My husband has always like this movie, he had it on tape, and watched it every year or so. He then got it on DVD. I purchased this DVD for because one of his DVD players destroyed the first disc, and he asked me to get him another one.

This was exactly what I needed as a gift for my father...it arrived with plenty of time before Christmas, too!

ONE OF THE GREATEST WESTERNS EVER MADE!!! BOTTOM LINE....UNFORGIVEN COMES CLOSE TO IT ON THAT SCALE BUT "THE WILD BUNCH" SET THE STANDARD IN THIS MOVIE GENRE AND NO OTHER WESTERN HAS SINCE EQUALED IT'S MAGNIFICENCE AND EXCELLENCE IN MOVIE PRODUCTION. TRULY EPIC!!!!

I RETURNED THIS ITEM ON NOVEMBER 19TH AND I'M STILL WAITING TO RECEIVE THEIR RECEIPT CONFIRMATION!!!!!!!!!!!

The mood of this great film is set during one of the first scenes. Children who are supposedly not the focus of the action, pit a war between red ants and a scorpion. Then, as the scorpion is being thorougly tortured by the ants, the children heap straw on the battle, ignite it and burn the scorpion and ants alive. This one scene gives Peckinpah's personal social philosophy full issue. Peckinpah reckoned [correctly, in my opinion] that violence and cruelty are products of our basic genetics. Civilization therefore requires the civilizing of children.

'The Wild Bunch', however, is a testimony to the fact that some people never achieve full civilization. His characters rob and murder as if they were virtues. The 'hero', William Holden, is made of somewhat better stuff in that he understands some of the 'inadequacies' of his men. Still, like all good Peckinpah films, the film ultimately succombs to total chaos and violence as Holden's men--who don't stand a chance--decide to shoot it out with Mexican Irregulares.

I first saw this film, years ago, when taking State Licensure Boards for my Medical License. Other students stayed up all night studying. I was just as uptight as anyone else but reckoned that, after 4 years of study, another night wouldn't make any real difference but relaxation might. Peckinpah's violence--in a way that Peckinpah would have predicted--was just the relaxation I required. I did just fine with my exams.

Ron Braithwaite, author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"--on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico