Badly made Western movie

So you really think that the plot for The Punisher was fresh?! Seeing the trailer hoping this movie is shown at the cinemas here in Finland.

Yes, the plot is pretty simple (but, really, The Punisher ? There are dozens of westerns that used those strings before ... ) but I don't think the movie is trying to pretend to be what it's not. It's a story of revenge, plain and simple. The fact that it's fairly short shows that they didn't try to make a bloated over-pretentious movie.

For your last point, I'll disagree too. This movie has some really good photography that goes away from the canons (high plains, ...) and bring some interesting shots (the night scenes are really good).

It's not a western. It's an anti-western. That may be why you seem to be not able to get the film.

Actually, it's a European take on western films.

Speaking of western films, which good western movie have you seen that did not have an identical plot? Most Clint Eastwood films are of the same mold. The Tomb was also the same.

Very bad villain does bad things and then gets killed by a good dude. The only difference is, in this film the good dude is unable to save any of the other good peeps (including his family), except for the chick.

In that sense, it's a standard western flick - and it is well made - or at least as well made as any of the other 'good' western flick.

The acting was all right as well - but alas, if you are sick of western flicks, this one won't change you mind and that's fine, because I do agree that nearly all films are pretty one-dimensional.

In the end, I enjoyed it, but that's only because it's been a while since I saw a decent western.

Story line not original, but then again, no western story line is.I think they ran out of originality in westerns in the 50s. However the acting was good, the set pieces were put together well but this is in the top 5 for photography. Filmed in the same style as Once Upon A Time In The West.

Well, yes, it's formulaic, but all western movies are, aren't they?
I saw 20 to 30 western movies myself and there is always some injustice and
litte guy against the group of thugs.

There was one thing that wasnn't much used in most of the other westerns I saw,
and I personaly do think it brings somewhat of authenticity to the story.

First of all, there is a background story, related to a real historic event,
the second schleswig war. And also, the main characters use danish, while the two guys
on the cart spoke a foreign language of their own, so there is a bit of the melting pot atmosphere.

I liked the movie. It is no masterpiece, but it 's a bit above the average.

Well I'm certain glad I didn't bother reading any comments here. I followed my gut feeling, first impression, and I was happily surprised. I'm a huge fan of westerns, from the old classics like Shane, High Noon, any with Joel McCrea Randolph Scott, James Stewart, Glen Ford and Audie Murphy, Sergio Leone's, all of Clint Eastwood's except Joe Kid, some John Wayne's, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to War Horse, and now The Salvation. Except for High Plains Drifter and Pale Rider, most great westerns haven't been suspense movies. We usually expect the good guy to get the bad guy in the end. The enjoyment, most times accompanied by frustration, is watching what he goes through to get to that end. Shane, High Noon, Henry Fonda's Welcome to Hard Times, The Magnificent Seven, Once Upon a Time in the West and so many others are about a town of people being bullied by outlaws, and how they're finally beat. Clint even gives very obvious nods to Shane in The Pale Rider. But none of these are merely copies of the others.

Under our clothes, we are all naked!

i'm not saying salvation is very innovative, or even very surprising, but neither is it anything _near_ "badly made". on the contrary, everything from the acting, the direction and especially the cinematography is top notch. that doesn't mean that everybody will love it or that it is especially outstanding, but again, it is anything BUT badly made.