FOFC Favourite Movie - Sweet Sixteen (Part 2)

[Carman Bulldog]

And now part 2 of the Sweet Sixteen... hard to believe that we are closing in on the final eight movies. Full bracket can be found here.

Stats through 4th Round...
Note: New entries since last update appear in italics.

Total Votes (4th Round Winners)
222 - The Shawshank Redemption
208 - Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
199 - Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
194 - The Godfather
192 - Goodfellas
[Lowest] 126 - Scarface

Most Votes - Matchup
77 - The Shawshank Redemption (69) vs. Pan's Labyrinth (8) [2nd Round]
76 - The Big Lebowski (47) vs. Interstellar (29) [2nd Round]
73 - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (46) vs. Casino (27) [2nd Round]; The Dark Knight (38) vs. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (35) [4th Round]; Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (56) vs. Forrest Gump (17) [4th Round]; Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (57) vs. Terminator 2: Judgement Day (16) [4th Round]
[1st Round] 64 - Raiders of the Lost Ark (58) vs. Annie Hall (6)
[2nd Round] 77 - The Shawshank Redemption (69) vs. Pan's Labyrinth (8)
[3rd Round] 67 - The Matrix (41) vs. Gladiator (26)
[4th Round] 73 - The Dark Knight (38) vs. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (35); Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (56) vs. Forrest Gump (17); Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (57) vs. Terminator 2: Judgement Day (16)

Most Votes - Winning Movie
69 - The Shawshank Redemption vs. Pan's Labyrinth (8) [2nd Round]
68 - Back to the Future vs. Like Stars on Earth (0) [2nd Round]
68 - Goodfellas vs. Judgement at Nuremburg (4) [2nd Round]
[1st Round] 58 - Back to the Future vs. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (3)
[2nd Round] 69 - The Shawshank Redemption vs. Pan's Labyrinth (8)
[3rd Round] 52 - Pulp Fiction vs. Mad Max: Fury Road (10)
[4th Round] 57 - Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back vs. Terminator 2: Judgement Day (16)

Most Votes - Losing Movie
35 - Monty Python and the Holy Grail vs. The Dark Knight (38) [4th Round]
33 - Memento vs. Taxi Driver (39) [2nd Round]
33 - Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi vs. Fight Club (33) [3rd Round]
[1st Round] 25 - Unforgiven vs. Blade Runner (27)
[2nd Round] 33 - Memento vs. Taxi Driver (39)
[3rd Round] 33 - Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi vs. Fight Club (33)
[4th Round] 35 - Monty Python and the Holy Grail vs. The Dark Knight (38)

Fewest Votes - Matchup
9 - Sunrise (7) vs. 3 Idiots (2) [1st Round]
10 - The Hunt (6) vs. Wild Strawberries (4) [1st Round]
10 - M (10) vs. Come and See (0) [1st Round]
[1st Round] 9 - Sunrise (7) vs. 3 Idiots (2)
[2nd Round] 24 - Sunsent Boulevard (18) vs. M (6)
[3rd Round] 40 - The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (34) vs. Sunset Boulevard (6)
[4th Round] 35 - The Godfather: Part II (20) vs. Saving Private Ryan (15)

Fewest Votes - Winning Movie
6 - The Hunt vs. Wild Strawberries (4) [1st Round]
7 - Sunrise vs. 3 Idiots (2) [1st Round]
8 - A Separation vs. Incendies (7) [1st Round]
[1st Round] 6 - The Hunt vs. Wild Strawberries (4)
[2nd Round] 18 - Sunset Boulevard vs. M (6)
[3rd Round] 21 - Seven Samurai vs. No Country for Old Men (21)
[4th Round] 20 - The Godfather: Part II vs. Saving Private Ryan (15)

Largest Margin of Victory
68 - Back to the Future (68) vs. Like Stars on Earth (0) [2nd Round]
64 - Goodfellas (68) vs. Judgement at Nuremburg (4) [2nd Round]
61 - The Shawshank Redemption (68) vs. Pan's Labyrinth (8) [2nd Round]
[1st Round] 55 - Back to the Future (58) vs. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (3)
[2nd Round] 68 - Back to the Future (68) vs. Like Stars on Earth (0)
[3rd Round] 42 - Pulp Fiction (52) vs. Mad Max: Fury Road (10)
[4th Round] 48 - The Shawshank Redemption (55) vs. The Big Lebowski (7)

Smallest Margin of Victory (min. 40 votes)
0 - Fight Club (33) vs. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (33) [3rd Round]
0 - The Green Mile (29) vs. The Sting (29) [2nd Round]
0 - Some Like it Hot (24) vs. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (24) [1st Round]
0 - Seven Samurai (21) vs. No Country for Old Men (21) [3rd Round]
[1st Round] 0 - Some Like it Hot (24) vs. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (24)
[2nd Round] 0 - The Green Mile (29) vs. The Sting (29)
[3rd Round] 0 - Fight Club (33) vs. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (33); Seven Samurai (21) vs. No Country for Old Men (21)
[4th Round] 3 - The Dark Knight (38) vs. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (35)

