Rating: 
Summary: #1 Western
Review: Rooster Cogburn is the absolute best western ever made. I personally think it is Wayne's greatest work. It moves along much more quickly than its predecessor, True Grit, and I have found Rooster to be a movie I can watch over and over again.Storyline is incredible, and the scenery is magnificent. I do agree, however, that mature audiences will like it better... But the "official" reviewer above is clearly one of those who is not a Wayne fan. Watch the film for yourself, you will NOT be disappointed!!!
Rating: 
Summary: John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn stand toe to toe
Review: Sometimes a multitude of wrongs can come out right. Hollywood has a penchant for making sequels to successful films, so when John Wayne finally won an Oscar for his performance in "True Grit." Wayne played Rooster Cogburn, a fearless, one-eyed U.S. marshal who never knew a dry day in his life. Fortunately Hollywood waited six years before making this 1975 sequel. However, at that point they not only hired a novice screenwriter, actress Martha Hyer ("First Men in the Moon"), they let her rip off "The African Queen" and turn it into a western. Fortunately, they hired Katharine Hepburn to play opposite the Duke. That is what "Rooster Cogburn" comes down to, the chance for John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn to do scenes together; it also explains why the film is also known as "Rooster Cogburn and the Lady." Hepburn plays Rose Sayer, no, wait, I mean Eula Goodnight, who is the daughter of a minister (Jon Lormer) instead of the brother of a missionary. The gospel is still being brought to the natives, except this time we are set in the Cascades of Oregon rather than the jungles of Africa. The bad guys are now a gang of thieves led by Breed (Anthony Zerbe) and Hawk (Richard Jordan), instead of Nazis, and this time they gun down the minister. So when Rooster comes along to track them down and bring them to his brand of justice, Eula insists on going along. The plot is predictable in terms of the outcome and familiar when Kate and the Duke end up on the water. But there is fun to be had in these two standing toe to toe, but not jaw to jaw, and going at it. "To whom do you think you are speaking," she intones frostily. "You is to whom I think I am speaking, sister," he shoots back. She allows that he is bigger than she is, but only physically. He observes in this situation that should be enough and they continue to have great fun with the dialogue. Wayne has great fun hamming it up and Hepburn enjoys having an actor big enough to stand up to her assault. The stories from the set were that the two great stars had great fun making this movie. Their politics were at opposite ends of the spectrum so they just avoid the topics and enjoyed being in each other's company. Wayne was playing a character he had done before in a movie, but then Hepburn's character is instantly recognizable as well, even if the name is different. The names do not matter. They can call them "Rooster Cogburn and the Lady," but it is the Duke and Kate, and their fans will not be disappointed by their time together.
Rating:
Summary: John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn stand toe to toe
Review: Sometimes a multitude of wrongs can come out right. Hollywood has a penchant for making sequels to successful films, so when John Wayne finally won an Oscar for his performance in "True Grit." Wayne played Rooster Cogburn, a fearless, one-eyed U.S. marshal who never knew a dry day in his life. Fortunately Hollywood waited six years before making this 1975 sequel. However, at that point they not only hired a novice screenwriter, actress Martha Hyer ("First Men in the Moon"), they let her rip off "The African Queen" and turn it into a western. Fortunately, they hired Katharine Hepburn to play opposite the Duke. That is what "Rooster Cogburn" comes down to, the chance for John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn to do scenes together; it also explains why the film is also known as "Rooster Cogburn and the Lady." Hepburn plays Rose Sayer, no, wait, I mean Eula Goodnight, who is the daughter of a minister (Jon Lormer) instead of the brother of a missionary. The gospel is still being brought to the natives, except this time we are set in the Cascades of Oregon rather than the jungles of Africa. The bad guys are now a gang of thieves led by Breed (Anthony Zerbe) and Hawk (Richard Jordan), instead of Nazis, and this time they gun down the minister. So when Rooster comes along to track them down and bring them to his brand of justice, Eula insists on going along. The plot is predictable in terms of the outcome and familiar when Kate and the Duke end up on the water. But there is fun to be had in these two standing toe to toe, but not jaw to jaw, and going at it. "To whom do you think you are speaking," she intones frostily. "You is to whom I think I am speaking, sister," he shoots back. She allows that he is bigger than she is, but only physically. He observes in this situation that should be enough and they continue to have great fun with the dialogue. Wayne has great fun hamming it up and Hepburn enjoys having an actor big enough to stand up to her assault. The stories from the set were that the two great stars had great fun making this movie. Their politics were at opposite ends of the spectrum so they just avoid the topics and enjoyed being in each other's company. Wayne was playing a character he had done before in a movie, but then Hepburn's character is instantly recognizable as well, even if the name is different. The names do not matter. They can call them "Rooster Cogburn and the Lady," but it is the Duke and Kate, and their fans will not be disappointed by their time together.
