OWFilm World Cup Round 2: China vs. Japan

By Laurent Kelly / June 30, 2011

Voting has now ended on the Scotland vs. Norway match, and without a great deal of trouble - Danny Boyle's movie advances to the quarter finals.

Trainspotting (Scotland) 73% defeated 27% Insomnia (Norway).

Scotland joins Italy, England, U.S.A., Spain, Brazil, Sweden in the quarters, along with the winner of our final Round Two tie. And it's an in intriguing culture/fighting style clash;

OWFilm World Cup Round Two

This should be an interesting tie. Both films feature epic set-pieces which wowed audiences at the time with their amazing choreography and stunning execution. When the special effects begin to lose their allure however the question is which film holds up best as the more effective and more emotive piece of cinema €“ that decision is yours: Tale of the reel is after the jump...

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

OSCAR COUNT (4) IMDB (8, #229) ROTTEN TOMATOES (97%) EMPIRE TOP 500 (497th)

Won Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Original Score at the 2001 ceremony. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a surreal blend of soap operatic melodrama and stunningly choreographed fight sequences which truly take your breath away even after several repeated screenings. The balance between the story and the set-pieces is not always terribly effective and the film is best enjoyed as a wonderful technical achievement which takes itself far too seriously from a dramatic stand-point. INTERESTING FACT: The only martial arts film to date to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.

Seven Samurai (1954)

OSCAR COUNT (0) IMDB (8.8, #14) ROTTEN TOMATOES (100%) EMPIRE TOP 500 (#50th)

Had this film been an hour shorter with a less clunky set-up then I would have no problems hailing it as a bona fide masterpiece. I have no problem with an extended opening if it is thematically necessary i.e. The Deer Hunter, but Seven Samurai is a film where I personally find myself growing impatient in the build-up to the action. Once Kurosawa€™s masterpiece picks up steam however it transforms into a rewarding, frantic and inspirational study of bravery and companionship. The battle scenes are immensely choreographed and well paced and you find yourself fully immersed in the back and forth action. A good film but be prepared to have your patience tested from time to time€ INTERESTING FACT: Seven Samurai is director John Boorman€™s all time favourite film€ WRITER€™S VERDICT: Both these films would struggle to make my top 100 favourite films list but that doesn€™t mean that I don€™t respect their contribution to world cinema in regards to their awesome visual impact. Whilst Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is the flashier, more energetic film, I would give Seven Samurai the nod for its impressive atmosphere and better performances.