Young Guns (1988)

[20th Century Boy]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Yes, absolutely, Coburn would have been great as Pat Garrett in the YG films.

I liked John Dehner as Garrett in THE LEFT HANDED GUN, which remains one of my favorite movies exploring the Billy The Kid legend. However, I think my favorite of all the Billy films is DIRTY LITTLE BILLY from 1972. To me that just seemed to capture everything I’ve ever read about the reality of the myth, if you’ll pardon the contradiction in terms.

I'll give my vote to Billy The Kid vs. Dracula.

On a serious note, Vidal's Billy The Kid film starring Val Kilmer is very accurate too. Not nearly as fun or as wide a scope as YG though.

[hatchet man]

Love this movie and would love to add this to my western collection. But this movie is in serious need of a new transfer. Would love to see this in 4K but don't think it'll ever happen unfortunately

[20th Century Boy]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Yes, absolutely, Coburn would have been great as Pat Garrett in the YG films.

I liked John Dehner as Garrett in THE LEFT HANDED GUN, which remains one of my favorite movies exploring the Billy The Kid legend. However, I think my favorite of all the Billy films is DIRTY LITTLE BILLY from 1972. To me that just seemed to capture everything I’ve ever read about the reality of the myth, if you’ll pardon the contradiction in terms.

I just re-watched Gore Vidal's BTK. Oof is it awful. Fairly accurate, but absolutely awful.

Are there HD versions of Left Handed and Dirty Little out there? I've not seen the latter. I saw a clip on youtube, but I didn't like the vibe much. Seemed like one of those gritty 70s films. I don't necessarily like the way many 70s films filtered historical figures through their (then) modern-day lens. The way they portrayed The Kid seemed more of what 70s filmmakers thought Bonney should be like more than what he actually was. But, I can't accurately judge based on a brief clip. So via your recommendation I would still like to check it out.

Also, have you seen the recent BTK film directed (I think) by Vincent D'nofrio? I guess I should get around to checking that out. Might it be the modern day BTK ala The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford, or a low-budget BTK indie-film?

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by 20th Century Boy

I just re-watched Gore Vidal's BTK. Oof is it awful. Fairly accurate, but absolutely awful.

Are there HD versions of Left Handed and Dirty Little out there? I've not seen the latter. I saw a clip on youtube, but I didn't like the vibe much. Seemed like one of those gritty 70s films. I don't necessarily like the way many 70s films filtered historical figures through their (then) modern-day lens. The way they portrayed The Kid seemed more of what 70s filmmakers thought Bonney should be like more than what he actually was. But, I can't accurately judge based on a brief clip. So via your recommendation I would still like to check it out.

Also, have you seen the recent BTK film directed (I think) by Vincent D'nofrio? I guess I should get around to checking that out. Might it be the modern day BTK ala The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford, or a low-budget BTK indie-film?

I only saw DIRTY LITTLE BILLY once on cable and it was years ago, but I do remember it being very gritty and trying to be more realistic in some ways than westerns from earlier times. I'm not so sure I would categorize it as being filtered through the 70's (such as the excessively revisionist style of the 1971 film DOC), but perhaps it is. I just can't remember. What I appreciated most about it was the less romantic view of Billy and his surroundings, exchanged for what I felt was a very even handed view of what's genuinely known about him. I do recall being very impressed by the writing and acting. I would say try to see if you can find a more substantial review of it somewhere than my sketchy memory.

As for an HD copy, I only know of a MOD DVD-R that was released by Sony. THE LEFT HANDED GUN has come out as both a pressed DVD from Warner Brothers and subsequently a burned DVD-R from the Warner Archive. I don't stream much and I've never gotten into digital downloads, so can't help you there, dude.

[20th Century Boy]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

I only saw DIRTY LITTLE BILLY once on cable and it was years ago, but I do remember it being very gritty and trying to be more realistic in some ways than westerns from earlier times. I'm not so sure I would categorize it as being filtered through the 70's (such as the excessively revisionist style of the 1971 film DOC), but perhaps it is. I just can't remember. What I appreciated most about it was the less romantic view of Billy and his surroundings, exchanged for what I felt was a very even handed view of what's genuinely known about him. I do recall being very impressed by the writing and acting. I would say try to see if you can find a more substantial review of it somewhere than my sketchy memory.

