Tonight, I’m watching one of my all-time favorite FUN John Wayne movies; "The Comancheros!" It's just a non-stop, action filled, fun popcorn flick! It's kind of like a precursor to the buddy action movie like the "Lethal Weapon" series; only with a Western or, even better, a Texas setting (with Arizona and Utah playing the part of Texas of course)!
But, here’s something that’s funny about this movie; as a history buff, I like to go to some of the history or "true west" sights on line. Whenever, on those sights, the conversation turns to film... Man do they hate this movie!
I always have this conversation...
JUNIOR HISTORIAN: This is an awful movie! There's not one ounce of historical accuracy in it!
ME: That's because it's not a history lesson! It's an action movie! So, chill! Sit back, have a beer, and enjoy!
JUNIOR HISTORIAN: But it's awful! It's a bad depiction of Texas in the 1840's and of the Texas Rangers, and...
ME: Look, Sparky, NO MOVIE IS REAL! Watching this movie for an authentic portrayal of Texas History is like watching Indiana Jones to learn about archeology, or James Bond to learn about British Spies, or King Kong to learn about monkeys! Again, just sit back and enjoy!
Yes, the weapons that they use in the movie were not around in 1843! And, I'm from Texas; so, I know there's no desert between Galveston and Austin! (For those of you unfortunate non-Texans, on the trail Cutter and Regret rode from Galveston to Austin, the landscape should start with coastal plains, then transition into piney woods, throw in some black dirt prairie, a few green rolling hills, and finally the hill country!)
So, anyway, going to kick back, pop open a beer or two and once again, enjoy one of my favorites, “The Comancheros!” Have a good rest of your weekend and a great week!