Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
`Back off, Lawman.', September 30, 2003
With those three words of unheeded warning (possibly the longest continuous sentence Bronson has in this picture), the Mimbreno Apache Chato(Charles Bronson) begins an elusive flight from a motley posse of citizens led by an ex-Confederate captain (Jack Palance) seeking to punish him for the killing of a white man into the barren wilderness of the Arizona desert.This is a great minimalist western with a fine cast (particularly the three villainous Hooker brothers - Simon `the psychologist from Psycho' Oakland, John `Papa Walton' Waite, and Richard `Duncan Idaho of Dune' Jordan). Bronson here is less of a character than a force of nature who, when pursued to his limits (and after giving his hunters ample chances to turn back, slitting their waterskins, running off their horses, and generally discouraging them), turns on the posse and starts eliminating them one at a time. The strength of this western is the writing. All of the posse members, though most of them are unlikable, are well-fleshed out. The three over-sexed, bickering brothers (whose familial loyalty ultimately leads to their destruction), the silent but apt Mexican tracker, and the two foreigners who are among the first to realize this vengeance quest has spiraled well beyond its origin (`For God's sake, don't call it justice...' says Roddy McMillian's Scottish farmer and `We don't belong here, Gavin,' says Paul Young's Irishman). Palance is a standout as the Confederate captain who seems at first to take pleasure in the hunt and leading men again, but who gradually loses control of his subordinates. As stated, Bronson is more of a cunning force to be feared when he is shown at all, but he does bring a concrete humanity to his Apache fugitive, particularly in the scene where he is reunited with his family in their desert stronghold. He exudes strength, and his physique and countenance seem to have been cut from the sandstone all around. He seems absolutely inscrutable (as the land is to the white men), but when he dispenses death, there is a cold certainty in his expressions. Good locations - abandoned wickiups, empty desert, jumbled stone and cavernous arroyos all the washed out color of a bone long in the sun makes it seem as if these men have ridden right into hell (but then this `hell' is Chato's land). There's a great line where Palance observes that `white men see a land where nothing grows...they call it hell and give it no further thought. But to the Apache, this land speaks to him, whispers to him. He expects nothing from it...' (paraphrasing). The tried and true `hunters become the hunted formula' with a meaningful undertone that sets it above the usual fare. Great film with a memorable open ending. Does he or doesn't he? Recommended for Bronson fans. This is one of his better flicks.
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37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
It is indeed, Chato's Land, April 21, 2000
Excellent western which follows a posse on the trail of an Apache halfbreed (Bronson). While he is an omnipresent aspect of the story, Bronson has few lines, and is not on-screen for more than a few minutes in the entire film. The story is primarily about the posse, a mixed bag of local citizens, civil war veterans, and sadistic racists. Their steady deterioration into basal chaos is the real crux of the movie. There are both good and bad men among them, and their interactions make the film compelling, in spite of a few flaws. The skilled cast includes Jack Palance, Simon Oakland, Richard Basehart, Ralph Waite, Victor French, Richard Jordan and James Whitmore. Strongly recommended for fans of gritty action and well-drawn characters.
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"A hard land that the sun has sucked all the good out of", December 30, 2006
Make no mistake; "Chato's Land" is a sprawling, unforgiving environment that offers little water and no reward. The blistering, sprawling landscape of rock and sagebrush, however, is but a backdrop in this story that shows man at his most ugly of moments.
Charles Bronson stars as Pardon Chato, a half Apache Indian who is enjoying a drink in a saloon when he is antagonized by an arrogant sheriff. Chato goes against the sheriff's wishes to leave because of his heritage, and lets his actions speak for themselves, leaving the mouthy lawman dead on the floorboards. A posse is soon rounded up with a variety of area men, many of them farmers and ranchers. They embark on a trip to find Chato and avenge the death in town, as well as feed some of their own continual hatred towards the Indians in general. Greed, Hate and Perseverance battle Logic, Pride and Tolerance as the group soon start battling each other over what they think is right and wrong when it comes to avenging the death of the lawman.
A great western film from 1971, Chato's land offers a solid and stoic storyline that is wrought with irony as well as themes of loyalty and revenge. Charles Bronson aside, a superb supporting cast is experienced as well. Victor French (later of "Little House" and "Highway to Heaven" stardom) graces the screen as one of the posse members, and with Jack Palance and James Whitmore in tow, its a well rounded cast that never lacks quality in acting despite a somewhat linear storyline.
Palance plays the part of Quincy Whitmore, a war veteran who understands, and sometimes even respects the Apache's actions more than most. His arch-nemesis is Jubal Hooker (played by Simon Oakland) who has the "fever" of wanting to see the Apache man hang, even if it costs them lives which could end up coming down to the last man. Jubal is excellently played by Oakland as a man who is consumed with his own destiny of vengeance. Loyalties loved and lost, a large part of the movie is very emotional in power and prestige as we experience the dismay of the men as they deal with the battles that rage within their very own camp, and minds.
With Bronson portraying a cunning, intelligent and yes even ruthless Apache warrior, Chato's Land is a western that is filled with buzzards drinking blood, the dark side of man, and the notion that if you go to battle with someone in their own back yard, you better think twice about who has the best odds, regardless of how many men you bring with you.
The scenic landscape and the shots taken at night as well as during the scorching hot days are excellent, and the sound quality of this DVD in my opinion is very good if not perfect. If you want a western that gets dirty but portrays a deep story within, see "Chato's Land".
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