KLR 3:10 to Yuma

In watching a remake of an old film, one would expect the same story with modern characters and a better quality film. In comparing the 1957 and 2007 version of 3:10 to Yuma, cultural changes in those 50 years added new elements into the plot, noticeably changing the character of the alpha male.
In 2007, the United States was still part of the Iraq war, which brought many men to other countries to fight for their own. Life during war is not easy, neither the home life nor life in a foreign country. In the modern version of the film, evidence of war is evident throughout the film. Dan has a wooden leg, and later reveals that he has been back from war for three years. In the twenty-first century, the American culture is much more accepting of violence that it was 50 years ago. Dan’s younger son, a mere child, says “Maybe we should shoot him like Will says.” The idea of death and violence are far from radical. In the modern version, blood is not scarce. Every time someone gets shot, the camera surely captured the blood and pain. Showing what really happens and being explicit about it is no longer a shock but something expected. Dan in the modern film also shows his lack of faith in God saying, “I’ve been waiting for God to do me a god dam favor, and he ain’t listening.” This demonstrates how Dan’s motive in accepting the job is because he has to out of a sense of duty instead of wanting to provide for his family in the older version.