The Passion of Anna (1970) vs. Face to Face (1976)

In catching up with my favorite director, I watched two great films. Both of these foreign classics are written and directed by Ingmar Bergman, and they star Liv Ullmann. (SPOILERS)

The Passion of Anna

The rap sheet.

The Passion of Anna has a 100% rating on RottenTomatoes.com. It was the runner-up for Best Film at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards and the National Society of Film Critics Awards, where it also won Best Director. Face to Face has a 78% rating on RottenTomatoes.com. It received Oscar nominations for Best Actress and Best Director, as well as BAFTA/Golden Globe nods for Best Actress and a Golden Globe win for Best Foreign Film.

Winner: Face to Face

The setup.

In Face to Face, Dr. Jenny Isaksson (Ullmann), a psychiatrist, meets Dr. Tomas Jacobi (Erland Josephson), and she slowly starts to have a mental breakdown. In The Passion of Anna, a man named Andreas Winkelman (Max von Sydow) is dealing with the breakup of his marriage when he meets Anna (Ullmann), who has lost her husband and son in a car crash.

Winner: The Passion of Anna

Face to Face

The execution.

Both of these films are shot beautifully by Sven Nykvist. The Passion of Anna follows Andreas and his relationships with Anna and others, intercutting "interviews" with the actors discussing their characters at certain moments in the film. Face to Face chronicles Jenny's dissent into hysteria, introducing elements of her traumatic past within a dreamlike state that she enters after a failed suicide attempt.

Winner: The Passion of Anna

The ending.

In Face to Face, Jenny appears to overcome her past, and life goes on. In The Passion of Anna, Andreas and Anna part ways, discovering that they were never in love at all.

Winner: Face to Face

The wild card.

The Passion of Anna has Bergman regular Bibi Andersson in a key supporting role. Face to Face has another Bergman regular in Gunnar Bjornstrand as Jenny's grandfather.

Winner: The Passion of Anna

The Passion of Anna

Winner: The Passion of Anna beats Face to Face 3-2

Ratings: The Passion of Anna - ****, Face to Face - ****

Note: I'm going by U.S. release date for The Passion of Anna, which was released in Sweden in 1969.

The Living Daylights (1987) vs. Licence to Kill (1989)

Both 007 films are directed by John Glen and star Timothy Dalton as the famous British spy James Bond. (SPOILERS)

The Living Daylights

The rap sheet. 

The Living Daylights has a 74% rating on RottenTomatoes.com. It received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Fantasy Film, and it won a BMI Film Music Award and a Motion Picture Sound Editors (USA) one. Licence to Kill has a 73% rating on RottenTomatoes.com. It received a Edgar Allan Poe Award nomination for Best Motion Picture. 

Winner: The Living Daylights 

The setup. 

In Licence to Kill, James Bond goes rogue to avenge the attack of his friend by a Latin American drug dealer (Robert Davi). In The Living Daylights, Bond must stop an arms dealer (Joe Don Baker) with the help of a cellist (Maryam d'Abo). 

Winner: Licence to Kill 

Licence to Kill

The execution. 

Both films have the standard Bond treatment - guns, gadgets, explosions, and chase sequences. The Living Daylights has a more exciting opening sequence, a key double-cross, and a better romance. Licence to Kill has revenge, tropical locations, and death by shark attack. 

Winner: The Living Daylights 

The ending. 

In Licence to Kill, Bond blows up the dealer's lab facility, and he kills the villain with his recovering friend's cigarette lighter. In The Living Daylights, Bond kills the arms dealer, and celebrates the cellist's world tour in a way accustomed to him. Of course, he gets the girl at the end of both films.
Winner: The Living Daylights 

The wild card. 

The Living Daylights has Jonathan Rhys-Davies as a foreign ally to Bond. Licence to Kill has Benicio del Toro as the villain's main henchman. 

Winner: Licence to Kill 

The Living Daylights

Winner: The Living Daylights beats Licence to Kill 3-2

Ratings: The Living Daylights - ***1/2, Licence to Kill - ***

Conan the Barbarian (1982) vs. Conan the Destroyer (1984)

Both fantasy films feature Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan, the Cimmerian warrior and future king. (SPOILERS)
 

Conan the Barbarian

The rap sheet.

Conan the Barbarian has a 77% rating on RottenTomatoes.com. It received 5 Saturn Award nominations, including one for Best Fantasy Film, and Sandahl Bergman won a Saturn for Best Actress and a Golden Globe for New Female Star. Conan the Destroyer has a 30% rating on RottenTomatoes.com. It received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress (Grace Jones), and Olivia d'Abo won a Razzie for Worst New Star.

Winner: Conan the Barbarian

The setup.

In Conan the Barbarian, a slave named Conan and his companions go on a quest to save a princess from a snake cult-leading sorcerer, and, perhaps, get revenge for the death of his parents. In Conan the Destroyer, warrior Conan - in exchange for his loved one back - escorts a virgin princess on a journey to acquire a horn, which will resurrect Dagoth, a god that will bring about the end of the world.

Winner: Conan the Barbarian

Conan the Destroyer

The execution.

Both films are cheesy fantasies with their share of action and laughable moments. Conan the Barbarian obviously covers his origins, but the quest doesn't come until halfway through the film. Conan the Destroyer begins with the quest and results in a shorter film with far less slow parts than its predecessor.

Winner: Conan the Destroyer

The ending.

In Conan the Barbarian, Conan defeats the sorcerer, returns the stolen princess, and leaves to roam the lands on many more adventures. The world is saved, but he has more battles to fight. In Conan the Destroyer, Conan kills the resurrected Dagoth and saves the girl from being sacrificed. Yet again, he must leave and fight more battles before he will one day claim his crown.

Winner: Conan the Barbarian

The wild card.

