Young Guns

Name: Young Guns
Genre: Action, Thriller, Comedy, Crime, Western
Released: August 12, 1988
Duration: 107 min
Rating: 50
Cast: Casey Siemaszko, Charlie Sheen, Dermot Mulroney, Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland

1988

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Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Ratings

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Young Guns

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: August 12, 1988 | R

Starring: Casey Siemaszko, Charlie Sheen, Dermot Mulroney, Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips

Summary: When his mentor is gunned down in cold blood, William Bonney sees fit to avenge him. With his friends backing him up, William delivers his own personal brand of justice, acting as judge, jury and executioner all with one pull of the trigger. News of his notorious actions spreads wide and far and soon the name of "Billie the Kid" becomes legendary.

Director: Christopher Cain

Genre(s): Action, Thriller, Comedy, Crime, Western

Rating: R

Runtime: 107 min

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Critic Reviews

Janet Maslin

Young Guns is best watched in the playful, none-too-serious spirit in which it was made. Though the film concentrates reverentially on its young stars, it also includes good performances from a few grown-ups, notably Terry O'Quinn as a lawyer and Jack Palance as the story's wild-eyed villain. Read full review

Jay Scott

The movie blows through the Brat Pack smoke screen - it is superior to Colors in that regard - to reveal the troubled, lonely and sometimes crazy males behind the macho, misogynist posturing of men in groups. You couldn't find a nicer bunch of killers. [12 Aug 1988, p.C3]

Llyod Sachs

Considering how tidy and self-aware most such Hollywood projects are, any movie that can give Phillips' Mexican-Indian a monologue in which he painfully recounts the massacre only he survived and then blithely rejoices in idiot gunfire is a movie you have to respect. [12 Aug 1988, p.35]

Dave Kehr

Billy's burning, self-destructive energy is about all Young Guns has going for it-the suicidal kicks James Dean found in chickie races are here transposed to six-gun shoot-outs, filmed in a slow-motion process that strives vainly to evoke Sam Peckinpah. [12 Aug 1988, p.H]

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

YOUNG GUNS is simply not a very good movie--western or otherwise. Fusco's script provides little character development and muddies the narrative with some unlikely supporting characters. Still, it proved to be popular enough to lead to a television spinoff and a sequel in 1990. Read full review

Jay Carr

Fusco's script undercuts whatever freshness it may have brought to its view of Billy the Kid with a steady stream of howlers, most of which involve Kiefer Sutherland, as the sensitive member of the gang. [12 Aug 1988, p.24]

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Full of odd notions and interludes, the movie never really comes together, but fitfully suggests a cross between Boys Town and Greaser's Palace. Read full review

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User Reviews

Tagirix

Jul 29, 2018

Incredible movie. Lots of jokes, great soundtrack, appealing story. I'm still listening to the music from this film after watching it because it brings so many positive emotions an memories. If you are a true fan of Western culture, then there is no way I will let you skip this title. It isIncredible movie. Lots of jokes, great soundtrack, appealing story. I'm still listening to the music from this film after watching it because it brings so many positive emotions an memories. If you are a true fan of Western culture, then there is no way I will let you skip this title. It is also one of the best movies about Billy the Kid I have ever seen.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TheGuyAarons96

Nov 21, 2018

For the most part I love this movie. I'd say for the best part of this movie as Billy the kid and the worst part of the movie is Charlie Sheen as Dick Brewer. The does take a little bit to get going but when it does its awesome.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

EdgarC

Jul 21, 2007

A smattering of horse-chases and shooting scenes, meshed in with some talking, old time dancing, and some more shooting. The movie makes sense as they first start out as a bunch of mostly innocent boys taking revenge on their mentor's death, and ultimately turning into a criminal A smattering of horse-chases and shooting scenes, meshed in with some talking, old time dancing, and some more shooting. The movie makes sense as they first start out as a bunch of mostly innocent boys taking revenge on their mentor's death, and ultimately turning into a criminal rampage rife with killing. The movie is good over all, with the only exception being Estevez's pretty lame drawl.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

DawdlingPoet

Nov 25, 2021

This is a pretty fast paced action/Western film with some decent performances, most notably that of Lou Diamond Philips. I enjoyed the confrontations and the plot in general. Its perhaps not entirely memorable but its certainly entertaining while its on screen. The characters are fairlyThis is a pretty fast paced action/Western film with some decent performances, most notably that of Lou Diamond Philips. I enjoyed the confrontations and the plot in general. Its perhaps not entirely memorable but its certainly entertaining while its on screen. The characters are fairly likeable. Its fairly violent but not overly gratuitously so. If your a fan of the main cast, then I'd recommend it, yes.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Gemini1983

