kenmorefield Report post Posted November 1, 2013 (edited) Last week I was screening Last Vegas, a middling comedy about aging and male friendship, and I had that experience where, somewhat bored by the film, I thought, "You know what was a better film about [whatever the subject of the film was about]?" So instead of going home and writing a review of Last Vegas, I wrote a review of Shepard & Dark, which I thought also about male friendship but done better. Today Ender's Game opened, and I didn't hate it, but I thought about how much I really liked Searching for Bobby Fischer, another film about a child genius in a hyper-competitive environment. I put a tag for such films on my blog, and started my own list on Letterbox'd, but I thought I might mention it here if people come up with one. The (unenforceable) parameters) are: 1) A (somewhat) new film... 2) that reminds you (thematically or, heck, even formally) of another film... 3) that you liked/appreciated/esteemed better than the new film. If you have/have had that experience, feel free to share your recommendations here. Edited November 1, 2013 by kenmorefield Quote 1More Film Blog Faith and Spirituality in Masters of World Cinema Faith and Spirituality in Masters of World Cinema, Volume II Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tyler Report post Posted November 1, 2013 Wrath of Khan was a better version of Star Trek Into Darkness. Did I do that right? Quote It's the side effects that save us. --The National, "Graceless"Twitter Blog Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John Drew Report post Posted November 2, 2013 Just caught the moronic Only God Forgives tonight (on a double-bill with the disappointing The Bling Ring). As I was watching this film play out, I thought I might want to rewatch Alejandro Jodorowsky's Sante Sangre (another film with an equally perverse mother/son relationship). Imagine my surprise when the end credits for Only God Forgives began with a dedication to Jodorowsky. Quote Formerly Baal_T'shuvah "Everyone has the right to make an ass out of themselves. You just can't let the world judge you too much." - Maude Harold and Maude Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kenmorefield Report post Posted November 2, 2013 Refn is the opener in Jodorowsky's Dune, narrating a story about dinner at J's house, after which the J offers to walk him through, page by page, the production book for Dune, narrating how he would have shot it. Refn thus claims he is the only person in the world to have "seen" Jodorowsky's Dune from beginning to end. Quote 1More Film Blog Faith and Spirituality in Masters of World Cinema Faith and Spirituality in Masters of World Cinema, Volume II Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tyler Report post Posted November 4, 2013 (on a double-bill with the disappointing The Bling Ring). Since you brought it up in this thread, Spring Breakers is a better version of The Bling Ring. Quote It's the side effects that save us. --The National, "Graceless"Twitter Blog Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nathan Douglas Report post Posted November 4, 2013 A TOUCH OF SIN is a better Nicolas Winding Refn film than any of Nicolas Winding Refn's films. Quote Stoneridge Films | @nwdouglas | Vimeo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kenmorefield Report post Posted November 4, 2013 That got me thinking....Jodorowsky's Dune is a better film about Jodorowsky's Dune than is Jodorowsky's Dune. Quote 1More Film Blog Faith and Spirituality in Masters of World Cinema Faith and Spirituality in Masters of World Cinema, Volume II Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darrel Manson Report post Posted November 17, 2013 All Is Lost is a better version of Gravity Quote A foreign movie can't be stupid.-from the film Armin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John Drew Report post Posted November 18, 2013 All Is Lost is a better version of Gravity Quote Formerly Baal_T'shuvah "Everyone has the right to make an ass out of themselves. You just can't let the world judge you too much." - Maude Harold and Maude Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian D Report post Posted November 22, 2013 I think most will agree that New World and Tree of Life are better versions of To the Wonder. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Evan C Report post Posted December 7, 2013 The Seventh Seal is a better version of The Book Thief. (a much, much, MUCH better version) Quote "Anyway, in general I love tragic artists, especially classical ones.""Even the forms for expressing truth can be multiform, and this is indeed necessary for the transmission of the Gospel in its timeless meaning."