23. The Good, the Bad, the Weird
Original Release — July 17, 2008
This devilishly good rough-reimagining of the Sergio Leone classic is helmed by South Korean cinematic-maestro Kim Jee-woon. As a trio of bounty hunters attempt to outwit and capture each other, a Spanish-inspired soundtrack helps blend together what could easily be dismissed as foolish anachronisms. The arid yet gorgeous Mongolian desert serves as the backdrop for most of the action, allowing for Mad Max-style horse chases, swashbuckling train heists, and a brilliant vista for the looming and unescapable shootout. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but Jee-woon’s film defies all expectations, creating a film with so many word associations that the dictionary itself starts to crumble on its weight.
Image Source: IMDb