Westerns Ultimate Collection (Chisum/Pale Rider/The Searchers/Outlaw Josey Wales/The Wild Bunch Directors Cut/Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid/Rio Bravo/Unforgiven) [DVD] [Dual Disc Format]*

Any collection that self styles itself as the ultimate western collection is bound to have its detractors. As western fans we will all have our own views on what makes the perfect western collection. But whatever our personal choices, I am sure most would agree that this is a very strong collection and contains some very good films indeed. It is also certainly true that these are very basic DVDs. No new extras, HD or director's cut here! All you get is the film and nothing else. So long as you are aware of that, it is still a very good buy, and it can be bought for a surprisingly cheap price at the time of this review. This is why I am a fan of box sets, in that they often allow me to purchase films more reasonably.

This set contains the following films:-

1 "The Wild Bunch"(69) Sam Peckinpah's magnificent western set in a dying west. Set around the time of WW1 we follow the death throes of an ageing gang, played by a star studded cast. A simple tale, beautifully told, and one of the truly great westerns.
2) "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid"(73) Peckinpah's own magisterial take on the Billy the kid legend. Kris Kristofferson is the kid and James Coburn his nemesis Pat Garrett. The finest film made about famous outlaw.
3) "Rio Bravo"(58) Howard Hawks superb study of team work and men under pressure. John Wayne and Dean Martin are the good guys up against the odds. But who needs to worry with toothless Walter Brennan and his shotgun backing them? A film that has both director and star at the very top of their games.
4) "The Searchers"(56) John Ford's epic that contains multitudes. Possibly the finest western ever made. Wayne's avenging Ethan Edward's roams the west in search of his missing niece kidnapped by Comanche Indians. It is the stuff of Homeric legend and a must see.
5) "Chisum"(70) Andrew V McLaglen also has a go at the Billy the Kid legend, this time exploring his relationship with John Wayne's larger than life rancher John Chisum. Perhaps the weakest film in the collection it relies on Wayne's huge screen presence. An example of one of Wayne's later films where he simply goes through the motions.
6) "Pale Rider"(85) Essentially a thinly disguised reworking of the classic western "Shane". Where is that one in this collection? It is a better film than given credit for and is well worth watching. A mysterious rider arrives in a mining town oppressed by a local businessman and his hired guns. But he is far from what he seems!
7) "The Outlaw Josey Wales"(76) Perhaps Eastwood's very finest western set in the aftermath of the civil war. Eastwood is a man with a score to settle, and you get the feeling he might just settle it! Contains the immortal line " Are you gonna pull those pistols or whistle Dixie".
8) "The Unforgiven"(92) Not to be confused,as Amazon's synopsis has managed, with John Huston's 1960 film of the same title. This is Eastwood's mud and rags vision of the old west. It is also hailed in some quarters as the first post modern western. Reformed gunfighter William Munney takes on one last job, but he has to reckon with Gene Hackman's brutal sheriff, Little Bob. Richard Harris also makes a brief impression as the swaggering English Bob. A very strong film.

No, not the ultimate collection by any stretch of the imagination. But still a very good one. The only weak film in my opinion being "Chisum". A good buy at the right price. Recommended

If my review was based solely on the movies contained in this boxset it would get an automatic 5 stars - its not called the Ultimate Western Collection for nothing!

However, on receiving my boxset I was disappointed to discover that three of the movies were not the Ultimate Western editions (with new artwork, remastered picture and sound plus bonus features), but instead the old editions that can be picked up for a £1 in any bargain bin, in fact Unforgiven is even the edition from the Clint Eastwood Collection - which it proudly displays across the top of the case!

I was going to send it back for a replacement, but my friend got one also and he had different editions as well (different to mine too). The manufacturer trying to get rid of surplus stock? I don't know...

I paid £25, so even with only 5 films being the correct editions its a good price, so I let it slide. Thought you should be warned however.

I agree with the other reviewer that clearly this is end of life product sat on the shelf of the distributer. However the films include 'The Outlaw Josey Wales', 'Pale Rider' and 'The Unforgiven' - All absolute classics and at a price that I would say is bargain basement for this lot - If you have not got these films and you like Westerns/Clint Eastwood I would highly recommend buying this collection - However if you already have one or some of these films then the value is not quite as good and there are no new extras included with thse films that you would not have with your original so the boxed set may not be the best choice.