Totally off effing topic

[Larry Reese]

My god, a few weeks ago I saw the remake of True Grit. I was sorely disappointed. Some really classic scenes, particularly the bargaining with Col. Stonehill were completely wooden now, with no animation or spontaneity or zest. And of course, Robert Duval can't be touched in the original as Ned Pepper even though it is really just a small supporting role. Anyway, I'm sure I'm out of step with this as Netflix was showing the remake rated higher than the original. Just makes me want to barf.

And, for your viewing pleasure:


  Thats_Right.jpg (Size: 51.85 KB / Downloads: 13)

And for comparison purposes, compare this to Charlie Sheen half passed out in a limo from last week or whenever. There's a little difference with class between old and new now I think. And I'm hopelessly out of touch.


  Frank_Sinatra.jpg (Size: 108.96 KB / Downloads: 12)

Later,

LR

[daisy]

Unfortunately I have not seen the original True Grit so I am unable to agree or disagree with your opinion.

However, I was blown away by the new version - a simple story well told with good acting, set in beautifull surroundings.

Its such a treat when Hollywood actually makes a western now days. I grew up watching westerns with my dad, going to the drive-in movies so for me westerns are a must.

I dont get the fast cars, explosions and big boobed blonde movies that Hollywood is churning out.

[Outlaw Josey Wales]

How does one grow up watching westerns with their dad, going to drive in movies and have never seen the original True Grit with John Wayne?

The last of the great "Cowboys", Robert Duvall and Clint Eastwood are really getting up there. The best of the younger generation that makes a western that I like is Costner. The two problems is 1, The great westerns were made when western history wasn't that far in the past, which is no longer the case any longer and 2, Hollywood seems to no imagination left, constantly remaking movies, especially those that shouldn't be touched rather than actually making something new.

[Larry Reese]

For a good "recent" cowboy movie, "open range" is excellent. There is another Robert Duval vehicle that came out about the same time as Open Range, but the name escapes me. Good one there too.

Check out the original True Grit. See what you think.

LR

[Compass Rose]

I am a big JW fan too however, I never cared much for True Grit. He had several other westerns which I enjoyed alot more. My favorites are Rio Bravo, The Searchers, Red River, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

[Larry Reese]

The Searchers generally considered the best western ever made. (I'm not sure I agree with that, but I think they were coming at it from a comparison of what had gone before - when compared to most earlier westerns, Searchers was a whole order of magnitude different.) I also find it interesting to note that JW would never discuss that movie in detail; it seemed to have had a strange effect on many of the cast members.

Oh, and trivia for you guys who've seen the original True Grit: some of the stunt man jobs in the last half or so of the movie were done by Wilfred Brimley, uncredited. This was one of his very first ever movie roles - he was a friend of Duval's who was on the set to tend the horses and Duval got him a bigger role.

Oh, and on the new True Grit - I think some of it just departs to the silly. Like the guy hung from a noose thirty feet in the air. Come on. Happens all the time. And the carting around of dead bodies as trade items. Just plain silly; and smacking to me of the condescending BS about the barbaric ways of the "red man" instead of any historical accuracy. But again, that's just my opinion.

LR

[daisy]

How does one grow up watching westerns with their dad, going to drive in movies and have never seen the original True Grit with John Wayne?

The last of the great "Cowboys", Robert Duvall and Clint Eastwood are really getting up there. The best of the younger generation that makes a western that I like is Costner. The two problems is 1, The great westerns were made when western history wasn't that far in the past, which is no longer the case any longer and 2, Hollywood seems to no imagination left, constantly remaking movies, especially those that shouldn't be touched rather than actually making something new.

I was born in 1974 - the original True Grit was released before my birth. The town where I grew up had one movie per week and unfortunately I was not lucky enough to see this one with my dad. The only older movies that we got to see were Lone Ranger shorts if I remember correctly. And as to new movies - the west had sanctions against my country so we did not get good movies and a lot of things were never shown here.

Not all members on this forum grew up in the west or a first world country my friend.

Re Charlie Sheen : the guy is a infantile ashhat. Period.

[Von Earlmann]

Unfortunately I have not seen the original True Grit so I am unable to agree or disagree with your opinion.

However, I was blown away by the new version - a simple story well told with good acting, set in beautifull surroundings.

Its such a treat when Hollywood actually makes a western now days. I grew up watching westerns with my dad, going to the drive-in movies so for me westerns are a must.

I dont get the fast cars, explosions and big boobed blonde movies that Hollywood is churning out.

original True Grit is a classic......haven't seen the new one and probably won't. Newer westerns I liked were Open Range and Silverado......Siverado had a lot of big names and almost all the elements of every old western thrown in for good measure......fast paced and good fun :-)....I was so into cowboys that I actually became a quick draw with a Colt 45.Practiced for hours and got to be faster than most of the guys on tv...........of course I never did actually get to do anything usefull with it......did walk into my bank one day with it strapped on my hip(we had been target practicing).......got a few funny looks but no one said a word........probably wouldn't be so lucky in this day and age........ah the good old days :-)

VE

[Warhorse]

Never saw True Grit, big JW fan too, 50 years young tomorrow, BTW. Maybe time to check it out....?

Mike

[Big Dawg]

Guys,

Did you watch TV mini series "Lonesome Dove"? I thought it was the best mini series ever & Duvall was incredible.

I always liked Eastwood over "The Duke, but did enjoy JW very much.