Watch Butch and Sundance: The Early Days For Free

Best movie of this year hands down!

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

BUTCH AND SUNDANCE: THE EARLY YEARS is a western prequel to BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID; they couldn't make a straight sequel to that movie for obvious reasons. This one sees the notorious duo just starting out, with William Katt (of CARRIE fame) a lot of fun as Sundance and Tom Berenger slightly wooden and uncomfortable as Butch. The film is directed by Richard Lester, of THE THREE MUSKETEERS fame, and much in the spirit of those movies, i.e. very silly, over-directed, and barging its way through genre tropes with high energy and low wit. What does keep this watchable are the minor roles for future greats, with Christopher Lloyd playing a typically goofy role (he gets one of the film's funniest lines), future ROBOCOP Peter Weller a lawman, Vincent Schiavelli a bad guy, and the great Brian Dennehy a typically larger-than-life presence.

This film has taken a lot of heat for it's role as a prequel to the Paul Newman/Robert Redford classic, but I think if you give it a chance it stands on it's own legs fairly well. The uncanny part of the picture is the remarkable resemblance (most of the time) that Tom Berenger and William Katt have to the stars of the 1969 original. While some of the banter between the two might seem awkward at times, it has the feel of two future buddies getting to know and trust each other and therefore appears more realistic than forced. The nods to the original are apparent without being over done, and it's cool to see Jeff Corey reprise his role as Sheriff Ray Bledsoe, even if he looks older here. Future relationships with characters Harvey Logan and Joe Le Fors are also introduced, creating just enough interest for fans of "Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid" to keep tuned in to see what happens next. My viewing of the film last night was the first, having over the years shied away from it because of my fondness for the original, but you know what - it was entertaining and one could definitely do worse. I'd recommend a look, even if it's only effect is to make you appreciate the original even more.

On a scale of 1-4 I give it a 2 but it is definitely worth watching Tom Berenger has a very strange resemblance to Paul Newman never thought I'd say that. William Katt also has somewhat of a look like Robert Redford. Especially when he grows a mustache the movie definitely looks like it was filmed for television with the violence toned down I though it would be a shoot 'em up western. While it did have some shooting this movie is more about Butch and Sundance meeting up and starting their outlaw careers. After seeing this one for the first time I actually want to watch the original for the umpteenth time to see what was incorporated into it if you are a fan of the first one you will really enjoy this movie.

As the first of the modern-day prequels this has something of a bad rep, but baggage aside it's a pretty entertaining yarn. This is the first and only time director Richard Lester ventured into the western genre and he manages to place his own stamp on the film. Much of it takes place during the winter, which provides for a different visual palette (similar to the look of Altman's "McCabe and Mrs. Miller"), and Lester adds his usual throwaway lines to keep things light.Tom Berenger and William Katt do a good job as Butch and Sundance, and at times Katt's resemblance to Robert Redford is uncanny. Likewise when Berenger wears his hat just so. Joining them are Peter Weller as LeFors (who ends their first encounter by saying ominously, "I'll see you again"), Brian Dennehy as a rustler out for revenge, Vincent Schiavelli as a casino guard, Paul Price (late of Lester's "The Ritz") as a stingy butcher, and John Schuck and Christopher Lloyd as a couple of bumbling outlaws. Also, if you look sharp you can catch Richard Lester's cameo about 34 minutes in, doing a double take during one of the duo's getaways.All in all, "Butch and Sundance: The Early Days" may not in the same league as the original, but it's a good enough film in its own right, and at least worth a rental.