Posted on 11/13/2010 9:31:23 AM PST by JoeProBono
"What components make a western truly great? That depends on who's asking, as there are so many subgenres and different takes. There's the classic, the Spaghetti western, the singing cowboy western, the comedy western and the contemporary western. We tend to favor the slow-moving epics à la Leone over fast shoot-'em-ups, and our gunslingers and cowboys to be complex, stoic characters faced with morally difficult situations we believe are microcosms for all of life. There were many contenders for this very American genre—even though some of the finest were shot by an Italian. We've also tried to include a couple of rare choices that do not easily spring to mind, such as the Australian oeuvre "The Proposition." After all, you can Google John Wayne yourself. But what list of top westerns would be complete without The Duke?"
1) The Magnificent Seven
2) The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
3) The Wild Bunch
4) Nevada Smith
5) Hombre
6) Once Upon a Time in the West
7) Red River
8) Will Penny
9) Outlaw Josey Wells
and NO western list is complete without Blazing Saddles!!!
Actually, my favorite is Shane. This is second followed by Silverado. And another favorite is Clint Eastwood's "Pale Rider". I heard a lot about the Searchers and finally watched it a couple of years ago. It was beyond disappointing.
On a side note, I own over 100 Louis L'Amour books.
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Who doesn’t enjoy seeing Billy Bob Thornton getting backhanded by Kurt Russell.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7J6dRkJjOI
“Gosh, Mr. Lamarr, you use your tongue prettier than a twenty dollar whore!”
What did the studio do to Red River?
They shoot horses don’t they?
I liked Silverado.
Turned it pink?
The Searchers – 1956 Nominated as the greatest Western movie of all time, this film has a great performance by the amazing John Wayne. He portrays a middle aged Civil war veteran seeking to locate his missing niece. There are some beautiful vignettes of frontier life, and many subsequent film directors have acknowledged their debt to this film.
Definitely. I was surprised to see how well it was done.
Can’t recall a flaw in the movie.
What’s that one with Duvall from a few years ago. That was great.
3:10 to Yuma
The Assassination of Jesse James was great.
No Country for Old Men was not only fantastic but picked up the Oscar for Best Picture.
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005)
Bad Day at Black Rock.
Red River
How the West Was Won
For a Few Dollars More (I just enjoy it more than The Good, the Bad and the Ugly)
Tombstone
Silverado
Dances With Wolves (PC it may be, but still an impressive epic)
Jeremiah Johnson
The Train Robbers (not great by definition, but a personal favorite with a top-notch cast)
Blazing Saddles
The Wild Bunch
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