TGME Round 1: A New Hope Vs. To Kill a Mocking Bird

[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.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) vs. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)



Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope is a 1977 space opera film, produced, written, and directed by George Lucas. It was the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga. Set far in the past in a distant galaxy, the movie tells the story of a plot against an oppressive Galactic Empire by a group of freedom fighters known as the Rebel Alliance. Seeking to make their authority absolute the Empire has recently completed its ultimate weapon: the Death Star, a moon-sized battle station capable of destroying a planet. Even so, spies have managed to obtain schematic plans of the station in the hope of finding a weakness. Rebel leader Princess Leia Organa is racing to transport these plans to the rebel base when her ship is attacked and she and the crew are captured by Imperial forces. In a desperate attempt to complete her mission, Leia hides the plans within one of her two servant robots and records a quick message to former military general and rebel sympathizer: Obi-Wan Kenobi. Explaining her circumstances, she begs Kenobi see that the plans are delivered safely to the base. The androids are then launched, in an escape pod, to Tatooine, where they come into the possession of teenaged farmer, Luke Skywalker. The secret message is soon discovered, and Skywalker sets off to locate Kenobi and find a way to help the Princess.

Star Wars has influenced many films and filmmakers since its release. It began a new generation of special effects and high-energy motion pictures. The film was one of the first films to link genres—such as space opera and soap opera—together to invent a new, high-concept genre for filmmakers to build upon. Finally, it shifted the film industry's focus away from personal filmmaking of the 1970s and towards big-budget blockbusters for younger audiences.



To Kill a Mockingbird is a 1962 Academy Award-winning film directed by Robert Mulligan and based on the novel of the same name by Harper Lee. The film stars Gregory Peck in the role of Atticus Finch, a lawyer in a racially divided Alabama town in the 1930s. He agrees to defend a young black man who is accused of raping a white woman. Many of the townspeople try to get Atticus to pull out of the trial, but he decides to go ahead. Juxtaposed against the story of the trial is that of Finch's children's hit and run relationship with Boo Radley, a shut-in who the children and Dill's Aunt Rachel suspect of insanity and who no one has seen in recent history. Cigar-box treasures, found in the knot hole of a tree near the ramshackle Radley house, temper the children's judgment of Boo.

The character of Atticus in this movie has been deemed the #1 greatest hero of American film, as rated by the American Film Institute. It is also Robert Duvall's big screen debut, as the misunderstood recluse Boo Radley. The movie was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning three. In 1995, To Kill a Mockingbird was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

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.

[Nick]

There's no way I can vote against Star Wars here. I enjoyed TKAM for what it was, but I still pop in A New Hope and can watch it again and again. Even though the acting and writing may not be up to par with Mockingbird, it all comes together in SW in way that makes it a cinematic masterpiece.

[SmilinJackRoss]

This isn't even close for me, I'm voting TKaM.  A New Hope is great, but it can't hold a candle to TKaM.  Gregory Peck's performance alone makes it better.

[a pretty girl is like]

It would make my month if Star Wars lost this round.

I'd do a jig. 

[Tripe]

OK so far the voting makes me a very happy boy. 

[a pretty girl is like]

OK so far the voting makes me a very happy boy. 

Don't jinx it! 

[Nick]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/23/star.wars.30/index.html

I couldn't really express myself before, but I think this article says what I wanted to. Star Wars wasn't just a movie, it was a phenomenon. It took a lot of concepts, mashed them together into this movie, and created perhaps one of the most beloved and treasured movie series and universes.

Star Wars changed the face of cinema forever, and I don't think that should be discounted. I know a lot of forum goers here have a bad taste in there mouth from the prequels, but don't let that muddy your view of the first film. I know when I first saw it I was blown away and it is still a treasured part of my life. I am really hoping ANH wins this.

[Tripe]

It essentially created the Blockbuster yes, did it move cinema on much as an art form, not so much really.

Of course you're free top disagree.

[Nick]

Well all I can say is that I can watch A New Hope three hundred times and still enjoy it, while I'll probably stick with the one and only with TKAM.

Plus it helps that I think ANH is flat out far and away more entertaining than Mockingbird. And while Mockingbird was good, I liked the book better (The case with many movies based on books.)

And I disagree with ANH not being art. The original effects were really good for their time and I think creating a whole culture around a film is no small feat in itself. What I am trying to say is that Star Wars took on a life of itself after it was done and filmed. Even though SW is over, the fans will make sure the franchise will live on.

[Tripe]

No see if you're citing the technical innovations you need to say it's a a work of Craft not Art.

There's nothing wrong with being a work of Craft, but Art and Craft are not the same.

[Rude]

It essentially created the Blockbuster yes, did it move cinema on much as an art form, not so much really.

Not so much as To Kill A Mocking Bird? Really?

To Kill A Mocking Bird was a great film, and could even be considered the peak of filmmaking for it's time. But it did not "move cinema forward as an art form" as much as A New Hope. At least, i don't think so...

Star Wars absolutely pushed the boundaries of cinematography and special effects. It was one of the first major films to use motion-controlled cameras... which certainly helped to push the entire art of cinema forward. The idea of "craft versus art" is settled when all of these new innovations and concepts actually make it to the screen, and help A New Hope to become the film that it is.

It also changed the genre of science fiction in many ways. One of which was the idea of a "used universe." While not completely original, that concept as used in Star Wars alone has changed science fiction films ever since. To Kill A Mockingbird may have perfected the courtroom drama, but it didn't break any new ground or provide any tools for future filmmakers to advance the art of cinema.

I'm not arguing that A New Hope is a better film. But i think your statement that it didn't move the art of cinema forward as much as To Kill A Mockingbird is wrong.

-Rude

[Tripe]

Not so much as To Kill A Mocking Bird? Really?

Nope I didn't say that at all

The idea of "craft versus art" is settled when all of these new innovations and concepts actually make it to the screen, and help A New Hope to become the film that it is.

No they don't, Craft and Art are both about production, just because somethings a finshed product doesn't mean the Craft elements and the Art elements have become fused.

I'm not arguing that A New Hope is a better film. But i think your statement that it didn't move the art of cinema forward as much as To Kill A Mockingbird is wrong.

Which would be why I didn't make that statement

[GregMcduck]

YES! ACTUAL FUCKING DISCUSSION!

This thing is working out after all!

[Nick]

Thank you Rude. Your a much more eloquent poster than myself. Come on Star Wasr fans, I know your out there on this forum! Let's make sure ANH gets a big V in its win column!

[Rude]

No they don't, Craft and Art are both about production, just because somethings a finshed product doesn't mean the Craft elements and the Art elements have become fused.

I don't believe that "art" must be about production. At least not in the same way as the term "craft." Art can, and usually does, refer to the final product, especially when you use the two terms separately. For example, while you could technically say "the art of basket weaving," i'd argue that it's more correct to say "the craft of basket weaving."

The way you blur the use of these two terms seems like an even better argument that they do, indeed, become fused to create a final piece of artwork. Without the craft, you can not produce the art. I believe that this is very true for film... and especially evident in A New Hope.

If you were to remove any of the innovative techniques used during the filming of Star Wars, you simply would not end up with the same piece of art. I absolutely believe that they are fused... and that the final product is the proof.

But ya' know... that's my opinion. 

-Rude