Once Upon a Time in the West

This movie is simply a gem, which sucks you in and enchants you with its soundtrack, atmosphere, and individual performances. Even though it is well over two hours long, you do not get bored for a minute, and thanks to the truly amazing soundtrack, you experience everything to the fullest. Furthermore, Claudia Cardinale is probably the most beautiful woman I have ever seen on the screen, and especially in this movie, she is simply irresistible. (02/04/2015)

A gem, with something legendary, precious, and brilliant in every scene from Sergio Leone, in every note from Ennio Morricone, and in every gesture or word from Charles Bronson, Peter Fonda, Jason Robards, and the beautiful Claudia Cardinale. Whoever finds this epic boring should just give up on movies altogether. (05/02/2006)

You know what? After watching this artistic epic, I can see why so many people view it as the greatest cinematic achievement in history. Sergio Leone really created a masterpiece in every way. I knew the film would consist of many long expository shots, but everything makes sense. Even the opening, slowly flowing sequence leading to the reveal of the Harmonica character is breathtaking. And the soundtrack? What more can be said… Ennio Morricone composed something truly exceptional and legendary that goes beyond mere film music. Each of the four main characters has their unique musical motif (where else have you seen that?). I also enjoyed the central storyline. The revelation at the end actually explained why Harmonica had been after Frank all along, and cleverly enhanced everything that led to the final resolution. Last but not least, the cast… they gave their absolute best; I enjoyed how many sequences relied solely on looks and expressions (Charles Bronson was a great actor!). Words are not always necessary. Once Upon a Time in the West deserves all the admiration. A majestic work in every aspect. For me, it’s a 9/10. (12/09/2023)

Absolutely awesome in all respects. The acting, the screenplay, the direction, the cinematography. Everything I can think of is excellent. The film doesn’t have any weaknesses. Even if I did find one, it wouldn't matter. The score would make me forget it immediately. That's what happens when true masters work together. There aren’t enough stars for me to rate this. (30/06/2016)

The music improves the image. To be honest, at the beginning, when a dirty, hirsute bloke is shown swatting a fly for three minutes, I thought that in the next 160 minutes I would die out of boredom. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case, and in the end this film entertained me a lot more than The Godfather, for instance. Mostly thanks to the music, the direction and the performances, because the contents don’t stand out. I can’t get rid of the feeling that I will never be a fan of western as a genre. (02/01/2009)