Cowboys & Aliens

There are 6 credited writers on this movie, and frankly, that's always a bad sign. BUT it's Spielberg, it's Ron Howard, it's Jon Favreau (who also directed the fabulous Ironman) and it stars Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig, with Sam Rockwell... this movie has a pedigree! And frankly, it's COWBOYS and ALIENS - right there alone this has to be a blow your mind great movie.

I've counted down the days for a month to see this one. Adam and I went to the midnight show the day before it's release. And I gotta tell ya, we saw Super Manager Shane and he nailed it by saying "Sometimes they just can't live up to the hype and you may be setting yourself up for a disappointment." Has Super Manager Shane seen the movie or does he just know Hollywood? He was right.

This is not a bad movie.... but it's somehow not a great movie and it really should be. Adam had one word exiting the theater - "Meh".

We shook our heads and walked to the car in silence just thinking ... "Huh?" But shook off the daze and soon started on each of our lists of things that Did Not Make Sense. We both had them and not always the same ones.

"Why was that " "I have NO Idea" and "Why didn't he" "I know!"

The hook of the movie, the basic premise, is really that there are aliens back in cowboy times. That's not a spoiler, it's in the title. After seeing a heap of movies, good and bad, that show modern day people reacting to aliens, how much fun will this be to see people who have never even seen a CAR witness things flying in the air and actual alien technology! But it wasn't fun. One scene was interesting in that way but then it seemed like the idea was simply lost. Forgotten about. Pretty soon the guys running around could have just as easily been dressed in space suits, or modern day clothing, or cowboy outfits because there was no difference in how they acted or reacted.

I was paying close attention to the direction because of Jon Favreau, and even that was disappointing because it wasn't his own unique direction, it was him very carefully imitating the stereotypical old westerns.

There are holes in the plot and continuity problems, which is normal when you have 6 writers, I suppose.

We finally boiled it down to the target audience, and I believe this target audience would be thrilled with this movie. Kids (mostly boys) from the age of 8 to 13. I think that age range would find it really exciting, a bit scary, fun, and pretty thrilling.

We gave it a 2.5 and still feel a bit confused by the whole thing. Especially with such a pedigree, we wonder - "Is this the best that Hollywood has to offer?"

The place was Pueblo Tinseltown. Super Manager Shane was cheerful and alert, as well as helpful Sarah who served us up fresh popcorn and sprinkle cheese. The place was hoppin for a midnight show with more attendees than we imagined.