The Sweet 16 is halfway set, now we have to pick the remaining eight teams. You will vote for matchups in The Dude and Han Solo regions. You have until midnight on Saturday to vote for your choices in those regions. Popular vote will determine which movie advances, and in the case of a tie in voting, the tiebreak score will determine who moves forward. I will do a brief rundown of each matchup that includes my vote in that matchup under a spoiler warning, followed by a list of the matchups for easier copying. Let’s proceed.
#1 seed Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
#9 seed Psycho
This matchup features two of the most iconic villains of all time in movies directed by two of the most well known directors of all time. Star Wars was a game-changing movie for its use of special effects, but also for its classic characters and the universe it created. Psycho is a more intimate story with personal stakes as opposed to galaxy saving ones, with the master of suspense keeping viewers on the edge of their seats throughout.
#13 seed The Shining
#5 seed E.T.
Another blockbuster directing matchup in this pair as Stanley Kubrick takes on Steven Spielberg. The Shining is a meticulously crafted film, with Kubrick infamously making his actors do 127 takes of one scene in the movie. Critics would argue that his demanding personality paid off, as this is often regarded as one of the best adaptations of Stephen King’s works, with Jack Nicholson as the unhinged lead. E.T. is a much more family friendly movie, but don’t think that means it’s any less of a masterpiece. Spielberg uses a child protagonist to bring that sense of wonder to our story about an extra terrestrial visitor, with just as many iconic moments as any movie in the region.
#3 seed Jaws
#11 seed Jurassic Park
It’s second round Spielberg vs. Spielberg as two of his best movies are facing off against each other here, and it’s a unique pairing as both deal with our protagonists facing the brutality of nature as they fight to survive. In Jaws, it’s man against beast in an oceanfront battle of wits and wills. Led by a terrific trio of Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss, this movie has stood the test of time and still thrills new viewers 40 years later. Jurassic Park is also a story of man against beast, but is also a cautionary tale of man trying to play God and control things that could never be controlled. With Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum leading the way, Jurassic Park revolutionized what was possible in the realm of special effects while also keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.
#2 seed Back to the Future
#10 seed Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
This is a back-to-back matchup, pitting The Empire Strikes Back against Back to the Future. Back to the Future is a movie that gets better every viewing, with quotable lines and memorable characters that could power the 1.21 gigawatts of the Flux Capacitor. It’s ironic that it’s facing off against a Star Wars movie since Back to the Future references Darth Vader in a memorable scene. The Empire Strikes Back changed everything viewers thought they knew about Star Wars, bringing a twist ending that shocks now as it did then. This movie is a darker turn for our band of heroes, bringing new planets, vehicles, and characters to the already vibrant galaxy far, far away.
MATCHUPS
#1 seed Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
#9 seed Psycho
#13 seed The Shining
#5 seed E.T.
#3 seed Jaws
#11 seed Jurassic Park
#2 seed Back to the Future
#10 seed Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
#1 seed Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
#9 seed Psycho
This matchup features two of the most iconic villains of all time in movies directed by two of the most well known directors of all time. Star Wars was a game-changing movie for its use of special effects, but also for its classic characters and the universe it created. Psycho is a more intimate story with personal stakes as opposed to galaxy saving ones, with the master of suspense keeping viewers on the edge of their seats throughout.
There is a lot to like about this matchup, but ultimately, I’m going to give my vote to Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.
#13 seed The Shining
#5 seed E.T.
Another blockbuster directing matchup in this pair as Stanley Kubrick takes on Steven Spielberg. The Shining is a meticulously crafted film, with Kubrick infamously making his actors do 127 takes of one scene in the movie. Critics would argue that his demanding personality paid off, as this is often regarded as one of the best adaptations of Stephen King’s works, with Jack Nicholson as the unhinged lead. E.T. is a much more family friendly movie, but don’t think that means it’s any less of a masterpiece. Spielberg uses a child protagonist to bring that sense of wonder to our story about an extra terrestrial visitor, with just as many iconic moments as any movie in the region.
This is going to be a tough one, and The Shining was able to pull a major first round upset, but I am going with the favorite here and voting for E.T.
#3 seed Jaws
#11 seed Jurassic Park
It’s second round Spielberg vs. Spielberg as two of his best movies are facing off against each other here, and it’s a unique pairing as both deal with our protagonists facing the brutality of nature as they fight to survive. In Jaws, it’s man against beast in an oceanfront battle of wits and wills. Led by a terrific trio of Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss, this movie has stood the test of time and still thrills new viewers 40 years later. Jurassic Park is also a story of man against beast, but is also a cautionary tale of man trying to play God and control things that could never be controlled. With Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum leading the way, Jurassic Park revolutionized what was possible in the realm of special effects while also keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.
This is a very tough matchup as both of these movies would be worthy to advance, but I’m going to cast my vote for Jaws.
#2 seed Back to the Future
#10 seed Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
This is a back-to-back matchup, pitting The Empire Strikes Back against Back to the Future. Back to the Future is a movie that gets better every viewing, with quotable lines and memorable characters that could power the 1.21 gigawatts of the Flux Capacitor. It’s ironic that it’s facing off against a Star Wars movie since Back to the Future references Darth Vader in a memorable scene. The Empire Strikes Back changed everything viewers thought they knew about Star Wars, bringing a twist ending that shocks now as it did then. This movie is a darker turn for our band of heroes, bringing new planets, vehicles, and characters to the already vibrant galaxy far, far away.
I absolutely love both of these movies and will be sad to say goodbye to one of them, but I’m casting my vote for Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.
MATCHUPS
#1 seed Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
#9 seed Psycho
#13 seed The Shining
#5 seed E.T.
#3 seed Jaws
#11 seed Jurassic Park
#2 seed Back to the Future
#10 seed Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
