Customer Reviews

Django

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Don't listen to any claims made made for Bullet For A General, Django is without a doubt the best non-Leone spaghetti Western of all time. The opening scene (blue-clad Nero carrying a saddle over his shoulder and dragging a coffin through the gooiest mud in film history)is beautiful. Corbucci's direction is more controlled here than anywhere else--less zooms, less jarring close-ups, and neater editing. And Django has to be one of the first action heroes to fire a heavy machine gun from the hip (without even pulling the trigger, no less!).

But make no mistake. This is Italian exploitation--love it or hate it. An ear is cut off, prostitutes fight in the mud, and our hero's hands are crushed in gory detail that would make One-Eyed Jacks mumble in disgust. Don't expect John Ford here. But if you're looking for something different, are curious about spaghetti Westerns but afraid to buy any because so many are horrible--then this is the movie for you!

I think most people who don't care much for this movie had been spoiled by Leone before watching it. I mean, Leone really set the bar high for westerns and I don't think anyone has done it as good since. He pretty much reinvented the western and set the rules. Italian directors who followed in his wake were directors who usually did other kinds of films, but started doing westerns coz they were big bucks at the box office. Django was the first of the non-Leone spaghetti westerns, and it's a great movie. Sure, the budget shows and the acting isn't always the best, but I'm able to look past that. The look of the film is unique-Instead of the blazing hot deserts, most of this film is cloudy and muddy(I know it was shot in winter and I think it takes place in winter as well), giving it it's own look. Franco Nero is no Eastwood or Bronson, but he has the right stuff for the part and pulls it off nicely. Very violent for 1966, but we've become so desensitized over the years that it won't have you gasping in shock. It's still brutal enough though. Lots of complaints about the soundtrack again. Well, once again this isn't Leone, therefore the epic music isn't here either. But I don't see how you can hear the theme song and not laugh. You can just see Tom Jones singing this to a crowd of screaming women in Vegas. Once again Blue Underground has given another forgotten film the best possible treatment it can have. They give us an interview with Franco Nero and a very interesting short film with Nero as well. And as always, Blue Underground gives us the original poster as the cover(I love how they do that with these old flicks!). If you have any interest at all in westerns and have seen the Dollars trilogy too many times, you can't go wrong with Django-that is if you lower your expectations a tad.

This is a classic spaghetti western and an unforgettable film. Filmed on a low budget in the Spanish winter of 65/66, it shows an inventiveness and exuberance that takes the whole genre forward by the scruff of the neck. Hauntingly atmospheric, brilliantly designed and full of almost non-stop action, it repays endless viewings. A particular bonus with this release is the option of a subtitled Italian-language track, which means (a) that you don't have to listen to the awful English version and (b)you get a taste of the original script, which sometimes differs markedly from the dubbed version. The extras include enlightening interviews with Franco Nero and Ruggero Deodato, and a bonus 10-minute monochrome short (stylised and wordless) featuring Nero as an ageing gunslinger, which is worth a look. The main disappointment is the poor quality of some scenes due to the DVD being sourced from a damaged negative. According to the sleeve, this had been found in an Italian vault, "untouched for three decades" - but the British Film Institute was able to source a pristine version for the UK cinema and video release in 1991. Apart from that, full marks for presentation. If you want a lesson in how to make an action masterpiece on a shoestring budget then this is the film for you.

I grew up with and loved Sergio Leone's "Man with No Name" trilogy with Clint Eastwood. I tend to love Italian pictures (horror and otherwise) and recently having watched Leone's trilogy again, I decided to quench my Spaghetti Western thirst by purchasing a number of now rather unseen "classics" that Leone's films inspired.

Of all the Spaghetti Westerns I purchased the film Django was one of the best. Does that make it a great film? Oh hell no. Django, released in 1966 was one of the first films to be "inspired" (ah-hem...Rip-off) Leone's Fistful of Dollars. The film molds itself along the same lines as that film. A loner anti-heroic cowboy (played by Italian B-great Franco Nero) travels to a remote, dying western town and ends up fighting two rival bands, a Mexican rag-tag army and an American rag-tag army. As you can tell from the story...it was majorly influenced by the much much better Leone picture. Not only the story, but the appearance of Franco Nero himself is a direct take-off of Clint Eastwood's character. The actor that dubs the voice for the English release even does his best to do a Clint Eastwood impression...an impression that only really induces laughter.

The film tries to be another Fistful of Dollars but it doesn't come close to Leone's grand low-budget feature. The reason why is that this film suffers from some poor acting and some majorly poor dialogue. The bad dialogue could just be the fact of bad translating but some of the lines Nero spouts off are just hilarious! The plot also has some weird aspects such as how Django drags a coffin around. I won't tell what he keeps in the coffin (as it is a nice plot device) but I just found it thigh-slapping funny how this guy drags a coffin around wherever he goes! That would get really old after walking hundreds of miles! What's so great as they take this ridiculous plot device seriously! The directing on the other hand is typical Italian greatness. Sergio Corbucci has a real eye for making the camera shots interesting. He would prove to be the master of the genre (right after Leone) with his great films The Great Silence and Companeros...both of which are FAR better than Django when it comes to quality.

