TOP TEN Lists - This Week: Movie and TV Show Directors

I am intrigued about the theme, but might take a while to compact a whole list.
It will consist of far less lightsabers than the ones shared already.

Grrr, !mrahil

 

Great list @Lord Agragax of Lunaxoatl . Lots of lightsabers!

Looking at your top ten, 80% of your selections come from Star Wars and LOTR/Hobbit. (not that there is anything wrong with that)

We have!

He did pretty well, but he soon came to realize that he was outmatched.

 

So many good weapons on there, @Lord Agragax of Lunaxoatl.

 

Funny you should mention Excalibur. It was the one sword in Thundercats that was more powerful than the Sword of Omens.

 

The best but worst part about Thundercats was that they gradually made the Sword of Omens a sort of "do anything needed" item.

 

Indeed... it was as strong or as weak as the plot required. It did some pretty crazy shit by the end. A more thought out and balanced approach would have been better.

 

I'm sure I've asked you this before, but what did you think of the relatively recent Thundercats remake? I thought it was okay. It didn't quite have the "charm" of the old 80's cartoon, though. But that could just be nostalgia talking.

 

Which remake are you referring to?...

(2011)


or

(2020)

 

2011. Wow! 2011... was it already that long ago... man, I'm old.

I don't even know what this 2020 version is?

 

I think that in many ways it is objectively a better show than the original. The animation is much improved and the story is deeper. I have not watched it in some time, but I remember really enjoying it. It is vastly different than the original, taking new risks while remaining true to the core premise of the original; Lion-O maturing into the role of the Lord of the Thundercats. The shift away from Tygra and Cheetara being older role models was a bit jarring at first, but worked well within the context of the new story. Aside from story and characters, the new show also deviates in terms of it being serialized while the original is episodic in nature. I enjoy either format though.

I did rewatch the original a while back, and now as an adult, I can tell you that the old show is really showing its age. Snarf for instance is absolutely irritating to listen to. I don't remember it ever bothering me as a child, but as an adult, it is horrendous. Also, as you alluded to, the original show relies too heavily on conveniences to solve the issues facing the heroes. That's why the Sword of Omens seems to get new abilities on a regular basis. I also find that individual episodes can vary wildly in terms of quality. It was a product of its time though and should be judged as such.

That said, there are great aspects of the original. I love the Excalibur episode and the trails that Lion-O must face against his fellow Thundercats are particularly memorable. I also really like the voicing and theme song for the character of Jaga. Always did, and still do. Panthro's theme song is also really slick.


As for the new show, the most memorable episode for me is The Duelist and the Drifter. I've seen that single episode dozens of times.



It's a shame that the 2011 show was abandoned.

 

And you would be correct...

Have you watched it at all recently (by which I mean as an adult)? I'd be curious to see if Snarf annoys you as well, or if it is just me.


I should add that it also had one of the best TV show intro songs of all time...


The same is the case with the "space Thundercats"...

 

No, I haven't really watched in a while. Maybe a video on YouTube. Snarf is annoying, but it's a nice trip down memory lane. Plus, the theme song IS still one of the best with awesome animation. Rankin & Bass knew what they were doing with those intros.

 

Topic #22 - Top Ten Movie/TV Directors

Time for our next topic. This time around we're looking at our favourite movie and tv show directors. When considering your directors, only rank them based on their directorial work (discounting things like acting work, executive producing, etc.). Next to each of my chosen directors, I've included my favourite movies/shows they directed. These are the works that I evaluated as part of my decision making; adding up their collective value and range in order to arrive at my final list. I did this because I personally found this category difficult in terms ordering my list. Feel free to use this method if it is helpful for you or arrive at your list in a completely different way.

