Happy MLK Day, everyone! It so happens that the final round of our Movies of 1988 bracket game falls on a holiday, so hopefully everyone has plenty of time to consider and cast their vote! There are usually some surprises in these annual games, but I found this year’s contest to be pretty unpredictable. When I put this together late last year, I fully expected it to come down to Die Hard vs. Beetlejuice. Turns out I was completely wrong in my predictions. Instead, we have two very funny movies either one of which would be deserving of being crowned champion. Which movie will get that honor is entirely up to you guys.
The picture at the top gives it away, but let’s take a look at the results of yesterday’s semi-final match.
The toons of Toontown handily overpowers the supernatural specters of Beeteljuice. With just over 60% of the votes, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? pushed its way into the final round.
We started this game with 16 of the most popular movies from thirty years ago. Included in this crop of movies were seven of the ten highest-grossing movies of the year and the winners of Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and both Best Screenplay awards. The only major Academy Award that wasn’t captured was Geena Davis’ win in the Best Supporting Actress category for The Accidental Tourist because, come on, does anyone talk about that movie any more?
There was a bit of a snafu with Heathers which was technically released in Europe but not the United States in 1988. We can just pretend that Beetlejuice beat out Willow in a fantasy-themed contest in the first round if that makes you feel any better. The upside is that Heathers fans will likely get another shot at victory in next year’s bracket game (although 1989 is sure to be an equally competitive year!)
What immediately stood out about the field was that it was loaded with comedies. And sure enough, the dramas quickly fell out of the contest. The apparent favorite to win it all, Die Hard, got knocked out early. With the only action movie clipped at the final four, this contest comes down to two very different comedies. A Fish Called Wanda bounces four fantastically funny characters off against one another while Who Framed Roger Rabbit? pays loving tribute to the golden age of animation and film nor.
You know the movies. You voted them into the final round. It’s time to pick a winner.
Uhm… The poll lists Beetlejuice instead of Wanda. I’m just going to assume that’s the right option to vote for Wanda and not Roger Rabbit.
You assumed correctly. I was just correcting the label as you posted this. Thanks!
I assumed it would be DIE HARD versus WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT? I was half-right. I still can’t believe DIE HARD lost.
On another day with different readers voting, Die Hard could have easily gone all the way. I think our readership has changed subtly in the last few years. Some of the action movie fans have moved on. I am surprised, but unfazed by the outcome.
In some ways, I wonder if maybe, to a certain segment, Die Hard simply doesn’t hold up. Those who grew up with it look back on it fondly. But if you grew up with louder and faster action movies, not to mention all the sequels and rip-offs, it may not have the same appeal.
I know that to be true from conversations with younger folks. Whether or not that factored into voting, I could not say. I doubt many of the young uns have seen Wanda or feel strongly about it.
Right. Wanda was one film that’s more of a cult favorite than a major commercial one. But cult favorites are pretty popular around here as previous Bracket Games have proven.
That’s true. I think readers tend to reward movies for not being too popular.
A Fish Called Wanda has been my favorite movie of 1988 ever since I first watched it. Who Framed Roger Rabbit has some delightful moments but not the same level of start-to-finish inspiration. So while this is a final with two very good movies, this is a pretty easy vote for me to cast.
Here is where Roger Rabbit runs up against a movie with a more satisfying final portion and comes up wanting. A Fish Called Wanda wraps up nicely with the actually funny confrontation at the airport and a happy ending for our romantic leads.
I also thought Die Hard would at least make the final and that it would probably face either Bull Durham or Beetlejuice. I could have even seen Big or Coming to America getting on a roll. Just goes to show what anybody knows around here.
I was a lot less sure of the bottom half of the brackets. I could have seen Beetlejuice, Big, Coming to America or Roger Rabbit in the finals. I actually didn’t think Bull Durham stood a chance. I was surprised to see it beat out Rain Man. But like you said, you just never know how readers will feel. You also have to remember that we don’t hear from the majority of voters in the comments section. So the opinions expressed there aren’t necessarily reflective of the majority.