Posted on 10/03/2011 9:53:58 PM PDT by mirkwood
I just watched the remake of True Grit and I was disapointed to say the least. The kid did well, but the whole movie seemed to be a lukewarmed version of the original. This movie had all the stuff, just like a c on a term paper. Blah. When you watch the original you get involved in the movie. This is a sad satire of a classic.
Glenn Campbell’s hair is hilarious in the movie. The character is famous for his cowlick and Campbell had it in spades. One of the funniest lines in Margarite Younger’s original screenplay is Mattie’s remark to La Boeuf that men in Yell County do not have hair that grows like lettuce.
Campbell is a weak link in the movie, undoubtedly, but I didn’t even understand why Matt Damon was in the remake.
You’re right. The original is FAR closer to the book. There are so many weird changes in the remake that define it as far more a Coen Brothers creepfest than a movie made from Charles Portises’ wonderful novel.
You’ve pointed out the one big change in the original: Campbell’s death.
I read the book. I usually read the books on which movies are based. Especially if I really liked the movie. I can recommend the book to you.
My brother sent us the remake DVD. Everyone has watched it but me.
I can also recommend 'The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales/Gone To Texas' by Forrest Carter.
I don’t recall the ending of the original. (I liked both movies). But I do recall being very gripped by the ending of the remake in Rooster’s attempt to save the girl. Running his horse to death like a madman, then running himself like a madman. It was a good juxtaposition (sp?) of him being mean and ornery and his compassion for this young girl.
And I liked the new girl as well, and IIRC she had an interesting story on her getting the part - but I forget what it is now.
> I think this remake stunk. The kid did an adequate job, but...
I’ve got to agree with you.
They went through the motions and they read the script but, except for a scene or two, the move was flat and hollow.
> I think this remake stunk. The kid did an adequate job, but...
I’ve got to agree with you.
They went through the motions and they read the script but, except for a scene or two, the movie was flat and hollow.
The climax is the same in both movies. In the original, Rooster takes her all the way back to Fort Smith - as it is in the book (although she doesn’t lose her arm). I believe, in the remake, she’s taken to a farm house on the way to Fort Smith. Small difference.
movies were way different...Wayne wore the eye-patch on the left eye...Bridges on the right eye.
I think part of the problem is that the remake was about 20 minutes shorter than the original. Made it choppier and harder to follow.
Is there no creativity left in Hollywood? Obviously not, all they can do is remake movies, brain dead idiots. Watch any of the old movies and the dialog alone would be over the heads of the average Hollywood producer. Any Cary Grant movie would make my point.
I also really liked the movie(liked the original also)
Saw it the first time on big screen in OKC while visiting. Movies there are really reasonable. I would be more of an attendee/addict if I lived there.
The Coen version had a far more dramatic sequence of Rooster riding with Mattie and Mattie’s horse (Blackie?) after Mattie was snake bit. To see the horse being literally ridden to death was very emotional.
The John Wayne version paled in comparison.
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