Competing movies within a genre

Author: darth_ender
Date: 19-Aug-2014, 3:58 AM

Author: darth_ender
Time: 19-Aug-2014 3:58 AM
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I know we have a movies thread, but I thought it might be interesting to create one about similar movies that come out pretty close to each other, obviously hoping to capitalize on the popularity of the genre at the time. Examples include:

EdTV and The Truman Show

Armageddon and Deep Impact

Megamind and Despicable Me

The Hunger Games and Divergent

It would be fun to compare these and others, naming pros and cons to each. For instance, I just watched Divergent. It was fun, but lacking in depth of character, with the protagonist Tris not nearly as fun to get to know as Katniss Everdeen. While both describe a dystopian future, Divergent is a little harder to believe in (though both are pretty unrealistic if you ask me, but then we are suspending disbelief). Both societies are bucked by a strong-willed female, but Jennifer Lawrence is a better actress who plays a much stronger non-conformist. I can't think of a single way that Divergent is superior to Hunger Games, but I have to be honest, I did enjoy it anyway.

Anyone want to have a go.

Author: Tobar
Time: 19-Aug-2014 4:08 AM
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Other examples:

Volcano and Dante's Peak

The Prestige and The Illusionist

White House Down and Olympus Has Fallen

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Author: SilverWook
Time: 19-Aug-2014 4:15 AM (Edited)
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Don't forget The Abyss, Leviathan, and Deepstar Six, all in 1989.

Also, Platoon and Full Metal Jacket came out about six months apart.

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Where were you in '77?

Author: Johnny Ringo
Time: 19-Aug-2014 7:01 AM
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Divergent was described to me as The Hunger games...without the Games.

Red Planet / Mission to Mars

Tombstone / Wyatt Earp

K-9 / Turner and Hooch [You don't eat the carrrrrrrrrr]

The Losers / The A-Team

Mirror Mirror / Snow White and the Huntsman [They were both terrible]

The Matrix / The Thirteenth Floor

Author: timdiggerm
Time: 19-Aug-2014 7:22 AM
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A Bug's Life / Antz

ROTJ Storyboard Reconstruction Project

Author: twister111
Time: 19-Aug-2014 7:46 AM (Edited)
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The desire to have movies(also tv shows) with 9 in the title for the year 2009.
9/Nine/District 9/General Orders No. 9/ Loose Change 9/11: An American Coup/9 Months 9 Days/Prime 9(tv show)/9 muses/In Her Skin(a.k.a. How to change in 9 weeks)/Girl Number 9(tv show)/9 to 9(short)/The Nashville 9(short)/9mm(short)

http://twister111.tumblr.com
Previous Signature preservation link

Author: Warbler
Time: 19-Aug-2014 12:24 PM
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Never Say Never Again / Octopussy

Author: Gaffer Tape
Time: 19-Aug-2014 2:23 PM
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twister111 said:

The desire to have movies(also tv shows) with 9 in the title for the year 2009.
9/Nine/District 9/General Orders No. 9/ Loose Change 9/11: An American Coup/9 Months 9 Days/Prime 9(tv show)/9 muses/In Her Skin(a.k.a. How to change in 9 weeks)/Girl Number 9(tv show)/9 to 9(short)/The Nashville 9(short)/9mm(short)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine!

Oh... wait...

There is no lingerie in space…

C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.

Author: Bingowings
Time: 19-Aug-2014 2:24 PM (Edited)
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After the success of Splash (1984) we had a small rash of comedies riffing mythological creatures trying to fit into contemporary life.

Splash Too (1988)

Mannequin (1987)

Weird Science (1985)

Teenwolf Too (1987)

Teen Vamp (1988)

Teen Witch (1989)

Author: TM2YC
Time: 19-Aug-2014 3:22 PM
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Many compared the plots of...

The Raid (2011) vs Dredd (2012)

...and accused Dredd of copying The Raid. Forgetting that Dredd was written and shot before The Raid. Both are awesome.

The Godfather (1972) vs Once Upon A Time In America (1984)

Same story really. Leone had his movie in pre-production/scripting way before Coppola was hired. Again both are awesome.

The Full Monty (1997) vs Brassed Off (1996)

Both films about working class men finding a way out of the scrapheaps that Thatcher chucked their generation/industiries/communities onto. Full Monty was a collosal boxoffice hit, while Brassed Off did poorly but is infinitely superior IMO.

The late Pete Postlethwaite's best performance IMO...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDcoJN9fnVI

VIZ TOP TIPS! - PARENTS. Impress your children by showing them a floppy disk and telling them it’s a 3D model of a save icon.

