We’re just going to have to agree to disagree, man. I think “Shane” is a good film, but just barely - it’s a 6.5/10. Ultimately, it’s still not good enough to be considered great, in my opinion. All the great westerns came out during the 60s and, to a lesser extent, the 70s. That era was undeniably the peak of the western genre, and it’s not even close. Other eras have produced good westerns, but never truly great ones. At the end of the day, it’s a matter of taste - especially considering how Italian westerns were the polar opposite of 50s westerns stylistically and went on to set the standard for westerns afterward.
It’s definitely better than you’d expect for such an overlooked film. Brando’s performance is fantastic, as is Karl Malden’s, and the dynamic between their characters feels far more modern than 1961. Aesthetically it also has some really nice filming locations. Overall I’d give it a 7.5/10.