# Cowboys & Aliens **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2011, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885 "2011-07-21T17:57:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885/1 "2011-07-21T17:57:47Z")
What’s the buzz on this movie? I ask because I just found out that Clancy Brown is going to be in it, and now I kinda have to go see it. Wait, so it’s got Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, _and_ Clancy Brown? Yeaahh, I’ll probably see it on opening weekend. _sigh_ The things we see for crushes on actors… I couldn’t tell from the trailer if it’s supposed to be a comedy or if it’s being played straight. But hey, it looks like it might be a fun 2 hours. Anyone else interested? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885/2 "2011-07-21T18:00:33Z")
We plan to see it but no idea when. In case you’re not aware of the graphic novel, [here’s its Wiki article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowboys_%26_Aliens_(comics)). ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885/3 "2011-07-21T18:03:30Z")
> [@gallows\_fodder](#): > > What’s the buzz on this movie? I ask because I just found out that Clancy Brown is going to be in it, and now I kinda have to go see it. Wait, so it’s got Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, _and_ Clancy Brown? Yeaahh, I’ll probably see it on opening weekend. _sigh_ The things we see for crushes on actors… > > I couldn’t tell from the trailer if it’s supposed to be a comedy or if it’s being played straight. But hey, it looks like it might be a fun 2 hours. > > Anyone else interested? And Sam Rockwell. This is pretty much the only must see movie for me this summer. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885/4 "2011-07-21T18:07:11Z")
Hey, never mind Clancy Brown, it’s got Olivia Wilde in it! (It’s one of the movies she filmed when she took time off from _House._) ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885/5 "2011-07-21T18:07:42Z")
It’s based on a comic book cowritten by Fred van Lente. Which tells us two things, if it’s at all faithful. It will be VERY good. It will be both comedic AND played straight. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885/6 "2011-07-21T18:12:31Z")
It hasn’t been screened yet so there is no buzz one way or the other yet. It’s a Jon Favreau movie with Daniel Craig & Harrison Ford (edit, and Sam Rockwell!), features aliens, and cowboys…no way am I missing this. [off-topic] One sad thing is that it opens the same day as the brilliant (IMO) **Attack The Block** and even if C&A is terrible will probably make more money on its opening day than the tiny indie ATB will make in its entire run. I urge people who have the option (since ATB is only opening in select cities to start) to go see **Attack The Block** first. The opening weekend numbers will determine if it will be expanded to other cities. It’s a good time, and unless you (general you) are old and boring and/or incredibly picky regarding alien physics, you should enjoy the hell out of yourself and hopefully walk out raving. I’ve seen it 3 times and it holds up and gets even better. In my tiny mind it’s an instant classic that will be revered for decades among all the cool kids (and people like me, who aren’t cool at all, but really love fun, charismatic movies). [/off-topic] ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885/7 "2011-07-21T18:47:43Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > It hasn’t been screened yet so there is no buzz one way or the other yet. Is that a bad sign? It opens next weekend, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885/8 "2011-07-21T19:33:03Z")
I know this is heretical, but I read the graphic novel and thought very little of it. One long string of the same tired cliche about how the good guys can win over insanely more powerful and numerous bad guys because the bad guys can’t hit anything with their guns. I realize that writers keep using these cliches because people like them, no matter how stupid they get. But this was super stupid. And the movie will undoubtedly dumb it down further. How can that be a good thing? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885/9 "2011-07-21T20:24:54Z")
I liked Favreau’s other stuff (Ironman I&II, Zathura, Elf) so it should be competant enough. Probably nothing groundbreaking but still an above average entry into the summer popcorn stuff. Favreau usually plays it fairly safe. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885/10 "2011-07-21T22:45:22Z")
> [@gallows\_fodder](#): > > Is that a bad sign? It opens next weekend, doesn’t it? It’s not a bad sign. Movies often aren’t screened until the week before. **Captain America** opens tomorrow, and it only started screening a few days ago. My Twitter feed has been ablaze with positive buzz about that film. People, critics included, are RAVING about it, some calling it the best superhero movie of the year. Since I happened to absolutely adore **Thor** , and really liked **X-Men: First Class** , **Captain America** has got a high bar to reach for me. It can possibly be a bad sign if movies aren’t screened until the day before opening, or at all. I think there are screenings for **Cowboys and Aliens** tonight(?) at ComicCon, so maybe we’ll hear some buzz very soon. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885/11 "2011-07-21T23:16:26Z")
