We have reached the Sweet 16 in our OOTB Movie Tournament. Starting today, you will vote for matchups in all four regions, divided between two threads. This thread will combine the Dude and Han Solo regions. You have until midnight on Wednesday to vote for your choices in all four 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, and then the matchups will be listed again at the bottom for easier copy/pasting.
HAN SOLO REGION
#1 seed Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
#5 seed E.T.
In the first of our Spielberg takes on Star Wars pairings, we see E.T. facing off against the original Star Wars. A fun fact about this matchup: when Star Wars was released in 1977, it surpassed our #3 seed in this region as the highest grossing movie of all time. When E.T. was released, it passed Star Wars to reclaim the title for Spielberg. Due to various re-releases over the years, Star Wars has passed E.T. back, but neither currently hold the title of highest grossing of all time. However, when they passed each other, Spielberg and Lucas would take out ads in L.A. papers congratulating the other on the accomplishment.
#3 seed Jaws
#10 seed Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Now, we have our other Spielberg vs. Star Wars matchup in the Sweet 16 as Jaws takes on The Empire Strikes Back, but an underappreciated factor of this matchup is that it pairs two of John Williams most iconic scores against each other. The music of Jaws helps build tension throughout the movie, as we often rely on sound to signal that the shark is lurking somewhere nearby beneath the ocean. Empire builds on a terrific score that was introduced in the original Star Wars and brings classic moments home with familiar musical themes. Now of course, there is a lot to love in this matchup besides that, but it seemed fair to shout out the master composer since these are two of the best he had to offer.
THE DUDE REGION
#1 seed Animal House
#4 seed Trading Places
This matchup is rich with SNL alumni as John Belushi leads Animal House against Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy in Trading Places. While these movies are plenty iconic in their own right, there were initially some alternate casting choices. Animal House almost included Aykroyd as D-Day and other SNL alums Chevy Chase and Bill Murray as Otter and Boon as well, and had Belushi still been alive at the time Trading Places was made, many believe he would have played Murphy’s part. Of course, these movies were both smash successes the way they were filmed, so it’s hard to argue with the results. This is a tough, tough matchup for sure, and both are hilarious movies.
#3 seed Caddyshack
#2 seed The Big Lebowski
This is a brutal matchup filled with big stars on both sides of the equation. On the writer-director side, you have Harold Ramis pulling double duty for Caddyshack, and the Coen Brothers work their usual magic with The Big Lebowski. Looking for stars? Look no further, as Big Lebowski boasts Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, John Tuturro, Julianne Moore, and Sam Elliott while Caddyshack brings plenty of firepower with Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, and Bill Murray all at the top of their games. Honestly, I’m going to be bummed about one of these movies losing, but I’ll be very happy that one will advance.
MATCHUPS
HAN SOLO REGION
#1 seed Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
#5 seed E.T.
#3 seed Jaws
#10 seed Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
THE DUDE REGION
#1 seed Animal House
#4 seed Trading Places
#3 seed Caddyshack
#2 seed The Big Lebowski
HAN SOLO REGION
#1 seed Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
#5 seed E.T.
In the first of our Spielberg takes on Star Wars pairings, we see E.T. facing off against the original Star Wars. A fun fact about this matchup: when Star Wars was released in 1977, it surpassed our #3 seed in this region as the highest grossing movie of all time. When E.T. was released, it passed Star Wars to reclaim the title for Spielberg. Due to various re-releases over the years, Star Wars has passed E.T. back, but neither currently hold the title of highest grossing of all time. However, when they passed each other, Spielberg and Lucas would take out ads in L.A. papers congratulating the other on the accomplishment.
So, all that is to say, I think Spielberg will have to take out an ad for Lucas here, because I’m voting for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.
#3 seed Jaws
#10 seed Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Now, we have our other Spielberg vs. Star Wars matchup in the Sweet 16 as Jaws takes on The Empire Strikes Back, but an underappreciated factor of this matchup is that it pairs two of John Williams most iconic scores against each other. The music of Jaws helps build tension throughout the movie, as we often rely on sound to signal that the shark is lurking somewhere nearby beneath the ocean. Empire builds on a terrific score that was introduced in the original Star Wars and brings classic moments home with familiar musical themes. Now of course, there is a lot to love in this matchup besides that, but it seemed fair to shout out the master composer since these are two of the best he had to offer.
This is an absolutely brutal matchup that pairs two classics in my mind, but I’m voting for Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.
THE DUDE REGION
#1 seed Animal House
#4 seed Trading Places
This matchup is rich with SNL alumni as John Belushi leads Animal House against Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy in Trading Places. While these movies are plenty iconic in their own right, there were initially some alternate casting choices. Animal House almost included Aykroyd as D-Day and other SNL alums Chevy Chase and Bill Murray as Otter and Boon as well, and had Belushi still been alive at the time Trading Places was made, many believe he would have played Murphy’s part. Of course, these movies were both smash successes the way they were filmed, so it’s hard to argue with the results. This is a tough, tough matchup for sure, and both are hilarious movies.
In the end, I’m going to have to go Animal House.
#3 seed Caddyshack
#2 seed The Big Lebowski
This is a brutal matchup filled with big stars on both sides of the equation. On the writer-director side, you have Harold Ramis pulling double duty for Caddyshack, and the Coen Brothers work their usual magic with The Big Lebowski. Looking for stars? Look no further, as Big Lebowski boasts Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, John Tuturro, Julianne Moore, and Sam Elliott while Caddyshack brings plenty of firepower with Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, and Bill Murray all at the top of their games. Honestly, I’m going to be bummed about one of these movies losing, but I’ll be very happy that one will advance.
I’m casting my vote for The Big Lebowski.
MATCHUPS
HAN SOLO REGION
#1 seed Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
#5 seed E.T.
#3 seed Jaws
#10 seed Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
THE DUDE REGION
#1 seed Animal House
#4 seed Trading Places
#3 seed Caddyshack
#2 seed The Big Lebowski
