The "Better Than" List Thread

[transmogrifier]

In honour of that great, compassionate shrinking violet Armond White, I think we should steal his idea and use it for the power of good, i.e. not insane.

The rule is simple. First, choose a film that is general perceived as very good by the critical community, but one that you think is lacking. Second, choose a second film somehow related to the first first that you think is severely undervalued by the critical community. Step 3, acting like a complete ass and hating on everyone who disagrees with you, is optional.

I'll start

Southern Comfort BETTER THAN Deliverance

(Link: hillbillies)

Walter Hill's thriller has one of the most nerve-wracking finales of any film I have seen. Deliverance has Ned Beatty squaling like a pig. No contest.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith BETTER THAN The Bourne Identity

(link: director)

The former is one of the jazziest, funniest actioneers around. The latter is overshadowed by superior sequels.

Fun for all!

[B-side]

Barry Lyndon is BETTER THAN Amadeus

The former features far better photography.

[Boner M]

McBride's Breathless > Godard's Breathless

Godard's deconstructs Hollywood genre films with no truly inspiring results, unlike some of his subsequent films. It's a blueprint, still fresh and watchable, but not much else. McBride's is a far more enthralling pop-scape that revels in the absurdity of its unnervingly artificial vision of America, as well as a minor touchstone in its own right; you can see its wacky influence in Wild at Heart, My Blueberry Nights and Tarantino's entire filmography.

[Kurious Jorge v3.1]

Sam Raimi's Crimewave exerts a more profundifical dilemma of crime in the city than the criminally bat-shit The Dark Knight. As I sat in the theatre seat(s) watching this Nolan pseudo-opus I couldn't help thinking "What has he done to my Batman and why does it look like the mayor of Gotham wearing eye shadow?" That's what I would like to know, because if so, I can draw a linear parallel to glam rock and the avant-gay films of Derek Jarman as well.

[transmogrifier]

Stir of Echoes BETTER THAN The Sixth Sense

The former manages to create an atmosphere while still allowing the characters to have a pulse and to speak above a hushed whisper. Kevin Bacon has never been better.

Chicago BETTER THAN The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

It's pretty amateurish in terms of cienmatic qualities, but the former actually has some show-stopping numbers. The latter grinds along in the same gear, and the central romance is not nearly as interesting as the director would have you believe.

[megladon8]

"What has he done to my Batman and why does it look like the mayor of Gotham wearing eye shadow?"


Nestor Carbonell is of Cuban descent. He wasn't wearing eye shadow, he just has very thick, dark lashes.

[Raiders]

McBride's Breathless > Godard's Breathless

Godard's deconstructs Hollywood genre films with no truly inspiring results, unlike some of his subsequent films. It's a blueprint, still fresh and watchable, but not much else. McBride's is a far more enthralling pop-scape that revels in the absurdity of its unnervingly artificial vision of America, as well as a minor touchstone in its own right; you can see its wacky influence in Wild at Heart, My Blueberry Nights and Tarantino's entire filmography.


HAHAHAHAHAHA!!

...

:|

[Boner M]

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!

...

:|
I'll take you on.

http://images.tomshardware.com/2007/03/20/top_10_movie_fights/hunted_425.jpg

[Robby P]

The White Diamond BETTER THAN Grizzly Man

(link: 2005 Herzog Documentaries)

Similar subject matters but the latter received all the critical accolades. The former was mostly ignored but was beautifully photographed and was just as poignant and thought provoking.

[Raiders]

The White Diamond BETTER THAN Grizzly Man

(link: 2005 Herzog Documentaries)

Similar subject matters but the latter received all the critical accolades. The former was mostly ignored but was beautifully photographed and was just as poignant and thought provoking.

YES.

[balmakboor]

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!

...

:|

I don't think he's far off. Godard's version has never impressed me the way his later works like Band of Outsiders and Pierrot le fou have. McBride's is very colorful and fun -- and influential in the ways mentioned. It deserves to be seen by more and I wish Criterion had put both versions on their release. (Probably not possible because of legal and licensing matters, but I can still dream.)

[Sycophant]

Do you know what could make this more fun? If the film that people are saying is better is the film the next poster hato say something is better than.

So:
Poster 1: Ed Wood is better than Edward Scissorhands (Tim Burton films)
Poster 2: Pirates of the Caribbean is better than Ed Wood (Johnny Depp vehicles)
Poster 1: YOU BASTARD.

Or not. Fun either way.

[transmogrifier]

Do you know what could make this more fun? If the film that people are saying is better is the film the next poster hato say something is better than.

So:
Poster 1: Ed Wood is better than Edward Scissorhands (Tim Burton films)
Poster 2: Pirates of the Caribbean is better than Ed Wood (Johnny Depp vehicles)
Poster 1: YOU BASTARD.

