SPOILERS DOWN THE PATH; THE DISCUSSION BELOW WILL NOT BE COMPREHENSIVE WITHOUT IT.
TREAD CAREFULLY. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
The Wild Bunch is a nutty classic. While it does have some redeeming aspects to it, there were so many questionable things about the film that made us wonder how and why is it often listed as one of the best Westerns of all time.
For one, The Wild Bunch almost doesn't have any likable / relatable characters. With plenty of bad performances from the Mexican extras and completely awkward sequences that were downright cringeworthy, it seems this movie didn't age well at all. The initial shootout was messy, but it's unsure if that's exactly Sam Peckinpah's intention in order to put us in the characters' mindscape. Adding on to the texture that's full of grim and grit, the product at the end of the day was bland and chewy.
There's a personal tissue connection between the protagonist who's being chased and the former colleague who's chasing him. The story and plot could have spent more time with these two and their past, rather than shoehorning it into the narrative here and there alike snippets. By doing so, it would have saved us from watching the boring and repetitive travel of the bunch from one town to another having fun.
With all these being said, there's a train robbery sequence in the middle of the narrative. One has to watch it to see how brilliant the direction was! With the cart wheel stuck on a broken wooden bridge that's set to explode in minutes plus army and bounty hunters engaging in a shootout with the heroes, the entire section leaves your heart racing like no other! The same can be said about the rifle negotiation deal, Angel's (Jaime Sánchez) final fate and the stylish march plus massacre shootout to rescue the gringo at the climax!
Conflict and tension between the team members were okay, but could have been so much better. One of the best peak examples would be Angel shooting his estranged fiancée, but sadly there weren't many scenes like this in the motion picture. Jerry Fielding's soundtrack was good for the most parts, as were the dialogues. Not to forget, kids shown toying with a scorpion that’s engulfed by a swarm of ants told us perfectly about the brutal and harsh world we're about to begin our journey into.