Is Tombstone A Great Movie Or Just A Great Performance?

[MartyMcFly]

I love the movie. Truly do. But I'm always questioning is it a great movie or is it just Kilmer's performance that makes the world swoon thus making us think the movie is better than it is? I think it's fair to say Doc Holiday is the best part of the movie but thats not to say the movie doesn't have other good parts to it.

I know where I come down on the argument but how does the rest of the film room feel?

 

[Knights89]

i would probably call Tombstone one of my favorite films and will sit and watch anytime it comes on tv. Whether it was a great movie or great performance, for me, I can't separate the two. You have a western that has comedy and romance, and these things are elevated by the whole cast, with Val Kilmer being at the top of the list.

 

[MartyMcFly]

i would probably call Tombstone one of my favorite films and will sit and watch anytime it comes on tv. Whether it was a great movie or great performance, for me, I can't separate the two. You have a western that has comedy and romance, and these things are elevated by the whole cast, with Val Kilmer being at the top of the list.

Which is exactly how I feel about it. But I know there are some who have issues with the movie and even as someone who loves it, I can share some of those same issues. But I feel like his performance wipes away a lot of those flaws

 

[Dominic Brehetto]

I hate westerns yet love tombstone.

I think it's more than just Val. Because honestly there are a ton of great performances in this

The characters are all well done. Beyond that the film is filled with memorable scenes.

I know that entire film by heart and yet never get bored with it.

 

[MartyMcFly]

I hate westerns yet love tombstone.

I think it's more than just Val. Because honestly there are a ton of great performances in this

The characters are all well done. Beyond that the film is filled with memorable scenes.

I know that entire film by heart and yet never get bored with it.

I'm moving next month so I started packing my movies yesterday and I'm kinda in my feelings that Tombstone is in a box and I can't watch it unless I do some digging...which of course I won't do lol.

I think Kurt gives a great performance too but Val snatches the movie by the neck every time he's on screen

 

[Poetical Poltergeist]

I like Tombstone but it's not my favorite western. I kind of see it more as an action drama, Val of course is great, Russell is good and the overall movie is entertaining. It does have a different feel to it imo, the western feel is there and it isnt at times, at least for me. It's not slow like Unforgiven but it's not as epic as Once Upon a Time. It's it's own movie and I think that's why it works. I just don't really watch it like that no more even when it's on. Maybe I played it out in the 90s, idk.

 

[the next guy]

I love the movie. Truly do. But I'm always questioning is it a great movie or is it just Kilmer's performance that makes the world swoon thus making us think the movie is better than it is? I think it's fair to say Doc Holiday is the best part of the movie but thats not to say the movie doesn't have other good parts to it.

I know where I come down on the argument but how does the rest of the film room feel?

Great movie. Kept me on the edge until the end.

 

[Alexander The Great]

definitely the performances. Kilmer, obviously....Russell had some cool scenes also.

 

[Robbo]

it's a great movie, but Kilmers performance stands out... only shytty scene was when Wyatt and his new chick go run their horses.

 

[MartyMcFly]

it's a great movie, but Kilmers performance stands out... only shytty scene was when Wyatt and his new chick go run their horses.

Yeah that one comes out of nowhere and doesn't really do anything for either one of them. Except set up the room service line

 

[OmegaK2099]

Hes just one of the many great things about this flick

 

[jay211]

"I'm your Huckleberry" One of the greatest lines spit in a movie. Movie is classic.

 

[jay211]

Also, this scene is deep. Simple. But explains Doc well.



Cowboy "I got a lot of friends."

Doc Holiday "I don't."

 

[Jello Biafra]

Its a good movie with a great performance from Val Kilmer.
I always admired that Tombstone was an unapologetic throwback to the westerns of the 50s-60s with its emphasis less on character building and more on old west action yet Kilmer was putting on an acting performance seemingly hellbent on making his Doc become iconic regardless of what the rest of the movie was focused on being. And despite that the movie never felt jarring or out of place when Kilmer was onscreen. The homage to old school westerns and the method actor going all out to make his role memorable never came into conflict with one another.
Plus it had Robert fukking Mitchum doing the narration at the start of the movie. Robert Mitchum is always worth extra points.

 

[nieman]

Great performances all around in a solid movie/script. It's could've been Wyatt Earp long, but they made the movie fun.

I'm gonna watch this tonight.