindingme of a flamboyant portrait of masses of infantry colliding on a span. In this large scene, he displays virtually every kind of cannon fro rifled Napoleons, smooth bores, large mortars and siege guns. The latter two less likely then the two former for the west due to limited transportation in the west particularly the siege guns. The additional 20 minutes history lesson on the additional disc gives a good over view of what was happening in this western Civil War campaign that the three characters stumble into. The film, with wide screen, is exciting, frequently funny, never too serious and unforgettable. A tremendous side story is the tremendous loss of life experienced during the Civil War displayed by large casualties, overwhelmed hospitals, prison camps, disabled veterans and, in the pivotal scene, a cemetery so large it seems without end. Although the characters are all hardened and can readily shoot a man, Leone shows, through the back drop of America's most costly war in human loss, the sheer violence and loss of life that reminds us that war is far less romantic. The writing is first rate, there are numerous memorable lines spoken by the main characters such as: "You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig."

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (50th Anniversary Special Edition) I'm a long-time fan of movies and have seen many westerns over my lifetime but Sergio Leone's epic film "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly” is probably the best western I have ever seen. No, I'll take that back. It IS the best western I have ever seen. It currently has a 97% “fresh” rating at Rotten Tomatoes and deserves it. It has a score of 8.9 at the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) making it the 9th best film on IMDb among ALL genres. The musical score by Ennio Morricone is stunning and unforgettable. It is unlike any music score ever heard in a western. It becomes a integral part of this film. And what can I say about Leone’s use of tight close-ups and long, wide shots? They add so much to the character of the movie. Leone was truly an artist. GBU stars Clint Eastwood as “Blondie” (the Good), Lee Van Cleef as “Angel Eyes” (the Bad), and Eli Wallach as “Tuco” (the Ugly). This 1966 film is the last, and best, film of Clint Eastwood’s “Spaghetti” western trilogy, sometimes referred to as the "Dollars Trilogy." But the real star of GBU in my opinion is most assuredly Eli Wallach. He almost steals the show with his very entertaining “antics.” It is without a doubt his best performance in a film, worthy of an Oscar. This 3-disc 50th anniversary edition of GBU has two versions of this great film. On the first disc is the 161-minute version released in the United States in 1968. It also has a full commentary track. On the second disc is the 179-minute 2003 extended English version. It is this version that is closest to what Sergio Leone intended when he made this film in 1966. This disc has two full commentaries on it. The commentaries are done by film historians and/or biographers of Sergio Leone. They are very insightful and entertaining. Both versions have been fully restored. The third disc is filled with miscellaneous tidbits (see below). Talk about extras… Here’s the full rundown on all three discs… Disc 1: - 4K transfer of the Original U.S. Theatrical Cut Available for the first time in HD - New Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas - Trailers From Hell with Ernest Dickerson - Newly Restored 2.0 Mono Audio - Restored 1967 UA Logo - Alternate Scene: The Optical Flip - Deleted Scene 1: Skeletons in the Desert - Deleted Scene 2: Extended Torture Scene - GBU on the: animated behind-the-scenes image gallery - Promoting GBU: Posters & Lobby Cards animated image gallery - Sergio Leone Westerns: Original Theatrical Trailers - Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono - English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Audio - Optional English subtitles - Reversible Art Disc 2: - 4K transfer of the Extended Cut - Newly Restored 2.0 Mono Audio - Audio Commentary by Film Historian Richard Schickel - Audio Commentary By Noted Cultural Historian Sir Christopher Frayling - English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Audio - Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono - Optional English subtitles Disc 3: - Leone's West: Making Of Documentary (19:55) - Il Maestro: Ennio Morricone and GBU Featurette Part 1 (7:48) - Il Maestro: Ennio Morricone and GBU Featurette Part 2 (12:26) - The Leone Style: On Sergio Leone Featurette (23:48) - The Man Who Lost The Civil War: Civil War Documentary (14:24) - Reconstruction GBU (11:09) - Deleted Scene 1: Extended Tuco Torture scene (7:15) - Deleted Scene 2: The Socorro Sequence - A Reconstruction (3:02) - Vignette 1: Uno, Due, Tre (0:40) - Vignette 2: Italian Lunch (0:43) - Vignette 3: New York Accent (0:09) - Vignette 4: Gun in Holster (0:58) - Original French Theatrical Trailer

I'm not a Western fan, but when I had no cable and only bunny ears I watched Fistful Of Dollars, A Few Dollars More, and The Good, The Bad And The Ugly and they were great Westerns! Had to buy them to keep them on my playlists! Definitely worth the watch!

