Ron Howard wanted to make an update of The Alamo, previously done in epic fashion by John Wayne. Howard pulled out of the project, but did direct The Missing, which (very) loosely could be compared to the Duke's The Searchers.

Of course, there are far too many differences to truly compare the two, but the most basic of the premise remains, being a Western in which some Indians have snagged a young girl from her family and someone has to go get her. This time, the search doesn't take years and the modern politically correct sensibilities don't have the girl kidnapped to be raised by Indians (sorry - Native Americans).

In fact, PC demands that Native Americans are as blameless as can be, and have to be driven to do something wrong by the evil White Man, forerunner to The Man. It's not that I consider Indians to be savages. I certainly respect their culture as it was, but to completely rewrite history by saying that they would never do anything wrong without White Man prodding them is rewriting history.

(rant) What I do object to is this Hollywood idea nowadays that any time they show Indians, the natives are spouting mumbo jumbo mysticism and wise philosophical platitudes. In the effort by elite liberal diversity-loving Hollywood liberals to respect a people, they end up being the worst perpetrators to box up the Native American civilizations in an edible stereotype. (/end rant)

The lovely lady Galadriel, otherwise known as Cate Blanchett, stars in yet another powerful dramatic role. She should have one Oscar already for Elizabeth (dang you Gwyneth!), and could get at least another nomination for this.

Cate is a doctor with two daughters, one a young teen, the other still a polite and growing little girl in need of new shoes. The older one wants to get out and see the world, the younger a tomboy and devoted to her mother. To make things more absorbing, Cate is dating Aaron Eckhart (Erin Brockovich), a cowboy who takes care of her ranch.

Along comes Tommy Lee Jones, Blanchett's absentee father-turned-Indian, who arrives at just the right time when Blanchett's oldest daughter, Lily, is taken by a wicked Shaman (medicine man), evil white men and their Apache troops to be sold south of the border to Mexicans. She�s played by Evan Rachel Wood, coming off a critically acclaimed performance in Thirteen (now she's sixteen) earlier this year.

Better, and more involved in the film, is ten-year-old Jenna Boyd, playing the youngest daughter, Dot. She fully belongs in the search with Blanchett and Tommy Lee Jones, marking the rare film where the child enhances the impact of the movie.

I've read some reviews that criticize Jones, that he's "a bit ridiculous." No, what we see in his old ragged face that looks like the side of a mesa, is a tired old man full of regret, and he gets the chance to reconcile somewhat with a lost life.

Howard�s 1885 New Mexico looks incredible on screen, complete with scenic wintry panoramic vistas, showing that our cast is virtually alone and without help, not even the cavalry (led by Val Kilmer) will be able to assist.

The Missing is not a peppy, feel-good, good-natured motion picture. This is a dreary, desolate, virtually humorless "serious" film, done by a top-notch cast and noted filmmaker, meaning that it is well crafted.