See this post for details on what this is all about and this post for Round 1 results.

Film vs. Film Challenge: Round 2, Match 7

Citizen Kane vs. 12 Angry Men

Welles’ Citizen Kane, a groundbreaking, highly influential faux biopic touted as one of the greatest films of all time. Sidney Lumet’s powerful debut is brisk, intense and moving, featuring one of Henry Fonda’s best performances.

VS.

VOTE!

Well this is an easy one for me. My all time #2 is Kane.

Kane. 12 Angry Men is a good film, but nowhere near the class and renown of CK.

12 Angry Men is more entertaining.

Kane tries to do more and succeeds.

I'll vote for Kane.

But tell people to only watch it if they have to, they won't like it without knowing more about it. It won't likely entertain them.

Twelve Angry Men is an absolute favorite of mine. Hell, I've watched it three times in the last year alone, I think. It’s tight, precise, and powerful. Fonda is just excellent here, as is the whole cast. Love the ensemble, always enjoy Fonda, and think it’s a real treat that Lumet manages to sustain so much interest despite the whole film (save the bookends) taking place in one room. This is on my short list of "you MUST watch this" films.

But Citizen Kane is WAY more impressive. Every time I watch it, I never fail to spot something new, or to see an old scene in a new way. It's brilliant from start to finish. It's easy to be drawn into the film's world. I love the characters and think Welles' larger than life performance is just out of this world. Kane as a young man was dynamic and charismatic; as an old man, dour and arrogant and off-putting.

It also features one of my favorite actors in Joseph Cotton, one of Bernard Herrmann's best scores, and some of the most impeccable, stunningly composed photography to grace the screen before or since. Really, every shot is perfect. It's a masterful piece of work worthy of every bit of praise it has received, and then some.

I ADORE 12 Angry Men, but Citizen Kane gets my vote fairly easily.

Kane. Again.

You'd think CK would constantly be branded 'overrated'. Because of how often people talk about it being the greatest film ever made.

But, dammit, it just keeps holding up.

Kane takes it.

I'm saying the same thing that the others have posted already. 12 Angry Men is a great film with a great cast, but Kane is the better movie.

The statements seem to be for CK but the voting is closer than i thought,

To me, this is similar to the North by Northwest vs. Psycho match-up. I appreciate Psycho more than North by Northwest...but I'm more entertained by the latter.

So it is here. I appreciate Citizen Kane. I understand that it's amazingly influential and groundbreaking in terms of storytelling, camera angles, lighting, etc. 12 Angry Men has a more absorbing story, though, and it's the movie that more entralls me.

So...

Head says Citizen Kane. Heart says 12 Angry Men. I think that this time - just for grins - I'm going to go with my heart.

This was a choice between visual and cerebral. A few years back I watched a triple feature of CASABLANCA, MALTESE FALCON, and CITIZEN KANE on the big screen. I was surprised to have been less entertained by KANE. The visuals were groundbreaking in 1941, but quite commonplace today. Part of the storyline drags in spots and plays as dated.

On the other hand, 12 ANGRY MEN has a solid story that is almost as fresh today as when it was released. The film easily translates onto the stage of live theater. And that's why it loses to KANE for me. CITIZEN KANE represents the art of film better than 12 ANGRY MEN.

Edited to add: I'd seen the three movies above several times on TV prior to seeing them in the theater with an audience. My personal ranking for the theatrical triple feature was CASABLANCA, MALTESE FALCON, CITIZEN KANE.

Kane is one of the most interesting and complex characters in the history of cinema and the movie is a wonderful little puzzle box, beautifully shot, beautifully put together. 12 Angry Men is a great film to watch especially the first time, also beautifully done, but with repeated viewings the characters become stereotypes and the message rather obvious.

Truthfully, Citizen Kane bored the heck out of me.