3:10 to Yuma

"In this remake of a 1957 western, a small-time family man and rancher, Dan Evans (Christian Bale), agrees to hold captured outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) as he awaits the 3:10 train to go to court in Yuma. Desperate for the money, Dan is putting his life on the line - threatened with his life by the outlaw’s gang, who are in hot pursuit."

"James Mangold's remake walks a fine line in retaining many of the original's qualities while smartly shaking things up a bit."

"This is by far (Mangold's) most sustained and evocative work."

"Maybe this redo didn't need so many bells and whistles, but Mangold brings it home."

"The story is no bigger in the new version... And it's certainly not better."

"A serviceable addition to the current western revival."

"Lean, almost absurdly satisfying."

"An extremely well-acted and well-directed remake..."

"It just tells a story and, seemingly incidentally - though no movie can be this good by accident - it achieves an elusive mythic quality."

"About the only remarkable thing the film offers is the young actor Ben Foster... When he's on screen, nobody else is visible."

"A decent Western... mainly because of the acting duel between the straight-shooting Bale and the untamed Crowe."

"The performances are electric."

"It’s a pleasure to revisit the frontier in a drama which feels far more vital than mere nostalgic homage."

"It's strongly directed, and never anything other than watchable, galloping along at a heart-racing rate..."

"A taut modern take on a lesser classic..."

"A creditable remake - no better than the original but different enough to stand on its considerable merits."

"Nothing terribly original happens in this remake... but everything happens smoothly and with grace."

"James Mangold's 3:10 to Yuma restores the wounded heart of the Western and rescues it from the morass of pointless violence..."

"In the battle of the leading men, Crowe's character has a slight edge, and the actor really makes the most of it, showing us how boyishly mischievous charm and utter venality can exist without seeming contradiction in the same being. But Bale builds to a pretty impressive boil himself after laying back for about three quarters of the film..."

"Remake of a classic is packed with action and good performances but lacks subtlety and nuance."

"This isn't Sergio Leone but was a far better watch than I had expected, and I left the cinema feeling quite replete."

"A largely compelling ride on the strength of a powerful cast led by Russell Crowe and Christian Bale..."

"Mangold has time to build sensational, studied characterizations, brilliant pacing (courtesy Mike McCuster, who also edited the director’s previous effort, the Johnny Cash biopic “Walk the Line”), and blistering action..."

"3:10 to Yuma is a stylish remake of a 50-year-old cowboy film, making this a murderously modern, yet satisfyingly old-fashioned, western."