Well.. I can't say I am a HUGE Western fan.. I'm not really.. I don't get them.. and I can't say I am a HUGE John Wayne film.. BUT having said that, I have always enjoyed his later films..

This is said to be a remake of Rio Bravo..which, I actually do hold in higher regard.. The whole tension of the film is just not quite as severe here. There's an almost palpable sense of paranoid in Bravo, that El Dorado misses. Granted alor of the characters are cliehed and practicalyl interchangeable between the two. I am neck and neck with Mitchum vs. Martin on this one.. although, I do give a slight edge to Mitchum.. but the irrascible Walter Brennan in Bravo wins out for me over this one.

Still though I do not see it as a remake.. a sequel.. or anything really.. its more just a loose collection that bears some similarity.. but it is its own animal. Granted Caan was great in a very early role as "Mississippi" which you can't really comapre to the Ricky Nelson role in Bravo (he has what 6 lines in the entire film?). But I still find the third film, Rio Lobo unjustly maligned.. its not a BAD film.. granted not a great one but all three are still very watchable.. and its almost like watching very SIMILAR movies through a different lens which makes them interesting to watch.

BUT.. am I a John Wayne fan? I'd say.. no.. I enjoy quite a few of his movies though.. True Grit, Liberty Valence, Sons of Katie Elder, The Cowboys, the three I previously mentioned and The Shootist... and I'll even toss in Big Jake.. he played it with a bit more swagger.. but he played a bit of a nastier version of himself.. and a great supporting cast too.

Still though..back to this film. I really did enjoy the film. and the final shoot out was great, but I still give the edge to Bravo.. MAYBE its just because it was the first (although tht really didn't matter to me since I saw most of them early on and never thought of which came first). BUT.. the influence of Bravo can be SERIOUSLY felt in Carpenter's Assault on Preceint 13 (he offers a commentary on the new dvd), the recent remake even has a similar vibe... and oddly, to me.. but James Manigold'a Copland always SCREAMED Rio Bravo to me.

Being a sequel.. remake or reimaging of that is no shame.. and this one is its own world filled with its own unique and fun characters.. I actually will say that may be why people enjoy this one more.. as the humor is a bit more.. evident here. Everyone has a good easy time, more so than Rio Bravo which at times is.. I won't say humorless but not quite as much on the fun side while still remaining an excellent film. From the "cure" to Missippi pulling on a shaw and a wet flower pot as a "disguise" there is much more a sense of fun in this film that I think propels it ahead..

But.. no matter which you pick, El Dorado (with its great opening) or Rio Bravo.. you still can't lose. Both are great Westerns that will have you wanting to come back to the Old West again.
Well.. I can't say I am a HUGE Western fan.. I'm not really.. I don't get them.. and I can't say I am a HUGE John Wayne film.. BUT having said that, I have always enjoyed his later films.. This is said to be a remake of Rio Bravo.. which, I actually do hold in higher regard.. The whole tension of the film is just not quite as severe here. There's an almost palpable sense of paranoid in Bravo, that El Dorado misses. Granted alor of the characters are cliehed and practicalyl interchangeable between the two. I am neck and neck with Mitchum vs. Martin on this one.. although, I do give a slight edge to Mitchum.. but the irrascible Walter Brennan in Bravo wins out for me over this one. Still though I do not see it as a remake.. a sequel.. or anything really.. its more just a loose collection that bears some similarity.. but it is its own animal. Granted Caan was great in a very early role as "Mississippi" which you can't really comapre to the Ricky Nelson role in Bravo (he has what 6 lines in the entire film? ). But I still find the third film, Rio Lobo unjustly maligned.. its not a BAD film.. granted not a great one but all three are still very watchable.. and its almost like watching very SIMILAR movies through a different lens which makes them interesting to watch. BUT.. am I a John Wayne fan? I'd say.. no.. I enjoy quite a few of his movies though.. True Grit, Liberty Valence, Sons of Katie Elder, The Cowboys, the three I previously mentioned and The Shootist... and I'll even toss in Big Jake.. he played it with a bit more swagger.. but he played a bit of a nastier version of himself.. and a great supporting cast too. Still though.. back to this film. I really did enjoy the film. and the final shoot out was great, but I still give the edge to Bravo.. MAYBE its just because it was the first (although tht really didn't matter to me since I saw most of them early on and never thought of which came first). BUT.. the influence of Bravo can be SERIOUSLY felt in Carpenter's Assault on Preceint 13 (he offers a commentary on the new dvd), the recent remake even has a similar vibe... and oddly, to me.. but James Manigold'a Copland always SCREAMED Rio Bravo to me. Being a sequel.. remake or reimaging of that is no shame.. and this one is its own world filled with its own unique and fun characters.. I actually will say that may be why people enjoy this one more.. as the humor is a bit more.. evident here. Everyone has a good easy time, more so than Rio Bravo which at times is.. I won't say humorless but not quite as much on the fun side while still remaining an excellent film. From the "cure" to Missippi pulling on a shaw and a wet flower pot as a "disguise" there is much more a sense of fun in this film that I think propels it ahead.. But.. no matter which you pick, El Dorado (with its great opening) or Rio Bravo.. you still can't lose. Both are great Westerns that will have you wanting to come back to the Old West again.