New Grit vs. Old Grit

[killdeer43]

Cindy and I went to a matinee on this cold, rainy day to see the remake of True Grit. Then we came home and watched the original....True Grit.

Sorry, Duke, but the Dude wins this one, for a number of reasons, not the least of which was the trite music of the original, which was typical of the Bonanza/Big Valley/Virginian/Maverick western soundtracks.

The spectacular color backgrounds in the original were definitely not even close to Oklahoma/Arkansas, while the remake was a lot closer. The remake also exudes a lot more realism to what the "old days" might have been like, along the lines of dusty, dirty, unsanitary, harsh, etc.

The newcomer (can't recall her name) was a better Mattie than Kim Darby and Glen Campbell, well......great guitar player!

Storyline and dialogue were pretty right on to a point and then drifted....especially the ending. Another Coen brothers winner!

We had a good day, :wink:
Joe

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

I consider myself a big fan of John Wayne but True Grit was not one of his better movies.
He received the Oscar more as a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Time was running out, if you know what I mean.

I haven't seen the remake yet but I will.
If it's as good as Crazy Heart, it will be well worth watching.

There will never be another "Duke" though

 

[TonyT]

My man-crush on Jeff Bridges is well documented. And I just bought Crazy Heart today for $7.99, new, not prev. viewed.

 

[FNG]

Two fav John Wayne movies...the Searchers, and the Quiet Man. Most of his others I can take or leave.

The new True Grit was a much better movie, and the new Maddie stole the show.

 

[killdeer43]

I also noticed that Rooster's eye patch was on different eyes in the two versions. :shock:

Check it out,
Joe

 

[Brad Little]

Two fav John Wayne movies...the Searchers, and the Quiet Man. Most of his others I can take or leave.

I'd add "Angel and the Badman," if only for Wayne's character name: Quirt Evans. Plus not a bad movie overall.
Brad

 

[killdeer43]

I'd add "Angel and the Badman," if only for Wayne's character name: Quirt Evans. Plus not a bad movie overall.
Brad

Wow! Reaching all the way back to 1947!
Opens up the potential for favorite movie character NAMES. 8)
I'll have to consider that.

Joe

 

[dapmdave]

I did the same thing. We really enjoyed the new "True Grit". I netflixed the old one, since I didn't have a clear recollection of it. The new version blows it away, IMHO.

And I also agree that while The Duke made a lot of great films, "True Grit" was not one of them.

Dave

 

[stclrob]

I thought the best upgrade from old to new was the cinematography. The shots of the west in the new one rocked.

If anyone is a King of the Hill fan, John Redcorn was the indian who was hanged in the beginning.

 

[killdeer43]

I thought the best upgrade from old to new was the cinematography. The shots of the west in the new one rocked.

I'm with you there. Everything was just too beautiful in the original, while the Coen brothers have an eye for detail and accuracy when they paint their pictures of place and time. :wink:

Joe

 

[Ridgemont]

I have to admit that I am not the biggest Duke fan but I do not think it is his fault. Yes he died before I was even a glimmer in my mama's eye, but I think it has much to do with the entire Western genre in general. In terms of a grittier, more realistic feel, I would put my money on the Coen brothers to convey that more convincingly than some of the old Spaghetti Westerns. Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate the old Western genre and they are entertaining. But sometimes they are about as believable as a sweaty Kirk sitting in the captains chair of the USS Enterprise. Entertaining yes, but they will not make me fear for my life the way Anton Chigurh did.

 

[killdeer43]

Anton Chigurh

Ah yes, a reminder of another Coen brothers classic.
I loved it but good friends think otherwise. You really have to get into the Coens to appreciate what they've brought to the big screen.
Everything from Blood Simple to True Grit has 'classic' written all over it, with a couple of notable exceptions. :wink:

Coen fan I am,
Joe

 

[West R Lee]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNgJiXVw2Vc

West

 

[mad dog]

Matt Damon's excellent turn in this movie is another reason it works so well. The fact that this young newcomer lady could hold her own with two very talented old pros is really impressive. Excellent film. Always loved the Coen brothers. Their interests and abilities are deep.

MD

 

[JerryR]

I saw the original movie then read the original book - I'm looking forward to the new version

 

[Default]

Haven't seen the movie, but I have read some letters from that time. People were far more eloquent back then. Looking forward to seeing the new one.

 

[killdeer43]

Haven't seen the movie, but I have read some letters from that time. People were far more eloquent back then.

Eloquence sort of went hand-in-hand with penmanship back in the day. :wink:
And, after reading all these comments, I might have to watch it, again! 8)

Joe

 

[CA-35]

"You don't serve papers on a rat baby girl"