Mood:
caffeinatedTopic: Other Movie Genres
TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3488:  (Vinnie) This past Saturday, my dad and I picked up the 2010 movie "True Grit" from Redbox.  Later that night we watched it, as well as Tina. I hadn't known what it as about, but after reading the information in the Redbox description at the kiosk, I found it to sound fairly interesting, versus the other choices at Redbox... However, it was a lot better than I thought it would ber. The storyline was amazing, and the acting was even better. It all flowed well and I felt the story kept the goal or purpose always on the topmost matter. It was an interesting story that I was yet to hear or see. The acting was great, and the characters interacted well. It was all very realiastic and believeable, despite the time period of which such violence was common. My favorite scenes were spread far apart. The first was near the beginning, where we find three men about to say their last words before being hanged. Two white guys say their final statements, and as the last one, an Indian is about to start speaking, they cut him off, put the bag on his head, and instantly pull the lever removing the floor. It was just unreal because of the time, and the likeliness of that unfair treatment actually happening. My next favorite scene was the climax of the story. Cogburn starts riding in on his horse, holding the reins in his mouth, and wielding dual pistols, shooting at four people at once. It was just incredible, as he was all alone. But one man shoots him down, and as he was about to shoot him dead, the Texas ranger that had accompanied Cogburn from the very beginning... shoots the bad guy from way up high, and the bad guy just falls dead. The most saddening scenes would have to be near the ending, and the actual ending itself. As Matty is riding back with Cogburn back to town, after being bit by a snake, they push the horse to its max, and it just collapsed in tirement, and Cogburn ended up having to shoot it's head to end the misery that it was in. The ending was sad, but I fear telling of it would be too much of a spoiler. The movie was rated PG-13 for Western violence and disturbing images. I already mentioned some of those "images" but some others would be when a man gets his fingers chooped off, and getting left on the table, followed by Cogburn shooting a man straight in the face. Not the back, or side of the head, but right between the eyes. After awhile, I knew the violence wouldn't end, so I just got used to it and expected it at every corner. Overall, the movie "True Grit" was presented very well. It was a great story, and the actors played their roles very well and convincingly. I give this Western remake a Very Fine/Near Mint (VF/NM), a 9.0 out of a 10.0 grade scale. Honestly, I would recommend it to someone at least 14 or 15, as I think 13 is still too young to view this movie because of the violence and "disturbing images". ~Vinnie!
First of all, there is a reason that I asked Vinnie to blog about this rental DVD. I don't ask him to do that for every movie that we watch together, but I figured there should have been a comic book for the original film that was released back in 1969. However, there wasn't one! Dell's Four Color series, which published 1,331 issues, including a LOT of Movie & TV based comics, had stopped in Apr/June of 1962. So my memory is failing just a bit! However, I came across this graphic novel, 'True Grit - Mean Business', when searching for the original John Wayne film! I had not known about this publication being published, otherwise I would have rented the DVD sooner, when it came out on June 9th of 2011, as this remake of the original film didn't have the 'drawing power' for either Tina or myself to go see it on the 'Big Screen'. The rental DVD had no additional extras, being a 'rental DVD' from Redbox. However, this link will take you online to where you can read for 'free', the 27 page 'graphic novel', which is a semi-prequel for the new film. ! After reading this graphic novel, I definitely realize that this was a Coen Brothers movie. Normally I would not take my youngest son to such a film playing a the 'Big Screen'. This graphic novel is also 'graphic' in nature, but semi toned down for print. The interior pages are in black & white, so that the blood n guts are not vividly etched in my mind after reading it. Our society has come a long ways since 1969 when I first saw the original film with John Wayne, Glen Campbell and Kim Darby in it. Now over 40 years ago... It seems that more and more 'remakes' are being made, or sequels to original film properties, (i.e. 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes'). Not everything has to be so darn grim n gritty does it? I found myself missing the original film's actors. John Wayne's portrayal could not be matched nor surpsassed by Jeff Bridges, nor Glen Campbell's by Matt Damon, IMO. However Kim Darby's portrayal was matched IMO by Hailee Steinfeld. I wouldn't give this remake such a high comic book grade as Vinnie did. But then again, he hadn't seen the original film before seeing the remake. Looks like I'll have to rent the original so he can see the comparison between the two. I think that those of you that have viewed this film either at the Big Screen or on DVD could do the same. This film was one of John Wayne's biggest film roles. He actually won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the original film! Again, thanks to Vinnie for his review... And to the publisher of the graphic novel for making it available online to read! ~ Michael
Also...If YOU liked Vinnie's guest review blog today, you may also enjoy reading Vinnie's other reviews on: Yets! #2, The HTHGNP: Red Phones, The Strand Prophecy by JBB Winner, Stuff that Dreams Are Made of - The Mini-Comix, The Adventures of Faithboy #1, Mouse Guard: The Black Axe #2 of 6, Yogi Bear Film (DVD), Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock Vol 2 #1 of 3, Space Punks #2, Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock Vol 2 #2 of 3, Kleeman and Mike #1, Mortifera #3, Classics Illustrated #142 Abraham Lincoln - 8th Edition, 2011 FCBD Edition - Mouse Guard / Dark Crystal Flip Book, Fraggle Rock Volume 2 #3 of 3, Bear and Fox #2, Space Punks #1, The Daughters of Merlin #1, Sea Ghost #1, Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard #4 (of 4), Clutch Cargo DVD, The All New Super Friends Hour Season 1 DVD, The Ultimate Underdog Collection Volume 1, Planet Hulk, Coraline, Ponyo, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Sonic the Hedgehog TPB Vol 1, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, The Possum #1 comic book, Vinnie's Take on Berona's War: Field Guide, just to name the recent ones!
BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app! We currently have over 2,528 'Followers'! Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button! And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!! ~ Michael D Hamersky Note: My online 'Local' Comic Book Shop (LCBS), carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items. Possibly even copies of the item that was reviewed here today...!If I have it... You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at: ComicBooksCircus.com. If it isn't available in my online 'Local Comic Book Shop, (LCBS), then you may be able find it in my Amazon affiiate link, as seen here: Comics & Graphic Novels The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer. NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.
To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to: Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA  Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to have sent me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages in my network already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' for myself so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there. Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! |
(Michael) Thanks, Vinnie, for writing up this blog that I'm posting this Friday morning! 
Note: Vinnie makes it to as many comic cons with me as he can. He collects the 'Amazing Spider-Man' comic book series, but is open to read other titles from publishers that print titles that are age appropriate for him. He also has been attending 'behind the scenes' events, such as the one he blogged about ht here: Vinnie's Special 
My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and the archived blog posts, now over 3,487 total posts in number! I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!
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