Mar 11, 2018

Дилогию “Молодые стрелки” я решил посмотреть, после просмотра программы о группе Bon Jovi, где рассказали, что Бон Джови написал музыку к фильму.
Я уже видел оба этих фильма в далёкие времена детства. И первую часть помнил достаточно неплохо. А вот продолжение в памяти всплывало лишьДилогию “Молодые стрелки” я решил посмотреть, после просмотра программы о группе Bon Jovi, где рассказали, что Бон Джови написал музыку к фильму.
Я уже видел оба этих фильма в далёкие времена детства. И первую часть помнил достаточно неплохо. А вот продолжение в памяти всплывало лишь смутными отрывками. Особенно начальная сцена, где молодой юрист встречается с очень старым и колоритным ковбоем, для которого видно эпоха Дикого запада все еще не закончилась. Об этом красноречиво говорит потёртая кобура, а в ней не менее древний “кольт”. И этот старик представляется одним из самых известных бандитов Дикого запада по прозвищу Билли “Кид” (Billy The Kid).
Если честно, то первый фильм довольно скучный. В нем много моментов, где действие провисает. Чего только стоит затянутая сцена, где героям пришлось проехать через земли индейцев, чтобы сбежать от погони. Да и в целом практически весь фильм - это брожение героев взад-вперед и по кругу, чтобы в конце оказаться в ловушке.
А вот продолжение намного динамичнее. В нем уже больше перестрелок, погонь. Но вот ярких персонажей уже меньше. Спасают ситуацию герои самого Кида, и Пэта Гарретта. Противостояние двух бывших друзей довольно драматичное местами. Но вот логика поведение героев, которые должны скрываться, но при этом везде оставляют следы, меня вгоняет в ступор. С другой стороны, они думали, что скроются в Мексике и поэтому особо не переживали за это. Вообще Кид иногда довольно странно себя ведёт. Не доверяя системе он идет с нею на сделку. Может, конечно, во времена Дикого запада были другие представления о чести. Но ведь он уже знал, что политикам нельзя верить. В общем это было как минимум странно.
Но на эти минусы можно закрыть глаза, потому что все же в фильме есть положительные стороны. И одной из них стали главные актеры: Чарли Шин, Эмилио Эстеваз, Кифер Сазерленд, а во второй части появляется Кристиан Слейтер. Актеры не первой величины, но зато звёзды второго плана, здесь получили главные роли. А в начале и середине 90-х они частенько были на слуху. Конечно самой главной звездой был Чарли Шин, но здесь он уступил место своему брату. Никогда не догадаетесь кто это, разве что внимательно присмотритесь к Киду. Да, это Эмилио Эстеваз. А так и не скажешь, что человек с латино-американской фамилией и именем, имеет столь европейскую внешность.
В целом эта дилогия явно не шедевр жанра вестерн. Однако в ней есть определенное очарование. Сейчас вестерны снимаются крайней редко, а посмотреть на актеров, которых хорошо знаешь с детства, в ковбойском антураже, надо сказать весьма умело переданном в эпоху, когда жанр переживал явно не лучшие времена, было весьма приятно. Так что советую.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

dfrooah

Aug 30, 2010

I was barely a teenager when I saw this movie so I don't recall having a notable reaction to the plot or the acting. My primary focus was likely the stars who, at the time, were considered particularly dreamy. "Dreamy" isn't likely the most accurate word to describe romantic admiration inI was barely a teenager when I saw this movie so I don't recall having a notable reaction to the plot or the acting. My primary focus was likely the stars who, at the time, were considered particularly dreamy. "Dreamy" isn't likely the most accurate word to describe romantic admiration in 1988 but you get the idea. In hindsight one realizes how much our admiration is motivated by the media. Kiefer Sutherland?! However, I can say with some certainty that I was never terribly impressed by Charlie Sheen.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

HotelCentral

Dec 13, 2018

I watched about ten minutes of this film and I give it a 4 just on the chance that my impression might evolve were I to risk another 93 minutes of my life watching what begins as a laughable imitation of what Hollywood used to call "westerns."

First, we seen a guy running along Main StreetI watched about ten minutes of this film and I give it a 4 just on the chance that my impression might evolve were I to risk another 93 minutes of my life watching what begins as a laughable imitation of what Hollywood used to call "westerns."

First, we seen a guy running along Main Street and the soundtrack changes to rock music just to add excitement to the moment. Meanwhile, two of the "main characters" stand idly by in a conversation that makes use of every sort of modernism. As one scene turns to another I heard the phrase "geek from the street" and burst out laughing, then ejected the DVD and went to find my sledgehammer so I could further enjoy this film by smashing the disk into little pieces.

I mean, I don't know who is responsible for making this film, but I'm not going to waste my time investigating whether they know anything about the "old west" because even if they do it isn't coming through in this film.

Don't waste your time.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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