Rating: 
Summary: Ole Rooster lacks true grit second time around
Review: The "one-eyed fat man" Rooster Cogburn is arguably John Wayne's best performance. It (from the movie True Grit) netted The Duke his only Oscar. However, the sequel Rooster Cogburn lacks the style and pinache of True Grit. This time out, Cogburn is on the trail of gunrunners who have stolen a Gatling gun and, in the process, have murdered Katherine Hepburn's father. Finding Hepburn gives this movie a pulse. Otherwise, it rambles aimlessly. The villians, or lack thereof, are another major defect in Rooster Cogburn. Unlike Robert Duval's ballsy Ned Pepper in True Grit, Richard Jordan's Brooklyn-tinged bark is much more annoying than his bite. And the rest of his gang is easy-pickins for The Duke. Luckily Hepburn's and Wayne's tit-for-tat antics keep Rooster Cogburn watchable. Otherwise, ole Rooster lacks the true grit that won him an Oscar the first time around.
Rating:
Summary: Ole Rooster lacks true grit second time around
Review: The "one-eyed fat man" Rooster Cogburn is arguably John Wayne's best performance. It (from the movie True Grit) netted The Duke his only Oscar. However, the sequel Rooster Cogburn lacks the style and pinache of True Grit. This time out, Cogburn is on the trail of gunrunners who have stolen a Gatling gun and, in the process, have murdered Katherine Hepburn's father. Finding Hepburn gives this movie a pulse. Otherwise, it rambles aimlessly. The villians, or lack thereof, are another major defect in Rooster Cogburn. Unlike Robert Duval's ballsy Ned Pepper in True Grit, Richard Jordan's Brooklyn-tinged bark is much more annoying than his bite. And the rest of his gang is easy-pickins for The Duke. Luckily Hepburn's and Wayne's tit-for-tat antics keep Rooster Cogburn watchable. Otherwise, ole Rooster lacks the true grit that won him an Oscar the first time around.
Rating:
Summary: One of John Wayne's BEST!
Review: This is probably my all-time favrite of The Duke's movies. I watch this one constantly.
Rating:
Summary: ausome
Review: this movie is one of my favorates by my favorate actor John Wayne this sequal of the movie True GRIT IS BETTER BY A 3 ON A SCALE OF ONE TO 10 ALTHOUH YOU MAY LIKE TRUE GRIT BETTER BECAUSE ITS ROBER DUVALLS FIRST FILM I THINK AND JOHN WAYNE WON BEST ACTOR FOR IT
Rating:
Summary: A Highly Enjoyable Western Romp With Two Of Hollywood's Best
Review: This sequal to TRUE GRIT is, in many ways, superior. There's more humor, for starters. MUCH more. And we don't have to listen to that obnoxious little girl from the first movie whine and bicker! However, ROOSTER COGBURN is also inferior in other ways. The plot's a little harder to follow (at least for me), mainly because every single villain looks the exact same! Therefore, you quickly loose track of who's who, who was shot, or who lived, etc. Secondly, the film's way too short for a western; for me, a western should be at the very least two hours. But in the long run, the loss of the Mattie Ross from TRUE GRIT ("But it's mine and I want it!" Obnoxious!) wins over all the cons. But the real reason to watch ROOSTER COGBURN is not for the plot (since it's nothing more than a retread of its predecessor), but to see John Wayne and Katherine Hepburn, two of the all-time greats, square off eachother and exchange witty insults! It's some of the most fun you'll ever have in front of a TV screen! Now, I've heard some people shun this movie for being nothing more than an attempt to overthrow THE AFRICAN QUEEN. Well, let me tell you something, bub: that film was among the most boring I've ever seen! Meanwhile, ROOSTER COGBURN is loaded with action and thrills. I strongly feel that this is a far better film than John Huston's 1950 movie. Unfortunately, while the DVD is widescreen format, the picture and sound aren't all that great, especially during the first ten minutes or so (blotches and scratches galore). I was on the verge of turning it off, but don't worry, it gets much better. All it has for special features are production notes (which are fairly interesting), a theatrical trailer, and cast & crew bios. Not what you'd call a jam-packed DVD... CONCLUSION: It ain't great on plot or characterization, but ROOSTER COGBURN is one helluva good time for any Wayne and/or Hepburn fan!