As for an HD copy, I only know of a MOD DVD-R that was released by Sony. THE LEFT HANDED GUN has come out as both a pressed DVD from Warner Brothers and subsequently a burned DVD-R from the Warner Archive. I don't stream much and I've never gotten into digital downloads, so can't help you there, dude.

I can appreciate what many 70s films tried to do in terms of being less romantic than their 40s & 50s counterparts, but I feel that they over-corrected and laid on the post-modern take a little too thickly at times. In the case of BTK, the balance is REALLY tricky to pull off: he wasn't an angel but the idea of putting gruff, black-hat qualities on him is laughable. In fact it's questionable how murderous he would've ever been had circumstances not forced his hand (at least in the beginning. But I don't want to turn this into a history lesson). Still, based on your recommendation I'll be seeking DLB out.

I don't stream myself either, so I thought maybe a streaming option might be available, but it looks like were both luddites.

I'm a little surprised at the lack of a HD release for the Newman film as he's generally well represented on blu. Oh well. Maybe further down the line.

In any case, thanks for the info and I'll report back once I've seen DLB.

[20th Century Boy]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

. I'm not so sure I would categorize it as being filtered through the 70's (such as the excessively revisionist style of the 1971 film DOC),

Speak of the devil https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=27525

[sa5150]

Can the Walmart retro cover be found anymore ?

[VikingHead2000]

I just watched this a couple weeks ago on StarzEncore HD, and it looked pretty good, but yes it definitely needs a new transfer. Saw it opening week in my sophomore year of high school. My girlfriend had a thing for Charlie Sheen. I actually enjoyed it and thought the cast was perfect, especially Jack Palance as “Murphy”. Funny thing about watching this on StarzEncore HD, it now has an OC with its disclaimer, which stands for Outdated Cultural Depiction. What a joke.

[mjvmovieman]

Are there any other international BD versions of Young Guns with a better transfer?

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by Esterhase

I wanted to look into this, but couldn't find any info on the 2020 NSM versions in Germany. The cheapest of which was the single disc steel. Sadly, it doesn't show the improvement the Concorde DE did over Lionsgate.

In fact, it's got extras, but the encode is worse than the Lionsgate, with major blocking in the blacks and not as sharp. Unless desperate for the extras, not a release I'd go for. And certainly not the answer to what we all want, a really good version of the film.

I'm confused by what you're saying. You say that you couldn't find any info on the 2020 edition but then talk about how it doesn't show an improvement. And you show screen captures. Am I misunderstanding?

Is the picture the Concorde or the 2020?

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by Esterhase

I couldn't find any info so I bought it to find out and posted my findings because I'm not the only one looking for a decent version of this film. The Concorde is long OOP. But being the same territory and a cult label, I'd hoped the NSM might be the ticket... it ain't, as you can see

Ahhh that clarifies things. You didn't say you had purchased it.

The file size on the Concorde is pretty paltry. I remember buying, ripping and selling years ago.

[Dvd Aficionado]

Is Young Guns still with Lionsgate? I believe there's a lot of fans wanting a 2K or 4K upgrade.
There's much room for improvement on the extras too: interviews with Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charlie Sheen, the director etc.

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by Dvd Aficionado

Is Young Guns still with Lionsgate? I believe there's a lot of fans wanting a 2K or 4K upgrade.
There's much room for improvement on the extras too: interviews with Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charlie Sheen, the director etc.

It's still not even available digitally. LG doesn't seem to care much about it.

[Luke Dodge748]

Originally Posted by IndyMLVC

LG doesn't seem to care much about it.

Which is a damn shame, YG 1 and 2 are proper great flicks. I'd love to see both on 4K someday...

[Big_Bass_Man]

On a side note, has anyone seen The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean. Great western comedy flick. Paul Newman at his best in comedy.

[HuggyBear73]

Considering getting a German edition.

So the US doesnt have the cast commentary?

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by HuggyBear73

Considering getting a German edition.

So the US doesnt have the cast commentary?

Correct

[Socko]

I have the Japanese version. It looks like the US release (crap), but it has a good amount of bonus features.
Maybe next year for its 35th anniversary someone will be kind to us. Who knows.

[Jorvic]

The Blu-ray was one of the worst discs I have seen. Had to sell it.

Always liked the film itself though.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Yeah I really hope this gets a better transfer soon.....with original audio too.