Fast train a'comin'?

I'm back.

The wave is rolling again in calmer seas.

And after a weekend of rodeos and state fairs in our week-long new home in rural Ellensburg, Washington, what better way to return than with my long-delayed post on 3:10 to Yuma?

I've been excited to see the remake since I first heard about it. Certainly at least since hearing the part about "starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale." Open Range remains one of my favorite films of the past decade, and on paper this one looks at least as good.

Now the reviews are coming in, and they're too good to be true... Phenomenal... At the time of this writing, the ultra-rare 100% rating on rottentomatoes.com.

And apart from one except from, I think, Susan Granger's review, there's no hint so far of the story being "updated" for today's audience -- often code for P.C. whitewashing or a film having been cheesed up with a Justin Timberlake cameo or hip-hop soundtrack.

Speaking of cheddar, I'm still cheesed at what Turner Classic Movies just did to Tombstone. It seems the self-appointed guardian of film purity has sold out to the La Raza crowd. Remember that great opening-sequence line by Johnny Ringo?

"That's not what he said, you ignorant wretch. Your Spanish is worse than your English."

Gone. Removed. Banned from the airwaves. Can't have a white guy dissing undocumented outlaws, can we? Or maybe the problem was having a Latino bad guy in the first place. Either way, I must now view TCM with one eyebrow firmly arched. Just waiting for that cigarette to be digitally erased from Bogie's hand in Casablanca next.

And this from the people who pride themselves on showing pre-Code films, people who, last I checked, still allowed the Marx Brothers line about the Headstrongs marrying the Armstrongs. ("That's how darkies were born!")

Sorry. Fresno Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome kicking in there for a moment. Back to Yuma.

In the move and the ensuing culture shock/fatigue/jet lag (albeit a Penske truck) I actually jumped the gun a little and thought the release was this weekend. Better it's Sept. 7 actually. Might have our stuff together in time to make it for opening night yet.