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Bad writing?
It's considered one of the best movies ever made regardless of genre. John Wayne loved his character in the film so much, he named one of his own sons "Ethan".
The film has so many layers and nuances that it's impossible to appreciate with just one or two viewings. It's utterly brilliant.
I suppose maybe not bad writing, but the way it was a product of its time. It's corny in that 1950's way. The goofball with the feather in his hat drives me nuts. The way Wayne just stands straight up in a gunfight while being charged by Comanche when everyone else is behind cover.
The Comanche charging across a 100 yard river into gunfire of men with superior weapons behind cover while most are armed with bows & spears. It defies logic, but that is just part of the era it was shot I suppose.... but it makes me not like it.
Another thing... while I appreciate the idea of Wayne's character being a man who went through the Civil War & being an Indian hater, he just seems like a one dimensional ******* the entire movie until the end.
Contrast that with other harda$$ western characters like Woodrow Call or Josey Wales... there's a lot more depth to them than just talking to everyone like they were idiots like Wayne does as Ethan. Movies really changed in the late 60's/70's for the better & it makes it difficult for me to watch some of the earlier stuff. Not a lot of the old films hold up for me... the acting style & dialogue can be pretty eye-rolling.
The Searchers was groundbreaking according to critics, which is good & I give it credit for that. But there are easily a dozen other Westerns that I would argue are much better, but the Searchers gets ranked better because of 1. Wayne 2. Ford 3. It was "groundbreaking" for its time.
Anyway, just my opinion.
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And that final shot. Lord have mercy.
100% agree. Great camera work all throughout the film.
