Classic Revisited: Fistful of Dollars (1964)

An American cowboy (Joe or "The Man with No Name") wanders around into a town called San Miguel. This town is deserted and the only two people who have a job are the bell-ringer and the coffin maker. Silvanito gives him shelter and tells him about the bitter rivalry between two rival clans in the town, the Baxters and the Rojos. The Rojos, led by Ramon are the more powerful.

Joe decides to two-time these 2 gangs and succeeds in causing more tensions between the 2 gangs. He gets caught by the Rojos when he decides to help Marisol (Ramon's secret mistress, who is married and has a small kid). He escapes, makes one last comeback and vanquishes the Rojos after the Baxters are wiped out by the Rojos when Joe escapes.

The film runs purely on the star power of Clint Eastwood with his nonchalance, lazy yet macho mannerisms and elegant style. It is a fairly simple story but very fresh if we consider the fact that this movie came 48 years back.

This is the first movie in the Dollars trilogy made by Sergio Leone with Clint in the lead. It has a super catchy, haunting and cheeky soundtrack by the master, Ennio Morricone. The shots with the characters riding their galloping horses in vast dry lands are a delight to the eyes. The gun shots sound simply awesome.

VERDICT: A pioneering movie that kick-started the spaghetti-western genre and made Clint Eastwood a demi-god. 

Classic Revisited: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

The race between 3 notorious cowboys to get to Sad Hill cemetery and get to the 200000 dollars worth of gold. This is the plot. They have to brave the civil war and the vagaries of nature and their own brutal nature towards each other. One of the most adventurous movies ever. True cult and true magnum opus in every sense of the word

An entirely character driven movie with Clint Eastwood literally breathing style and nonchalance as Blondie - The Good. The way he smokes, his punchlines, his elegance and gait. Unmatched and lovable all the way.

Eli Wallach as Tuco - The Ugly turns in among the most passionate performances ever. Each and every sinew in his body has lived this role. In the climax when he desperately searches for the gold by running around the cemetery, it is sheer cinematic magic. The manic urge and desperation he shows when he is first trapped and later escapes from Angel Eyes is among the major highlights of the movie.

Lee Van Cleef as Angel Eyes - The Bad is weaker in characterization compared to the other 2 but, he has his moments too. His look in particular spews off villainy.

The music of Ennio Morricone is the major lifeline of the movie. So many unique themes and each of them is a cult in its own right. This soundtrack is a must have for any cinema buff.

The locations, the action blocks, the war scenes are larger than life. The initial scenes when Blondie keeps saving Tuco just in time, and the way they taunt each other, are hilarious. The sound of gun shots actually makes you go wow. This is such a movie by Sergio Leone

VERDICT: A true magnum opus and a must watch before you die. Flawless motion picture experience.