Well, ladies and gents, four films are left, and there are only three more match-ups until we crown the Champion of Movie Madness.
Starting tomorrow, you — the dear listeners/readers/followers of the Reel Nerds Podcast — will have to make some very difficult decisions, because the four remaining films are some of the best ones ever made, period. Combined, they average an 8.5 rating on IMDB and a 96.5% score on Rotten Tomatoes; and all of them appear on the IMDB Top 250 list.
While our last match-up is technically still underway as I write this, here’s a look at the updated bracket:
As we enter the Final Films round, please note that I’ve updated the stats and done more of a head-to-head match-up analysis, along with predictions.
So, let’s take a look at our last four movies:
Final Films Match-up on Tuesday, March 31:
OLD SCHOOL vs. ROMANCE GENRES
Casablanca vs. The Princess Bride
1-seed Casablanca:
- #50 on the IMDB Top 250 List
- IMDB rating: 8.5 / 10
- Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%
- Won Academy Award for Best Picture
Tournament Recap: Beat 4-seed Fiddler on the Roof 8-2 in the first round, then beat 3-seed Charade 11-6 in the Round of 8
1-seed The Princess Bride:
- #235 on the IMDB Top 250 List
- IMDB rating: 8.1 / 10
- Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
- Won Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film
Tournament Recap: Beat 4-seed Juliet, Naked 17-3 in the first round, then beat 2-seed You’ve Got Mail 20-2 in the Round of 8
FULL MATCH-UP ANALYSIS:
Of the four remaining films, Casablanca has received the fewest total votes on the Facebook page. That leads me to believe that people might think it’s a bit overrated. Granted, 18 people total voted in the Round of 8 match-up between it and Charade; but that’s a bit on the lower end. The other three films’ match-ups have been averaging 20 to 22 votes each round.
Honestly, I think Casablanca is going to have an uphill battle against The Princess Bride tomorrow.
After The Dark Knight, The Princess Bride has the second-most total votes cast for it throughout the tournament. This makes sense: it’s much newer and more pervasive in current pop culture than Casablanca is. It was syndicated on cable all the time, and probably still is. (IDK for sure. I don’t watch cable anymore.)
Meanwhile, Casablanca has perhaps received The Godfather treatment: It’s an older movie everyone talks about constantly, and if you haven’t seen it you feel like you’re missing out. But then you actually do see it, you might think, “That’s it? What’s all the fuss about?” And those who haven’t seen it only know it for the quotes and the frequently parodied moments, a la Saturday Night Live or something.
But, of course, for whose of us who have seen it, we love it. And no doubt many voters have seen and love both movies, just like me. It really is a tough choice. Even I don’t know which one I’d vote for, if I vote at all. (I probably won’t unless it’s to break a tie.)
Ultimately, I think it’ll be a close one, but I anticipate The Princess Bride is going to get the W tomorrow and advance to the tournament championship.
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Final Films Match-up on Wednesday, April 1:
THE ANIMATION vs. SUPERHERO GENRES
Spider-verse vs. The Dark Knight
2-seed Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse:
- #65 on the IMDB Top 250 List
- IMDB rating: 8.4 / 10
- Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
- Won Academy Award for Best Animated Film
Tournament Recap: Beat 3-seed Kung Fu Panda 15-3 in the first round, then beat 1-seed Princess Mononoke 19-7 in the Round of 8
1-seed The Dark Knight:
- #4 on the IMDB Top 250 List
- IMDB rating: 9 / 10
- Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
- Won Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Tournament Recap: Beat 4-seed Wonder Woman 23-1 in the first round, and — as I write this — it’s beating 3-seed Iron Man 20-2 in the Round of 8
FULL MATCH-UP ANALYSIS:
Sorry, Spider-verse. The Dark Knight is winning this one.
Granted, Spider-verse has received a lot more support than I expected. I was a bit surprised that it beat 1-seed Princess Mononoke by such a wide margin. I realize Mononoke is a bit niche, but did that many people really see Spider-verse? Then again, everyone I know who’s seen Spider-verse has loved and enjoyed it — except my mom, who thought it was too confusing.
But, it doesn’t matter, because The Dark Knight has steamrolled over everything, including Iron Man, which edged out The Avengers in the first round. And, that’s saying something. I wouldn’t be surprised if it rolls over both Spider-verse and (probably) The Princess Bride to win the whole thing. It definitely has the momentum and — considering that it’s received the most total votes in the tournament thus far — the fan support to win the whole thing.
Right now, The Dark Knight is the movie to beat, and of the three remaining films, the only one I could see giving it any trouble is The Princess Bride.
But, we shall see.
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So, which of these four is worthy of being crowned the Champion of Movie Madness?
You decide!
P.S. I’m not sure whether I’ll do any analysis preceding the final match-up on Thursday. That will depend on a variety of things. If I don’t, I think I gave you guys enough insight here as to how I think any given combination of final two films will go.