[hijack] Hey, what ever happened to _Werewolves and Gladiators?_ Or perhaps it was _Gladiators and Werewolves._ Anyway, I recall a CS thread on it from last year, but the guys at Blockbuster never heard of it. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885/12 "2011-07-21T23:45:51Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > One sad thing is that it opens the same day as the brilliant (IMO) **Attack The Block** and even if C&A is terrible will probably make more money on its opening day than the tiny indie ATB will make in its entire run. I urge people who have the option (since ATB is only opening in select cities to start) to go see **Attack The Block** first. Select cities or not, you do have to advertise to get people into the movie. I have never heard of this film at all. Unless they are going for the show-up-and-see-something crowd, they’re gonna find it tough going. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885/13 "2011-07-22T00:15:30Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [hijack] > > Hey, what ever happened to _Werewolves and Gladiators?_ Or perhaps it was _Gladiators and Werewolves._ Anyway, I recall a CS thread on it from last year, but the guys at Blockbuster never heard of it. > > [/hijack] [\* Gladiators vs. Werewolves.\*](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1448761/) 2012 ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885/14 "2011-07-22T01:08:04Z")
[Sorry for the **Attack The Block** off-topicness, but both films would probably appeal to the same general audience. Maybe] > [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > Select cities or not, you do have to advertise to get people into the movie. I have never heard of this film at all. Unless they are going for the show-up-and-see-something crowd, they’re gonna find it tough going. But that’s the thing, they don’t have much of a marketing budget. The budget for the catering for Cowboys and Aliens is probably more than the entire budget for this film, including marketing. That’s what I mean, it really needs word of mouth support, and I’m being the mouth in this thread. They’ve been having free screenings all over the place, that’s how I saw it 3 times (and yes, I am going to go see it again several times, and pay, that’s how much I like the film). It does have some advantages other small indie movies don’t have, in that known genre names are attached to it. Some of the producers (mainly Writer/Director [Edgar Wright](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0942367/) and Producer Nira Park) were involved with movies like **Shaun of the Dead** , **Hot Fuzz** , and **Scott Pilgrim**. [Nick Frost](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0296545/) is in it. He’s not a household name but many people would recognize him. The director Joe Cornish is very well-known in the UK, but not here. Yet. He will be. Oh yes he will indeed. But I don’t push the movie to help any of them, I push it because it’s a hell of a lot of fun for those with open minds and warped sensibilities, just like I’d urge people to go see **Shaun of the Dead** if it were coming out now. Not to help the filmmakers or actors (they did alright for themselves anyway), but because (many) people would enjoy it and have a good time. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885/15 "2011-07-22T01:11:34Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > Select cities or not, you do have to advertise to get people into the movie. I have never heard of this film at all. Unless they are going for the show-up-and-see-something crowd, they’re gonna find it tough going. Heavily marketed in Chicago. And really, with a title like “Cowboys & Aliens,” do you really need to market it? It announces itself as the perfect movie. Though “Gladiators vs. Werewolves” is a close second. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885/16 "2011-07-22T01:23:19Z")
Snakes on a Plane and Piranhas 3D best it in the “telling you everything you need to know in the title” genre, but not by much. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885/17 "2011-07-22T02:22:16Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Heavily marketed in Chicago. And really, with a title like “Cowboys & Aliens,” do you really need to market it? It announces itself as the perfect movie. **smiling bandit** was talking about **Attack The Block** , not C&A. I think. If not then my answer to him made no sense at all. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885/18 "2011-07-22T03:41:48Z")
If so, then it’s true. \*\* Attack the Block\*\* has had no marketing I’ve seen. But as much as I love Nick Frost, a movie with him as the lead has an uphill climb. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885/19 "2011-07-22T05:04:45Z")
More **Attack The Block** offtopic meanderings. > [@dropzone](#): > > If so, then it’s true. \*\* Attack the Block\*\* has had no marketing I’ve seen. But as much as I love Nick Frost, a movie with him as the lead has an uphill climb. He’s not the lead, his is a minor but important character\*. The leads are a bunch of teenagers/young adults/a couple of kids, many of whom have never acted before, and all who are so perfect and believable in their roles. The only other person besides Frost that a few people might know is [Jodie Whittaker](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2092886/) who was in [Venus](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489327/) with Peter O’Toole a few years ago. Or not. That was pretty obscure, even though O’Toole was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar. For those who must, here is the [trailer](http://youtu.be/Syu7xzbfb14) (and the much more spoilery [Red Band trailer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgXWKqIGbEk)) for Attack The Block. There are spoilers in it, and it makes the movie look much more serious than it is, but if people like this, they’ll probably like the movie, and I can attest that it’s the kind of movie that is not ruined once you’ve seen what there is to see. As I said earlier, I’ve seen it 3 times and it just keeps getting better. The aliens are the least important part of the film. Once you get to know the characters, they’re the draw. - (he’s the “Ron” in “Ron’s Weed Room” and oh yeah, there’s lots of violence, profanity and dope-smoking in the movie) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885/20 "2011-07-22T05:24:06Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > More **Attack The Block** offtopic meanderings. I AM TOTALLY SEEING THAT MOVIE!!! Note that was twice the exclamation points I’ve used in 11 years here. And I will have the closed captions on. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowboys-aliens/589885.md?page=2)