Though Django has many problems it doesn't mean it isn't entertaining. I had a great time with this cheesy spaghetti western that took itself a little too seriously. If you go into this expecting another "Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" then your going to be sourly disappointed. But if you go into this expecting a nice little cheeseball spaghetti western that delivers on the entertainment value, then you will find it much to your liking.

As for the DVD Blue-Underground does another fantastic job at reasserting a long forgotten film. However, it should be warned, that Blue-Underground used the original uncut negative of the film and some of the scenes were damaged because of age. This could put off some people of but for viewers like me, we are just glad to the UNCUT version available in all its bloody glory. This includes an awesomely gruesome "ear cutting" scene. Being a huge fan of Italian horror cinema with the likes of Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci, I get a kick out of these controversial violent gore scenes. Thanks blue-Underground!

The limited edition that I got comes with a bonus disc that features a Franco Nero western film short on one of those little mini-DVDs. The bonus film is under 10 minutes, features no talking making it basically a way for the director to show off style. It's good for a one-time watcher as most probably won't stick it into their DVD player after viewing it the first time.

On a side note I love how Django was so popular that it inspired 50 unofficial sequels? Over 50?! That's unheard of. I know Italy is known for making lots of unrelated "unofficial" sequels (as in the case of Dawn of the Dead) but over 50 is just incredible! Of all the "sequels" there is only one official one made in 1987 called Django Strikes Again starring Franco Nero (haven't seen it yet but soon will). Blue-Underground released one of the "unofficial" sequels strangely titled Django Kill...if you live, Shoot! which I just ordered. One of my new goals in life to view every single one of the 50+ unofficial sequels to Django. Hell, I might even name my kid Django. Oh my God Django...what have you done to me?! Now you've got me talking kids.....YIKES!!!

Previously released in multiple DVD editions by both Anchor Bay and Blue Underground, the latter company now brings Sergio Corbucci's seminal Spaghetti Western DJANGO (1966) to high definition Blu-Ray disc.

A man on foot wearing a tattered Union uniform and dragging a coffin behind him (Franco Nero, ENTER THE NINJA) comes upon a bunch of rowdies whipping a woman. Watching from a distance, the man, Django, does not interfere. But when the rowdies are gunned down by a second group of men with red hoods, and they prepare to burn the girl to death on a makeshift cross, he unleashes the fury of his Colts and soon finds himself caught up in a conflict between an army of white supremacists and a group of Mexican banditos. But what are the mysterious gunslinger's true motives, and what's in that damned coffin?

Violent and brutal, DJANGO is a gothic drama of the American west (even though it was mostly shot in Spain), rich with colorful characters, memorable set-pieces and director Corbucci's (THE GREAT SILENCE, THE HELLBENDERS) unique visual style. Anchoring the film is Nero's star-making turn as the titular protagonist; handsome, tough and utterly convincing dealing death to all comers, even when the film pushes the limits of credibility.

Not as well known in America as the Sergio Leone-directed EuroWesterns starring Clint Eastwood, DJANGO, was, arguably, even more popular and influential with continental audiences. So much so, in fact, that countless unauthorized/unofficial "sequels" were released throughout the the rest of the Sixties, and most of Nero's later movies -whether Westerns or not - ended up being marketed across Europe as DJANGO films.

Blue Underground's hi-def reissue is gorgeous, with a 1.66:1 widescreen transfer from the original negative at 1080p definition. There are rare occurrences of minor age-related wear and damage throughout, but otherwise the image is amazing. Audio options include the original Italian soundtrack in DTS-HD Mono or the English language dub in DTS-HD. Optional English subtitles are included.

For extras, Blue Underground has ported over all the features from its two-disc special edition DVD release, with a great new addition. There's a Franco Nero introduction, a short retrospective featurette called DJANGO: THE ONE AND ONLY that includes interviews with Nero and Assistant Director Ruggero Deodato, a short film starring Nero called THE LAST PISTOLERO, and the international and Italian trailers for the film.

New to this Blu-Ray edition is the vintage 1968 documentary, WESTERN, ITALIAN STYLE, which explored the Spaghetti Western phenomenon while it was still going on, and includes interviews with Corbucci along with other genre masters, like Enzo G. Castellari (ANY GUN CAN PLAY, THE INGLORIOUS BASTARDS) and Sergio Sollima (THE BIG GUNDOWN).

DJANGO is one of the great Spaghetti Westerns, and Blue Underground's new Blu-Ray edition is the definitive home video version. Highly recommended!

This is a magnificent example of the spaghetti western genre. Dark, moody and mystical, as are the better films of this type. The Leone/Eastwood films remain the standard, but DJANGO is one heck of a cool film. Sergio Corbucci's direction and Franco Nero's performance combine to make this a true Euro-Western classic. Blue Underground's presentation is beautifully done, and they have included the option of viewing the film with the original Italian soundtrack, which is definitely the way to go for this one. They have also included a nice little "Uovo di Pasqua" on the Special Features menu page (hint: Django's coffin). If you like the "Dollars" trilogy (The Sergio Leone Anthology (A Fistful Of Dollars / For A Few Dollars More / The Good, The Bad And The Ugly / Duck, You Sucker)) then DJANGO is a must-have!

