3:10 to Yuma (R) Grade: B-

Six-shooters, holdups, saloons and outlaws -- these are the defining characteristics of a Western classic. Some of the greatest films and stars have emerged from the Wild West genre. The 2007 version of a 1957 classic, "3:10 to Yuma" takes some of today's biggest stars and places them in the dust and hardships of the unexplored.\nWhen Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) is captured by local law enforcement, one of the West's deadliest and most heartless outlaws is in captivity. In an attempt to have him tried and hanged, an escort sets out to deliver Wade to the holding cell on a train bound for Yuma, where a federal court awaits. Among the posse members is Dan Evans (Christian Bale), a down-and-out cattle farmer whose in debt and looking for a reward. Their journey to rail stations leads to many gunfights, a few cold-blooded murders and an unlikely friendship that won't soon be forgotten.\n"3:10 to Yuma," has all of the typical characteristics of a Western. The lawmen are as lawless as the outlaws, and characters shoot first and ask questions later. No doubt the graphic content is more explicit than the 1957 original, adding to the feeling of peril that exudes from the meanest man in the whole region. These are all good things.\nCrowe's portrayal of Ben Wade is chilling, just as it should be. As a man committing more murders than can be mentioned, taking whatever he wants when he wants it and decked out in a suit of black, Crowe plays an awesome villain who is both evil and appealing. Simultaneously, Bale's Dan Evans is as clean and neat as fans want any hero to be. An honest working man, he is the antithesis to the black heart portrayed by Crowe. Bale infuses his character with a legitimacy and quick wit that others have left out of similar roles. The combination leaves audiences in a pickle, not knowing whether they want to see Wade hang or escape.\nA strong criticism of the film might be the opening's long and lazy pace, much like an enduring day on a Western ranch. The action does pick up, however, and allows for a great acting duo to take over and wow audiences.\nWhile "3:10 to Yuma" lacks some of the wholesome nostalgia of other Westerns in film history, it does fill a much needed gap in a market where Western fans are often left wanting. The movie is definitely worth seeing, even if the rip roarin' West isn't your ideal. The "3:10 to Yuma" leaves as scheduled. Don't be late.