Looking at film and television. Sometimes two very similar films come out close together, let's see which one is better...
Super Villain POV
[A new & improved version of this post appears here.]
In June 2010, Universal and Illumination Productions release an animated film about a Super Villain: Despicable Me. Come October, an animated Super Villain film Megamind.
In June 2010, Universal and Illumination Productions release an animated film about a Super Villain: Despicable Me. Come October, an animated Super Villain film Megamind.
Round 1
TITLE
"Our battles quickly got more elaborate. He would win some, I would ALMOST win others! He took the name: Metro Man, defender of Metro City. I decided to pick something a little more humble: Megamind, incredibly handsome criminal genius and master of all villainy!" ~ Megamind, Megamind.
Despicable Me
A more poetic name. Cute.
Megamind
The name of the villain. OK.
WINNER: DESPICABLE ME
Round 2
PLOT
"When we got adopted by a bald guy, I thought this would be more like Annie." ~ Edith, Despicable Me.
Despicable Me
A failure of Super Villain becomes the reluctant guardian of 3 cute orphan girls while he attempts to steal the moon.
Megamind
A Super Villain finally defeats the Super Hero but discovers that winning isn't everything he hopes for.
A Super Villain finally defeats the Super Hero but discovers that winning isn't everything he hopes for.
Megamind mind's plot is a bit more Villain based and interesting.
WINNER: MEGAMIND
Round 3
ANIMATION
"The physical appearance of the please makes no difference." - Gru, Despicable Me.
Both great animation. However, as much as I don't like 3D, the Minions trying to reach out of the screen at the end is a great use of animation and 3D and makes the winner here: Despicable Me.
Round 4
SUPER VILLAIN
"Oh, you're a villain all right, just not a SUPER one!" ~ Megamind
"Oh yeah? What's the difference?" - Tighten
"Presentation!" ~ Megamind ~ Megamind.
"Oh yeah? What's the difference?" - Tighten
"Presentation!" ~ Megamind ~ Megamind.
For this category I will be using "The 10 Rules to Tell If A Character is a Super Villain"
1. Codename
Both Gru and Megamind only go by one name in the films. The cooler villain name, though, is Megamind.
2. Distinctive Look
Both Gru and Megamind have a distinctive look. Gru's is more a propaganda poster villain, while the more Super Villain look has to go to Megamind.
3. Builds Giant Hideouts, Vehicles or Monuments
Both had big cool vehicles. The people, in the end built a monument to Megamind (which doesn't count because it wasn't his ego that did it). Gru had a house with a secret underground lab, Megamind had a secret hideout. Tie.
4. Shadowy Past
Gru had a OK childhood with an emotionally abusive mother. Growing up in gaol probably counts for Megamind.
5. Criminal
Both are criminals. Tie.
6. Legitimacy
Gru wants to be known as the greatest Super Villain, which is slightly beaten by the wanting to run things of Megamind.
7. Working For the Greater Good
Stealing the moon would be an environmental disaster, again, the winner is the wanting to run things of Megamind.
8. Charismatic
Both are pretty shy and withdrawn, but the one that shows any charisma is Megamind.
9. Genius
Both show this, but Gru does have to steal his shrink ray and has Dr Nefario helping him, while everything seems to come from Megamind.
10. Action Villain
Both are action heroes in the end, more so Megamind.
Both Gru and Megamind only go by one name in the films. The cooler villain name, though, is Megamind.
2. Distinctive Look
Both Gru and Megamind have a distinctive look. Gru's is more a propaganda poster villain, while the more Super Villain look has to go to Megamind.
3. Builds Giant Hideouts, Vehicles or Monuments
Both had big cool vehicles. The people, in the end built a monument to Megamind (which doesn't count because it wasn't his ego that did it). Gru had a house with a secret underground lab, Megamind had a secret hideout. Tie.
4. Shadowy Past
Gru had a OK childhood with an emotionally abusive mother. Growing up in gaol probably counts for Megamind.
5. Criminal
Both are criminals. Tie.
6. Legitimacy
Gru wants to be known as the greatest Super Villain, which is slightly beaten by the wanting to run things of Megamind.
7. Working For the Greater Good
Stealing the moon would be an environmental disaster, again, the winner is the wanting to run things of Megamind.
8. Charismatic
Both are pretty shy and withdrawn, but the one that shows any charisma is Megamind.
9. Genius
Both show this, but Gru does have to steal his shrink ray and has Dr Nefario helping him, while everything seems to come from Megamind.
10. Action Villain
Both are action heroes in the end, more so Megamind.
WINNER: MEGAMIND.
Round 5
CHARACTERS
"I'm the bad guy! I don't save the day, I don't fly off into the sunset, and I don't get the girl! I'm going home." ~ Megamind, Megamind.
Gru vs Megamind
Vector vs Hal Stewart (Tighten)
Minion vs Dr Nefario & Kyle
Minions vs Brainbots
Round 6
A KID'S VIEW
"Oh, my gosh look at that fluffy unicorn! He's so fluffy I'm gonna die!" ~ Agnes, Despicable Me.
"I'm the bad guy! I don't save the day, I don't fly off into the sunset, and I don't get the girl! I'm going home." ~ Megamind, Megamind.
Gru vs Megamind
- Gru was the Super Villain in Despicable Me. Megamind was (unsurprisingly) the Super Villain in Megamind.
- Both are fun and interest characters. Tie.
Vector vs Hal Stewart (Tighten)
- Vector was an up & coming Villain and Gru's new nemesis. Hal was a cameraman that Megamind turned into a Superhero as his new nemesis who became a new villain.\
- Tighten was a more complex character, but Vector was more fun. Tie.
