TGME Round 1: Shaun of the Dead Vs. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

[GregMcduck]

How it works: Each poll will be open for two weeks, giving all of you time to watch each film. New polls added every Sunday and Wednesday.

Shaun of the Dead (2004) vs. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)



Shaun of the Dead is a zombie-themed romantic comedy (or "rom zom com" as it dubs itself). It was written by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright, directed by Edgar Wright, and stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. The plot focuses on Shaun, an unmotivated young man who is attempting to get some kind of focus in his life as he reconciles with his ex-girlfriend and settles his various issues with his mother and stepfather. At the same time he has to cope with an apocalyptic uprising of zombies that is causing society to collapse - but to whose beginnings he is totally oblivious during the first third of the movie.

Prominent are many references to George A. Romero's earlier Dead films (Night, Dawn and Day of the Dead, with Dawn in particular being referenced). In particular, the plot of Shaun relates directly to the plots of Romero's zombie films — all of which involve several people trapped in a building, with flesh-eating zombies attempting to break in to devour them, without a direct explanation for the cause of the zombie plague. The title Shaun of the Dead is also both an obvious parody of and homage to the title Dawn of the Dead. Numerous lines, scenes and background details also directly refer to the Romero films, including the music playing over the Universal logo, which is the synthesizer soundtrack to Dawn of the Dead. The film also features a Kid Koala remix of " The Gonk," which was used over the closing credits of Dawn.



One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a 1975 film directed by Miloš Forman. The film is an adaptation of the 1962 novel by Ken Kesey. Randle Patrick McMurphy (Jack Nicholson), a recidivist criminal serving a short prison term on a work farm for statutory rape, is transferred to a mental institution due to his apparently deranged behavior. This is possibly a deliberate gambit by McMurphy in the belief that he'll now be able to serve out the rest of his sentence in relative comfort and ease. His ward in the mental institution is run by a calm but unyielding tyrant, Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), who has cowed the patients — most of whom are there by choice, categorized as "voluntary" patients — into dejected submission. While he initially has little respect for his fellow patients, McMurphy's antiauthoritarian nature is aroused. His needling of Nurse Ratched is initially just for kicks, but his sense of injustice at their treatment leads him into a battle for the hearts and minds of the patients. What he finds out only later is that Ratched has the power to keep him there indefinitely. Rather than simply bide her time with McMurphy and have him transferred, Ratched sees his behavior as a personal affront and challenge to her authority and becomes obsessed with winning this contest.

Kirk Douglas originated the role of McMurphy in a stage production, and then bought the film rights, hoping to play McMurphy on the screen. He passed the production rights to his son, Michael Douglas, who decided his father was too old for the role. Kirk was reportedly angry at his son for a time afterwards because of this. Actor James Caan was originally offered the McMurphy role, and Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman were considered as well. The movie was the first to win all five major Academy Awards (Best Picture, Actor in Lead Role, Actress in Lead Role, Director, Screenplay) since It Happened One Night in 1934, an accomplishment not repeated until 1991, by The Silence of the Lambs.

Please take the time to watch or re-watch these two films before voting. You can use this thread to post reviews after having watched them, campaign for your preferred movie, or just discuss the movies in general.

[Tripe H. Redux]

Watched both recently.

Shaun because One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a significantly better book than a film.

I did like the Mosterpiece Theatre with Alistair Cookie adaptation though.

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[anais.zelda]

Tripe, I find your reasons for voting Shaun very random. I think this is a really stupid match up. Shaun should have been against Army of Darkness, because both these films kick ass. I went with One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest because it is AMAZING. And everyone who votes for Shaun over it should prove they have watched OFOTCN or else they are shunned!

[Imrahil]

Voted for Shaun.  It was interesting, original, and didn't have Jack Nicholson, who never plays a character--he just plays Jack Nicholson.

[anais.zelda]

Voted for Shaun.  It was interesting, original, and didn't have Jack Nicholson, who never plays a character--he just plays Jack Nicholson.

Did you even see OFOTCN? Because that is also interesting and original

[bettertomorrowamy]

I agree with Tripe, the book is better than the movie.  I voted Shaun cuz I watch it all the time.

[anais.zelda]

I agree with Tripe, the book is better than the movie.  I voted Shaun cuz I watch it all the time.

THAT'S IT! Tripe, will you be my second? It's time to take out the BTA!

[Imrahil]

Voted for Shaun.  It was interesting, original, and didn't have Jack Nicholson, who never plays a character--he just plays Jack Nicholson.

Did you even see OFOTCN? Because that is also interesting and original

Meh. I find the whole "unreliable narrator" thing really dull.

[esoobaC .T bocaJ]

I voted for Shaun of the Dead as well, I have seen One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and since it's on my list I'll be watching it again, I liked Shaun better because none of the characters in that film prompted another to commit suicide, she was such a meanie

[anais.zelda]

I voted for Shaun of the Dead as well, I have seen One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and since it's on my list I'll be watching it again, I liked Shaun better because none of the characters in that film prompted another to commit suicide, she was such a meanie

Exactly. Her acting was amazing! It takes a great actress to do that. She kept a straight face the whole time, and yet you could tell she was manipulating him. IT WAS AMAZING!

[Petey Wheatstraw]

Voted for Shaun.  It was interesting, original, and didn't have Jack Nicholson, who never plays a character--he just plays Jack Nicholson.

Now I'm voting for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest just to spite you.

[esoobaC .T bocaJ]

yeah, well I'll vote for Shaun of the............. wait

[GregMcduck]

People saying Shaun of the Dead is original are amusing.

The whole point of that movie was that it WASN'T original.

[bettertomorrowamy]

People saying Shaun of the Dead is original are amusing.

The whole point of that movie was that it WASN'T original.

It was an original satire is what I think they mean.

[doggans]

Can I do a write-in vote for the episode of "Spaced" with the "Cuckoo's Nest" subplot? Because then, EVERYBODY wins!