Or not. Fun either way.

You have taken my idea and actually made it worthwhile. Congrats.

[Yxklyx]

Little Man (d. Keenen Ivory Wayans) > Gertrud (d. Carl Theodor Dreyer)

[Mysterious Dude]

McBride's is very colorful and fun -- and influential in the ways mentioned.
McBride's Breathless is influential? Godard's is practically as influential as Citizen Kane.

[balmakboor]

McBride's Breathless is influential? Godard's is practically as influential as Citizen Kane.

Yes, McBride's has been influential in the ways Boner stated. Godard's has been very influential, of course. I just don't like it as much as later Godards.

(Isn't that what I said before?)

[Mysterious Dude]

Yes, McBride's has been influential in the ways Boner stated. Godard's has been very influential, of course. I just don't like it as much as later Godards.

(Isn't that what I said before?)
I wasn't actually asking you a question. I was being sarcastic.

[Ezee E]

Snow Angels is leagues better than the dopey Pineapple Express. David Gordon Green may have been heralded for taking on a stoner comedy, but in the end, it's what he does best that is why he's here. Just let Rogen do his own thing, and continue on with worthy projects.

[balmakboor]

I wasn't actually asking you a question. I was being sarcastic.

Oh.

[transmogrifier]

Snow Angels is leagues better than the dopey Pineapple Express. David Gordon Green may have been heralded for taking on a stoner comedy, but in the end, it's what he does best that is why he's here. Just let Rogen do his own thing, and continue on with worthy projects.

Pineapple Express BETTER THAN any Coen comedy you care to name.

In that, you know, it's very funny, whereas Coen comedies are usually an unholy mixture of broad cartoonish acting (e.g. McDormand in Burn After Reading) and convoluted plot twists, keep interesting by the fascinating misanthropy on show.

[Rowland]

Stuck > Burn After Reading

Reasoning to come when I get a few extra minutes.

[megladon8]

Herzog's Nosferatu is better than Murnau's Nosferatu

Herzog's film has a more human story and overall better cinematography than the silent classic, which is still a wonderful film that boasts some legendary images, but is not nearly as affecting.

[Russ]

More nutty Herzog equations:

Les Blank's Burden of Dreams, better than Fitzcarraldo.

Why? Both films capture the insanity inherent in the dreamer; Dreams is the better film simply because it's the more compelling portrait of a lunatic. Plus, it's meta-ness is off the charts.

[Ivan Drago]

Uhhh...do these have to be what we really think or can they be as non-sensical as possible? Because I know Kurious Jorge truly hated The Dark Knight but then again there's Yxklyx's Little Man > Gertrud comment, so I don't know where to go with this.

[Mysterious Dude]

Soyuzmultfilm > Pixar

[transmogrifier]

O (MUCH) BETTER THAN Brick

[transmogrifier]

Burton's Batman is BETTER THAN Nolan's Batman

[Dead & Messed Up]

Burton's Batman is BETTER THAN Nolan's Batman

Raimi's Darkman > Burton's Batman

Although both carry a rich fusion of Gothic sensibility, opera, and po-mo superheroism, Raimi's film is more in tune to its protagonist, and it has the good sense to step back and laugh at itself every now and again.

[ledfloyd]

More nutty Herzog equations:

Les Blank's Burden of Dreams, better than Fitzcarraldo.

Why? Both films capture the insanity inherent in the dreamer; Dreams is the better film simply because it's the more compelling portrait of a lunatic. Plus, it's meta-ness is off the charts.
repped. i've long been a holder of this opinion.

[Spun Lepton]

Epic Movie > Disaster Movie

I mean seriously, I -- OW! Who's throwing bottles? That could hurt somebody! Just let me -- HEY! I will not be silenced, here, people, stop throwing -- OWW! That one hit me in the EAR! You've got to learn to grow up, people, seriously, this is -- okay, hey, that one had the neck broken off, not cool, that could've punctured something.

Man, I didn't realize you folks like Disaster Movie so much. OOOW!! I said knock it off! Look, I ... stop shoving! Let go of me -- PUT ME DOWN! THIS AIN'T FUNNY ANY MORE PEOPLE, YOU HAVE TO ... PUT ME DOWN! PUT ME DOWN! AUUUUGGHHHH!!

/thrown down a well

[lovejuice]

Raimi's Darkman > Burton's Batman

Although both carry a rich fusion of Gothic sensibility, opera, and po-mo superheroism, Raimi's film is more in tune to its protagonist, and it has the good sense to step back and laugh at itself every now and again.

i like darkman too, but i don't see how burton's film does not "step back and laugh at itself every now and again." nicholson's joker is the villain in that film after all. not to mention how burton never seems to take the title character seriously or as seriously as many fans do.

