New true grit vs. old true grit

The first was the best for me, but the remake was passable. They did a good job trying to live up to the first.

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First I admit that the first version I watch is the one I lean towards.
It happens I Saw the C brothers version first & found it better. Somehow the old fashioned 1969 movie just has a harder time to pass screen these days. The acting is awkward, Someone remarked that the new Mattie was kind of a she-Terminator which I relate to, but still better than Darby. the girl actress isn't really a girl, her body language is weird. John Wayne & Campbell also didn't impress me. Some of the other actors were good: Robert Duvall, the horse trader, Chaney. But all were played similarly in the new movie... so that brings me back to my first statement.
New films are also probably technically better like the river crossing scene where in the original you only get a telephoto shot of Mattie since it's a double.

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In 1 million years I would never watch the new version of this movie.

It's ridiculous that it was remade and anyone who watched it and enjoyed it is stupid.

I think that Wayne plays the better Cogburn, but the newer movie is better made.

I think that Darby was not very good at all and her performance really kinda stinks so the massive upgrade there is an improvement.

Damon vs Campbell is a wash.

I absolutely love both of these movies, and watch either of them when I find them on. The newer one is obviously nicer to look at and so forth but ya' just can't beat Wayne in this roll. One of his rootin' tootin' best.

i can't agree that the old is better than the new, nor the new better than the old ... i think they're equal ... the new is 'dirtier' showing more the true nature of what the old west was like (much like 'the proposition', an amazing western, perhaps the best ever imho), it includes the flies the poor living conditions and such ...

but the old, well by god, John Wayne was John Wayne and he was something to see in a role like True Grit ... talking out of the side of his mouth, bad-mouthing Glen Campbell, and protecting 'lil sis' even tho, Wayne admitted in an interview years later that there was zero chemistry between him and the girl ... but you wouldn't notice it in the movie with his fond and protective nature shone toward the girl ...

it's a toss-up for my money ... both i rate as ten-star, damned fine westerns and with the way hollywood and tv churned out westerns by the droves for a couple decades, there are damn few fine ones ...

but as in Blazing Saddles, must still place a hand over their heart and sing "Randolph Scott" whenever his name is mentioned, altho his westerns are sparkling clean, right off the backlot ... but i worked midnights when i was young and on Sunday morning WGN tv in chicago would have "Randolph Scott Theatre" and I have probably seen every one of his westerns ... he was something to see and much like Wayne, he stood tall in the saddle and had the finest of hero codes ...

anyway, just my two cents :) good thread :)



take care,
cormac


"Fill yer hand you son-of-a-bitch"
-- John Wayne

(even Jeff Bridges couldn't quite capture the true majesty of that line)

I think some problems with the new film lie in the the unnecessary additions to the plot that add nothing and pad the movie out, and the lack of resonance in the line delivery. The girl who played Mattie (Hailee Stasfield) seems to rattle off her lines with disregard for what they mean, as if she's reading from a cue card sometimes. The confrontation between the horse owner and Mattie in the original was far funnier, wittier, and more memorable thanks to the original actress's performance. She plays Mattie with a lot more conviction imo.

Another problem was the movie remains a little flat throughout and ends on a whimper, whereas the original builds and builds, finally climaxing while not overstaying its welcome.

~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.