True Grit my opinion

[Mean Bob Mean]

My wife and I watched both of them back to back, new one first.  We both agreed that the JW one was the best.

I don't think comparing them is really possible because of how different the approach to the story was.  True Grit I was such a great chance for Wayne to step outside his "Big Jake" persona and be a character you were not sure of (although it might have been more convincing had anyone thought to give him a unique costume once in a while) while True Grit II is much more of an ensemble piece that creates a better view into the sense of the period that the text created. 

Great thing about Wayne was:  he was John Wayne.

Problem with him was:  he was John Wayne. 

His work in the Quiet Man, Fort Apache, Searchers, Shootist, and many others is wonderful and often more subtle and varied than his critics credit him for; his work indicates a range that he never got to showcase in too many carelessly made productions. In his later life he was an icon that often stood in the same clothes in a different set and uttered somewhat different language while we watched a predictable and rather pedestrian plot unfold.  Without True Grit and the Shootist, I think it would have been hard to take his later stuff seriously as a body of work.  His work in True Grit is great stuff--a nice step away from so many films he was tossed into, yet still limited by his own persona which by the time the movie was made dominated his films in a way that turned them all into mere vehicles. 

The original has many, many fine moments where Wayne could shine outside of the box he was always cast in, but the new version--as a whole--has too much to commend it over the original in my personal opinion.  If only Wayne could have had a director who said "We're going closer to the book and looking for characters instead of Marquee names (Campbell--who was wooden and stunk, Darby who was too old for the part and really a mediocre actress) and by the way John, you can take something from costume that is different than simply slapping an eye patch on your typical ensemble."  He had real ability that was often made subservient to his films in the 1960s-1970s.

Wayne was great in True Grit, but this is due as much to the surprise of the role for him and that it plays off our expectations.  Also, the original (like the second iteration) is beautifully filmed on location in contrast to many of his later films which appear to almost have been shot in VHS on the same set over and over again. 

In the new version, the characters are finely drawn, more complete/developed, a more complex story is told—again the original has to defer to the Wayne presence by narrowing the story to his relationship with Mattie almost to the exclusion of all others.  Bridges benefits from directing/producing that had a broader and more artistic and authentic outlook.  Compare the trial scenes as an example.  If only Wayne had been given the same opportunities throughout his career. 

So, score one for the new version here.  While "The Duke" may not be able to do any wrong, the culture surrounding him wasted his talent often and I prefer the depth and breadth encouraged in the newer film. 

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Well said!

I like 'em both, too - but prefer the second one (slightly) especially for the actor (actress) who played Mattie.

John Wayne is John Wayne, after all.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Hi,

I agree wholeheartedly with Buffalo Creek Law Dog ....

I still get a little 'verklempt' when Wayne goes to his wife's (and daughter's) grave and has to explain that he is being retired and has to leave the post in two weeks ... I can see my own father (a career officer who started with the Army Air Corps) doing and saying much the same ... (in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon)

[Shotgun Franklin]

I guess I've seen a dozen versions of 'The Alamo', some pretty good some pretty bad.
That there are at least 3 versions of 'True Grit' out is not a big deal. I like John Wayne and I liked Jeff Bridges. The Warren Oats version was OK but I've only seen a part of it.

[Rawhidesmith]

I like Jeff Bridges, but he's no John Wayne. And Matt Damon ain't a pimple on Glen Campbells butt! All in all, I have seen worse remakes.

[The Trinity Kid]

My opinion is that El Dorado was one of, if not THE best of the Dukes films. Not so much for him as for the others. (i.e. Mississippi, Bull, Robert Mitchum's character, who I can't remember how to spell , and Mcleod), but a great film anyhow.

[Mean Bob Mean]

(in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon)

Thanks for that, it chokes me up to read about it.  What a wonderful film.  Couple nights ago rewatched Fort Apache.  So many roles in that film were really well handled.  Great stuff.

[olpete]

  a very delightful unabridged reading on 6 cd's is available from RECOEDED BOOKS , read nicely by donna tartt, for $20 new.  it was quite to note the book details then compare the original to both movies.  ol pete

[Hill Beachy]

I like Jeff Bridges, but he's no John Wayne. And Matt Damon ain't a pimple on Glen Campbells butt! All in all, I have seen worse remakes.

Concur.  I think that the new version has more authentic gear, and a darker "feel" to it.  The original had better actors.  As you state, Bridges is good but no John Wayne.  Robert Duvall is hard to top in his role as Lucky Ned Pepper, but the new guy does a good job.  Damon is a joke -- he doesn't so much play LaBoef as he tries to play Glenn Campbell playing LaBoef.  And he's sleep-walking while attempting to do so!

Both movies are good in thier own way.

[Grenadier]

There is no comparison between the two actresses who played Mattie Ross. Hailee Steinfeld is light years beyond Kim Darbys performance.