The Searchers: An Appreciation (2006 Video) User Reviews

Kinda different...

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 17 February 2011]

This is one of several DVD extras that were on disk 2 of the film "The Searchers".

Three directors (Curtis Hanson, Martin Scorsese and John Milius) all participate in this unusual DVD extra. Instead of just discussing the film "The Searchers", these three men discuss both their own initial reactions to seeing this film when they were young as well as their impressions about what in this film made John Ford a great director. Because of this, this short film is not just of interest to the average viewer but is a great primer for up and coming directors as it has lots of specific information--things that set this film apart from other films and that made it a classic. What I liked in particular were their descriptions of the benefits of VistaVision--something you can't appreciate on a TV or even if the film is sent to a revival theater today. All in all, it's very interesting--particularly to film buffs. Perhaps the average viewer won't care so much for all this but if you give it a chance it does help to bring "The Searchers" to life and helps you appreciate it all the more.

Very Good Featurette

[Michael_Elliott · 4 May 2012]

The Searchers: An Appreciation (2006)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Martin Scorsese, Curtis Hanson and John Milius are interviewed and share their feelings about John Ford's THE SEARCHERS. All three men start off talking about the first time they watched the film, what they picked up on repeat viewings and then they start to discuss certain scenes, images and messages in the movie. Fans of THE SEARCHERS should really enjoy this 30-minute featurette that features three great interviews edited together for a highly entertaining look at the Ford classic. I'd say my favorite part was early on when the three discuss their first time seeing the movie and especially Scorsese who reveals so many details that it clearly had a major impact on his life. He then talks about how overtime he started to see more hints in the story and picked up on the character that John Wayne played. All three men do a very good job with their passion on the film as it's clear they all love the movie. I really thought they did a great job at talking about what makes the story so special, the performances so good and of course why they feel it was such a personal film to Ford. They also deal with the racism in the movie and what the director was trying to say.