The Wild Bunch vs. Once Upon a Time in the West
Started by Nicole Thomas3 · · 👁 4 views · 23 replies
#3 ·
hollowsailor19 said:There was a better one once in the Wild West.
You're better off comparing The Good, the Bad and the Ugly with Once Upon a Time in the West.
#5 ·
hollowsailor19 said:You should be comparing The Good, the Bad and the Ugly with Once Upon a Time in the West instead.
Nah, no way. I’m looking at the Sam Peckinpah vs. Sergio Leone matchup. These are easily their most iconic... and best films. 👍
#6 ·
Amanda Lopez50 said:...so you're actually starting a thread about 🙄 😁
Women aren't really part of the equation when talking about these directors, so do me a favor and just back off... 😈
#7 ·
Larry Thompson85 said:Not really. I’m looking at the dynamic between Sam Peckinpah and Sergio Leone here. These are arguably their most defining... and best works. 👍
Best? You're telling me Once Upon a Time in the West beats out The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, or that The Wild Bunch is better than Straw Dogs? No, no, no...👎
#8 ·
hollowsailor19 said:The best? You’ve gotta be kidding me. You really think Once Upon a Time in the West beats out The Good, the Bad and the Ugly? Or that The Wild Bunch is somehow better than Straw Dogs? No. No way. Absolutely not.👎
Pretty much how it goes... 👍
#9 ·
Larry Thompson85 said:Women aren't really part of the conversation when it comes to these directors—so, if you don't mind—I'll have to ask you to step back from that one... 😈
Yeah, exactly like that—honestly, just like what was mentioned. I don't really know much about this—just my own small take—but I’ve always felt that Sergio Leone had this way of making everything feel so much bigger than life. It's just his style, I guess! A woman just isn't part of the equation—not this time.🙂
#10 ·
Right after the Leonov trilogy starring Clint Eastwood, my absolute top-tier Western has to be The Wild Bunch. In my book, it easily outclasses anything involving that harmonica player Charles Bronson. 😉
#12 ·
In my view, you can't really treat >, >, and > as isolated cinematic pieces—especially when you try to stack them up against a massive epic. It’s more logical to view them as a single cohesive unit; once you look at them as a trilogy, they don't really hold up in a direct comparison against >.
Ultimately, runtime plays a huge role in how we subjectively judge quality. It all comes down to whether that length feels earned or just bloated. With >, the pacing is handled masterfully. Even if there are moments that feel a bit slow, the overall experience leaves you feeling like you've actually consumed a "greater" piece of cinema compared to other films...
That’s just my theory, anyway. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on this approach.😁 😁
Ultimately, runtime plays a huge role in how we subjectively judge quality. It all comes down to whether that length feels earned or just bloated. With >, the pacing is handled masterfully. Even if there are moments that feel a bit slow, the overall experience leaves you feeling like you've actually consumed a "greater" piece of cinema compared to other films...
That’s just my theory, anyway. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on this approach.😁 😁
#13 ·
Ethan Ruiz2 said:I honestly don't think you can view *A Fistful of Dynamite*, *For a Dollar More*, and *Good, Bad, Ugly* as isolated pieces of cinema—especially when you try to pit them against an epic like *Once Upon a Time in the West*. It just doesn't hold up. If you want to actually appreciate them, you have to watch the trilogy as a single, cohesive unit; otherwise, they aren't even really comparable. In my book, the trilogy as a whole carries much more weight than *Once Upon a Time in the West*.
😕 😕 What exactly are you talking about?
So, we’re really doing this? It’s the ultimate showdown: The Wild Bunch versus Once Upon a Time in the West. Honestly, it’s a bit of a lopsided fight if you ask me—not because one isn't a masterpiece, but because they aren't even playing the same game. If you look at The Wild Bunch, you’re looking at pure, unadulterated chaos—a visceral, blood-soaked descent into the end of an era. It’s loud, it’s messy, and it feels like a punch to the gut. Then you have the Leone classic, which is more like a slow-burn fever dream—all atmosphere, sweeping vistas, and that tension that builds until you feel like you might actually snap. One is a riot; the other is a symphony. Comparing them is like asking whether a heavyweight boxing match is "better" than a grand opera. They both involve drama, sure, but the experience is worlds apart.
#14 ·
wiredranger30 said:😕 😕 What on earth are you talking about?
The question at hand is The Wild Bunch versus Once Upon a Time in the West.
I am obviously addressing the fact that Napoleon (not the historical figure, just our resident forum regular😛) pointed out back in his fifth or sixth post that we’re actually comparing the definitive works of two directors. One of those directors, heaven help us, is Sergio Leone, who—aside from 'Once Upon a Time in the West'—directed several other films, goddammit, which I personally find slightly more representative than BJNDZ... if only by a little.😁 😁
#15 ·
Ethan Ruiz2 said:I am clearly referring to what Napoleon—not the historical figure, mind you, but our resident forum regular😛—pointed out back in his fifth or sixth post. He mentioned that we are actually looking at a comparison between the most defining works of two specific directors. One of them, heaven help us, is none other than Sergio Leone, who—believe it or not—directed more than just 'Once Upon a Time in the West.' He has several other films under his belt that I personally find far more representative than 'A Fistful of Dynamite'... well, at least a little bit more.😁 😁
Yeah, I see now that he followed up later to clarify that he’s interested in a head-to-head matchup between those two directors. For the most part, I haven't bothered reading any of the other posts except for the opening thread and the one immediately following mine—which happens to be yours, 🙂. Everything clicks into place now. 👍
#17 ·
It’s got to be 'The Wild Bunch' for me!
(And if we're talking about Leone, then 'A Fistful of Dynamite' is the only logical choice.)
(And if we're talking about Leone, then 'A Fistful of Dynamite' is the only logical choice.)
#19 ·
My biggest gripe with "Once Upon a Time in the West" is those long, drawn-out sequences devoid of dialogue—very much in the vein of "Space Odyssey"—which can honestly feel tedious and exhausting at times. Aside from that, the core narrative is actually quite strong.
On the flip side, "The Wild Bunch" really resonated with me because of one unique element: the central group of outlaws, rebels, and killers who remain loyal to one another until the very end. Usually, characters like this are portrayed as selfish, cold-blooded types who wouldn't blink before betraying their own crew just to turn a quick profit. But not in "The Wild Bunch." They operate on a strict "all for one, one for all" code. Even at the end, when they set out to rescue their captured comrade, they know the odds are stacked heavily against them, yet they refuse to leave anyone behind.
That final scene is legendary—when Pike Bishop walks into the room where the other two gang members are, stands in the doorway, and they just lock eyes for a few moments before he simply says, "Let's go." There’s another beat of silence, and one of them responds, "Why not." Then all three arm themselves and head outside, only to find Dutch Engstrom sitting there; they just stare at him without saying a word, he gives a small smile, grabs his rifle, and joins them. So there they stand, the four of them side-by-side, once again without a single word spoken, as they slowly advance toward the Mexican Army camp holding Angela captive.
🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏
On the flip side, "The Wild Bunch" really resonated with me because of one unique element: the central group of outlaws, rebels, and killers who remain loyal to one another until the very end. Usually, characters like this are portrayed as selfish, cold-blooded types who wouldn't blink before betraying their own crew just to turn a quick profit. But not in "The Wild Bunch." They operate on a strict "all for one, one for all" code. Even at the end, when they set out to rescue their captured comrade, they know the odds are stacked heavily against them, yet they refuse to leave anyone behind.
That final scene is legendary—when Pike Bishop walks into the room where the other two gang members are, stands in the doorway, and they just lock eyes for a few moments before he simply says, "Let's go." There’s another beat of silence, and one of them responds, "Why not." Then all three arm themselves and head outside, only to find Dutch Engstrom sitting there; they just stare at him without saying a word, he gives a small smile, grabs his rifle, and joins them. So there they stand, the four of them side-by-side, once again without a single word spoken, as they slowly advance toward the Mexican Army camp holding Angela captive.
🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏
#20 ·
Wild Horde is a total slam dunk—way less gambling involved compared to Once Upon a Time in the Wild West. No slow shots or dragging things out here.
You can tell right from the opening scenes. In Wild Horde, kids are just blasting scorpions with guns. It’s a given the scorpion's toast, just like it's a given that the Wild Horde is gonna pull it off.
But with Leone? You've got flies messing with one gunslinger, then droplets bothering another... I don't even know what's messing with the third guy, but before you know it, those three are getting their asses handed to them by Charles Bronson, and that's pretty much the end of their luck.
You can tell right from the opening scenes. In Wild Horde, kids are just blasting scorpions with guns. It’s a given the scorpion's toast, just like it's a given that the Wild Horde is gonna pull it off.
But with Leone? You've got flies messing with one gunslinger, then droplets bothering another... I don't even know what's messing with the third guy, but before you know it, those three are getting their asses handed to them by Charles Bronson, and that's pretty much the end of their luck.
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