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Arizona, 1873. The open plains of the wild west stretch across America, a country that has begun to prosper again after putting itself back together in the wake of the Civil War. Cowboys and other townspeople seek to make a good life for themselves in the land of opportunity, but they face other challenges such as local bullies, criminal gangs, Indian tribes...and alien invasions.

Yes, that's right. Alien invasions. From outer space. In the middle of the wild west.

Welcome to Cowboys and Aliens, the latest of this summer's sci-fi/action films based on comic books or graphic novels. Cowboys and Aliens is an intense but enjoyable adventure that follows a couple of rough, tough wild west heroes as they defend their homes and loved ones from an advanced race of hostile aliens. So hold on to your hats, your horses, and your lasers when you go to the theater, because you'll be in for a wild ride.

Cowboys and Aliens is based on a 2006 Platinum Studios graphic novel written by Fred Van Lente (author of several prominent Marvel titles today) and Andrew Foley. I had never heard of the graphic novel before the movie was made, but being a longtime comics fan and something of a stickler for source material, I wanted to read the graphic novel once I learned that it existed. So on the opening weekend of the movie, I avoided the crowds at the theaters and went instead to my local bookstore to peruse a copy of the graphic novel--and then I made it over to the theater to see the film version a few days later. I was not disappointed with either one.

Both the graphic novel and the movie of Cowboys and Aliens feature humans from the wild west battling off an alien invasion from space--and that is where most of the similarities between the two end. The graphic novel followed the adventures of gunslingers Zeke Jackson and Verity Jones, but the movie has a completely different cast of characters with different names, lives, personalities, and stories. The movie's prominent characters leaves out Zeke and Verity, but does include Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig), a loner with an unknown past, Colonel Woodrow Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford), a wealthy cattle rancher, a mysterious woman named Ella Swanson (Olivia Wilde), a saloon owner called Doc (Sam Rockwell), and Meacham (Clancy Brown), the local preacher. Those who have read the graphic novel will still be able to appreciate the movie, as it is almost a completely different story, neither loyal nor disloyal to the source material. Those who have never read the graphic novel should be able to enjoy the movie as well, because they will be in just the right position to meet new characters and be plunged for the first time into this adventure where worlds will collide.

The plot of the Cowboys and Aliens movie follows the adventures of Jake Lonergan, starting when he wakes up in a field with no memory of who he is or where he came from, and with a mysterious alien weapon strapped to his wrist. Jake wanders to the nearest town, Absolution, where the sheriff identifies Jake as a criminal wanted for theft and murder. Jake also runs into the wealthy and powerful Col. Dolarhyde, who is angry at Jake for having stolen some of his money. But when alien invaders ravage the town and abduct several citizens, Jake and Dolarhyde, along with a ragtag band of other townsfolk, begin to put their differences aside and set out together to track down the aliens in search of answers and their missing loved ones. Jake is able to use the weapon on his wrist against the aliens, and throughout his journey, flashbacks of being taken aboard their ship begin to fill in the gaps in his memory. The heroes' mission takes them through the plains of the wild west, across the paths of old gangs and Indian tribes, and even onto the aliens' ship, complete with plenty of intense action sequences along the way. Younger viewers should be warned that the violence in the film covers everything from fistfights to gunfights to laser battles, complete with plenty of explosions and some occasional blood. However, for those able to stomach the content, the film also contains a good story with dynamic characters and some relevant moral and spiritual themes for any era.

One of the story's prominent themes is that of equality, unity, and tolerance among humans. In the graphic novel version, the aliens' invasion of Earth was analogous to the cowboys' own attempts to take over Indian lands; both scenarios involved a new people group trying to conquer or drive out an old one. The point was made that having better weapons technology--guns over bows and arrows or lasers over guns--does not give someone the right to take others' lives and land, and the cowboys began to realize this once the aliens put them on the receiving end of such hostile treatment. Realizing their error and needing to fight for survivial, the cowboys made peace with the Indians, and both groups united to fight off the threat of the aliens. This theme of unity is downplayed but still present in the film, which also features cowboys and Indians joining forces against aliens, and shows us Jake and Dolarhyde turning from enemies to allies by fighting for a common cause. Both versions of the Cowboys and Aliens story send good messages about the need for unity, peace, and love amongst people, rather than dissention and hatred.

Redemption from past sins is also an important theme in the film, especially in the character of Jake. He has led a life as a dangerous criminal, but by the time we meet him, he has no memories of who he was before, and no apparent desire to be that person again, making him a blank slate with the chance to set things right. I think it is no coincidence that the town Jake comes to find himself in is called Absolution. While there, Jake stands up to a local bully (who just happens to be Col. Dolarhyde's son Percy) and defends the innocent townspeople, especially once the aliens strike and Jake is given the chance to be a hero by setting out to stop them. The preacher tells Jake that whether he goes to Heaven or Hell is his own decision, and that "God don't care who you were, only who you are." Later on, we see Col. Dolarhyde begin to be reconciled with his wayward son, and we see characters who have lost faith and hope start to find it again. Cowboys and Aliens tells us that sins, mistakes, and obstacles in life can be overcome by someone who is willing to change and make a difference.  

There is a definite difference of focus between the graphic novel and the film. The graphic novel does not explore character development very deeply, focusing instead on conveying its theme of peace and unity through the story. While this theme is not as prominent in the movie, the movie gives more attention to characters and their personal journeys, allowing for other important messages about redemption and choosing to do the right thing. Whether you watch the movie or read the graphic novel, Cowboys and Aliens is an enjoyable action adventure about peace, war, loss, and redemption--and, of course, cowboys and aliens (and Indians) shooting each other and blowing each other up for two hours. Though the film's deeper themes and moral messages do take something of a backseat to the raging action, they are still present and can be appreciated by viewers who know to look for them. If this sounds like your kind of movie, then head over to the theater right away and get ready for the exciting and action-packed adventure that is Cowboys and Aliens.