Paul Woodsworth (ds093)

Epic retelling of the entire Wyatt Earp legend from the time he was boy in Mississppi to getting married, to losing his wife, to becoming a horse-stealing drunk in Arkansas, to his victories as the law of Dodge City, Kansas, to the famous gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, right up to his retirement in California. While not quite as well directed as Tombstone, released by Disney just six months earlier (even though WB started on this way before Disney), director Lawrence Kasdan has done a masterful job of leading his audience through the life of Wyatt Earp. And that's what truly separates this film from Tombstone, which is good if you only want to know what happened Tombstone, Arizona in 1882. Whereas this film takes you on the whole life story the legend behind the famous gunfight. Both films are thus appropriately titled. It should be noted however, that neither film is entirely historically accurate, as both are told from Wyatt Earp's viewpoint and ignore the viewpoint of the cowboys, some of whom still have descendants living today. Kevin Costner gives a performance as Wyatt Earp equal, yet different, to that of Kurt Russell's in Tombstone?the role actually suits him. Gene Hackman gives a brilliant performance as a character you can't find in Tombstone, Wyatt's father. Which brings us to Dennis Quaid's performance as Doc Holiday: though certainly brilliant in its own right, and Quaid should receive nothing but praise for it, it doesn't quite measure up quite as well as Val Kilmer's take of the same role in Tombstone. All things considered this is a brilliant epic and must be taken and considered as such, and not your typical blockbuster. And despite falling just shy of Tombstone in overall quality and entertainment value, I still love watching this film and consider it a masterpiece of filmmaking.

Wolfgang Peterson did a superb job with this film adaptation of the first half of Michael Ende's novel. The magic of German storytelling has been well preserved in the transition from book to film. Filled with such memorable characters and perfect acting from adult and child actors alike, the ill-cast and poorly-written sequels don't hold a candle to Peterson's work. Barret Oliver is outstanding as Bastian. Noah Hathaway's performance as Atreyu is also superb. Tami Stronach makes the perfect childlike empress. Deep Roy, Alan Oppenheimer, Moses Gunn and Sydney Bromley also all play their characters with expertise.