Tombstone vs. Wyatt Earp

Josey Wales

Last night I watched Tombstone and I thought it was excellent. Not quite up there with Unforgiven or Open Range but still one of my favourite westerns. I'm interested now in seeing the Kevin Costner version Wyatt Earp. I think I have seen it, but it must have been years ago. I certainly don't remember anything about it.

It must have been like a Volcano/Dante's Peak scenario, with two films about the same thing being released so close together.

Which film is considered the best and which is your favourite?

Kess73

I like Tombstone and it clips along at a decent pace with good performances from all the leads.

But I love Wyatt Earp. It is a grittier take on the story which takes in Earp as a kid right up to years after the events in Tombstone. Costner is excellent as the title character, playing him closer to what the real man was meant to be like, the supporting cast is very good, but the scene stealer is Dennis Quaid with his take on Doc Holliday.


Don't think they came out very close together though. Tombstone was late in the year of 1993 and if memory serves right, Wyatt Earp came out during the summer of the following year.

yabadabado

i prefer wyatt earp but they are both good films.

D-Generate

Best thin about Tombstone is Val Kilmer's portrayal of Doc Holliday, its quality! I personally preferred Tombstone as the more entertaining film.

Hmmmm think I might have another Westerns and Whiskey night.

JP Liz V1

I much preferred Tombstone tbh

krudler

Tombstone is a more lighthearted version of the Wyatt Earp story. Didnt it come out that Kurt Russell actually directed it?

ziedth

Tombstone by a mile for me,

Val Kilmer pretty much makes it.

CoalBucket

Tombstone for me too.

delbertgrady

Most people like Tombstone primarily because of Kilmer's performance, but Wyatt Earp gets my vote. Costner gets a bad press because he's made more duds than decent films, but that and Open Range are excellent. Didn't Michael Madsen have to turn down the role of Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction because he was committed to doing Wyatt Earp? Handed Travolta back his career in the process.

Kess73

delbertgrady wrote: »

Most people like Tombstone primarily because of Kilmer's performance, but Wyatt Earp gets my vote. Costner gets a bad press because he's made more duds than decent films, but that and Open Range are excellent. Didn't Michael Madsen have to turn down the role of Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction because he was committed to doing Wyatt Earp? Handed Travolta back his career in the process.

Costner has made more duds than decent films?

Are you talking as an actor or when he was the producer/director or films he was in?

If it is films that he made as in produced and starred in, then he has made far more good films than duds. I think he gets bad press because the media like to make out that he is had loads of duds, not because he has actually made lots of bad films.

niallon

Tombstone all the way. It may be the more watered down take on the story but sue me if that's what I prefer. It's called Tombstone, it covers the Earp's time in Tombstone and does so fantastically. Maybe it is unfair to hold the two side by side as Wyatt Earp is covering the man himself but if I have to choose it's Tombstone.

Coriolanus

I wasn't too keen on Quaid as Doc Holiday, Kilmer though, my God!

So I'm torn. I guess Tombstone was the more enjoyable, while Earp was better. :rolleyes:

tunguska

Wyatt Earp for definite. Tombstone is more popcorn movie territory whereas Wyatt Earp is a deeper afair altogether. Plus Denis Quaid is off the scale as Doc Holiday. He looks terrible, lost a load of weight to pull off the docs gaunt, ill appearance. Brilliant, slow burning stuff.

rednik

The funny thing about Tombstone is Costner was doing it and ended up pulling out to do Wyatt Earp with Kasdan instead. Other casting included Richard Gere as Earp and Willem Defoe as Doc. I have attached a good insight into the history involved in the making of Tombstone.

Paddy Samurai

I liked both ,for different reasons ,but Tombstone would be my favourite.