See this post for details on what this is.

Round 1, Match 1: The Godfather Part II vs. Vertigo

Round 1, Match 2: Lawrence of Arabia vs. Casablanca

Round 1, Match 3: A Clockwork Orange vs. Taxi Driver

Round 1, Match 5: Star Wars vs. The Empire Strikes Back

Round 1, Match 6: The Godfather vs. GoodFellas

-----------

Film vs. Film Challenge: Round 1, Match 4

2001: A Space Odyssey vs. Seven Samurai

Akira Kurosawa’s epic masterpiece influenced scores of directors to come and is considered one of the greatest foreign language films of all time. Stanley Kubrick’s epic masterpiece has baffled millions of viewers with its impenetrable imagery and technique. Both films pushed the boundaries of the medium. Both films innovated. Both films are influential to this day. Space vs. Sword.


VS.

VOTE!

I love Kubrick and think 2001 is dead brilliant, a perfect merging of image and sound the likes of which cinema had never before seen … but Seven Samurai is one of my favorite films ever, a movie so damn good in every way that its 200 minutes fly by in no time. So I have to vote for it.

Kurosawa is a master. Every frame could be frozen and turned into a brilliantly composed poster. Mifune chews the scenery to pieces in one of his great performances. Takashi Shimura as the older head samurai is charismatic and serene. The script is superb, including the bittersweet ending. This movie had a HUGE influence on all western action films to come. It’s just perfect. Easy vote.

Not that there isn’t a lot to like about 2001, also a favorite. It’s dense with symbolism, features some of Kubrick’s most innovative techniques, and really captures some otherworldly.

But I return to Seven Samurai again and again. It's one of the greatest films ever made. Anyone who hasn't seen this should do so NOW.

Never heard of Seven Samurai until a couple of months ago for some reason. No interest in it, I'm not a big fan of subtitles or dubs. By default, the pretentious 2001 is the winner.

I should clarify that 2001 pulls of pretentious very well, and I enjoy the hell out of the film!

I find 2001 boring and kinda unwatchable. I don;t like films where I don't get them.

I never saw Seven Samarai. However, since it influenced the greatest series of movies in the history of film, the Star Wars Saga, it gets my vote.

I recall 2001 as being beautiful to look at but kinda boring. It has been years since I've seen it and even then I'm not sure it held my attention throughout. Never seen Seven Samurai, but I would like to. It seems more up my alley, so it gets my vote.

Now that Criterion's three-disc release is out, you can probably find the initial single-disc version pretty cheap. No features save an excellent commentary track, but at least you'll get to experience this great film.

However, I'd highly recommend the three-disc release. It's LOADED with fantastic extras, and the film itself has never looked better. (I have to write a review of it this week, and took in most of this stuff over the weekend.)

2001 is great, but....

Seven Samurai is better. So many movies have been take offs of this it's incredible. We watched this in Film Studies in High School. Most people slept. I watched every bit of it.

Thanks Eric, I'll check it out.

Also, great idea with these film death-match threads. Just don't put Miller's Crossing up against A Fish Called Wanda, okay?

Seven Samurai is my all time favorite film (serious movie division).

It is as iconic in every way as Citizen Kane, and as groundbreaking too.

No comparison between these two, FIlet mignon vs. dog food.

T

These films are too serious. I want more fun ones.

Like Arthur 2: On the Rocks

v.

Mannequin 2

Having never seen Seven Samurai, I'm not going to vote.

Not vote? Then the terrorists have already won......

Teen Wolf and Teen Wolf Too!!

Kubrick pwns Kurosawa.

Teen Wolf by far. Jason batmeman can never compare to Michael J. Fox.

and I;d go with Arthur 2 over Mannequin 2. Both may be bad movies, but Arthur at least has Arthur, and he's a funny drunk, even in a bad movie.

I'd agree, plus I think Jeph Loeb wrote Teen Wolf Too.
Shows how disconnected I've become since having kids, but I saw "Arthur 2" and thought of the kids show with the talking aardvark and his family! Arthur 2 definitely beats mannequin 2, no contest. Mannequin 2 might be one of the worst movies of the time.

Forgive me it is Mannequin 2: On the move

Both polls are currently tied at 7-7.

Not anymore. Y'know, for soembody who very readily describes himself a Kubruck fan, I'm not really showin' it today. 2001 is a decent enough flick, but Kubrick just loses me at the end. My vote goes to Kurosawa.

Damn you St. John and your tough choices

I will be picking Kubrick this time around. As influential and good as Seven Samuri is 2001 has always drawn me in and held me like few movies have. I love it.