- Pope Francis, August 2013 interview with Antonio Spadaro Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John Drew Report post Posted December 7, 2013 The Seventh Seal is a better version of The Book Thief. (a much, much, MUCH better version) The Virgin Spring is a better version of Last House on the Left (either version). (a much, much, MUCH better version) Quote Formerly Baal_T'shuvah "Everyone has the right to make an ass out of themselves. You just can't let the world judge you too much." - Maude Harold and Maude Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kenmorefield Report post Posted December 7, 2013 This is probably heresy in these parts, but I actually think Blackfish is a better version of Grizzly Man. Quote 1More Film Blog Faith and Spirituality in Masters of World Cinema Faith and Spirituality in Masters of World Cinema, Volume II Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kenmorefield Report post Posted December 8, 2013 The Act of Killing is a better version of The Hunger Games. Quote 1More Film Blog Faith and Spirituality in Masters of World Cinema Faith and Spirituality in Masters of World Cinema, Volume II Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darrel Manson Report post Posted December 12, 2013 Which is the better between A Hijacking and Captain Phillips? I lean toward A Hijacking, but it's a close call. Quote A foreign movie can't be stupid.-from the film Armin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Evan C Report post Posted December 13, 2013 The Seventh Seal is a better version of The Book Thief. (a much, much, MUCH better version) The Virgin Spring is a better version of Last House on the Left (either version). (a much, much, MUCH better version) Persona is a better version of Black Swan. (same degree of muchness implied). And A Streetcar Named Desire is a better version of Blue Jasmine. Quote "Anyway, in general I love tragic artists, especially classical ones.""Even the forms for expressing truth can be multiform, and this is indeed necessary for the transmission of the Gospel in its timeless meaning."- Pope Francis, August 2013 interview with Antonio Spadaro Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NBooth Report post Posted December 13, 2013 Willow is a better version of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Desolation Again Dune (Lynch) is a better version of John Carter. And I say that as someone who really likes John Carter. The Rocketeer is a better version of Captain America The Shadow is a better version of Batman Begins Quote Nathanael T. Booth More Man than PhilosopherTumblr--Twitter Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Arkadin Report post Posted December 13, 2013 (edited) Fritz Lang's Die Nibelungen is a much better version of Jackson's Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit. Also better than Jackson's Tolkien flicks: Milius' Conan the Barbarian. Edited December 13, 2013 by Ryan H. Quote I've Seen That Movie Too Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anders Report post Posted December 13, 2013 The Rocketeer is a better version of Captain America YES! (And I say this as someone who thinks Johnston's CAPTAIN AMERICA is the best film in the Marvel Universe franchise). Dune (Lynch) is a better version of John Carter. And I say that as someone who really likes John Carter. This I don't agree with, but I see what you're saying. JODOROWSKY'S DUNE is a better version of David Lynch's DUNE. Quote "A director must live with the fact that his work will be called to judgment by someone who has never seen a film of Murnau's." - François TruffautTwitter.Letterboxd. Reviews and essays at Three Brothers Film. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kinch Report post Posted December 13, 2013 As far as films about cancer go, Cries & Whispers is far superior to 50/50 (but less, shall we say, pleasant). Quote Did George Clinton ever get a permit for the Mothership, or did he get Snoop Dogg to fetch one two decades late? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John Drew Report post Posted December 14, 2013 (edited) Fritz Lang's Die Nibelungen is a much better version of Jackson's Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit. Also better than Jackson's Tolkien flicks: Milius' Conan the Barbarian. I've never seen the film, but I'm guessing this is a .gif from Red Sonja? I just don't seem to remember any forest sequences in either Conan films (but I understand what you're going for ). Edited December 14, 2013 by John Drew Quote Formerly Baal_T'shuvah "Everyone has the right to make an ass out of themselves. You just can't let the world judge you too much." - Maude Harold and Maude Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Arkadin Report post Posted December 14, 2013 I think you're right. I had trouble placing the scene, too, so RED SONJA (which I haven't seen) seems likely. Quote I've Seen That Movie Too Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John Drew Report post Posted December 14, 2013 Okay, not really a stretch here but, so far (and most likely not to change), Rankin and Bass's The Hobbit is a better film than Peter Jackson's The Hobbit. And this from someone who is actually finding the Jackson films entertaining, but not very significant. Quote Formerly Baal_T'shuvah "Everyone has the right to make an ass out of themselves. You just can't let the world judge you too much." - Maude Harold and Maude Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darrel Manson Report post Posted December 15, 2013 Tim's Vermeer > Girl with a Pearl Earring Quote A foreign movie can't be stupid.-from the film Armin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tyler Report post Posted December 16, 2013 World's Greatest Dad is a better version of S1m0ne. Quote It's the side effects that save us. --The National, "Graceless"Twitter Blog Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
