Western 'Missing' quite a lot

Old style Westerns are hard to come by, and Ron Howard tries desperately to deliver one which is politically correct enough for today's audiences. Unfortunately, it's difficult to make a politically correct Western which will excite and speak to modern audiences. \nThe story itself is intriguing, but far-fetched and confusing at times. The film is well acted by the incredibly talented Cate Blanchett and Tommy Lee Jones, but even their respective thespian abilities couldn't completely save the sometimes meandering, always far-fetched plot.\nThe features on the DVD are better than many. Like any self-respecting director, Howard has included 11 deleted scenes. Most scenes wouldn't have added to the film and deserved to be cut, but they will still interest most viewers. There are also three alternate endings, which is an interesting addition. \nOther special features include five "making-of" documentaries. Also, and probably most intriguing, are six short films conveying Howard's feelings on Westerns, and three home movie Westerns of Howard's. Short and with no sound, they nonetheless show Howard's love and interest in Westerns, which he attempted to capture in "The Missing." Lastly, the DVD also features outtakes and photo galleries. \nIn its entirety, though, "The Missing" is worth a rental, but little else.