A train is attacked by a massive outlaw gang led by bloodthirsty criminal Billy Kane.Onboard the train is famed gunslinger and successful wild west show entertainer Richard Martin(ENRICO MARIA SALERNO).After the passengers, conductors and engineers have all been killed, Kane recognises Martin and confronts him. Kane mercilessly shoots Martin in both hands, leaving him incapable over using a gun ever again. Several years later, Martin is living in poverty and struggles to survive. The success of his wild west show is also fading. One day he gets into a brawl with some thugs and a young stranger named Ricky Shot(TERRY JENKINS),helps him fight them off. The grateful Martin sees potential in Ricky and adopts him as his protégée. Ricky proves to be adept at using a gun and learns quickly how to shoot.However,the fatherly Martin has a darker motive. Crazed by revenge and embittered by the fact he can no longer shoot, he hopes Ricky will hone his gunfighting skills and kill Billy Kane. Although Ricky has his own reasons for being interested in Kane's gang.
BANDIDOS is a story of revenge and retribution, but it isn't as dark as other Spaghetti westerns. It's still quite dark, but the story is told in a sensitive and thoughtful manner. The film does have a few moments of quick(but mostly ungraphic)brutality, and the opening slaughter of the train passengers and the subsequent aftermath are indeed very chilling. However the film ends on a sad but positive note. The Italians and Spanish could pen a script a hundred times stronger than any American screenwriter in the employ of a top Hollywood studio.Here,the script and plot are the best things about the film, it's definitely more story driven than most Spaghetti westerns. The script is one of the most robust in the genre with great dialogue and thanks to concrete built characters, the film succeeds . Unlike other Spaghettis, where the "avenger" is just as corrupt and immoral as the villains he hates, the "avengers" in this film(Richard Martin and Ricky Shot)are decent and upstanding. Martin is a gentleman,albeit a lonely one,with chivalrous morals and a genuine respect for others, including the law. Even when thirsting for revenge, he upholds these characteristics. He becomes an affectionate father figure to Ricky, which I found quite heart warming. At one point he even urges Ricky to give up on killing Billy Kane, whereupon Ricky suggests to Martin that he come and live with him on his ranch. Ricky is an appealing character, one innocent mistake in his past forced him onto the wrong side of the law. It is fate that brings himself and Martin together and this is worked cleverly into the script.He's not a bad man and in the end carries out Martin's will. Enrico Maria Salerno gave a fantastic performance as Martin. Terry Jenkins was solid as Ricky. Jenkins was a British actor and it was nice to see a new face. There is fine chemistry between Salerno and Jenkins which is reflected in the scenes in which Martin is teaching Ricky to shoot,it is in these scenes that the brilliance of the script shines through. The script has a couple of unexpected twists and surprises which made the film even more engrossing.
BANDIDOS benefits from amazing cinematography.The film is stylishly shot with some sequences filmed in first person view.There is a scene in which Billy Kane enters the saloon and I felt as if it was me who was walking in.The camera also pans around in a lot of scenes,a technique favoured by cameramen and directors in many Spaghetti westerns,therefore the film is not reliant on awkward cuts. Another point of interest is the camera following a bottle of Whisky as it slides down the bar, which I thought was rather incredible. The shootouts are also extremely well lensed, enabling the viewer to witness the action from a more interesting perspective.Egisto Macci's soundtrack, although not one of the best compositions to feature in a Spaghetti western, is really atmospheric and evokes the film's tone excellently. After the attack on the train, haunting vocals are added to a scene as the camera pans over the lifeless bodies of the victims. These vocals were really effective and made this scene suitably grim. As I've mentioned previously, the film is driven more by it's characters and story rather than by action scenes. The action is tightly restrained, with short bursts of violence only exploding when truly necessary. The film begins on a thrilling high with outlaws chasing the train accompanied by a shootout. The stuntmen also do their thing awesomely in the final shootout. Although it was rather drawn out, the climatic showdown between Ricky and Billy Kane was absolutely gripping with the director squeezing out every last drop of tension.