Conan the Barbarian has acting vets James Earl Jones and Max von Sydow. Conan the Destroyer has basketball star Wilt Chamberlain and the famous wrestler Andre the Giant. Is this really a competition?

Winner: Conan the Barbarian

Conan the Barbarian

Winner: Conan the Barbarian beats Conan the Destroyer 4-1

Ratings: Conan the Barbarian - ***, Conan the Destroyer - *** (They're flawed, but guilty pleasures.)

Cover Girl (1944) vs. Pal Joey (1957)

Both of these classic musicals feature bombshell Rita Hayworth. Find out the winner after the cut. (SPOILERS)

 

Cover Girl

The rap sheet.

Cover Girl has a 90% rating on RottenTomatoes.com. It received 5 Oscar nominations, and won for Best Musical Score. Pal Joey has a 75% rating on RottenTomatoes.com. It received 4 Oscar nominations, and Frank Sinatra won a Golden Globe for his performance.

Winner: Cover Girl

The setup.

In Pal Joey, a night club singer (Sinatra) falls in love with a chorus girl (Kim Novak), but he must deal with the jealousy of his new club's benefactor (Hayworth). In Cover Girl, a chorus girl (Hayworth) becomes an overnight sensation as a cover girl, when her boyfriend and fellow performer (Gene Kelly) is against it.

Winner: Pal Joey

Pal Joey

The execution.

Both films have various musical numbers and flashy costumes. Cover Girl has a bit more stylish flare, with a scene where Gene Kelly dances with himself. Seriously, there are two Gene Kellys dancing! Pal Joey has more likable characters and better pacing. It's the longer film, but it goes by a lot quicker.

Winner: Pal Joey

The ending.

In Pal Joey, the singer and the chorus girl walk down the street, planning their new stage act as soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs. In Cover Girl, the chorus girl runs out on her big shot fiancé at their wedding, and she goes back to her old boyfriend.

Winner: Pal Joey

The wild card:

Cover Girl has a scene-stealing performance from Phil Silvers as Hayworth's and Kelly's best friend. Along with better songs, Pal Joey has this little fella below.

"Fluffy" from Pal Joey

Winner: Pal Joey

Pal Joey

Winner: Pal Joey beats Cover Girl 4-1

Ratings: Cover Girl - **1/2, Pal Joey - ****

Escape from New York (1981) vs. The Thing (1982)

I finally saw these classic John Carpenter films, both starring Kurt Russell. See who wins after the cut. (SPOILERS)

Escape from New York

The rap sheet.

Escape from New York has a 83% rating on RottenTomatoes.com. It received 4 Saturn Award nominations, including Best Science Fiction Film and Best Director. The Thing has a 79% rating on RottenTomatoes.com. It received 2 Saturn Award nominations, including Best Science Fiction Film.

Winner: Escape from New York

The setup.

In The Thing, a group of scientists is exposed to a creature that replicates the makeup of its victims, leaving them to determine who has been attacked and who is untouched, so that they can destroy it. In Escape from New York, an imprisoned war hero named Snake Plissken is charged with rescuing the U.S. President, along with the valuable contents of his briefcase, from the Manhattan Island prison, in exchange for a full pardon.

Winner: The Thing

The Thing

The execution.

Both films are dark, grim thrill rides. Escape from New York has prisoners battling each other with guns, knives, bats, and fists in a massive prison city. The Thing has scientists using flame throwers and explosives against the various forms of the creature.

Winner: The Thing

The ending.

In The Thing, the last two survivors sit in the cold as their camp burns down around them, waiting for something, anything, to happen. Were they rescued, or did they meet a much worse fate? In Escape from New York, Plissken walks off into the night after he destroys a tape with nuclear weapons information. The tape is gone, but has the day been won?

Winner: The Thing

The wild card.

Escape from New York has Ernest Borgnine and Harry Dean Stanton, and it also has a brilliant electronic score written by Carpenter himself. The Thing features a haunting (Razzie-nominated?!) score by Ennio Morricone, and it even has Keith David and Wilford Brimley in the cast.

Winner: Escape from New York

The Thing

Winner: The Thing beats Escape from New York 3-2

Ratings: Escape from New York - ***1/2, The Thing - ****

Deja Vu (2006) vs. Man on Fire (2004)

In remembrance of Tony Scott, I finally watched these two action films, which both star Denzel Washington. Find out who wins after the cut. (SPOILERS)

Deja Vu

The rap sheet. 

Deja Vu has a 55% rating on RottenTomatoes and a Metacritic score of 59. It received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Science Fiction Film. Man on Fire has a 39% rating on RottenTomatoes and a Metacritic score of 41. It received a Critics Choice nomination for Best Young Actress.

Winner: Deja Vu

The setup.
In Man on Fire, an ex-assassin must avenge the death of the girl he was assigned to protect. In Deja Vu, an ATF agent must solve (and prevent) a terrorist bombing on a crowded ferry.
Winner: Deja Vu

Man on Fire

The execution.
Both have all of the bells and whistles. Deja Vu has time-jumping and plenty of explosions. Man on Fire has payback and multiple deaths in the process of vengeance.
Winner: Deja Vu

The ending.
In Man on Fire, the hero dies to save the little girl, but they are both finally at peace. She's free to live, and he's free to let go. In Deja Vu, the present hero dies in the past, leaving his old self to deal with the cleanup of the averted disaster.
Winner: Man on Fire

The wild card.
Deja Vu has Jim Caviezel and Pam from "The Cosby Show". Man on Fire has Christopher Walken. 'Nuff said.
Winner: Man on Fire

Deja Vu

Winner: Deja Vu beats Man on Fire 3-2

Ratings, by the way: Deja Vu - ***1/2, Man on Fire - ***