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I grew up in a rural area and the two local theaters were miles away. It wasn't until I got my driver's license at 16 that I was able to drive myself (and friends) to see a movie. That was indeed a very fine thing. I do remember riding my bike hither and yon all the time growing up in the 70s...

To echo Robert, Josh, definitely not trying to guilt trip you into keeping a movie you don't want. I can understand the feelings of not wanting to let a fun hobby become a stressful, job-like scenario. I think those of us who spoke up just wanted to make sure you didn't regret selling a movie...

Wow, Josh...really, no interest in Zulu? It's one of the greats, it really is.

Oh yes indeedy do... a very sexy actress, as you say, not beautiful perhaps, but with that special something. She's spot-on as the small town girl who stops traffic in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, and also enlivens CROSSFIRE and THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH, among many others. Look forward to your...

Nice review of THE DISH, Josh! I saw the film in a small art house theater in Eugene, OR back when it first came out in the U.S., and enjoyed it very much. I have fond memories of seeing some of these wonderful Australian films in the theater back then, like this one, PROOF, THE EFFICIENCY...

Oh, don't get me wrong - I love living in Japan. The pluses outweigh the minuses for sure. No TCM is a bit of a bummer, but it is certainly a minor inconvenience at most. We do at least have Netflix here now...if only the service included any classic films! The only one I've found so far here...

I envy you guys and your access to TCM. Alas, there's no similar channel here in Japan. NHK shows a good amount of classic westerns, epics and dramas during their daytime 1-3 p.m. movie slot (always in HD, thankfully), but there's no channel fully dedicated to classic films. Like you, Josh...

She's also in WAGON MASTER, another great John Ford western (also with Ben Johnson, Harry Carey, Jr. and Ward Bond.)

Fair enough. It's been a very long time since I've seen FORT APACHE, so it may be due for a revisit soon to see if my feelings about it change. I certainly agree that black and white cinematography can be just as beautiful as color. That said, when it comes to big-screen westerns, I do generally...

I prefer SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON myself...sure, it's more of a meandering "slice of cavalry life" sort of story, but Wayne's performance and the gorgeous Technicolor notch it up above the other two for me. RIO GRANDE is very special in its own right, and follows on as a close number two. I'm...

Very pleased to see you loved THE QUIET MAN, Josh, though not surprised, judging from your past reviews and apparent taste in films. I agree that it's a perfect movie. While I know some on the forums here had some complaints about the transfer on the Olive blu-ray editions (less so on the recent...

A lot of memorable films roles you listed there, Randall. If I might add a few others enlivened by the vivacious Ann-Margret, for example, VIVA LAS VEGAS, the only Elvis movie IMO where he had a female co-star who could hold the screen with him (and just about the only Elvis movie I can stand to...

Oh, yeah, Ann-Margret is smokin' in this. THE TRAIN ROBBERS is a fun Wayne film, with a good supporting cast (nice to see Rod Taylor together with the Duke), but I swear, literally half the movie is taken up with scenes of cowboys riding horses rapidly across the landscape. Not a lot of there...

Looking forward to your thoughts on THE QUIET MAN, Josh. I agree with the others above that it really is a joyous piece of work: involving story, great actors, good comedy, beautiful color cinematography (Maureen O'Hara never looked lovelier). "Oirish" stereotypes abound, but the overall effect...

Well, for your first Hammer film, you started with one of the best. Their HOUND is handsomely produced and expertly cast. It only really falls down in its depiction of the supposedly-terrifying hound, but then, no screen version has ever really nailed that problem. Cushing and Morrell make a...

Funnily enough, I also picked this one up in the recent Twilight Time sale, along with THE TRAIN. Haven't received the disc yet, but I caught an HD version on NHK TV a few years ago and remember it fondly. "Knock knock." (Those who have seen the movie, or its trailer, will know what I'm...

This is very insightful and eloquently stated (much better than I could manage), and so true. I get sick of that pat put-down, "Oh, he's just playing himself." Anyone who's paying attention can see that actors like Wayne, Grant, Bogart, etc., were capable of a lot more depth and nuance than what...

I'm so glad to hear you say this. So many people write off John Wayne as some one-note cowboy star, without really knowing what they're talking about...or worse, are unable to see past his politics to enjoy his movies. There's a lot more to him and his talent, in a wide variety of films and...

I've think you've nailed this one. THE COMANCHEROS is right in the middle of the pack, quality-wise, of John Wayne movies. There's that GREAT score, as you mention, plus plenty of action, beautiful scenery, good banter between Wayne and Whitman, a fun cameo by Lee Marvin and the gorgeous Ina...

Thanks for the review of APE 3D, Josh. I'm a big fan of the work Bob Furmanek, Greg Kintz et all are doing in restoring 3D classics and getting them released, and am planning on picking up most of the titles they have in the works...but I think this is one I'll have to take a pass on. It does...

None of the filmed versions of AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS have done proper justice to Verne's novel, unfortunately. The David Niven version is probably the best crack at it. I haven't seen the film for years, but I remember being fairly "meh" on it as well. Entertaining enough, but more...

Pretty much agree with Greg's assessment of the prequels and sequels mentioned above...even the unofficial sequel RETURN TO LONESOME DOVE is graced by an excellent portrayal of Woodrow McCall by Jon Voight that makes it well worth watching.

Sounds like your father-in-law has good taste, Ramin, if he was able to steer you to LONESOME DOVE and Audie Murphy films. :)

Good to read your thoughts on LONESOME DOVE, Josh - and I wholeheartedly agree with what you say above...Duvall and Jones both give career-best performances as far as I'm concerned. And that scene you refer to above is a standout in this fabulous, epic miniseries. I do rate LD higher than you...

That's a good set, Josh. THE COMANCHEROS and THE UNDEFEATED are both really fun (if undemanding) Wayne films, perfect for that "relaxing watching at the end of a tough day" scenario you talked about earlier.

DONOVAN'S REEF and especially HATARI are two of my favorite John Wayne films, just real fun, feel good, "spend time with some cool characters" kind of flicks. I like NORTH TO ALASKA a lot more than McCLINTOCK, perhaps because it has some semblance of a plot, plus an unusual setting for a Wayne...

Same here. McCLINTOCK is one Wayne film I just have never understood the love for. It's fine, fun cast, but overly broad for my tastes, with no real plot to speak of. Stephanie Powers is cute as can be in it, though. I've only sat through it the once, though, so this is a case where you can tell...

Yes, it's true, but this is one of those cases where, if the film was good enough, it wouldn't really matter where the sun sets. However, I have to side with Josh on this one. THE GREEN BERETS has some good moments, and I don't think it deserves its bad reputation, but overall, it's just not a...

Claudia Cardinale...rowrr!!! I envy you having seen this on the big screen, Robert. I've never gotten the chance. At least, now that I have the blu-ray, a projector and a 100-inch screen at home, I can get a slight feel for what it might've been like back in '66.

Oh, yes, and it looks and sounds GREAT! (Cinematography by Conrad Hall, direction by Richard Brooks, music by Maurice Jarre). It's not the cheapest at the moment ($13 on Amazon), but worth every penny and then some. Just look at that cast! I can't echo Robert enough, this is an all-time...