Rating:
Summary: A Highly Enjoyable Western Romp With Two Of Hollywood's Best
Review: This sequal to TRUE GRIT is, in many ways, superior. There's more humor, for starters. MUCH more. And we don't have to listen to that obnoxious little girl from the first movie whine and bicker! However, ROOSTER COGBURN is also inferior in other ways. The plot's a little harder to follow (at least for me), mainly because every single villain looks the exact same! Therefore, you quickly loose track of who's who, who was shot, or who lived, etc. Secondly, the film's way too short for a western; for me, a western should be at the very least two hours. But in the long run, the loss of the Mattie Ross from TRUE GRIT ("But it's mine and I want it!" Obnoxious!) wins over all the cons. But the real reason to watch ROOSTER COGBURN is not for the plot (since it's nothing more than a retread of its predecessor), but to see John Wayne and Katherine Hepburn, two of the all-time greats, square off eachother and exchange witty insults! It's some of the most fun you'll ever have in front of a TV screen! Now, I've heard some people shun this movie for being nothing more than an attempt to overthrow THE AFRICAN QUEEN. Well, let me tell you something, bub: that film was among the most boring I've ever seen! Meanwhile, ROOSTER COGBURN is loaded with action and thrills. I strongly feel that this is a far better film than John Huston's 1950 movie. Unfortunately, while the DVD is widescreen format, the picture and sound aren't all that great, especially during the first ten minutes or so (blotches and scratches galore). I was on the verge of turning it off, but don't worry, it gets much better. All it has for special features are production notes (which are fairly interesting), a theatrical trailer, and cast & crew bios. Not what you'd call a jam-packed DVD... CONCLUSION: It ain't great on plot or characterization, but ROOSTER COGBURN is one helluva good time for any Wayne and/or Hepburn fan!
Rating:
Summary: WAYNE'S BEST ACTING.
Review: Wayne is ruthlessly overlooked for this one, a heartache similar to the fate of The Big Lebowski. Its one of those sad mysteries of life; one of the truly great, last, and forgotten westerns. If you read enough Leonard Maltlin, you really start to wonder if he was raised by Quakers. Rooster Cogburn is a fast-paced actioner with accessible, beautifully embellished characters. Its not best picture material the way The Outlaw Josey Wales couldnt have been---not enough "morality" spoon-fed in even bites.
Hearing Wayne say,(in an overlooked line by most, I'll bet)"Don't worry son, they'll pay for it," brings tears to my eyes. It throws me back to my childhood memory of what Wayne represented: There's good guys out there you just don't want to mess with. Wayne fuses all his elements to create this masculine, wise, clever, experienced, tenacious, hard dinking, yet respected federal lawman like none ever seen. This time he's got a real director to back him up.
There are incredible lines, as funny as they are character-building: SCENE:
(Wayne and Hepburn, recently stealing their supplies, are surrounded at night by Jordan, Zerbe and the rest of the bad guys/murderous white trash.) Richard Jordan, as HAWK:(YELLING) "You may have the gatlin' gun, but you ain't got the know-how to use it!" Wayne: (to Hepburn) "Deputy,... show-em'"
(Hepburn cranks the gatlin-gun, scattering their startled enemies in the dark, causing destruction. stops.) Wayne: (with a fierce grin, hilariously sarcastic, yelling)
"AAAIIIN'T THAT THE WAY IT WORKS, HAWK!?!?!?!?!"
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