Biggest Shutout
68-0 - Back to the Future vs. Like Stars on Earth [2nd Round]
53-0 - The Shawshank Redemption vs. The Phantom of the Paradise [1st Round]
53-0 - The Wizard of Oz vs. Sunrise [2nd Round]
[1st Round] 53-0 - The Shawshank Redemption vs. The Phantom of the Paradise
[2nd Round] 68-0 - Back to the Future vs. Like Stars on Earth
[3rd Round] None
[4th Round] None

Biggest "Underdogs" Upsets
229. The Terminator (47) vs. 5. 12 Angry Men (23) [4th Round]
235. Twelve Monkeys (33) vs. 22. La La Land (8) [1st Round]
230. The Wizard of Oz (47) vs. 27. Life is Beautiful (9) [1st Round]
[1st Round] 235. Twelve Monkeys (33) vs. 22. La La Land (8)
[2nd Round] 235. Twelve Monkeys (37) vs. 107. The Hunt (2)
[3rd Round] 229. The Terminator (39) vs. 37. The Green Mile (20)
[4th Round] 229. The Terminator (47) vs. 5. 12 Angry Men (23)

[Radii]

I love quoting Princess Bride as much as anyone... but this seems a bit crazy.

[larrymcg421]

I agree. The Godfather is a perfect film.

[Kodos]

I've never been a big fan of mob movies.

[korme]

Pulp Fiction and Fight Club are my #1 and #2 on personal favorites, in which the order vacillates.

[Julio Riddols]

Princess Bride is quite possibly the perfect movie. It is something you can put on any time, in any mood, and feel better an hour or two later. When you're down, when you're up, when you're bored, when you're spending a night cuddling up next to your sweetheart, nothing else is as reliably perfect for the moment. You can watch it with your kids too. Can't say any of that for The Godfather. Gotta be in the right mood for The Godfather, and can't have the kids around.

[AlexB]

Godfather II v. Inception is the hardest decision for me so far from any round - two of my top five films.

[nilodor]

Originally Posted by Julio Riddols

Princess Bride is quite possibly the perfect movie. It is something you can put on any time, in any mood, and feel better an hour or two later. When you're down, when you're up, when you're bored, when you're spending a night cuddling up next to your sweetheart, nothing else is as reliably perfect for the moment. You can watch it with your kids too. Can't say any of that for The Godfather. Gotta be in the right mood for The Godfather, and can't have the kids around.

Sums it up perfectly

[tarcone]

PB vs The GF was a very tough choice.

Fight Club is a fantastic movie. I like Pulp Fiction, but I really enjoy Fight Club.

Tough choices this round.

[Chief Rum]

This was indeed a very tough round. When I picked, I was convinced that all four I picked would be losing.

I would watch just about any of these movies if I saw them coming on.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by Julio Riddols

Princess Bride is quite possibly the perfect movie. It is something you can put on any time, in any mood, and feel better an hour or two later. When you're down, when you're up, when you're bored, when you're spending a night cuddling up next to your sweetheart, nothing else is as reliably perfect for the moment. You can watch it with your kids too. Can't say any of that for The Godfather. Gotta be in the right mood for The Godfather, and can't have the kids around.

I was thinking along these lines - plus I didn't want to vote a straight Godfather ticket. Lot of fantastic movies in this particular group - it's a shame any have to lose, really.

[Carman Bulldog]

Originally Posted by Julio Riddols

Princess Bride is quite possibly the perfect movie. It is something you can put on any time, in any mood, and feel better an hour or two later. When you're down, when you're up, when you're bored, when you're spending a night cuddling up next to your sweetheart, nothing else is as reliably perfect for the moment. You can watch it with your kids too. Can't say any of that for The Godfather. Gotta be in the right mood for The Godfather, and can't have the kids around.

On the flip side, I see the Godfather as pretty much the perfect piece of cinematic film making. If we were voting for what movie we think is "the best," it would probably be my top film. Having said that, your reasons sum up why The Princess Bride is so endearing. It's also why, despite my belief that The Godfather is a better movie, The Princess Bride is ever so slightly my "favourite." Which is saying a lot, because I love The Godfather so much. I think this is probably going to end up being the most difficult decision of the tournament.

[larrymcg421]

See, I don't get why that's the default response in these threads, where people pick the most "watchable" movie over the movie that is better, but maybe more difficult to watch. I've seen Schindler's List twice and might not ever watch it again. I've seen 40 Yr Old Virgin at least 10 times and will probably watch it many more times. There's no way in hell I'd ever vote for it over Schindler's List.

