Features Jul 31 2008 @ 10:25 am
12 Movies Meme: The Great Debate
Is it just me, or is this clip art awesome?
Piper over at the Lazy Eye Theatre has had a little “meme” going for about a week now, and Evan and I at MZ have been tagged no less than three times, so we thought we’d better do it.
The rules are simple: If you could pick twelve flicks to be shown at the New Beverly Cinema (a popular “revival” theater), what would they be? In more detail, it goes like this:
1) Choose 12 Films to be featured. They could be random selections or part of a greater theme. Whatever you want.
2) Explain why you chose the films.
3) Link back to Lazy Eye Theatre so I can have hundreds of links and I can take those links and spread them all out on the bed and then roll around in them.
4) The people selected then have to turn around and select 5 more people.
Anyhoo, Evan and I were thinking, since there are two of us, that opens up a world of “gimmicks” for our choices. Long-time readers may remember a debate we had on the site back in March…it went pretty well, all things considered, so we thought we’d try it again. But this time, rather than sling words, we’re going to sling movies. The rules go something like this:
- The first person picks a pair of films for the first night that he thinks makes a point.
- Person # 2 picks a pair of films for the second night that somehow undermine Person # 1’s point.
- Person # 1 picks a pair of films for the third night that somehow undermine Person # 2’s choices.
- Etc.
Confused? Yeah, Evan was too, when I tried to explain it to him. (I thought it was pretty straightforward…) But lucky for you, you only have to read the debate, not participate in it. Here we go…
Being a sporting man, I chose to give Evan first pick.
Night the first. Evan says…
They Can Do Drama!
Films where comedians prove they have significant dramatic range. Whodathunk? My picks are…
Will Ferrell in 'Stranger than Fiction'
Robin Williams in 'One Hour Photo'
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Night the second. Luke says…
Dramatic skill means nothing if you’re not relevant to begin with.
Robin Williams in 'What Dreams May Come'
Will Ferrell in 'Semi-Pro'
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Imagine a world without these two films. Not hard, is it?
Night the third. Evan says…
Obscure pre-1980 sci-fi literary connections trump your picks.
The Last Man on Earth
A Scanner Darkly
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Both The Last Man On Earth and What Dreams May Come are based on books by Richard Matheson, and A Scanner Darkly was written in 1977 by Phillip K. Dick, and stars Woody Harrelson, who also stars in Semi-Pro.
Nigth the fourth. Luke says…
Yeah, maybe, but sci-fi is never any fun…
Tim Burton's 'Corpse Bride'
Ralph Bakshi's 'The Lord of the Rings'
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…A pair of fantasy flicks for you. One to satisfy your need for the living dead, and the other to satisfy your need for rotoscoping. And both more fun than either of those.
Night the fifth. Evan says…
Too bad you’ve picked the worst from both directors. Why not turn back the clock a few years for each and showcase some real animation?
Tim Burton's 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'
Ralph Bakshi's 'Wizards'
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Night the sixth. Luke says…
…Because I’d rather showcase fake animation.
Hoodwinked
The Mask
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“Fake,” meaning, in this case, “bargain basement CG” and “live action that happens to look like animation.” Plus, this way we get to end the week on a couple of fun ones…and we’ll need it after two Bakshi/Burton nights.
Okay…that’s a wrap. Now I just have to tag five blogs (trying, of course, to tag people who haven’t participated yet). I pick…
- 353 Review
- Movies et. al.
- Final Girl
- Doodad Kind of Town
- The Evening of Kent (which isn’t actually a “film blog,” but I’ve been reading his stuff, and he’s awesome, but there’s nowhere on his site to comment, so I’ll say it here: I love you, Kent!)
on Jul 31 2008 @ 10:58 am 1. Evan Derrick said …
Heh, that actually turned out ok. And yes, you’re right, that clipart at the top is totally awesome.
on Jul 31 2008 @ 11:17 am 2. G said …
Oh you two, I don’t think that’s how it was supposed to work. Remember, people are supposed to want to watch the movies you’ve chosen.
But yeah, that was fun. Now go watch some noirs!
on Jul 31 2008 @ 11:27 am 3. Kristena said …
I was a little confused by this in my google reader, but now I get it.
Pretty awesome, guys. Luke, I’m not sure you can say Will Ferrell isn’t relevant… although his expiration date may be drawing closer. Definitely agree on Hoodwinked having cruddy (outsourced) animation, but it does have surprisingly great writing.
Oh yeah, why aren’t you guys busy watching your noir?
on Jul 31 2008 @ 12:04 pm 4. Fletch said …
Going along with what G said…uh, yeah Luke, no offense, but I only want to go for Evan’s nights. Perhaps you should have gone first…
on Jul 31 2008 @ 12:13 pm 5. Luke Harrington said …
Really? Sure, my first night would be painful…
But no love for Corpse Bride? Or even Hoodwinked (which was great, despite its low budget)?
on Jul 31 2008 @ 12:49 pm 6. Haiku Girl said …
Dam Chain Meme’s, what happens if I don’t particiapte?
Better not chance it. Count me in… some time in the vague future.
on Jul 31 2008 @ 1:06 pm 7. Luke Harrington said …
Someone broke the chain a year ago, and within a week, her boyfriend dumped her, her house burned down, her identity was stolen, she had kidney failure, she was hit by a truck, she was convicted of murder, and she broke a nail!!!
on Jul 31 2008 @ 1:21 pm 8. G said …
Oh, so that’s what happened to Brittany Murphy.
on Jul 31 2008 @ 1:42 pm 9. Evan Derrick said …
Come to MZ for your daily dose of truthiness.
on Jul 31 2008 @ 4:12 pm 10. Cinexcellence said …
You guys are like a married couple.
on Jul 31 2008 @ 4:25 pm 11. Luke Harrington said …
Yeah, I think our wives would have something to say about that.
on Jul 31 2008 @ 4:58 pm 12. Evan Derrick said …
Whichever married couple Luke and I are like…I pity those people. Immensely.
on Jul 31 2008 @ 5:21 pm 13. Luke Harrington said …
You don’t find me attractive anymore, do you…?
on Jul 31 2008 @ 5:40 pm 14. Kristena said …
um…
on Aug 01 2008 @ 1:28 pm 15. Daniel said …
HUGE picks on Night One, Evan!
Um, where IS Robin Williams these days?
on Aug 01 2008 @ 1:44 pm 16. Evan Derrick said …
Hopefully making another movie like One Hour Photo. I thought that film was brilliant, and was quite disappointed to see that he didn’t get more attention for it.
on Aug 01 2008 @ 7:17 pm 17. Mad Hatter said …
A: The clip art is indeed quite awesome.
B: I’d actually go to see everynight of this bicker-fest of week’s worth of screenings…especially back-to-back Burton/Bakshi nights.
on Aug 01 2008 @ 10:32 pm 18. Cinexcellence said …
Yes, One Hour Photo is a great little film. It really surprised me in a good way.
on Aug 01 2008 @ 10:35 pm 19. Luke Harrington said …
Thanks for your support, Mad Hatter. I didn’t think my choices were THAT bad…even I could sit through Semi-Pro, and I despise Will Ferrell.