"Shane" is mentioned in "Wolverine 3". It seems that two movies with completely different settings in time background and characters, why are they put together?
Although it tells a story that took place in the American West in the 1950s, "Shane" is not a Western movie in the traditional sense. There is no yellow sand in the sky, duels in front of the pub, no cowboy hats, small pistols around the waist, and galloping horses. The Fistful of Wilderness, bounty hunters, etc. The pioneers headed by Rufus Ryker grabbed land from the Indians for grazing. They are the western cowboys in our impression. Self-cultivating farmers, represented by Joe, came to the pioneers’ land to reclaim farmland, build canals, and develop farming civilization in order to live a stable and prosperous life. The two sides struggle constantly. Shane, the wilderness ranger, passes by the town and tries to integrate into the farming life, but after helping Joe and the farmers fight against the pioneers, he finally chooses to leave and return to the wilderness.
Shane was originally a free ranger from the wilderness, sensitive and alert, gentle and humorous. No one knows his past, but every ranger who has been alone for a long time will probably yearn for a beautiful and virtuous wife, a cute and clever child, or a Dutch cow, so he can stay. There are even injustices here that you can draw a knife to help, a sense of mission that makes Shane feel even more that he may belong to this place. If there is no Ryker, maybe Shane can fit into this kind of comfortable and "civilized" life almost without pressure, and have the same happy life as Joe.
So far, the film seems to preach that the transition from nomadic civilization to farming civilization is a better choice for mankind, and it is also a trend that cannot be changed. People will put down their guns, give up plundering, and each will protect their own land and live a peaceful group life in peace. Until the fierce and important debate between Ryker and Joe, the pioneers took the land after hardships, but the self-employed people naturally set up their own sites for self-sufficiency. Who is right and who is wrong?
As a representative of advanced civilization, Joe successfully pointed out that the land he had looted did not originally belong to the pioneers, and everything in front of him was just similar games constantly being staged. The development of civilization and the change of times are, to put it bluntly, the individual's pursuit of maximization of self-interest in the group or nature.
So where should these Shanes who wander on the edge of the era go?
I think the best thing about "Shane" is the so-called white space. The film does not have too much psychological description of Shane. He is just a kind and simple person who pursues his own heart. They have indelible characteristics of the old age. The growth experience determines that they can only adapt to one kind of life, so they are in the era. Hesitating and hesitating amidst the change, at a loss as to what to do. When they finally decided to stop and try to change, they could only find that the moment they picked up the pistol was their true self. A classic scene in movie history is also mentioned in "Wolverine 3", a bit sad to express the fateful aspirations of these tragic heroes.
Shane: Joey, what are you doing here
Joey: I'm sorry, Shane.
Shane: You don't have to be, you'd better run back
Joey: Can I ride back home behind you?
Shane: I'm afraid not, Joey.
Joey: Please! Why not?
Shane: I gotta be going on.
Joey: Why, Shane?
Shane: A man has to be what he is, Joey. Can't break the mould.
I tried it and it didn't work for me.
Joey, there's no living with a killing. There's no going back from one.
Rignt or wrong, it's a brand. A brand stick. There's no going back.
Now you run on home to your mother and tell her everything is all right.
There are't any more guns in the valley.
The most outstanding supporting role in the film is Joey Jr. Although he is Joe's son, Joey is more like Shane's heir. He has a strong yearning for the era of rangers represented by Shane, but under the enlightenment, he can receive the new era of civilization with peace of mind. Shane's appearance satisfies his curiosity about the "barbaric" era, but in his life, this will only be an episode. In the end, he will return to his parents and be a civilized man of the new era. The times are changing smoothly here, and the once rangers can only return to the wilderness to continue wandering, returning to their own peace of mind.
At this point in the story, I finally understand why Wolverine’s ending chapter ends with a tribute to Shane. Logan and Shane are both wild rangers, kind and simple, so their feelings and abilities are easily used by others, whether it is Professor X who looks like a savior or the selfish and violent Stryker. Logan tried time and time again to integrate into the new era of civilization represented by Professor X, but he always seemed to be an outlier, like an excellent employee who could only work, but couldn't grasp the spirit of the boss. His kindness and sense of mission made him unable to follow his own heart, so he could only serve as Professor X's helper to save all mankind. But there will always be a day, when he is tired, sees clearly, and has someone to succeed him, he will always go back to the wilderness, to the land that belongs to him, free and peaceful. No one can raise a wolf. Although wolves are lonely and sad, they are where they should be. It doesn't matter whether they are right or wrong, good or bad, past or future.
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