The Worst Best Movie - Why on earth did The Searchers get canonized? By Stephen Metcalf

I disagree. The first time I saw the movie I was impressed by many of the little details (shooting of the dead apache's eyes, the medal, the Mexican Jefe, wedding fight etc.) that made the movie deep, rich and complex. Only with additional watchings do you realize, what kind of nuts would farm in the desert? Why is Scar a white dude with war paint?

I disagree about the women too. Yes, they are frontier women. The love triangle in the story is funny and makes the film more compelling. Certainly the complexities of Marty growing up also bring somethng else to the genre. What more do you want from a western? Is Red River so much better because tow guys want to "polish" each other's guns? Does Stagecoach have anything else but archetypes? Ethan's dogedness and darkness are a refreshing change to the dull goodness of Henry Fonda's Wyatt Earp in My Darling Clementine. Searcher's isn't a great movie with no reasons, the Metcalf just didn't explore them in his essay.