Entertainment
Sponsored by

Director Showdown III: Christopher Nolan vs Ridley Scott

8,497 Views | 126 Replies | Last: 5 yr ago by Lathspell
aTmAg
How long do you want to ignore this user?
fig96 said:

HummingbirdSaltalamacchia said:

Brian Earl Spilner said:

Quote:

I might even like it more than Gladiator.....ok, not "might", I do.




Granted, I've never seen the director's cut, but this is insanity.

I know, I'm certainly in the minority. The directors cut of KoH is just that damn good to me. Don't get it twisted, Gladiator is greatness though.
I'm not willing to call it better than Gladiator, but the directors cut of KoH is an entirely different film and massive improvement over the original.

And on that topic, the directors cut of Gladiator is also an improvement. It clears up some character motivations and adds in details that make the senate subplot make much more sense in terms of the overall story.
How does one see these directer cuts nowadays?
Chase McGuire
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Maybe it's because I'm young, but I feel like Nolan should be running away with this.
Cinco Ranch Aggie
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Chase McGuire said:

Maybe it's because I'm young, but I feel like Nolan should be running away with this.
Your youth isn't keeping you from seeing some of Scott's earlier works like Alien, Blade Runner, or some that are not included in this tourney, like The Duellists or Black Rain.

My own vote went narrowly to Nolan, who I have yet to see a bad movie from. If I was to put a list of what I consider the best science fiction movies ever made, both these directors would contribute to them with Alien, Blade Runner, Interstellar, and Blade Runner 2049 (Scott produced). The Dark Knight trilogy, along with The Prestige, Memento, Dunkirk, and Inception give Nolan an edge.

As opposed to Scott, who has made some clunkers - American Gangster, for instance. I really enjoyed Prometheus, and am likely one of maybe a dozen people on planet Earth that enjoyed Alien Covenant (liked it better than, say, Alien Resurrection); I really like the character of David, introduced in Prometheus, and his introduction in the opening scene of Alien Covenant with his creator, Weyland, was probably the best sequence in the movie.
Max Power
How long do you want to ignore this user?
YouBet said:

And in a shock to myself, I took The Prestige over Blade Runner. I recently rewatched Blade Runner and actually didn't enjoy it as much as I remembered. Still a groundbreaking visual fest that I much respect though. Have The Prestige in my queue for wife to watch since she's never seen it.


The Prestige is my favorite Nolan film, it's sneaky incredible. Blade Runner is great but The Prestige easily wins that matchup for me. Not enough people have seen it, criminally underrated.
Chase McGuire
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I've seen Alien and Blade Runner, which are both great movies. Gladiator is phenomenal, as well. I also liked The Martian, Alien Covenant and Prometheus for what they were. I'm not saying I don't know anything about Scott's filmography, though I could stand to see a few more from him. But he's got his share of clunkers, too. For example, I can't imagine Nolan ever putting out anything as bad as Exodus: Gods and Kings.

Nolan is pretty much the picture of consistency and quality, IMO. I've loved most everything he's done, and I'd put The Dark Knight, Inception and The Prestige up against any of Scott's films. His list is much deeper and has higher peaks, imo.

Also, I'll give most of the credit for 2049 to Denis Villeneuve. That guy can do no wrong, and that's probably my favorite movie. I'll be interested to see how he stacks up against these guys in 10-15 years.
PatAg
How long do you want to ignore this user?
DallasTeleAg said:

HummingbirdSaltalamacchia said:

Scott won 5-3 for me. And I would argue one of his best wasn't included: Kingdom if Heaven (at least the directors cut). Such an epic film. Too many people wanted it to be Gladiator 2.0, and it's a completely different and more nuanced, film. I might even like it more than Gladiator.....ok, not "might", I do.
I completely agree about Kingdom of Heaven. Such an underrated movie and one I enjoy turning on on a rainy day.
I always really enjoy the scene where he is learning to fight with the sword.
caleblyn
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Dunkirk vs. Black Hawk looks like rigged seeding, but I like it.
fig96
How long do you want to ignore this user?
aTmAg said:

fig96 said:

HummingbirdSaltalamacchia said:

Brian Earl Spilner said:

Quote:

I might even like it more than Gladiator.....ok, not "might", I do.




Granted, I've never seen the director's cut, but this is insanity.

I know, I'm certainly in the minority. The directors cut of KoH is just that damn good to me. Don't get it twisted, Gladiator is greatness though.
I'm not willing to call it better than Gladiator, but the directors cut of KoH is an entirely different film and massive improvement over the original.

And on that topic, the directors cut of Gladiator is also an improvement. It clears up some character motivations and adds in details that make the senate subplot make much more sense in terms of the overall story.
How does one see these directer cuts nowadays?
Most should be available for rent on digital (iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, etc.).
Brian Earl Spilner
How long do you want to ignore this user?
A great Round 1 with a lot of votes and some VERY close contests. Definitely the best round yet.