Here is my list:

1. James Cameron [Aliens, Titanic, Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, The Abyss, Avatar, True Lies]
2. Christopher Nolan [Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Inception, Interstellar]
3. Ridley Scott [Gladiator, Alien, The Martian, Prometheus, Alien Covenant]
4. Robert Zemeckis [Back to the Future I, II & III, Contact, Romancing the Stone, Cast Away]
5. Steven Spielberg [Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Jaws, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]
6. John McTiernan [The 13th Warrior, Predator, Die Hard, Last Action Hero]
7. Genndy Tartakovsky [Samurai Jack, Star Wars: Clone Wars]
8. Peter Jackson [LOTR The Fellowship of the Ring, LOTR The Two Towers, LOTR The Return of the King, King Kong]
9. Joe & Anthony Russo [Avengers Infinity War, Avengers Endgame, Captain America: Civil War, Captain America: The Winter Soldier]
10. Jay Oliva [The Dark Knight Returns, Justice League: Flashpoint Paradox, Batman: Assault on Arkham]

I look forward to your lists! Let me know what you think of mine.

 

It took some time to comprise the list, but here it is:

1. Anglachel (Iron of the shooting star)/ Gurthang (Iron death)
Sword crafted out of a meteorite by Ëol, during the First Age. Gifted to King Thingol, of the Grey Elves, as payment to live in his kingdom. Thingol gave the sword in keeping to his servant Beleg. Beleg later befriended Turin who got the sword after Beleg’s tragic death.
At this point the sword is reforged and named Gurthang.
The sword is said to have an awareness of its own and an unquenchable thirst for blood. At one point there is a conversation between Turin and Gurthang, a talking sword has to take the top spot.

2. Angrist (Iron cleaver)
Sword crafted by the dwarf-smith Telchar during the First Age. Later came to the possession of the Elf Curufin, son of Fëanor. After his death it became Beren’s sword, which he used to pry out the Silmaril from the crown of Morgoth. In doing so the sword broke.

3. Dramborleg (Thudder-sharp)
The Axe of Tuor, he wielded it during the first age. In the Fall of Gondolin he used it to slay three (three!!) Balrogs and several Orcs. When Tuor left Beleriand to sail west he left his Axe to Elros (brother of Elrond) who took it with him to Númenor. There it got lost together with the Island.

4. Glamdring (Foe-hammer)/ Beater
Sword crafted by Thingol, King of Godolin during the First Age. Most likely wielded during the Battle of the Unnumbered Tears and the Fall of Gondolin. Thereafter went missing for approximately 6.000 years. Found by Gandalf in a Troll cave during the events of the Hobbit. He used it to kill the Goblin King under the mountain and during the Lord of the Rings the Balrog Durin’s Bane.

5. Sting
Sword crafted by the elves in the first age. Lost and discovered together with Glamdring. Found and wielded by Bilbo during the events of the Hobbit and later bestowed upon Frodo who wielded it during the events of the Lord of the Rings

6. Grond (Hammer of the Underworld)
Hammer crafted and wielded like a mace by Morgoth. It was large and heavy. During his duel with Fingolfin Each heavy blow of Grond was brought down as a thunder-bolt, making the very earth shake while leaving craters of erupting fire and smoke.

7. Narsil (Red and White flame) /Andúril (Flame of the West)
Sword crafted by the dwarf-smith Telchar during the First Age. The sword came in possession of the Kings of Númenor, was wielded by Elendil during the Battle of the Last Alliance, and we all know what happened next. Reforged into Andúril for Aragorn.

8. Staff of Saruman
Though not much is known about the staff the movie adaptation gives us a slick looking badass black staff.

9. Gimli’s double sided Axe
Great looking dwarfish design and symmetrical

10. Herugrim
Sword of the Kings of Rohan for over 500 years before it became the trusted sword of Théoden. Beautiful design with the two horses making up the guard. Set with green gems.

Grrr, !mrahil

 

Just noticed it supposed to be movie/tv series weapons... some of my list aren't.
I will revise my list (and mention movies/series the weapons are shown in)

Grrr, !mrahil

 

I look forward to seeing your completed list!


Also waiting on @Just A Skink (who is usually one of the first to post his list), @Lord Agragax of Lunaxoatl and @Imrahil . Come on boys, what directors do you like the best?

 

Great list. For the longest time I never really cared for Quentin's work, but it has grown on me over time. He'd definitely make my honourable mentions list.