However, the hybrid genre of the sci-fi western is nothing new.
The feel of the film is, at times, more Raymond Chandler than Zane Grey.
The post-apocalyptic subgenre of sci-fi lends itself marvelously to the themes of the western.
Michael CrichtonsWestworld(1973),though,is aforgotten classic.
In a futuristic amusement park named Delos, there are three resort worlds, Romanworld, Medievalworld and Westworld.
Well, that is, without consequences until the androids malfunction.
One particularly badass gun-slinging robot is played by Yul Brynner.
Brynner wears almost the exact same wardrobe he wore in the classic western,The Magnificent Seven.
Brynners android in black goes after guests Richard Benjamin and James Brolin with a vengeance.
The events that follow could best be described asThe TerminatormeetsTombstone.
Westworldis a very effective low-key thriller.
As is the case with most 70s sci-fi,Westworldis also social commentary.
In this film, the underlying message is that violence, in any form, is never without consequences.
And, as far as the action-oriented sci-fi western goes, thems fightin words, partner.
The Bad
Wild Wild West(1999)had a whole posse of good things going for it.
It was adapted from a fun and original 1960s western espionage TV series.
On top of all of that, the film is filled with amazing early steampunk designs.
Unfortunately, the story is the weakest link of the movie.
That just leaves all the great elements stranded in the blazing deadly dry heat of predictability gulch.
InBack To The Future Part III(1990),Michael J.
(Yes, its another one of those time traveling paradox conundrums.)
Among other things,Part IIIsees Marty meet his great-great grandparents.
Interestingly, Martys ancestors look a lot like Marty and his mom.
Heres an example).
The Phantom Empireseems to have it all.
All of those elements, to be sure, have an undeniable ironic geeky hipster appeal.
In the end, though,The Phantom Empireis about as convoluted as it sounds.
Now youve got a pretty good idea of why that movie belongs in this category.
(As a nice variation on the theme, motorcycles and cars replace horses and stagecoaches.)
Mad Max: Beyond Thundedomesgladiatorial style fight scene turns up relatively early in the film.
The battle that takes place in the titular Thunderdome is the best part of the movie.
Actually, no, correction.
The fight scene in the Thunderdomeisthe movie, (Two men enter.
One man leaves, is still an oft quoted line.)
The whole film really falls apart after the Thunderdome stuff.
Theres a scene where one of the Mohawked, loin cloth-wearing bad guys flies out of a massive explosion.
He emerges with a slightly blackened face and then lets out his best live-action comedy Wwwwaaaahhhhh!
Based on David Brins far superior 1985 novel,The Postmanis yet another heroic loner story.
Costner plays a tanned, Oakley sunglass-wearing post-apocalyptic wanderer with a knack for quoting Shakespeare.
He then dons the uniform of a dead US postal carrier to stay warm.
The Postmanhas got all the makings for a really good western, post-apocalyptic, sci-fi or otherwise.
There are great panoramas of beautiful wide open spaces, a lawless frontier and a lone hero.
By itself, that doesnt necessarily make a bad scene.
Nor is it, strictly speaking, any good.
And thats your round-up the good, the bad and the ugly of the sci-fi western movies.
Who knows what categoryCowboys & Alienswill be herded into?
One things for darn sure, them trailers sure look mighty good.
There ought to be gold in that there premise.
Cowboys & Aliens is out in the US this weekend, and in the UK on 17th August.
Theres more to see and read about Cowboys & Aliens here.
