Better Movie #19
 

Rocky, you gave it your best. But I guess your best wasn't gooooooooood enough. Rocky fell to Episode V thanks to the third highest voter turnout in Better Movie history. In a matchup that really says a lot about this place, the nerd movie beat the jock movie. And now it's Star Wars' time to shine.

Or is it? Well we'll find out after this round. It's the fanboy fight of the century.





Polls are open for three days. Happy voting.



<select id="mySelect" onchange="if(this.options[this.selectedIndex].value != ''){window.top.location.href=this.options[this.selectedIndex].value}"> <option value="">Better Movie History</option> <option value="http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=90444">1. Ghostbuster def. Pulp Fiction (36-34)</option> <option value="http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=90524">2. Fight Club def. Ghostbusters (38-28)</option> <option value="http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=90639">3. Fight Club def. Young Frankenstein (30-9)</option> <option value="http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=90721">4. Forrest Gump def. Fight Club (34-15)</option><option value="http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=90862">5. Forrest Gump def. Good Will Hunting (26-8)</option><option value="http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=90976">6. Forrest Gump def. The Matrix (25-9)</option><option value="http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=91094"> 7. Forrest Gump def. Raiders of the Lost Ark (29-24)</option><option value="http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=91181">8. The Shawshank Redemption def. Forrest Gump (30-16)</option><option value="http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=91282">9. Back to the Future def. The Shawshank Redemption (24-15)</option><option value="http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=91385">10. Back to the Future def. American Beauty (19-10)</option><option value="http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=91470">11. Back to the Future def. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (28-12)</option><option value="http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=91588">12. Terminator 2: Judgment Day def. Back to the Future (25-12)</option> <option value="http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=91684">13. Terminator 2: Judgment Day def. The Departed (28-14)</option> <option value="http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=91778">14. Rocky def. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (19-15)</option><option value="http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=91877">15. Rocky def. Snatch (24-17)</option> <option value="http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=91964">16. Rocky def. The Princess Bride (20-11)</option><option value="http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=92075">17. Rocky def. The Big Lebowski (16-9)</option><option value="http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=92184">18. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back def. Rocky (40-23)</option></select>

And as always, tell us why you voted the way you did. Don't just vote and leave you chickenshit coward.

Not a LotR fan at all.

This is an easy one for me, as I didn't care for the LotR movies.

OMG Theddy and I voted for the same film.

The planets must be aligning. Go buy a lottery ticket!

But what if you're the one who's supposed to win?

Same here so I definately am voting for Empire Strikes Back

I always buy two tickets. I pick the numbers on one and let the computer pick the numbers on the other in case I'm supposed to win but I chose the wrong numbers. My own course correction.

The Lord of the Rings movies nearly put me to sleep. I'm not rally a fan.

Same here I went to the first one just to see what the fuss was about and almost did fall asleep

and was very ticked I paid money to see that snoozefest

I actually did fall asleep during the Two Towers, but that's irrelevant to this discussion

ROTK is a great movie. I don't, however, think it's a better film. Yes, it hits all the notes to make it a great technical film. The story is great too, but it lacks the heart and bravery of Empire.

Some will say, "oh this has to be Return of the King", simply because it won best picture, or because it's "better made."
Lord of the Rings, although perhaps more competently acted and directed, isn't as fun or accessible as Empire Strikes Back. It's very regal and cold. Even though Star Wars occupies a more outrageously far-fetched world, it is closer to home. The characters are more human, and the emotions more identifiable.
As far as cinematic mythology goes, I feel that Empire Strikes Back spins the more satisfying and timeless fable. It's epic and pulp at the same time. You have characters like Yoda and Han Solo occupying the same world.
For all the knights, kings, and immortals in Lord of the Rings there isn't that element of the everyman.

Now, I love Lord of the Rings, but it's a more stoic entity. This isn't a bad thing, since it's derived properly from the literature.
I also feel that ROTK isn't the best of the LOTR films. Many feel it is, but I don't. There are a few issues I have with it. I feel that it's preferred due to its content. It holds nothing back and delivers on the largest scale of the three.
It's the form that bothers me in places. Also, with events and setpeices of that magnitude, the focus on characters is lost in the shuffle.

Empire, on the other hand, is the crowning jewel of its franchise.

Two classic franchises, two classic movies, but I give this to Empire hands down.

One thing I always thought about Empire, ever since I was a kid, was how much cooler all of the characters became.

Luke was so much more of a hero, and less of an annoying tag along that's all gitty about his first adventure.
Han was so much more of a badass and a pimp
Darth Vader...enough said.
Chewy got to shoot like 30 stormtroopers
and Leia got like 30x hotter

The look of everything too. Luke seemed way tougher with fatigues and all kinds of weapons on his belt, instead of his karate farmboy get up.
Han switched it up with a coat, because you can't overdo the vest without looking gay.
Leia put on makeup to look like she was going to a club, instead of a senate meeting.

Even Vader shined his chrome up

I think if I didn't vote Empire, I would officially have to turn in my nerd card.

Plus, Empire's just a more enjoyable movie. There's no denying that RotK is going to be the cinematic definition of 'epic' for years to come, but without the massive success that the original Trilogy reached, it's doubtful that most of the block-buster franchises of today would have been made (or at least, been made in the same way). Add to that the sheer cool-factor of spaceships and Boba Fett and the single most infamous twist ending in movie history, and Empire runs away with this one.

I'm just a huge Star Wars nerd in general, so I'd vote for it over pretty much anything.

Im the only vote for LOTR? WTF?

I'm a big LotR fan, so I shall vote for it.

Alright, I bit my tongue when American Beauty was buried but now you all ARE PISSING ME OFF!!!

I have never been a Lord of the Rings fan at all

Star Wars, the only good thing about the lord of the rings movies is Viggo Mortensen

or Mortenson don't reall know

Empire Strikes Back.

LOTR had some truly amazing battle scenes, but at the end of the day I can't bring myself to pick LOTR over Star Wars.

No film has yet to receive 80% of the vote. This could be the first

Star Wars. Without a doubt. LOTR is alright, but cmon! STAR WARS!

Dunno, fucking tough tbh.

As trilogies I'd sauy LOTR is actually better IMO, Return of the Jedi lets Star Wars down, also LOTR is so fucking epic and amazing. But Empire as a film is superb, ROTK is pretty long, perhaps overly long, so ESB gets it...Just.

Empire.

I actually thought Two Towers was the best LOTR film.

LOTR. Star Wars has bad acting, awful writing and just lame fight scenes. Plus it's all space shit.

LOTR. The books are also just amazing peices of artistry. Everything about LOTR is superior to Star Wars.

Anything with Billy Dee Williams on the movie poster. :y:

LotR is fucking awful.

I'm with you on that.
Nobody really agrees, except an old roomate of mine and Christopher Nolan. He said it an interview I read.

Cool, we have something in common with Christopher Nolan.

And for some reason, I think if Nolan makes a third Batman, Dark Knight will still be his best of the three. Just a feelin. No reason for it, but I'm callin it now.

not a moments hesitation...Empire hands down.

damn now I am going to watch it before bed.

I highly doubt there is a way it could be as good or better. All I hope for is that it is good.

the 2nd movie of a trilogy tends to be the best fairly regularly