Per Johnsen Appaloosa is a classical western in a modern suit. It seems like Ed Harris wanted to show the world that he could make a real good traditional western and that some producers, directors and casters have missed out not giving him the main part in such a movie. And right he did, also asking his favorite actors to join in, and Harris himself is shining. Seems like they had a lot of fun.The main subject in Appaloosa, besides the classical struggle between good and evil, is trust and betrayal in human relations. There are of course good guys and girls and the bad one's, but in this story none of the characters really seem to be either, except for one or two perhaps. So in the end, the only good guy gets to put and end to what ever is wrong or evil. If there's a moral, that's all there is to it.I'm writing this after watching the film for the third time, and I seem to forget how it goes and ends every time. I suppose that makes it quite a good film with a subtle story about love and hate, trust and betrayal.

JohnnyT6400 Great set, relatively accurate, Ed and Viggo really fit extremely well together. Jeremy Irons is absolutely outstanding in this film. The casting was great except for Renèe Zellweger. My opinion is that she did not fit the role at all. She did not fit the character profile. I heard that Diane Lane was the 1st choice, but she did not do it. RZ seemed to be distracting to a great story line as well as giving a weak performance. I actually saw the movie before I read the book. RZ's character was much more fitting for the part as portrayed in the book. I would love to see Ed and Viggo team up again for another movie adaptation of a Robert B. Parker western. Great characters.

maddieforpresident I must admit that I enjoyed this film well enough, primarily because the cinematography was incredible and it looked and felt like a classic western which was what drew me in and encouraged me to keep watching. However, I'm not rating this film very highly because the screenplay just wasn't cutting it. I understand that in a western what really matters is the setting and the action, which was fantastic, but the dialogue was awkward, particularly in the way the marshal and deputy chose to speak to each other. There were no memorable lines, not a lot of witty banter and it seemed like the screenplay was just pieced together last minute without much thought. The acting also seemed really shallow and hollow, and I feel like this is partly due to the lines the actors had to deliver, which didn't help their roles any. Not worth the 2 hours, unless you're looking for a film that looks (but doesn't sound) good.

Mr-Fusion Despite a few pacing issues and the woefully miscast Renée Zellweger, "Appaloosa" still comes out strong. What makes this movie worthwhile (and the movie seems to know this) is the relationship between the two main characters. Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch are two of the most interesting characters in a Western, and it also helps that they're extremely well cast (indeed, Ed Harris is the man I pictured when first reading the book). Jeremy Irons also plays a real douche of a bad guy, and there are a few well-done shootouts. But it's that bond between the mercenary lawmen that keeps me coming back. And I wish this movie had done well enough to merit more big-screen entries. 7/10