Round 1 Results: (Sorted by margin of victory)

1. The Dark Knight (97.4%) vs 8. Prometheus (2.6%)
2. Inception (86%) vs 7. American Gangster (14%)
1. Gladiator (85.2%) vs 8. The Dark Knight Rises (14.8%)
4. Interstellar (80%) vs 5. Thelma & Louise (20%)
2. Alien (65.2%) vs 7. Batman Begins (34.8%)
6. Black Hawk Down (55%) vs 3. Dunkirk (45%)
6. The Prestige (54.1%) vs 3. Blade Runner (45.9%)
5. Memento (52.3%) vs 4. The Martian (47.7%)

I had a feeling both 3 vs 6 matchups would be close, but I didn't expect those results. I enjoyed The Prestige, but knocking out Blade Runner this early is unexpected.

Similarly, I thought Dunkirk might edge out Black Hawk Down, but that one is more understandable. Black Hawk Down is greatness. I remember going to the theater with my friend in junior high and we both loved it, and then getting my dad to watch it, who also loved it.

Current standings: Nolan 5, Scott 3

(FYI, Memento/Martian flipped late last night to give Nolan the edge.)
Brian Earl Spilner
How long do you want to ignore this user?
With Memento barely making it through, it gets the honor of going up against our #1 overall seed, TDK.

Round 2:
1. The Dark Knight vs 4. Memento
2. Inception vs 3. Black Hawk Down
3. Interstellar vs 2. Alien
4. The Prestige vs 1. Gladiator

Vote now!
fig96
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Memento/Martian is interesting, I feel like Memento is great the first time but loses something on subsequent viewings. I voted Martian but they're both really good.

That Blade Runner loss is tough though.
Bones08
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Almost didn't vote in the second round in protest of Blade Runner getting eliminated. Travesty!
Brian Earl Spilner
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I feel like The Martian was a really enjoyable watch. Almost "breezy", in a refreshing way.

Memento is obviously complex and you have to be in the right frame of mind to watch.

Thus I find The Martian to be more rewatchable, although I honestly haven't rewatched either one very much.
Chase McGuire
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I'm already prepared for The Prestige to lose to Gladiator here, but this should matchup be in the finals, not the quarters. Awesome movies.
Fat Bib Fortuna
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Holy cow, I just voted 3-1 Scott. Although if the Prestige had been up against anything but Gladiator I would hav voted for it in a heart beat.
Chipotlemonger
How long do you want to ignore this user?
MuckRaker96 said:

Holy cow, I just voted 3-1 Scott. Although if the Prestige had been up against anything but Gladiator I would hav voted for it in a heart beat.
I think I went 3-1 Nolan here
Chase McGuire
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I went Nolan on everything. Movies are great.
Bruce Almighty
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I went 2-2
fig96
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Bruce Almighty said:

I went 2-2
Same.
Zombie Jon Snow
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Bruce Almighty said:

I went 2-2

well one was a given Nolan/Nolan.

So really you went 2-1-1 for Scott-Nolan-default

#metoo
Bruce Almighty
How long do you want to ignore this user?
3 of the 4 were easy choices. Inception vs Black Hawk Down was tough, but I went Inception.
FancyKetchup14
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I know Interstellar will likely lose to Alien, but I remain hopeful.
Brian Earl Spilner
How long do you want to ignore this user?
This is a tough one for me. Both are so good...
MGS
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Bones08 said:

Almost didn't vote in the second round in protest of Blade Runner getting eliminated. Travesty!
It was a tough match up. IMHO, Blade Runner should have been the #1 seed, it's better than Alien and Gladiator.
JoCoAg09
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Man, I love The Prestige and Gladiator...that was a very tough one for me.
Brian Earl Spilner
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Currently listening to Hans Zimmer's Gladiator score on Spotify. It never gets old.

(Sidenote: Crouching Tiger beating it for Best Score is a travesty.)

(Sidenote 2: You could almost do a tournament just for the scores of these movies.)
Brian Earl Spilner
How long do you want to ignore this user?
We have a 50/50 matchup currently. Any guesses?
Cinco Ranch Aggie
How long do you want to ignore this user?
FancyKetchup14 said:

I know Interstellar will likely lost to Alien, but I remain hopeful.
As it should. /confirmed Alien nut
Bruce Almighty
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Brian Earl Spilner said:

We have a 50/50 matchup currently. Any guesses?


Matchups 2 and 3 seem like the obvious ones.
Madmarttigan
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Interstellar
Lathspell
How long do you want to ignore this user?
All Nolan except for Gladiator.
Brian Earl Spilner
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Sure, but which one?

I will say that the lead is going back and forth. Definitely going the distance.
Bruce Almighty
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Brian Earl Spilner said:

Sure, but which one?

I will say that the lead is going back and forth. Definitely going the distance.


Interstellar vs Alien
hunter2012
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Nolan clean sweep.
Brian Earl Spilner
How long do you want to ignore this user?
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.