[trotchky]

Citizen Kane is better than Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

[Dead & Messed Up]

i like darkman too, but i don't see how burton's film does not "step back and laugh at itself every now and again." nicholson's joker is the villain in that film after all. not to mention how burton never seems to take the title character seriously or as seriously as many fans do.

There are some moments in Darkman that seem to slap the audience and remind them that this is, at its core, a ridiculous movie. The Joker's jokes don't step outside the film.

And as for Burton taking Batman seriously...that's a whole other can of worms.

[The Mike]

I really want to watch Darkman again now. :sad:

[megladon8]

Alien 3 > Aliens

[Raiders]

Alien 3 > Aliens

How much did trans pay you for this?

[megladon8]

How much did trans pay you for this?


The truth comes at no cost, my friend.

[transmogrifier]

How much did trans pay you for this?

Hey, even I don't agree with that. Aliens is the best of the series.

Alien 3 is great though. The mood and depth of feeling is awesome.

[Qrazy]

Why don't we change the name of the thread to The "Incorrect Statements" List Thread.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Why don't we change the name of the thread to The "Incorrect Statements" List Thread.

Yeah, pretty much. Large amounts of wrong in this thread, it must be said.

Er...

Indiana Jones > Han Solo

[eternity]

O (MUCH) BETTER THAN Brick

:frustrated:

[Winston*]

10 Things I Hate About You better than O better than Brick

[Dead & Messed Up]

10 Things I Hate About You better than O better than Brick

Clueless > 10 Things I Hate About You

[transmogrifier]

:frustrated:

I could have added a couple more muches there as well. Count yourself lucky.

[transmogrifier]

Pineapple Express BETTER THAN The Big Lebowski

[transmogrifier]

High Noon BETTER THAN Rio Bravo

[Qrazy]

High Noon BETTER THAN Rio Bravo

I agree with this.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Try this one on for size:

The Magnificent Seven > The Seven Samurai

[trotchky]

Pineapple Express BETTER THAN The Big Lebowski

This is a disgusting statement. Pineapple Express' biggest problem is that every character who isn't Seth Rogen, James Franco, or the other guy is not just horribly boring but feels like a Lebowski reject. Express is about 1/3 good because that's how much screen time its funny actors have; Lebowski is concocted brilliantly from beginning to end.

[Derek]

> > BETTER THAN > better than

[Raiders]

Pineapple Express BETTER THAN The Big Lebowski

YES.


High Noon BETTER THAN Rio Bravo

Well, one out of two ain't bad.

[Sycophant]

Norbit > The Mist

Not really related except that I saw them right around the same time.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Norbit > The Mist

Not really related except that I saw them right around the same time.

I want to track you down and knife you and feed you to a giant crab monster.

Here's one, for kicks. My favorite horror movies from the 2000's:

Shaun of the Dead > Session 9 > The Mist > The Descent > Let the Right One In > 28 Days Later > Hostel > A Tale of Two Sisters

[Winston*]

I want to track you down and knife you and feed you to a giant crab monster.

Here's one, for kicks. My favorite horror movies from the 2000's:

Shaun of the Dead > Session 9 > The Mist > The Descent > Let the Right One In > 28 Days Later > Hostel > A Tale of Two Sisters
Hostel? Really? I thought you were a big fan of Pulse.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Hostel? Really? I thought you were a big fan of Pulse.

Oh fuck me, you're right. I don't know why I blanked out on that. Insert Pulse in between Shaun and Session 9.

But I am a big fan of Hostel. I think it's stylish and smarter than people give it credit for.

[Sycophant]

I want to track you down and knife you and feed you to a giant crab monster.So much violence on Match Cut today.

I stand behind my assertion.

[Dead & Messed Up]

So much violence on Match Cut today.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_94wGm5Prdv0/SZE6rUvvZqI/AAAAAAAAAh8/kNg7Htcuhhs/s400/Poster+-+12+Angry+Men_06.jpg

I'll kill ya! I'll kill ya!"

[MadMan]

High Noon BETTER THAN Rio BravoYep. But not by a whole lot.

As for Harrison Ford performances, I'm going with his best three: Deckard>Han Solo>Indiana Jones. But that's not really a controversial opinion.

[Melville]

Yep. But not by a whole lot.

As for Harrison Ford performances, I'm going with his best three: Deckard>Han Solo>Indiana Jones. But that's not really a controversial opinion.
Deckard is practically a nonentity. I'd say Indiana Jones > Han Solo > Deckard.

[lovejuice]

Deckard is practically a nonentity. I'd say Indiana Jones > Han Solo > Deckard.
indy > han solo > deckard > jack ryan > a president of the united states > humphrey bogart > michael pfeiffer's husband

[Sycophant]

michael pfeiffer's husband

Jealous much?

[lovejuice]

Jealous much?
neh....never hot toward pfeiffer. respect her as an actress though.