It's a head to head, right? Okay so let's take this one by one.
Robocop vs AliensRobocop is one of the top 20 films of the 80’s and one of the 10 best action films of all-time, but Aliens is higher in both lists so I won’t feel bad about picking it apart just this once.
The first act is comparatively weak, especially compared to the intro to the marines in Aliens and the first battle against the xenomorphs. The subplot with Murphy’s family is also fairly dull – you don’t get the same feels you do with Ripley and the daughter she never got to see grow up. There’s real weight with her and Newt in a way there isn’t with Robocop and anyone else in that film.
Also, Aliens never got retrospectively ruined by
this or
this.
Training Day vs GoodfellasThe biggest mismatch in any match across this entire round.
Blazing Saddles vs Withnail & IBlazing Saddles is very good but it can’t compare to the sheer quotability of Withnail, which also has the better soundtrack and is more original – Blazing Saddles lifted a big chunk from Support Your Local Sheriff.
Super Size Me vs Cocaine CowboysI’ve never really got the point of Super Size Me. Like, you can just say no when people ask you if you want to upgrade. Oh, a massive cola and fries has a lot of calories? You don't say! Cocaine Cowboys is all fascinating, is pretty much all new information and is about drugs, guns and hot women rather than downmarket restaurants.
Requiem for a Dream vs Citizen KaneOne of these films is endlessly rewarding, the other is something you never want to watch twice. I mean, just look at the writing in what is basically a throwaway scene. Amazing:
<![CDATA[<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/EOMeBoHASX8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/EOMeBoHASX8</a>]]>Reservoir Dogs vs TrainspottingReservoir Dogs felt fresh at the time but it’s basically a glorified stage play. Trainspotting is
cinema. And it has the better soundtrack and the more interesting characters - everyone in Reservoir Dogs is a two-dimensional crime movie stereotype.
Heat vs The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Heat is a two-hander between actors who've each played at least five better roles in their careers. GBU is a three-hander between characters strong enough to define the careers of their respective actors. And it's arguably the defining film in its genre, Heat isn't even the best Michael Mann film.
Train to Busan vs Mulholland DriveI haven’t seen Train to Busan so I can’t level any specific criticisms at it, except that zombies are played out. And Pete deserves to get voted against simply for picking this ahead of Parasite. Mulholland Drive is, obviously, a masterpiece and one of the sexiest films ever to boot.
When the Wind Blows vs AkiraEven putting aside how no one wants to even think about When the Wind Blows at this point in civilisation, Akira looks amazing and basically changed the face of animation. WtWB is basically a moving version of the book. And Akira has a radder apocalypse.
Rocky Horror Picture Show vs A Hard Day’s NightI like Rocky Horror a lot but it has a really long stretch in the middle where not much happens, and the ending is weak. A Hard Day’s Night could work without the songs, and the songs on balance are probably better than in Rocky Horror.
Slapshot vs CaddyshackThere’s a reason why one of these films is regarded as a cult classic today and has had a documentary made about its filming while the other is largely forgotten. Caddyshack has at least five iconic scenes in. I still can’t remember any Slapshot scene I’m not 100% sure wasn’t actually in The Goon.
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