THE FILM: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly is a legendary film that is considered by many to be the greatest Western ever made. It spawned entire new genera of Western films called the "Spaghetti Western" and in many ways re-invented (or at least reinvigorated) Western films at the time of its release. The film, which is now over 40 years old, was considered to be horribly violent upon its release (pretty ironic considering the content in films now-a-days). There can be no doubt that all these years later director Sergio Leone was a master craftsman who has gone on to inspire countless film-makers such as Quinton Tarantino. THE STORY: The Good (Clint Eastwood), The Bad (Lee Van Cleef) and The Ugly (Eli Wallach) is the story of three men with the same goal: to capture a hidden treasure. But in order to do so, they'll have to make their way through the battered, Civil War-torn United States. Each character has varying personality traits that make their titles seem a bit off-beat, particularly Tuco. It's a story where good and bad aren't so cut and dry and the grey in the middle is the soup of the day. Now back when this film was made, most cowboys were baby-faced good-men so this shade of gray was indeed a rarity. The original American release was cut due to time constraints. Thankfully, those cuts have now been added back into the film so that we may enjoy this classic as it was meant to be seen. It's a three-hour epic takes us through a Wild Western world that is ravaged by the Civil War: North vs. South; brother vs. brother. Though the war rages on throughout the film, the characters themselves, while affected, are never truly involved in it. Instead, all three are after gold and out for themselves. THE BLU-RAY: I'm new to the Blu-Ray market but I can tell you that this is by far the best disc I have purchased so far. The video looks amazing, multiple audio tracks abound and there are tons of extras including a terrific commentary from Christopher Frayling. Video is bright and clear. You really wouldn't know this movie is 40 years old. The remastering process is simply incredible and it's something that I hope is given to all older films of this caliber in the future. The audio is crisp and clean with multiple language tracks to choose (English: Mono, 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio, Spanish & French: 5.1 Dolby Digital, Italian mono) and two commentary tracks, one which is very good and one that is rather dull. CONCLUSION: This is how Blu-ray discs should be presented. The film is terrific and the amount of bonus content is staggering. No doubt, you'll be coming back to this disc several times before it's all said and done. The Good, The Bad, The Ugly still remains THE Wild Western film. It's a standard that few titles old or new can match.

This is a classic film to watch, no matter who you are or what you're into: The Ugly Ever since Quentin Tarantino announced that he was using some sort of Spaghetti Western techniques in his latest film, I decided to get interested in it. Then I saw a small clip of this movie on television and I was completely blown away. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is most definitely one of the best films ever made, alongside Gone With the Wind and Citizen Kane. The Cinematography alone is enough to make me sleep happily for forty days and forty nights. The action and death are more than enough to satisfy even the most cynical of action lovers. And the final showdown at Sad Hill is perhaps one of the most memorable sequences is cinema history, from the ecstasy of gold to the final "cut." All around, this movie is at the top of every known ranking list. However, there are one or two complaints about this new video transfer I'd like to address: The Bad With the original 1998 DVD edition, the American release was sold and with a not too bad of a DVD package either. The sound is only 2-channel mono, but that didn't really seem to matter. The feature ran for 2 hours and 44 minutes, then there was a theatrical trailer and some production notes. Like I said, not a bad little package. This newly remastered edition is different. On the original release there were some deleted scenes that were cut out of the American release. Most of those scenes have been added, making this a full 3 hour spectacle. That's not too bad because at absolutely no point does the movie drag, but the newer scenes are horribly remade. -First off, the dubbing. Any Kung Fu movie has crappy American voice-overs, as with any Spaghetti Western, which is okay once you get used to it. However, even Clint Eastwood's and Eli Wallach's newly acquired voices for the deleted scenes are terrible. They both sound extremely old, especially Wallach. They don't really need top be that well in sync, but at least a mono soundtrack could be used instead of today's sophisticated technology. -The picture. While I'll tell you about the good parts of it later, now I'll say that there's some very annoying things about it. At one very noticeable point, there's terrible dubbing and yellow streaks flashing about for five seconds. And now, the moment you've all waited for: The Good Some of the picture is bad, but the rest of the digital transfer is sheer dynamite. The reds are blood red, the greens are forest green, and nothing's dark that doesn't need to be. Hardly any film scratches and most have been fixed. A beautiful 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound mix that EXPLODES off the screen. I was jumping for joy when the first bullets went off, but in all honesty the sound effects have just been re-worked to seem more life like. This film is magnificent. In conclusion, this isn't the best DVD ever, but it's okay. Still, if the Alien Quadrilliogy had been considered here, whereas a Special Edition and Theatrical Release was available (or in this case Italian and American), this would've sold more copies and it would be something to be proud of. Still, I like it. I don't love it, but if you're like me just watch it a few times. It'll only get better with age.

Great