In my humble opinion, one would be better off watching "Shane" rather than this. I love Clint Eastwood, but this movie borrows too much from an outstanding iconic western to stand by itself. I have no idea what Mr. Eastwood was thinking except perhaps to ""mine" some mint from an old classic movie.

Doesn't get any better than watching Clint Eastwood tear some corrupt tycoons to shreds.

Just watch High Plains Drifter instead. Unnecessary slow pacing combined with mediocre script action makes this a hard watch.

Pretty dang good. I like the theory that the Preacher is actually a ghost back to enact justice. Whatever the case, it's a good film.

A Classic Western Deep Cut. It's really well made all around. This is a hybrid of Shane & High Plains Drifter combined to great results. I love how the spiritual aspects really are implied but never outright spelled out to the audience. There are some amazing shots in this and it never really feels like a movie from the 80's and very simliar in direction and tone to Unforgiven. I do wish there was a bit more character depth as no one is that deep but really well acted though. Hall is great and the villians are solid. I do wish the music was a bit more catchy at times like the westerns it's influenced by. It can be a little jumpy here and there but not much. Also when The Preacher goes away in the middle it does feel like it loses focus a little bit but still carries strong to a great showdown. It feels in the end a bit more personal the showdown than it does for helping the townfolk. The direction really is strong here and helps even when it doesn't focus on Eastwood. Anyone who is a fan of any actors in this, Eastwoods directed films, or westerns will like this a lot.

It's ok, but it's getting a little old the same story.

A reworking of "Shane" and Eastwood's own "High Plains Drifter" that, while sporadically interesting, unfortunately lacks the emotional power of the former or the rage of the later.

I liked this movie a lot. It all looks so very real, it wasn't long before I began to believe I was there. The story is a simple one of course but that's no bad thing because it's the performance that makes all the difference. Every detail is delivered to perfection, by a superb cast. Eastwood is amazing, the way he controls the scenes with just his understated wit and resolute charisma, no one could ever doubt the outcome that is about to unfold, but the tension is so intense we can't look away. The formula is long tried and tested, but is still extremely entertaining. The only element which doesn't quite work for me is the obligatory romantic subplot which seems like an unnecessary distraction in an otherwise uncluttered plot.

This movie is a more slow-paced Clint Eastwood western, and I've for sure liked some other ones better. However, this one still had its epic moments and had good cast members (such as Chris Penn, RIP). I also like the relationship that Clint Eastwood's character developed with the family and the villagers to make them trust him and make himself into their hero. The bad guys presented themselves as an intimidating force with power behind them but I knew that Clint would get the best of them and save the day somehow. Even though they're cliche and we're overdone at one point in time, I can't help but be hooked by westerns (and I'm not even old, I'm in my 20s and I know how significant they are to film, as well as the screen presence of Mr. Eastwood)!

Great movie, add a religious twist and you have Pale Rider. NRJ.

The greatest (Yee-Haw!!!!!!!!!!!!) 01 hour: and 55 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another western starring the timeless Clint Eastwood but by far one of his highest achievements Even the title has one of the biggest Biblical influences with its lead being named after one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse A gang of outlaws led by Coy Lahood start targeting a gold miners’ town forcing them to give up their land as well as their findings But Eastwood as “Preacher” comes in to disband them liberating the townsfolk from the gold miner’s grip It proves to be more challenging though as the tycoons refuse to budge claiming they have mineral rights The town’s prospectors work and provide for all involved so they decide to take a stand against the corporate kings One family takes “Preacher” into their home and their daughter Megan is prolly the bravest with a determined heart to say enough is enough with the tycoons taking so much from her Even the father played by Michael Moriarty wants to do the right thing and be the best supporter to his daughter and her mother But the hardship gets bigger when these tycoons began to retaliate even by bringing in an old rival to take “Preacher” out Eastwood is pitch perfect as usual, the music is composed brilliantly, the California setting is exquisite, and the ending builds up the perfect amount of suspense taking its time boiling down to a final confrontation Even Megan played by Sydney Penny gets a great amount of development This is actually one of my favorite Clint Eastwood outings and stands out as one of the more successful westerns If more people practiced loving there’d be less death, we can’t serve both god and money, can a prayer truly be answered in times of crisis?, the people should benefit from serving society not be pushed aside or less thought of It’s also cool they allow the audience to draw their own conclusions about “Preacher” and his actual backstory without explaining too much It ends on more of a half and half note; even if there’s a victory a lot still goes unsaid as far as gratitude and appreciation Even a preacher goes his own way as Eastwood does wonders again here as actor/director

Though Pale Rider has a questionable romantic subplot involving an adult and a child, although the film wasted the potential of some of its characters, it is a very entertaining and stylish western classic.

Typical Eastwood film and that isn't a bad thing.

Really good movie. Been waiting nearly 40 years to watch it. Love the sledgehammer scene lol! Definitely recommend

This film features some good combat scenes, with impressive choreography. The plot is a little plodding/slow but I found it fairly entertaining never the less. There are a variety of characters present, from gold prospectors to wives and kids - its pretty much what I would expect from a western film, only with perhaps less action than I may have liked. The titular character is somewhat mysterious and quiet for quite a lot of the film, which I believe to be typical of Clint Eastwood's characters in film. I can't say I didn't enjoy seeing him give rather cocky and loudmouthed locals their comeuppance. There is a decent amount of tension and atmosphere present in scenes featuring confrontations. I found myself wondering why the titular character is apparently only ever referred to as 'the preacher' or 'preacher' - I suppose, as I say, such mysterious characters are typical Clint Eastwood territory but I certainly found myself wondering in what way he was meant to be a preacher, as he doesn't look like a particularly religious sort of person. There is a sub-plot, featuring romance, which I found to be a bit cheesy but there's little else wrong with it really I reckon, so I'd say, in my mind, its a pretty solid 4 star, good film, even if it is a little predictable.

When a corporate gold mining company pressures and intimidates a small group of pan miners to leave their potentially lucrative land claim, help is needed in the form of some sort of miracle to save their land. Miraculously, a mysterious stranger, known only as Preacher (Clint Eastwood) arrives on horseback to stare down the enemy and save the day. Directed by Eastwood, Pale Rider has a lot going for it. It is beautifully shot, filled with great characters, moves along at a nice clip, and has plenty of shots of Eastwood's steely stare. Unfortunately, it's practically a carbon copy of virtually every Western starring Eastwood that came before it – a downtrodden group victimized by evildoers, a savior appears out of nowhere, a confrontation takes place, evil is defeated. Pale Rider is an entertaining movie, but you can't help but get the feeling that you've seen it all before, countless times.

Despite some beautifully shot scenes, this movie was just too slow paced and predictable for me.

This is a good'un. 'Pale Rider' features an enjoyable story featuring the gold rush, while the characters are all solid - Clint Eastwood gives a strong performance in the lead role, though I would've liked to have seen more of John Russell and his character. I don't think it's perfect or anything, but I got entertainment from it and that's enough for me - I've not got much more to note.

A classic western story of a small group of people are being harassed and they need a hero to save them.