Powerful

One of my all time favorites.

Don't listen to the negative reviews

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

A Native American warrior called Navajo Joe (Burt Reynolds) seeks revenge on a gang of sadistic outlaws who has massacred the people of his tribe.If this film is known for anything, it is just how much Burt Reynolds hated working on it. The story, in its simplest form, is that he thought he would be working with Sergio Leone and instead got Sergio Corbucci. Beyond that, his protests seem a bit over the top. Yes, this is a bad movie. But is it really the worst one he ever did? Ultimately, it does not really seem terrible in a technical way. Just bland, boring, nothing really special. If Reynolds was not in it, it would be forgotten. The worst part is actually the soundtrack. The Navajo Joe theme is played way too many times and is not very good the first time.

Another work of Spaghetti western master! But is it really that bad? Sergio Corbucci knew how to make good-looking movies. Or at least, he knew how to make this one look good. He combines up the shots of the Western landscape (Spain, as usual in spaghetti westerns, stands in for the American frontier). He knows whose faces the audience loves and gives them lots of dramatic close-ups. Hands up to cinematographer Silvano Ippoliti, but the cinematographer can only photograph what the director tells him to, and Corbucci knew what to shoot.Corbucci also manages to keep his leading man off of the screen most of the time. Burt's stuntman is superb. They combine to give us Navajo Joe, one of the most athletic western heroes you have ever seen. Unlike the typical western lead who gets most of his exercise transferring his Colt .45 to and from its holster, Joe believes in getting close and personal whenever he can, usually by flying through the air and otherwise dealing with the situation acrobatically. The movie poster ridiculously shows Burt aiming a bow, which he never once uses in the movie; as any smart Indian would, Joe uses a Winchester rifle for long-range combat. But he uses even the Winchester athletically, holding down the trigger and pumping the lever action frenetically to shoot down his foes. Even Burt Reynolds has goofed on this movie several times during guest spots on TV talk shows. Whatever, Navajo Joe is a worthwhile Euro- western, several degrees darker and brutal than other released during the same year and a much better, more stylish film than Burt's later westerns. I'd rate Navajo Joe a "must see" movie for Spaghetti-heads, but I wouldn't place it in my top 10 SW. Somewhere in my top 20's more like it. And the Morricone's score in this picture is beautiful.

Navajo Joe is directed by Sergio Corbucci and collectively written by Fernando Di Leo, Ugo Pirro and Piero Regnoli. It stars Burt Reynolds, Aldo Sambrell, Nicoletta Machiavelli, Tanya Lopert and Fernando Rey. Music is by Ennico Morricone and cinematography by Silvano Ippolitti.Though Reynolds would say it's the worst film he ever made, anyone who has followed his career will know that simply isn't the case! It's an odd Spaghetti Western that sees Reynolds play the title character, who strides out for revenge against the ragamuffin varmints who slaughtered his woman and tribe. Cue blood letting galore as Joe enacts said revenge with bloodthirsty glee as the hints of anti-racism struggle to show their heads above the pasta strewn pulpit.Narratively there's nothing else to add, it's simplicity 101 and at times it becomes laborious. Where the film doesn't lack for interest is with the technical aspects. Corbucci hones his skills as a purveyor of brutal set pieces, each striking for entertainment purpose. Ippolitti adds his own brand of cinematography, gracing the story with a pizazz it doesn't deserve, whilst Morricone provides a wonderfully catchy musical score. As for Reynolds? He does OK. Veering close to being pantomime and showing a lack of interest, his all round brooding charisma shines bright and gives the picture a macho edge.Not a great film by any stretch of the imagination, the script is just too lazy, but it is above average and Spaghetti Western fans can find enough here to gorge on for a satisfying meal. 6/10

"Navajo Joe" is certainly not be as great as Sergio Corbucci's masterpieces "Django" and "The Great Silence", but it is still a highly entertaining, if cheesy, Spaghetti Western. Like most Westerns by Corbucci, Navajo Joe has a sociocritical message, as it portrays racism and the genocide of the Native American population. Predominantely, however, Navajo Joe is a very entertaining Spaghetti Western with an excellent score by Ennio Morricone.A gang of unscrupulous bandits led by Duncan (Aldo Sambrell) ride through the American Southwest and kill every Indian they can find for the one-dollar reward on an Indian scalp. Joe (Burt Reynolds), a Navajo warrior and merciless avenger, starts haunting the scalp- hunters and soon becomes their worst nightmare.Burt Reynolds is decent enough as the eponymous hero. Reynolds is certainly not a great Spaghetti Western antihero, but he fits the role better than one would suppose. Nicoletta Macchiavelli does a good job as Estella, a beautiful half Indian half white woman who lives in a white community. The best performance in this movie, however, comes from Aldo Sambrell in the role of the scalp-hunter Duncan, a despicable man who is nothing but greed and concentrated hate. The score by Ennio Morricone is brilliant as always, Quentin Tarantino used some of it for Kill Bill Vol.2. If you like Spaghetti Westerns, you have to love Sergio Corbucci. Navajo Joe is not quite as brilliant as his masterpieces "Django" and "The Great Silence", but it is without doubt a more than worthwhile Spaghetti Western and recommended to every fan of the genre.