Minion vs Dr Nefario & Kyle
- Kyle is Gru's toothy pet dog, Minion is Megamind's toothy pet fish & henchman.
- Dr Nefario is Gru's henchman, Minion is Megamind's pet fish & henchman (but I think I've already covered that).
- Just because he's doing the work of 2 characters, I'm giving it to Minion (Megamind).
Minions vs Brainbots
- The Minions are Gru's assistants. The Brainbots are Megamind's.
- The Minions are the classic animation slapstick cuties.
- The Brainbots are mostly functional.
- Although unoriginal they are effective breakout characters: Minions (Despicable Me).
Metro Man & Roxanne Ritchie
- No equivalent in Despicable Me.
Margo, Edith & Agnus
- No equivalent in Megamind.
Round 6
A KID'S VIEW
"Oh, my gosh look at that fluffy unicorn! He's so fluffy I'm gonna die!" ~ Agnes, Despicable Me.
Thomas (6): Megamind.
Olivia (4): Despicable Me.
TIE
Round 7
FAMILY FRIENDLY
"It's like my heart is a tooth and it's got a cavity that can only be filled with children." ~ Gru, Despicable Me.
Despicable Me
- Three cute children.
- The Minions.
Megamind
- It's animated and for kids.
WINNER: DESPICABLE ME
Round 8
ADULT FRIENDLY
"You're so naive, Roxy. You see the good in everyone, even when it's not there. You're living a fantasy. There is no Easter Bunny. There is no Tooth Fairy. There is no Queen of England. This is the real world, and you need to wake up!" ~ Tighten, Megamind.
"You're so naive, Roxy. You see the good in everyone, even when it's not there. You're living a fantasy. There is no Easter Bunny. There is no Tooth Fairy. There is no Queen of England. This is the real world, and you need to wake up!" ~ Tighten, Megamind.
Megamind
- A more complex plot.
- Flow of parodies of the superhero genre and animation.
Despicable Me
- It's animated and for kids.
WINNER: MEGAMIND
Round 9
MORAL VICTOR
"All men must choose between two paths. Good is the path of honour, heroism, and nobility. Evil... well, it's just cooler." ~ Megamind, Megamind.
"All men must choose between two paths. Good is the path of honour, heroism, and nobility. Evil... well, it's just cooler." ~ Megamind, Megamind.
Without knowing why there are two films, it's hard to pick a moral victor. Despicable Me, however, was the first film by Illumination Entertainment, while Megamind was yet another Dreamworks Animation film, so let's give this one to the little guy.
WINNER: DESPICABLE ME
Round 10
BOX OFFICE
BOX OFFICE
"That was you, wasn't it? Or was it a villain who's actually successful?" ~ Gru's Mum, Despicable Me.
There is often a feeling that the second film released is a knock-off of the first or that film-goers will watch the first film and not bother with the second. The numbers for this duo may bear that out.
- Despicable Me: $56,397,125
- Megamind: $46,016,833
Although it should be noted that both were the #1 film their opening weekend.
Worldwide Box Office (Box Office Mojo):
- Despicable Me: $543,113,985
- Megamind: $321,885,765
An obvious win by Despicable Me.
Budget (Box Office Mojo):
- Despicable Me: $69 million (787%).
- Megamind: $130 million (243%).
WINNER: DESPICABLE ME.
Round 11
RATINGS
RATINGS
"This is literature? A two year old could have written this!" ~ Gru, Despicable Me.
- Despicable Me: 7.7/10
- Megamind: 7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes - Tomatometer
- Despicable Me: 81%
- Megamind: 73%.
Rotten Tomatoes - Audience (Want to See It)
- Despicable Me: 82%
- Megamind: 71%
Although a bunch of wins by Despicable Me, still a strong result by both.
WINNER: DESPICABLE ME
Round 12
SHOWDOWN REVIEWS
SHOWDOWN REVIEWS
This town isn't big enough for two supervillains!" ~ Tighten, Megamind.
- Comic Book the Blog - Despicable Me vs Megamind: Despicable Me.
- Embrace Your Geekness - Megamind vs. Despicable Me: Megamind.
- Great Fun For Kids: family movie night - despicable me vs megamind: Despicable Me.
- I am known for being AWESOME!! - Megamind vs. Despicable Me: Despicable Me.
- Khanversations - Megamind vs Despicable Me and Words in the Dust vs Wanting Mor…: Megamind.
- The Morning Call - 'Despicable Me' vs 'Megamind': Draw.
- The Real Mag - Despicable Me vs Megamind - Mega Review: Megamind.
- A Space to Breath - Despicable Me vs Megamind: Megamind.
WINNER: MEGAMIND.
READER'S POLL
"YOU DARE CHALLENGE MEGAMIND?" ~ Megamind, Megamind.
Do the poll for which 2010 Animated Super Villain Film you prefer. Obviously, it makes no difference to the overall score, but it would be interesting to know.
WINNER: To Be Determined.
RESULTS SO FAR
DESPICABLE ME: 7 (6 wins, 2 ties)
MEGAMIND: 5 (4 wins, 2 ties)
Close by a win to Despicable Me which seems like the popular favourite and went on to have a sequel.
~ DUG.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteMegamind FTW.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Hal's super name is Titan.
That's the joke. Megamind calls him "Titan," but he misunderstands and calls himself "Tighten."
DeleteNote what he calls the city: http://www.mterrito.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/megamind_17.jpg
Thanks! I was really confused between the two. Every weekend, I make my kids watch some nice shows and movies. They just finished watching all the shows by Andy Yeatman this weekend and I am lining up some more movies for them. This would be a good option for the coming weekend.
ReplyDelete