Round One: Monty Python and the Holy Grail vs. The Shining

In this match-up, we have a British comedy legend in Monty Python and the Holy Grail going head-to-head with the horror/thriller of the 1980's in The Shining.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

• Directed by: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
• Written by: Monty Python (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones and Michael Palin)
• Starring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
• Rotten Tomatoes
• Critics: 95%
• Audience: 94%

Starring, written and directed by Monty Python (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones and Michael Palin), Monty Python and the Holy Grail ...

...starts out with Arthur (Chapman), King of the Britons, looking for knights to sit with him at Camelot. He finds many knights including Sir Galahad the pure (Palin), Sir Lancelot the brave (Cleese), the quiet Sir Bedevere (Jones), and Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-as-Sir Lancelot (Idle). They do not travel on horses, but pretend they do and have their servants bang coconuts to make the sound of horse's hooves. Through satire of certain events in history (witch trials, the black plague) they find Camelot, but after literally a quick song and dance they decide that they do not want to go there. While walking away, God (voiced by Chapman) comes to them from a cloud and tells them to find the Holy Grail. They agree and begin their search. While they search for the Grail, scenes of the knight's tales appear and why they have the name they have. Throughout their search they meet interesting people and knights along the way. Most of the characters die; some through a killer rabbit (which they defeat with the holy hand grenade), others from not answering a question right from the bridge of Death, or die some other ridiculous way. In the end, King Arthur and Sir Bedevere are left and find the Castle Arrrghhh where the Holy Grail is. They are met by some French soldiers who taunted them earlier in the film, so they were not able to get into the castle. (From IMDB writer Zucco)

The Shining (1980)

• Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
• Written by: Stephen King (novel), Stanley Kubrick (screenplay)
• Starring: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers.
• Rotten Tomatoes
• Critics: 88%
• Audience: 91%

Based on Stephen King's novel of the same title, The Shining, directed by Stanley Kubrick (director of Full Metal Jacket, A Clockwork Orange, Dr. Strangelove), tells the story of Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), the new caretaker of the Overlook Hotel in Colorado, and his family (Shelly Duvall and Danny Lloyd), as they spend the winter at the secluded resort. The son, Danny Torrance (Lloyd), telepathically sees horrific images of the hotel's past through "shining," which he learns about from the hotel's cook, Dick Hallorann (Scatman Crothers). As Jack writes his novel, he slowly succumbs to cabin fever, ultimately goes insane, and attempts to kill his family (as a previous caretaker had done). This thriller will have you at the edge of your seats until the end; but be careful, the horrors displayed in The Shining are not for the weak-of-stomach.

Vote now for your favorite movie: Monty Python and the Holy Grail or The Shining

Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZFYHYS7

Round One: Young Frankenstein vs. The Thing

In this battle of science fiction films, you must decide between the humorous Young Frankenstein or the horror/thriller The Thing.

Young Frankenstein (1974)

• Directed by: Mel Brooks              
• Written by: Gene Wilder, Mel Brooks, Mary Shelley (novel “Frankenstein”)
• Starring: Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman, Cloris Leachman, Madeline Kahn, Teri Garr, Gene Hackman
• Rotten Tomatoes
• Critics: 94%
• Audience: 91%

                Mel Brooks, the comedic genius behind such classics as The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs, and Robin Hood: Men in Tights, wrote and directed this parody of Mary Shelley’s famous book, Frankenstein. Shot in black and white to simulate the feeling of a classic horror movie, Young Frankenstein follows the footsteps of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder), pronounced “Fronkensteen,” the grandson of the infamous Dr. Victor Frankenstein. After inheriting his family’s estate in Transylvania, Frankenstein travels to Europe where he is met by his faithful servant Igor (Marty Feldman), pronounced “eye-gor”, his lab assistant Inga (Teri Garr), and the housekeeper Frau Blucher (Cloris Leachman). From there, Dr. Frankenstein tries to debunk the myths, and truths, surrounding his grandfather’s work. Frankenstein attempts to duplicate his grandfather’s experiment, but with many mishaps occurring, such as using an abnormal brain in the creation of his monster, much hilarity ensues throughout the course of the film. A guest cameo from Gene Hackman is one of the most memorable scenes from this classic comedy.

The Thing (1982)

• Directed by: John Carpenter
• Written by: John W. Campbell Jr. (story), Bill Lancaster (screenplay)
• Starring: Kurt Russell, A. Wilford Brimley, Keith David
• Rotten Tomatoes
• Critics: 80%
• Audience: 88%

                John Carpenter (director of Halloween, Escape from New York, Big Trouble in Little China, They Live) re-created the classic 1951 film The Thing from Another World with his 1982 version of The Thing. The story begins with an American scientific expedition (led by Kurt Russell and Keith David) in Antarctica seemingly under attack by a group of crazed Norwegians. Chasing, and shooting at, a dog from their helicopter, the Norwegians are soon killed and whole ordeals become but a mysterious sense of foreboding for the American expedition. That night, after all the commotion dies down, the dog (the one the Norwegians were chasing) mutates, attacking and killing other dogs at the camp, as well as a few members of the expedition. The group soon realizes that an alien life-form is loose in their camp and they have no idea what it looks like or who it has already taken over. They must work together, while also being wary of one another, to fight this creature before their times runs out.

Vote now for your favorite movie: Young Frankenstein or The Thing

Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZFYHYS7