Recommend some good Westerns

[Tech-UK]

I haven't really been a big fan of westerns, but after watching True Grit at the cinema, I would like to get some on Blu-ray. I already own True Grit (2011), 3:10 to Yuma and There will be blood (if you count that as a western style film). What would you recommend? It must have excellent PQ and AQ and must be Region-FREE. If you could specify which release to get i.e. if the US version includes a slipcover or anything extra is included, then I would opt for the best all round package. Thanks !

[nametag]

Not all 'traditional' Westerns in the True Grit/3:10 to Yuma sense, but still:

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Unforgiven
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
Brokeback Mountain (golden 'academy' slipcover available from the US)
No Country for Old Men (steelbooks on amazon.ca/axelmusic)
Once Upon a Time in the West (out now in the US, UK in a few months, steelbook in Germany)
The Man with No Name Trilogy (known on BD as the 'Spaghetti Western Trilogy') here

That's all I got, but I haven't seen many classic westerns to be fair. Jesse James and Brokeback are two of my fave films of all time though!

[jawsfan1975]

Big Jake
Rio Lobo

These just came out here in the US, they are region free so they will play on your UK player.

Big Jake is my fave of all John Wayne westerns.

[chip75]

It's just a start but use the sites search engine for westerns. There's 418 to choose from! I still love Blazzing Saddles.

The Proposition
Hidalgo
Tombstone
Justified (TV series)
Firefly (TV series)

[BarnDoor]

In addition to what people have already said:

The Searchers
True Grit (Original)
The Cowboys
The Wild Bunch
Red Hill
How The West Was Won (US digibook would be the best option)
Big Country (currently a Wal-mart exclusive in the US)
The Outlaw Josey Wales (US digibook)
The Comancheros (US digibook)
The Horse Soldiers (US release)
The Long Riders (US release)

I just wish they'd release the director's cut of Tombstone.

[BluraySteve]

Open range is worth a look!!

[BarnDoor]

Originally Posted by BluraySteve

Open range is worth a look!!

Good shout. Is it still only available in France?

[samdaman94]

'The Cowboys' starring John Wayne.

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

Good shout. Is it still only available in France?

No, it is out in Sweden and Germany too and has better PQ than the French one. The German one has same or simlar set of extras as the French one but is region locked while the Swedish one is barebones and region-free.

[Opdef]

'Unforgiven' is the best Western I've ever seen, and comes pretty high up on the list of best films (of any genre) I've ever seen.

[Alex_DeLarge]

'Blazing Saddles'

"We'll make Rockridge think it's a chicken that got caught in a tractors nuts".

[Billz]

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Blazing Saddles
Back To The Future Part 3

[THunter]

Originally Posted by Tech-UK

I haven't really been a big fan of westerns, but after watching True Grit at the cinema, I would like to get some on Blu-ray. I already own True Grit (2011), 3:10 to Yuma and There will be blood (if you count that as a western style film). What would you recommend? It must have excellent PQ and AQ and must be Region-FREE. If you could specify which release to get i.e. if the US version includes a slipcover or anything extra is included, then I would opt for the best all round package. Thanks !

That's your problem right there. A lot of the best westerns won't have 'excellent' PQ purely because they're old, and we've come to expect the most impeccable PQ as we're flooded with wonderful Blu-rays with newly released movies. But if it's any consolation, most of these classic westerns still boast very impressive PQ, far greater than any DVD.

Once Upon a Time in the West (an absolute must see, one of the all time greats and the soundtrack is flawless, harmonica 'n' all)

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (one of my favourite films of all time, lengthy, cinematic, and definitely engrossing, a beautiful movie)

[kemalettin]

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Best cinematography ever by Roger Deakins

[Saints 2010]

Unforgiven and The Proposition

[Tech-UK]

Thanks for all of the replys . Keep them coming .

[Steve290886]

Great thread Tech-UK

Hope you don't mind me hijacking slighty but looking for opinions on 2 westerns that may end up being of interest to you.

What are peoples views on:

Seraphim Falls
Appaloosa

[Tech-UK]

No problem Steve, the more the mayer . The below titles look pretty nice:

Once Upon a Time in the West (The US with slipcover looks real nice!)
Unforgiven
Proposition
How The West Was Won

How does the PQ stack up on The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. I see the reviewer has given it a 3. I would normally still purchase a blu-ray that receives a 3, but having not really been a fan of westerns, I would like to be wowed by the PQ/AQ if possible. As I see some of the WB westerns only contain a lossy DD track, as most of the older released title do.

[hobgoblin]

Not usually a fan of westerns, however the one I do like (seeing as you've already mentioned 3:10 to Yuma) is
The Quick and the Dead.

[huntauk]

Rio Bravo is definately a must see - it's also a major influence on John Carpenters work.

Also see The Magnificent Seven...

The rest of the current UK releases seem to have already been listed.