Author: Bingowings
Time: 19-Aug-2014 3:24 PM
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Dangerous Liaisons (1988)

Valmont (1989)

Author: SilverWook
Time: 19-Aug-2014 4:01 PM
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The 1991 horror film The Runestone, and The Mask (1994) are very similar despite being different genres. Both revolve around an ancient Norse artifact that causes a magical transformation in the person who finds it. And actor Peter Riegert plays a cynical cop in both.

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Where were you in '77?

Author: Space Hunter M
Time: 19-Aug-2014 4:41 PM
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Destination Moon vs. Rocketship X-M

So, a new book came out and we learned so much, and it is called, “Anguilosaurus, Killer of the Living”.

Author: skyjedi2005
Time: 19-Aug-2014 6:06 PM
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Star Wars 1977/Flash Gordon 1980

“Always loved Vader’s wordless self sacrifice. Another shitty, clueless, revision like Greedo and young Anakin’s ghost. What a fucking shame.” -Simon Pegg.

Author: G E Predator
Time: 19-Aug-2014 7:14 PM
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"Madagascar" (2005) and "The Wild" (2006)

"Shrek" (2001) and "Monster Inc" (2001) Not much in common with story elements, but both are buddy comedies and both are among the first animated films to be nominated for Best Animated Film.

Author: SilverWook
Time: 19-Aug-2014 7:35 PM
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Makes you wonder if Disney/Pixar and Dreamworks spy on each other. ;)

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Where were you in '77?

Author: Bingowings
Time: 19-Aug-2014 7:55 PM
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The one that was a bit of Hollywood conspiracy theory back in the day was that Independence Day bares a very strong resemblance to an earlier draft of the Mars Attacks script. even down to the President getting into a fighter plane to face the aliens.

Author: DominicCobb
Time: 19-Aug-2014 8:59 PM
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Here's a good list from TVTropes: Dueling Movies.

Author: TheBoost
Time: 20-Aug-2014 12:48 AM
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SilverWook said:

Don't forget The Abyss, Leviathan, and Deepstar Six, all in 1989.

Also, Platoon and Full Metal Jacket came out about six months apart.

After subs discovered the wreck of Titanic in 86 America went a little sub-crazy.

Author: Gaffer Tape
Time: 20-Aug-2014 12:51 AM
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TheBoost said:

After subs discovered the wreck of Titanic in 86 America went a little sub-crazy.

So... slightly less than full-on crazy?

There is no lingerie in space…

C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.

Author: Space Hunter M
Time: 20-Aug-2014 5:59 PM
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The Final War (Toei, 1960) / The Last War (Toho, 1961)

Even though both end with world destruction, The Final War presents a much more nihilistic viewpoint on civilization.

So, a new book came out and we learned so much, and it is called, “Anguilosaurus, Killer of the Living”.

Author: Bingowings
Time: 20-Aug-2014 6:02 PM
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Godspell (1973)

Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

Tommy (1975)

Author: darth_ender
Time: 20-Aug-2014 11:26 PM
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Anyone want to share their preference between the competing films?

Author: FanFiltration
Time: 21-Aug-2014 12:52 AM
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Shaft / Live And let Die

Enter the Dragon / The Man With The Golden Gun

Star Wars / Moonraker

Miami Vice / Licence to Kill

The Spy Who Loved Me / Hunt for Red October / Crimson Tide

Borne Identity / Any Brosnan or Craig Bond Film

The DaVinci Code / National Treasure

Angels & Demons / National Treasure II

“First feel fear, then get angry. Then go with your life into the fight.” - Bill Mollison

Author: Neglify
Time: 21-Aug-2014 4:16 AM
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darth_ender said:

Anyone want to share their preference between the competing films?

Ok, of all the films listed so far that I've seen, here are my preferences and a short little string of words for each.

EdTV vs The Truman Show. Truman Show is a masterpiece! EdTV is goofy dumb.
Armageddon vs Deep Impact. Deep Impact cuz Morgan Freeman. And the guy who played the "Black Head of the CIA".
The Prestige vs The Illusionist. While I did really like The Illusionist, it was The Prestige that kept me thinking and rewatching.
White House Down vs Olympus Has Fallen. I barely remember either, but I remember White House Down more.
Platoon vs Full Metal Jacket. I don't think these really fit. Sure, they're both Vietnam flicks that came out around the same time. But they're very different and I never felt they were "competing". Well ok, maybe because Platoon had just won the Oscars, Full Metal Jacket was ignored, but whatevs. Anyway, FMJ wins it for me.
The Losers vs The A-Team. I liked The Losers more, but I barely remember either.
A Bug's Life vs Antz. Pixar > Woody All-ant.
Shrek vs. Monsters Inc. Pixar > Dreamworks.

Don’t do drugs, unless you’re with me.