Critics,are you kidding us

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

So sings Jon Bon Jovi who was hired to sing the sound track to the original 1988 'Young Guns' film. Perhaps 'Blaze of Glory' shouldn't really have been mentioned in the title, as it does give more than a clue as to the cast's fate.Blaze of Glory is set a few years after the 'young guns'' first outing. Since we last saw them, Billy the Kid has killed yet more people (but they probably deserve d it, so we still like him anyway) and stolen yet more cattle (I guess we have to assume that they deserved in, too). So, naturally, he's even more wanted by the law than the last time we saw him. But it's not all bad news for him – he's got a new posse and, in the first third of the film, he's got his two former pals, Doc Hollywood and Chavez back in tow.However, just when our little Billy's happily getting reacquainted with his mates, his former friend Pat Garrett only decides to accept a massive pay-off to bring in the band of outlaws. So Billy finds himself on the run again (to the grinding guitar sound of Jon Bon Jovi – some might say that makes his situation even worse).Basically, Young Guns II: Blaze of Glory, is more of the same. Now, that could have been a bad thing if the first film had been pretty dull, yet, actually it's no bad thing – assuming you liked the first instalment. There's nothing particularly new here. The plot is almost identical, just with a few new baddies and a few new members of Billy's gang. There is a kind of sub-plot involving the (almost) modern day where a man claims he actually was Billy the Kid and a journalist is trying to deduce whether or not he's telling the truth, but that probably could have been left on the cutting room floor if the producers had been pushed for time.If you liked the original, you'll probably like this, too. It's definitely more of the same and is a fun *modern* cowboy romp. If you don't like cowboy films in general, this one probably won't win you over.http://thewrongtreemoviereviews.blogspot.co.uk/

Geoff Murphy took over directing duties for this sequel, which opens with Billy The Kid(again played by Emilio Estevez) as an old man trying to tell his story of how he escaped the fate recorded by history to survive, as John Chisum(played by James Coburn) hires lawman Pat Garret(played by William Petersen) to track down Billy and his gang(returning Kiefer Sutherland & Lou Diamond Philips, along with Christian Slater & Alan Ruck) and kill them, as they are wanted outlaws he in particular wants eliminated, but Billy tells a different fate for them then previously described... Adequate sequel isn't as good as the first, with a contrived new story, but it is still put across in an entertaining fashion.

After the end of the Lincoln County War a new governor comes to town - one gen. Lee Wallace. He is here to bring order back to the region and plans on doing so by hanging whoever was connected to the war (nevermind what history tells us). Amongst those captured are Doc Scurlock (Kiefer Sutherland) and Chavez y Chavez (Lou Diamond Phillips). Meanwhile Billy the Kid (Emilio Estevez) is roaming the state rustling and hustling. Even tries to get pardon from the new governor, only to be tricked and put in jail. Billy soon manages to escape and breaks out his old pals with him. Together with some new pals like Arkansas Dave (Christian Slater) and Hendry William French (Alan Ruck) the come back as the scourge of Lincoln County. But this time a former friend and ally Pat Garrett is hired as the new sheriff...When taking on this movie Emilio Estevez stated it would be closer to historical fact and more gritty. And I would have to say he lied. As far as the original part took some historical liberties this one just rapes them. Naturally some of the changes made in the first part had repercussions in the follow-up (like the death of Charles Bowdre), but I find no logic behind recasting Sutherland and Phillips in the follow-up and even less in them being killed off (given that both Chavez and Scurlock actually had relatively long lives for gunslingers).The main problem with the movie isn't however the history, but the general tone, which basically attempts to make a cool western. Characters are supposed to be savvy, funny and fun, while none of the grit of western movies makes it to the forefront. The whole Billy the Kid character is very poorly thought out by Estevez and his portrayal is one of the weakest. The movie (as in the first part) lacks heart and plods out from beginning to end with no real attempt to entice and engage. The biggest flaw is the lack of a proper counterpoint to Billy's character, someone who would put sense to his actions. There are a few brief scenes, which attempt to do this, but neither Pat Garrett or Doc Scurlock are given good enough lines to actually be able to pull it off. Instead the scenes just dissipate without any dramatic consequence.Given that the action is also not worth of any note it is not surprising that the movie has not stood the test of time and is slowing dropping into oblivion. Nonetheless the movie does have a brilliant score, although I did find myself wondering at times if it actually fits a western.

Young Guns II takes up a year later from the original movie. Billy has become a Hunted Legend and the government is determined to put the mess called the Lincoln County war behind them by burying the surviving regulators. Billy has formed a new gang with Arkansas Dave Rutabag and Pat Garrett a man who is perhaps Billy's closest friend. When Word reaches him that the New Governor General Lou Wallace is willing to pardon the kid for his crimes if he testfies about the events of the Lincoln county War. Billy doesn't know but Wallace has already rounded up all of his old friends and put them in a pit they're waiting for Billy to join them then they'll all be put to death. Billy goes and uncannily escapes death frees his friends and begins a New war this time against anybody whose against him. Pat Garrett superbly played by CSI's William Peterson provides maybe one of the films best performances he's watchable and his Pat Garrett is sympathetic to Billy but he's not immune to the madness Billy brings with him. All Garrett wants is to be at peace retire and open a eatery until The Government and Wallace and John Chisum persude Garrett to their way of thinking that it would be more of a mercy if Billy was killed by a friend who actually loves him then a faceless Executioner. The Film Explores Billy's final months and delivers a heart pounding finale that will leave you wondering after the film ends.