The "VS" Phenomenon

[Flick James]

You know, I've seen my fair share of b movies and cult classics and so on. For whatever reason, I've not embraced the "VS" movies that have become such a rage. I see pretty frequent posts about "This VS That" movies, and I have to say, I've seen so little of them and don't really have much knowledge, yet I see it everywhere. And it's not just relegated to "b" movies. When I see a movie like Cowboys & Aliens, granted is doesn't say "vs," but that's what it is, I know that it has truly gone mainstream. Alien vs Predator, Freddy Vs Jason, and on and on.

I'm not saying I have anything against "VS" movies, I guess I just don't have a natural interest in them, otherwise I would have seen a few. I'm sure I would find some guilty pleasure if I took the time to embrace some of them.

I also realize that this is a current phenomenon, but certainly not the first time this kind of thing has been prevalent. Dracula vs Frankenstein, Frankenstein meets the Wolfman, etc.

I'm just kind of intrigued that there is this growing phenomenon lately of "vs" movies, and I am simply not anywhere near the wagon. And it's not because of some specific disdain, I simply haven't had any interest. I mean, it's not exactly high on my priority list. There are so many movies I have yet to see that seem to dwarf any potential interest in any "vs" movies.

Am I missing out on something?

[akiratubo]

The problem with so many of the "VS" movies is that they have the cop-out ending: neither titular foe wins.  The people in charge of each franchise don't want their particular monster/hero/whatever to come out on the losing end, so the big battle is either inconclusive, interrupted, or both foes are defeated by an outside force.  Freddy vs. Jason is a good example.  Both end up dead (or do they) by movie's end, but Jason only died (or did he) because of some arbitrary new rule where he dies temporarily if he gets dunked in Crystal Lake, and Freddy was defeated (or was he) by the stupid teenagers.  ***SPOILER***Then the twist ending suggested they both decided to team up.***SPOILER***

[claws]

Am I missing out on something?

You do, if you haven't seen Scott Pilgrim vs. the World yet 

As for the other recent "VS" movies, I only enjoyed Freddy vs. Jason.

[Jack]

I'm not interested in those movies either.  It just seems so childish, I mean, who's gonna win?  Neither obviously because they don't want to anger the fanbase of one franchise or another, and they want to make sequels as well.  The whole point of horror movies is to have characters the audience cares about being menaced by some scary creature.  Those "vs." movies give them an excuse to jettison all of that in favor of some big stupid special effects sequences which aren't of any interest to me. 

[RCMerchant]

A favorite.....

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1JBkJ9o78k" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1JBkJ9o78k</a>

My  VERY favorite is this....

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxZAm_wXvpg" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxZAm_wXvpg</a>

[RCMerchant]

For my money-the very best monster team ups came from Japan!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAdtfk1IOVs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAdtfk1IOVs</a>

[WingedSerpent]

For my money-the very best monster team ups came from Japan!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAdtfk1IOVs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAdtfk1IOVs</a>

Toho really does do it the best.  Because they treat it more like its a comic book universe then a movie one.  Its like Superman vs Batman. They'll fight to a draw in one issue, and in the next team up to face Darkseid.  Godzilla, Mothra, and Rodan start tearing into one another and then team up to face King Ghidorah.

I kind of liked Freddy vs Jason because it didn't seem to take itself too seriously and had some fun with the idea.  The Aliens vs Predators tried too hard to tie everything together and got quickly bogged down with nods to the originals and its own continuity.

[SynapticBoomstick]

The Aliens vs Predators tried too hard to tie everything together and got quickly bogged down with nods to the originals and its own continuity.

Oh my god, yes. And Requiem was far too dark and by that I mean the lighting - a lot of the time I wasn't sure what I was being shown. Have you ever moved your head around to change the shadows in your vision only to remember you're viewing an immobile scene on a flat screen?

I think the best way to handle a VS picture would be to throw out the continuity, at least between the two combatants since there is probably none to begin with. Introduce both foes, with their canon abilities and trademark ideals, into a fresh world and have them sow disorder and chaos upon it. No additional character archs to mess up and upset the fans, no extra baggage - just the rumble.

That's the simple approach, of course. Done right, the VS model can be great to watch. It's just that I don't think many do or are.

[The Burgomaster]

I'm sad that Doris Wishman never jumped on the "vs" bandwagon.  I would have paid a lot of money to see CHESTY MORGAN VS. BLAZE STARR.   

[Robocop]

I liked FVJ for much the reasons as what's been said. It didn't take itself too seriously and while some of the logistics in continuity might not quite line up with the respected franchises, it does a decent job setting up a story that ties the two together. The fighting choreography is very over the top but that's what makes the action so damn enjoyable. Its a shame Freddy only got one kill though.

I also really enjoy AVPR for much the same, I disagree that it focuses too hard on story continuity that would be the original AVP which was a travesty. Yeah the script is bad with cliche characters and a sub level plot, but this film gave us what we wanted; plenty of action and blood/gore. Its darkly lit sure, but not to the point that you can't make out what's going on. B class entertainment!  

[Archivist]

AvP - not bad, but not really that good.  I enjoyed it as something to munch popcorn to.

AvP Requiem was just terrible.  Awful.  The only bit I liked was the augmented fist of the Predator.  That was about it.  It took the suspenseful and savage notion of hidden hunters and threw it out in favour of the cliche of unlikeable college kids eaten by the monster that just happened to be an Alien.

But ... this I have to see:

Alien Vs Ninja!
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M_QC2fatXQ" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M_QC2fatXQ</a>

Although if it is as boringly directed as Goemon or Kamui, that would be a downer.  I was so looking forward to those movies, but I just haven't brought myself to finish watching either of them.

[Rev. Powell]

But ... this I have to see:

Alien Vs Ninja!
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M_QC2fatXQ" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M_QC2fatXQ</a>

Although if it is as boringly directed as Goemon or Kamui, that would be a downer.  I was so looking forward to those movies, but I just haven't brought myself to finish watching either of them.

It's not bad, delivers what it promises.

[Flangepart]

Akiratubo Johnson is right!
Seriously, if they did Godzilla Vs. Gamera, the ending would be like G Vs. King Kong. Both licence holders will be happy, and as long as the massive carnage happens, so will most of the audience.

[muckhappy]

personally, i thought Freddy vs Jason was rather enjoyable.  Once i realized that Freddy was just p**sed off of at Jason for stealing his kill, I found it to be just a fun horror movie.

[Ted C]

Alien Vs Ninja!
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M_QC2fatXQ" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M_QC2fatXQ</a>

Alien vs Ninja is watchable, but I don't recommend that you try to see it sober. It's MST material, though.