One of my Top Ten movies of all time is the 1957 version of 3:10 To Yuma . While it similar to High Noon if 3:10 Came out before High Noon I believe no one would know about High Noon. With High Noon you have a soon to be former marshal that is marrying a pacifist begging for help. 3:10 is more about the interaction between Ben Wade and Dan. It is more psychological dealing with the stress that Dan goes through before he gets the bad guy to the train including offers of bribery. Without giving to much away the original is about doing the right thing and not letting evil triumph.
After I saw the first few minutes of the preview in movie theaters, starting seeing hints of what the movie was going to be I got excited that Hollywood when I figured out that they remade my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE western of all time. Although being fully cognisant of the damage Hollywood does when they make classic I was skeptical of what we would get.
The 2007 3:10 to Yuma is one of the few remakes that is well done. The movie was full of action, where the original didn't have a lot until the last ten minutes. The new version did an awesome job of working in almost all the great dialogue of the original. The ending of this movie was totally unexpected and was the only way this version could end and be intellectually honest with itself. Unfortunately I can't share why I liked the ending due to I would ruin the film for those that would see this.
There are a couple of things that did bug me. There was one point where some Pinkerton Detectives had Ben Wade hooked up to electrodes. I get the left is horrified by Abu Grahib, the soldiers were punished that did it. And I'll agree torture done for fun or just sheer punishment shouldn't happen. Yada, yada, yada. The reason I know this is the case is because Peter Fonda said so. To the left let it go, the monsters would do worse and have done worse to us.
Then there is blame big business (railroad) for everyone's problems. While there were unethical business dealings big business isn't to blame for everything. While the issue they were dealing with was emanate domain (a valid concern) blaming a "corrupt business" or blaming your up bringing doesn't release the criminal from taking responsibility for their crime.
In spite of these standard liberal beliefs it still made me want to saddle up and head for the hills after Jesse James.