Tired of this "Vs." crap

[Cunning Visions]

I know this isn't a recent trend, but it seems to be becoming much more prevalent on movie sites and in conversations in general. People seem to be getting behind one film and picking fights with people who may be interested in other films. Perfect recent example is Indiana Jones and The Dark Knight. For some odd reason, people seem to be pitting these 2 films against each other. There's some outright hatred by some...conversations usually end up sounding like "Indiana Jones will suck Batman's dick!" "Shut up, Batman is a pussy!" blah blah blah.

Hey douchebags, here's an idea...why not do what I do and actually look forward to both of them??!! I know, I know crazy idea, but it works. I mean, what happened to being a movie geek and being excited that we're getting another Nolan Batman flick and a freakin' Indiana Jones movie! My butt's going to be firmly planted in those theater seats the day they come out.

These are just 2 examples. There are PLENTY more out there (There Will be Blood vs. No Country for Old Men, Spider Man vs. Transformers, Iron Man vs Robocop....seriously :rolleyes: )

This isn't directed at anybody on this board, you guys are great (although it has shown up on here) *brown nose off*

I know this isn't the most well thought out post, but I'm sure you get the gist. Just needed to rant.

[The Postmaster General]

It's funny too because a lot of times the two movies are geared toward totally different audiences. In the case of Indiana Jones, there's a lot of younger people more familiar with Ledger, Bale and the new Batman movies than they are with Indiana Jones, and conversely, I doubt the 50+ crowd is going to be lining up to see Batman, but they will with Jones.

Sure, there is crossover among action, and film buffs, but too many of us think that we are the only types of people watching movies.

This type of stuff wasn't as common as it is nowadays, and I think similar rants have come up before where it seems like movies can make 500 million dollars and be considered to have 'underperformed' and other nonsense. It's like people are waaayyyy too interested in numbers and records than they are with actual movies anymore.

[JohnLocke2342]

i agree that it can get crazy but people will always compete. It's human nature. As long as theres more then 1 movie out there, there will be people pitting things against each other.

Cant stop it, might as well laugh at it :cool:

[Z_oasis]

**raises glass*** Here Here!!! I feel like a spoiled kid on christmas morning this yeart. WE get an Iron Man movie, Indiana Jones Sequel (long awaited), THE DARK KNIGHT, Incredible Hulk, Speed Racer and on a personal note, Tropic Thunder. I LOVE IT!!!

[DarthWade]

Very soon we're going to get an article (if it hasn't come already) called "Battle of The Superheroes" or something. There will be lines like "can Indy WHIP the caped crusader (the still talk about Batman as if he's the 60s Batman tv show)or will Hulk SMASH them all???" :mad:


I blame the media for starting this whole stupid mentality. I agree - why not just be excited for both movies?

I also feel excited about this year. The only drag is I wish the Star Trek movie was still coming out this year as well.

[LordSimen]

It's all in good fun... No different than choosing your favorite sports team for the year.

[starcat]

maybe people are hoping it will lead to something... years of A Nightmare on Elm Street vs. Friday the 13th gave us Freddy vs. Jason... maybe they are hoping for a Batman vs. Indiana Jones flick...

which Batman would kill him!!!

[chasingbanky]

It's all in good fun... No different than choosing your favorite sports team for the year.

Sports teams literally compete against each other... Its not the same its the exact opposite.

[LordSimen]

Sports teams literally compete against each other... Its not the same its the exact opposite.

Nah. It's the same. Movies released on the same weekend or around the same time ARE competing with each other for weekend grosses. They are FINANCIALLY competing. There's no difference between that and two teams facing off. Try again.

[HoyleHaw]

I blame the media for starting this whole stupid mentality. I agree - why not just be excited for both movies?

I'd almost be willing to agree with that statement, if movies weren't essentially inanimate objects.

Yes, competition is natural here. Movies cannot offer opinions like presidential candidates or actors' reps (remember when Norton knocked the media for overhyping the creative differences on the upcoming "Incredible Hulk"?). And because of that, all we get is will they or won't they, kick the asses of the other guys.

When covering presidential primaries, the media consistently puts it in terms of fighting. "There will be blood," "Down for the count," "Two men enter, one man leaves," (okay, I made that one up, I think) but you get the drift. THAT is the media.

Movies, well, numbers are really all that matters there. And personal enjoyment. While a fan of comic book movies, I don't read comics, but I did grow up on Indiana Jones, so he takes a slight edge over "The Dark Knight."

"Iron Man" already kicked ass, but as a personal opinion, it's still JUST behind "In Bruges." I'm anticipating "Pineapple Express" and "Tropic Thunder" equally right now. And "The Incredible Hulk" is in there after that last trailer reminded me what a badass Tim Roth is (I hadn't forgotten, but let's say it's been a while).

[psycheoutsteve]

I doubt the 50+ crowd is going to be lining up to see Batman, but they will with Jones.


I disagree, Batman has been a comic book character for ages and now that people know Nolan is taking the series in a mature and more realistic direction it might draw even more 50+ adults than Batman Begins. It'll be a very diverse crowd for both movies.

[dellamorte dellamore]

I'm guilty of this , and the only time i go off on tangents with this vs that is when i read reviews or posts from shmoes about how some new film is the best in it's genre . Like the recent praise for Ironman , the best comic book hero movie since BB , or TDK has alot to live up to now . ( okay that's bull , i go off on tangents for the silliest things in general :) )


When i read praise like that , of course i have to chime in , especially when i think the praise is unwarranted .

We all have our faves , so when someone makes statements putting them down , we naturally " attack " and defend what we think is bollocks .

[SplatterMaster5]

Nah. It's the same. Movies released on the same weekend or around the same time ARE competing with each other for weekend grosses. They are FINANCIALLY competing. There's no difference between that and two teams facing off. Try again.

I think people would take you more seriously if you switched up your avatar. And it's silly...not the same. Not the same, but silly...yes. Like a swiss cheese and liverwurst sandwich. That's how these movies compete. Yeah, okay buddy.

[Richard Kylea]

I've noticed alot of similar threads to, on here and other sites. I guess its expected, it is a forum after all. It does get annoying sometimes when two entirely different movies are compared (Batman Begins VS Taxi Driver etc etc)

[Scarfather]

I just saw a thread elsewhere with an 'in-DEPTHITH- comparison of Batman Begins and Iron Man. Two films that are completely dissimilar thematically, completely dissimilar stylistically, and released three years apart.

If you're going to waste your free time writing a thesis on an interweb forum, at least make some sense about it.

[LordSimen]

I think people would take you more seriously if you switched up your avatar. And it's silly...not the same. Not the same, but silly...yes. Like a swiss cheese and liverwurst sandwich. That's how these movies compete. Yeah, okay buddy.

Not silly, just in good fun. It's a message board, discussions and pointless competitions like this are always to be found. Complaining about it is more pointless than the discussions themselves. And as I said, it is NO different than choosing your favorite sports team, because these movies are financially competing when released around the same time. Vying for the number one movie of the summer, vying for getting people in their seats. It's only fair that if they're competing in that way that we can choose which one we hope wins. :D

And I will never change to appease others. People who can't accept me for who I am and how I choose to present myself can go fuck themselves. Besides, the Bubble Gum Gang rule.

[bigred760]

In their respective forums, I've seen comparisons to Iron Man and Speed Racer. The only reason they were being compared is because they came out one week apart, and they were the first two "blockbusters" (I use the term loosely as far as Speed Racer is concerned now). I found it amusing that comparisons were being made even though the two have NOTHING in common.