That method of deciding what to vote for seems to just reward movies that are safer and less challenging. To me, I'm picking movies that have created the most memorable viewing experiences and sometimes that's a comedy (Back to the Future is my all time favorite) and sometimes it's a difficult drama that I can't bear to watch repeatedly. I don't want to punish films just because I'd rather laugh more often than cry.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

See, I don't get why that's the default response in these threads, where people pick the most "watchable" movie over the movie that is better, but maybe more difficult to watch. I've seen Schindler's List twice and might not ever watch it again. I've seen 40 Yr Old Virgin at least 10 times and will probably watch it many more times. There's no way in hell I'd ever vote for it over Schindler's List.

That method of deciding what to vote for seems to just reward movies that are safer and less challenging. To me, I'm picking movies that have created the most memorable viewing experiences and sometimes that's a comedy (Back to the Future is my all time favorite) and sometimes it's a difficult drama that I can't bear to watch repeatedly. I don't want to punish films just because I'd rather laugh more often than cry.

The title is "favorite". I equate that with most enjoyable, for whatever reason/criteria you choose to apply.

There've been several of these that I can't imagine sitting through even once, much less a second time or more. How could I legitimately consider any of those "a favorite" no matter how good a piece of filmmaking it might be?

edit to add: Whereas "rewatchability" seems like a key component to the notion of "favorite"

[Carman Bulldog]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

See, I don't get why that's the default response in these threads, where people pick the most "watchable" movie over the movie that is better, but maybe more difficult to watch. I've seen Schindler's List twice and might not ever watch it again. I've seen 40 Yr Old Virgin at least 10 times and will probably watch it many more times. There's no way in hell I'd ever vote for it over Schindler's List.

That method of deciding what to vote for seems to just reward movies that are safer and less challenging. To me, I'm picking movies that have created the most memorable viewing experiences and sometimes that's a comedy (Back to the Future is my all time favorite) and sometimes it's a difficult drama that I can't bear to watch repeatedly. I don't want to punish films just because I'd rather laugh more often than cry.

They're probably both in my top 5 favourite movies, which are interchangeable daily based on mood. Most days that mood probably (very slightly) slants towards the Princess Bride as far as "favourite."

[Chief Rum]

What Jon said.

I have taken the approach from the start that this tournament isn't about picking the best made movie. It's about which movie provides me personally with the most entertainment value (including rewatchability). There are also other factors (for instance, I continue to vote for Shawshenk because I think it is an incredibly inspiring film, on top of being a great watch), but by and large, that's what it comes down to for me.

I struggled at first with what larry is struggling with before coming to this decision about how to approach it. I presume most if not all of the regular voters have themselves had to come to some similar decision.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I mean, I'm not even sure if one of my all-time "favorite" movies was even in the round of 64.

McClintock ! might just be my favorite John Wayne movie of all-time. It's not the best movie he ever made, it's just the one that I find the most enjoyable to watch.

[CrimsonFox]

It's funny that I look now on some movies that were deemed as wonderful filmmaking...and now see them as full of film tropes, sometimes laughable and don't hold up. Maybe it's because of their status and stuature that they have been parodied, ripped off and their classic scenes BECAME tropes and fodder by hacks but i guess that happens. Godfather is such a film for me. I still don't understand why people like it so much. I understand why people USED to like it so much. That said I am in awe that the little Bride that could beat it. (cue nelson HA ha)

[larrymcg421]

I get what you guys are saying, but I don't really agree at all. I may never re-watch Schindler's List, but I don't need to. It was a viewing experience that affected me profoundly and that feeling has never really gone away whereas other movies I may watch more often still don't have that same lasting impact. That definitely fits into what I would consider as a "favorite". Under your argument, I would have to consider Schindler's list one of my least favorite movies and that just seems absurd.

Also, if that's how we were supposed to pick between favorites, then I don't understand why the films were picked by IMDB rating. Sounds like it should've been done by box office gross.

[Carman Bulldog]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

I get what you guys are saying, but I don't really agree at all. I may never re-watch Schindler's List, but I don't need to. It was a viewing experience that affected me profoundly and that feeling has never really gone away whereas other movies I may watch more often still don't have that same lasting impact. That definitely fits into what I would consider as a "favorite". Under your argument, I would have to consider Schindler's list one of my least favorite movies and that just seems absurd.

Also, if that's how we were supposed to pick between favorites, then I don't understand why the films were picked by IMDB rating. Sounds like it should've been done by box office gross.

Totally understand where you are coming from. I actually mentioned earlier on that I was leaving the definition of favourite intentionally open to interpretation. Most people have gone with the "if both were on TV, which would I rather watch." But everyone is free to define favourite how they like.

However, when people say this, I think it's with the caveat that they otherwise weigh the quality of the movies fairly equally and what "what would I watch" is the tiebreaker. In my opinion, it's a blending of movies that they recognize as being great quality that they also love to watch (although I may be wrong). For example, if Happy Gilmore and Goodfellas were both on, there are many times when I may choose to watch Happy Gilmore instead. But if they were head to head in this tournament, Goodfellas wins as my favourite hands down. It's when you get two great movies head to head that you apply the what would I watch tiebreaker.