Even though I gave this movie four stars (for originality and for its contribution to the genre),with a bigger budget(a Leone/Morricone kind of treatment),better dialogue (the dub-job was,quite frankly,abyssmal)and some fine tuning on the plot,this movie could have been the greatest western of all time.The opening scene where this mysterious stranger (Django)is dragging this coffin through the mud and its contrast against the sentimental crooning of the opening music is,possibly,one of the weirdest visuals I've ever seen in a movie,let alone a western.There are a couple of stomach turningly violent scenes that I did not care for and the body count is probably comparable to "the matrix"....I dont know what all to say...This is one weird,gloomy,gothic,machine gun,spaghetti western.The addition of the trailer and the Franco Nero interview were nice bonuses.

I'd heard lots about this film over the years but was unable to see it until a few years ago. It has the usual flaws of a spaghetti western (poor dubbing, choppy editting and almost silly lyrics for the title song), which are to be expected,and after having seen so many, are even endearing, but its quirkiness more than makes up for it. (Any film with the main character constantly dragging a coffin behind him in the mud has a certain deviant appeal.) Excepting the Leone westerns (which are so far above the ordinary Italian western that they are literally in a class by themselves), this is one of the best.

Blue Underground's blu-ray of this 1966 cult spaghetti western is simply gorgeous!!! Django is beautifully restored in 1080p and quite frankly, this is print is the best it will ever look!!! Some people complain about film grain, scratches, dirt, what do you expect for a 45 year old movie for christ sake!!! Many kudo's to Blue Underground for restoring this cult classic on blu-ray!!! Looking foward to Death Rides A Horse and The Great Silence on BLU-RAY!!! Are you listening BLUE UNDERGROUND???

Disclaimer: I watched this film as a streaming rental, and cannot comment on the package details of the product offered on this page. My review concerns the entertainment value of the film only.

This VHS version probably tallies closest with the version I saw streaming, as I was forced to watch it dubbed, and even though I eventually got used to the actor's voice who substituted for Franco Nero, I thought it was exremely distracting and took a great deal away from the film. Apparently there are now new transfers, in both blu-ray and regular DVD with alternate tracks that contain Nero's own voice, which I hope to find under the tree this Christmas. But even dubbed, this is a must see for fans of Italian Westerns, a flawed classic with crazy imperfections that just don't matter.

This film is over-the-top from the very start, with Nero walking through boot-top-high mud as the opening credits roll, dragging a coffin behind him. If you don't have a good guess at what's really in the coffin, then you just haven't seen enough Italian westerns, at least Sergio Corbucci style. Next, the man we eventually learn is Django interupts the attractive (what else?) Loredana Nusciak as she is falling out the frying pan of getting flogged by Mexican Bandits, and into the fire of a private army of Southern marauders who intend to burn her alive. Rescuing her puts Django in between these two forces which are battling one another for supremacy in the area - but despite the similarity in the beginning to 'For a Few Dollars More' (released a year earlier), 'Django' departs radically from Leone's film into its own bull-in-a-china-shop brand of storytelling.

Turns out Django has a private grievance with the leader of the Southerners, Major Jackson, and a previous friendship with the self styled general of the bandits, General Rodriquez. Together, Django and the general plot against Major Jackson, and cook up a plan to rob a ton of gold from both Jackson and the Mexican Army. I thought it would be interesting to see if I could keep track of the body count in this film, and though I was able to score the first few scenes, my mental arithmetic petered out around 55 or so, which is well before Django and his bandit friends even assault the Federales garrison, and before the eventual, inevitable falling out between Django and the General.

All the hallmarks of the genre are here - crosses and double-crosses, high body counts and the impression that human life isn't worth spit, impossible gunplay, sneering bandits with bad teeth, quicksand, machine guns, an iconic finale, and of course the horrible, Christ-like torture of the main character before he redeems everyone's soul with hot lead. I don't think there's really anything more one could ask for in a picture like this.

Obviously this film is going to appeal to Italian western fans, and quite possible NOT appeal to American western fans - I think there are elements within these two genres that are often diametrically opposed to one another. Regardless, if you are not a fan of this type of film, it's doubtful that 'Django' is going to win you over. If, however, you have enjoyed Spaghetti Westerns before but have not seen 'Django', then I highly recommend it - though I would consider watching the updated version, either in blu-ray or in the regular edition. I thought the biggest drawback to the film was the dubbed voices, especially Nero's, and I'm excited to watch it as it was originally filmed. But even in this dubbed, slightly washed out version, I'd still rank 'Django' on the same level as 'Duck You Sucker', and much better than 'Fistful of Dollars' and 'A Few Dollars More'. A genre classic.