Hottoceame
The Age of Commercialism
Jonah Abbott
There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.
Matho
The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.
Logan
By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.
vitaleralphlouis
Any of Universal's Audie Murphy westerns are well worth watching, and Kansas Raiders is no exception. Murphy plays Jesse James who rides with his brother and the Dalton boys to join up with Quantrill -- to continue the war in the Midwest.In time Jesse and the boys will become disillusioned with Quantrill and his ways (perhaps not any slower than Americans with buyer's remorse in 2010 not wanting the USA as a socialist state). But loyalty dies hard, and Quantrill will hold power over Jesse for a long time.One ought not take the "history" in movies like this too seriously. The #1 and #2 targets of Hollywood writers who never read a history book are Senator Joseph McCarthy and General Quantrill. Instead they simply watch other old movies and re-state all the lies. Quantrill's mission is always restated in terms of blood and gore. Oh, right! Try this: If you want senseless killing try reading about Genersal Grant at Cold Harbor, Virginia. He didn't kill many Confederates, but killed 2000 of his own men by refusing them medical attention after their failed battle. Try Google.Kansas Raiders is worth watching again every few years. 8/10
lastliberal
What are you going to do when you are a national hero; the most decorated combat soldier of WWII? Among his 33 awards was the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for bravery that a soldier can receive. In addition, he was also decorated for bravery by the governments of France and Belgium, and was credited with killing over 240 German soldiers and wounding and capturing many more.Well, I guess you go kill out in the Ole West, and that is JustWhat Audie Murphy did. This is one of his early efforts and it really is not a bad one. He plays Jesse James who, along with his brother Frank, the Younger brothers and Kit Dalton join Quantrille's Raiders until they realize just what he was and become sick of the whole thing.Tony Curtis is here - I think it may have been the second film he did.A good shoot 'em up about a sordid chapter of our history.
jldmp1
When judging a movie, what matters is not the plot or content – those are both better expressed in writing or on stage. The key to this medium is the *camera*, not the actors or the just the action devoid of context.What we have here is a complete cinematic nullity; ostensibly, it's all a staged enactment of the morality play. Not even the handkerchief fight thrills or convinces.Is there a single piece of good acting or dialogue? Is there a single character that has dimensions beyond a cartoon? Oh, we know there won't be any ambiguity, irony or self-examination…but is there at least anything engaging about the way the camera discovers the narrative? Is there?The world is waiting for someone to give this a Conradian 'Heart of Darkness' treatment(the gradual unfolding of the madness). Until then, the only intelligent treatment we have of this subject is "Outlaw Josey Wales".
Ian Payn
Kansas Raiders is a neat little film, with, one suspects, a higher budget than most Audie Murphy westerns. An interesting cast (I didn't realise Kit Dalton was from Da Bronx) and an ambitious and ambiguous premise make this a worthwhile way of passing the time.