At times the film moves at a slow, but satisfying pace. The quality of the DVD print that I watched could have been better but it was alright.The picture was good but the audio could have been revamped to give some scenes more of a staunch oomph.BANDIDOS is not one of my favourite Spaghetti westerns, but it's definitely on the best side of westerns as a whole.Overall,it is a filling plate of Spaghetti Bolognaise skilfully directed by Massimo Dallamano.8/10.
BANDIDOS is a story of revenge and retribution, but it isn't as dark as other Spaghetti westerns. It's still quite dark, but the story is told in a sensitive and thoughtful manner. The film does have a few moments of quick(but mostly ungraphic)brutality, and the opening slaughter of the train passengers and the subsequent aftermath are indeed very chilling. However the film ends on a sad but positive note. The Italians and Spanish could pen a script a hundred times stronger than any American screenwriter in the employ of a top Hollywood studio.Here,the script and plot are the best things about the film, it's definitely more story driven than most Spaghetti westerns. The script is one of the most robust in the genre with great dialogue and thanks to concrete built characters, the film succeeds . Unlike other Spaghettis, where the "avenger" is just as corrupt and immoral as the villains he hates, the "avengers" in this film(Richard Martin and Ricky Shot)are decent and upstanding. Martin is a gentleman,albeit a lonely one,with chivalrous morals and a genuine respect for others, including the law. Even when thirsting for revenge, he upholds these characteristics. He becomes an affectionate father figure to Ricky, which I found quite heart warming. At one point he even urges Ricky to give up on killing Billy Kane, whereupon Ricky suggests to Martin that he come and live with him on his ranch. Ricky is an appealing character, one innocent mistake in his past forced him onto the wrong side of the law. It is fate that brings himself and Martin together and this is worked cleverly into the script.He's not a bad man and in the end carries out Martin's will. Enrico Maria Salerno gave a fantastic performance as Martin. Terry Jenkins was solid as Ricky. Jenkins was a British actor and it was nice to see a new face. There is fine chemistry between Salerno and Jenkins which is reflected in the scenes in which Martin is teaching Ricky to shoot,it is in these scenes that the brilliance of the script shines through. The script has a couple of unexpected twists and surprises which made the film even more engrossing.
BANDIDOS benefits from amazing cinematography.The film is stylishly shot with some sequences filmed in first person view.There is a scene in which Billy Kane enters the saloon and I felt as if it was me who was walking in.The camera also pans around in a lot of scenes,a technique favoured by cameramen and directors in many Spaghetti westerns,therefore the film is not reliant on awkward cuts. Another point of interest is the camera following a bottle of Whisky as it slides down the bar, which I thought was rather incredible. The shootouts are also extremely well lensed, enabling the viewer to witness the action from a more interesting perspective.Egisto Macci's soundtrack, although not one of the best compositions to feature in a Spaghetti western, is really atmospheric and evokes the film's tone excellently. After the attack on the train, haunting vocals are added to a scene as the camera pans over the lifeless bodies of the victims. These vocals were really effective and made this scene suitably grim. As I've mentioned previously, the film is driven more by it's characters and story rather than by action scenes. The action is tightly restrained, with short bursts of violence only exploding when truly necessary. The film begins on a thrilling high with outlaws chasing the train accompanied by a shootout. The stuntmen also do their thing awesomely in the final shootout. Although it was rather drawn out, the climatic showdown between Ricky and Billy Kane was absolutely gripping with the director squeezing out every last drop of tension.
At times the film moves at a slow, but satisfying pace. The quality of the DVD print that I watched could have been better but it was alright.The picture was good but the audio could have been revamped to give some scenes more of a staunch oomph.BANDIDOS is not one of my favourite Spaghetti westerns, but it's definitely on the best side of westerns as a whole.Overall,it is a filling plate of Spaghetti Bolognaise skilfully directed by Massimo Dallamano.8/10.