Top 25 Westerns

[InformationGeek]

Here's an interesting list put together by IGN.  I am not a big western fan, but I'm always interested in hearing about what people consider some of the greatest in film genres.  So, do you agree with them, partially agree, think they should have had some different choices, or do you disagree with the entire list in general?

http://movies.ign.com/articles/108/1088537p1.html

[Leah]

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly should be NUMBER 1!

[Oscar]

I can't believe STAGECOACH and RED RIVER weren't on the list. And ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST sure wouldn't be my #1.

[ChaosTheory]

I like that Silverado is on there.  Overall not a real great list though, and pretty tame choices. Tombstone and Man Who Shot Liberty Valance should be higher;  The Searchers, Shane and Wild Bunch are overrated.

Biggest WTF:  where's True Grit? 

[joejoeherron]

to quote Slim Pickens from "Blazing Saddles"

What in the wide,wide,world of sports is going on here!?






I was hoping death rides a horse would be on the list

[Silverlady]

Overall, I thought it was a good list.  I'm a big Clint Eastwood fan (especially the westerns) so I'm glad quite of few of his showed up on the list. 

[JaseSF]

While I grew up watching reruns of The Lone Ranger, I've just started getting more into Westerns in the last few years coming across several B-movie Westerns on the former Drive-In Classics (The Shooting, Ride in the Whirlwind, Buck and the Preacher, Johnny Guitar amongst others). The Western was once arguably the most common of low budget B-movies. Since I've purchased several Western, and some Spaghetti Western, collections hoping to run into more character driven goodies not to mention several of those starring Clint Eastwood, several John Wayne films, The Magnificent Seven, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Once Upon a Time in the West and the first Western I really loved - High Noon.

[Jack]

I've been getting more interested in Westerns lately, so I'll have to check out a few from that list.  I think Josey Wales is my all time favorite.  Pale Rider was excellent as well, along with the whole Man With No Name trilogy.  I don't understand what people see in Unforgiven, I thought it was incredibly predictable and, well, just plain lame.  Eastwood starts out as a broken down old farmer and then SPOILERS after hours of character development which doesn't amount to a hill of beans, he takes a couple shots of whiskey and presto-chango he's Josey Wales END SPOILERS.  As far as the John Wayne movies, I've never liked the guy at all.  He's the type of loud aggressive person that I try to stay very far away from in real life.

[The Burgomaster]

TRUE GRIT should definitely be on the list.  I'm not a huge fan of LITTLE BIG MAN, so I wouldn't mind seeing that one removed.  RIO BRAVO and MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE are better than #11 and #10 . . . they probably both belong in the top 5 (or damn close to it).  I can't argue with ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST at #1.  It's a smooth, beautiful, complex western.  I didn't care for it the first time I saw it about 20 - 25 years ago . . . in fact, I think I only watched about 30 minutes of it and turned it off.  But I bought the DVD a few years ago and my opinion was much different.  I was totally drawn into the movie and didn't want it to end.  Great stuff.

[the ghoul]

Nope.  I can't agree with that list.  The top 25 should all be spaghetti westerns.

[retrorussell]

I like that Silverado is on there.  Overall not a real great list though, and pretty tame choices. Tombstone and Man Who Shot Liberty Valance should be higher;  The Searchers, Shane and Wild Bunch are overrated.

Biggest WTF:  where's True Grit? 

Definitely agree about True Grit.  Also The Long Riders and High Plains Drifter should've probably been on there.

[Trevor]

High Noon is a great film, but it shouldn't be on that list as it isn't a western, but a political thriller.

Ken Annakin's The Hellions should also be on that list. 

[BoyScoutKevin]

Certainly, an interesting list.

I've seen so many westerns over the years, I think I've had a hard time picking my 25, so I'll just go with the ones picked. Of those I've seen perhaps 17 of them, which would be 68%. And of those 17 or 68%, I'd think I enjoyed 12 or about 72%.

[Hammock Rider]

  It's nice to see Jimmy Stewart getting some respect, I think he helped bring around more adult Westerns. I would have probably left out the 3:10 to Yuma remake and added Winchester '73.

  And what, no love for The Sheepman?

[The Burgomaster]

  It's nice to see Jimmy Stewart getting some respect, I think he helped bring around more adult Westerns. I would have probably left out the 3:10 to Yuma remake and added Winchester '73.

For about the first 20 minutes or so, I think WINCHESTER '73 is a fabulous western.  After that I think it loses some of its charm.  But I'm glad you mentioned it as I think it is often overlooked.