Presented without comment – Round Three, Part Two.
![300 [Blu-ray]](/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/315-tqh6mxl.jpg)
| The Prestige v. Pan’s Labyrinth |
| Lisa’s Pick: Pan’s Labyrinth The Prestige is like the Penn and Teller of magical movies – it deconstructs every trick, removes the illusion, and makes me feel like a moron for buying into the trick in the first place. The only magic in The Prestige is the magic of Nikola Tesla’s science. What I like about Pan’s Labyrinth (one of the many things I like) is that it leaves enough wiggle room in its reality for the possibility that the events weren’t just happening in Ofelia’s head. |
| Brian’s Pick: The Prestige This is a tough one. I actually think that Pan’s Labyrinth is the better movie (if a little plodding), but The Prestige just hit all my nerd buttons. Like any good amateur scientist, I’m obsessed with magic. While some people are fascinated with psychic powers and the movement of the planets, I’m more amazed by those who are able to trick us into believing they command that kind of supernatural mumbo jumbo. The Prestige is the best filmed look into the mind of the magician—not just the art of illusion but the craft—ever made. This is a magician’s movie about magic, and it’s also another showcase for the inhuman talents of Hugh Jackman. Seriously, where is The Fountain in this bracket? |
| John’s Pick: The Prestige I loved Pan’s Labyrinth, and I really resent having to make this choice. Both films are nearly impeccable in their presentation, but points go to The Prestige for having a more complex narrative, as well as having a lot more to say about it’s characters as they deal with the nature of guilt, self-loathing, and the duality (and trip-ality, and quad-ality…) of men engaged in self destruction and revenge. Pan’s Labyrinth, despite the maze reference it it’s title, has a very linear and uncomplicated story. None of the characters change or are changed by the events of the story – it’s almost like they’re in place simply to get from magical Point A to creepy Point B. The bad guy father stays bad. The innocent little girl remains innocent. The only question posed the viewer is whether or not the fairy-tale elements are real or the escapist fantasies of a troubled child. If the competitive film-going waters hadn’t been muddied by the near-simultaneous release of The Illusionist, another movie featuring late 19th/early 20th century competing magicians (but not nearly as good), then I think the Prestige would be a bigger film in the collective consciousness. |
![The Prestige [Blu-ray]](/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/21pznz8zmbl.jpg) |
| Round Two Winner: The Prestige |
| Slither v. Hot Fuzz |
| Lisa’s Pick: Hot Fuzz Oh, crap. Deciding between Slither and Flash Gordon was hard. Deciding between Hot Fuzz and 1408 wasn’t quite as hard, although it was made harder by the Cusack factor. Now I have to choose between Nathan Fillion and Simon Pegg? Between a sluggy alien consciousness and Jim Broadbent’s neighborhood association from Hell? This one will also have to come down to re-watchability. Like most horror movies, Slither is a one trick pony – it was fun the first time around, but it’s less funny and less disgusting on subsequent viewings. Hot Fuzz is a stand by for flights and long car trips. |
| Brian’s Pick: Hot Fuzz Another tough choice, but an easy one. I love Slither. It’s hilarious and gooey and features two of my favorite actors in Michael Rooker and Nathan Fillion. But it’s no Hot Fuzz. It all comes down to character. Slither is entertaining as hell, but I really don’t care about anyone in the film. They’re puppets on a stage. Amusing puppets, for sure, but puppets all the same. But Hot Fuzz is full of honest-to-goodness people. The shooting-the-gun-in-the-air gag is setup halfway through the movie, but I sure did feel a pang of sadness when Danny just couldn’t shoot his crazy dad. And that’s saying something for a movie whose biggest laugh comes from a flying kick to an old lady’s head. |
| John’s Pick: Hot Fuzz A big factor in making my choices is my desire to immediately see a film again after watching it for the first time. Slither was an amusing enough piece of fluff, but once I’d seen it, it quickly went out of my head. Hot Fuzz, on the other hand, DEMANDS repeated viewings, just so I can take in all the references and hear the jokes I missed the first time because I was laughing too hard. I believe that in order to make a funny movie funnier, you’ve got to increase the amount of pain you show the characters going through on screen. Both movies seem to realize this, and both movies are better for it. But I still resent Slither for taking down Flash Gordon – this is my revenge. Hot Fuzz wins. |
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| Round Two Winner: Hot Fuzz |
Previous Rounds
Round Three – The Sweet Sixteen – Part One
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Lisa Fary's earliest influences are Princess Leia, Rainbow Bright, Astronaut Barbie, and her 6th grade teacher, Ms. Palmer. She's angry that it's 2011 and she still doesn't have a hovercraft, but will accept a jetpack as consolation. That jetpack had better be pink with a rhinestone monogram. 
Yay Hot Fuzz!