This sequel, set a little while after the events of the first film, opens much later, in the 1950s, with a young lawyer meeting an old man in the New Mexico desert. He claims that he is Billy the Kid and he has a tale to tell. As his story opens Billy is now riding with Pat Garrett and "Arkansas" Dave Rudabaugh. The governor offers Billy a pardon in exchange for testimony but this deal is reneged on and other surviving members of his old gang, Jose Chavez y Chavez and Josiah Gordon "Doc" Scurlock, are arrested... Billy soon escapes then breaks his friends out of captivity. Soon Billy has his old friend Pat Garrett hunting him down. Times are changing in New Mexico and Billy has less places to hide so he suggests heading south to 'Old' Mexico.

I really enjoyed this sequel, possibly more than I enjoyed the original. The story is a lot of fun as it delivers action and a degree of humour. The action includes shootouts, a knife fights and some impressive horse riding. The characters are a good mix; as well as Billy, Chavez and Doc there are new gang members; "Arkansas" Dave, played by Christian Slater; Hendry William French, played by Alan Ruck and young Tom O'Folliard, played by Balthazar Getty. These characters are an interesting mix and nicely compliment to old characters. Outside the gang William Petersen does a solid job as Pat Garrett. While it is very much a 'male film' there is a very enjoyable turn from Jenny Wright as brothel keeper Jane Greathouse, a friend of Billy's. Much of the film is fairly amusing but it does have its moments of tragedy; some real tear-jerkers. The film is shot in a way that brilliantly captures the rugged beauty of the New Mexico desert which is accompanied by a great score from Alan Silvestri. Overall I'd say this was a really enjoyable western that is well worth watching.

With Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, and Lou Diamond Phillips continuing in the roles from the first Young Guns film, Young Guns II depicts the continuing saga of Billy the Kid. In continuing his part Estevez is probably closest to what the real Billy was like, a charismatic young punk who was good enough with a weapon to back up any brag.

What new territorial governor Lew Wallace, played by Scott Wilson decides to do eventually is turn one of Billy's friends against him. Taking the place of Patrick Wayne from the first film, William Petersen plays the former buffalo hunter and outlaw and is made sheriff of Lincoln County and he's got carte blanche to do what he has to.

Missing from the first movie was the presence of John Chisum the New Mexico cattle king. He was allied with Billy's boss John Tunstall, but James Coburn makes an imposing Chisum, as imposing as John Wayne who played the part before. Billy's now alienated all factions and they want him. But among other things Chisum would actually die before Billy did in real life.

As for the characters of Doc Scurlock and Jose Chavez y Chavez played by Sutherland and Phillips unlike what the film has those two survived Billy by many years. Ironic considering both had very moving death scenes in the film, especially Lou Diamond Phillips. But ironically enough the two really died in bed.

A highlight for me was bordello madam Jenny Wright doing her Lady Godiva act after some self righteous citizens burn her establishment down, led by Petersen after giving aid and comfort to Billy. Billy gets all kinds of aid and comfort from her.

Christian Slater joins Billy's gang as Arkansas Dave Rudabaugh and he plays it in the quirky Slater manner. His grisly end is something that the film actually got right. I also did like the knife fight he had with Lou Diamond Phillips.

The whole film is actually narrated by Estevez in some remarkable old age makeup from the year 1950 when he tells a young lawyer about his past. The idea is that Billy may not have been killed by Garrett and the film is vague enough on that score. Estevez is looking for an overdue pardon promised by Governor Wallace years ago.

Young Guns II got an Oscar nomination for the song Blaze of Glory written and performed by Jon Bon Jovi who also did a bit part in the film. The music is definitely apropos to the western genre.

Young Guns II takes its place beside the first Young Guns as a modern western classic. For western fans of every generation.

An old William H. Bonney (Emilio Estevez) retells his life as a young Billy the Kid. At first, he's running with Pat Garrett (William Petersen) and Arkansas Dave Rudabaugh (Christian Slater). A settled Doc Scurlock (Kiefer Sutherland) is now a teacher, but he is taken prisoner by the law as well as Chavez (Lou Diamond Phillips). Billy the Kid eludes capture despite a hefty bounty. Governor Wallace wants him to testify and promises him a pardon in a secret pact. They fake his capture but it turns all too real when D.A. Rynerson (R.D. Call) double crosses him. He helps Doc and Chavez escape from lynch mob. Despite wanting to go back east, Doc finds himself being chased along with the rest on their way to Mexico. They go to former ally John Chisum (James Coburn) who is the richest man in the new territories. However things don't go well and Chisum hires Garrett to kill the fugitives as the new sheriff.

I really don't like the old man narration. It takes a little too long to get the gang back together. The three remaining originals still have a great deal of chemistry. However the group is too much in flux. People keeps coming in and leaving. The group doesn't settle down until 3/4 hour in to develop its chemistry. The other characters also keep showing up and confusing the story. This should be much easier as a simple chase movie.