11. Red Dead Redemption
One of the greatest films of all time has a distinct influence on one of the greatest games of all time, Rockstar's 'Red Dead Redemption'. To be honest, the game is full of references to many films which have inspired its Western theme, but Leone's masterpiece is certainly at the forefront. Lead character John Marsden bares more than a passing resemblance to The Man With No Name, complete with unlockable outfits similar to those seen in the film, such as the distinctive poncho and Blondie's duster. The missions themselves are also full of references to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, with players able to shoot noose ropes to free hanging prisoners, while another mission has you blowing up a bridge in a similar scenario to the classic Civil War sequence in the film. If it weren't for Leone's 'Dollars Trilogy', it's unlikely that Red Dead Redemption would be nearly as cool and seeped in style as Rockstar's gaming masterpiece is.
12. Lee Van Cleef as Angel Eyes (The Bad)
Lee Van Cleef's distinctive chiseled features and sharp impenetrable glare made him a perfect fit for the Western genre, especially the two films for which he worked with Leone - 'For A Few Dollars More' and 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'. His role of Angel Eyes (The Bad) is a distinct counterpart to his role as Colonel Mortimer in 'For A Few Dollars More', in which he would eventually become an ally to Eastwood's Man With No Name - this time acting as the films true villain throughout the story.
13. Scene - The Ghost Town
After being bombarded by artillery fire, Tuco and Blondie find themselves in the wreckage of a deserted and seemingly lifeless town. All is not as it seems however, with the pair being hunted by Angel Eyes' ruthless gang of killers. What follows is a fantastic sequence with the pair walking through the shell of the town and gunning down men from all angles - complete with the obligatory stuntman falling off rooftop gag.
14. Music: L'Estasi Dell'oro (The Ecstasy Of Gold)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE8YOvuhIcQ&feature=related One of my favourite pieces of music, Ecstasy Of Gold is an amazingly epic and grand piece of Ennio Morricone's score and one of his finest compositions. While it's not as well recognized as the main theme, Ecstasy Of Gold has become a classic piece of music and has since been covered by
Metallica, and featured in everything from
adverts to the opening sequence of a popular comedy film series (we'll come to that later).
15. It's The Quintessential Spaghetti Western
If you mention the term Spaghetti Western to anyone, chances are they'll immediately think of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly as it has become the definitive and quintessential Spaghetti Western - combining everything that's unique and definable to the genre into one classic movie.