Sign In Now ► or Create A New Account ►
3 comments
7 comments
Rank This Matchup or Comment/Reply Below
on 8/10/2010
Two fantastic prison escape movies. I think that, although Cool Hand Luke is more complex in its examination of a character who seems to rage against authority just for the hell of it, I'm a sucker for a more uplifting tale, where you know the protagonist has just cause for escape.
on 2/8/2012
I just saw Cool Hand Luke. It's ok I guess, but I was severely disappointed. Although our intrepid hero's tale becomes reasonably entertaining once it gets going, man does it take a while to get going. I was thinking about the most appropriate match-ups for CHL and I suppose the obvious ones would be Shawshank (freedom) and The Passion (symbols and martyrs). This match-up I feel is the best though. Paul 'Cool Hand Luke' Newman vs Steve 'The Cooler King' McQueen. I gotta say, McQueen crushes Newman, absolutely crushes him (with a little help from one of the best scores of all time). The Great Escape is just way more eventful, and didn't have me remark "I don't get it" once it ended.
I try to ignore the religious symbolism in Cool Hand Luke and just concentrate on the earthier parts, like the car washing scene. Now I have to watch The Great Escape, which I have been putting off for some reason. In Cool Hand Luke's defense soundtrack-wise, my local news station used music from the film during its intro back when I was young.
That should probably read "symbols of defiance" and not just "symbols". Even ignoring the overt religious imagery, I think Cool Hand Luke sort of screams 'Jesus'. To me, The Passion & CHL are both basically about a dude that is butchered and battered by the bastards in power, somehow instilling a sense of hope and rebellion in his followers along the way to a brutal (ambiguous/asuumed) death. Eggs, blood... same difference? Yeah, Joy Harmon woke me up there. She really filled out that lavender dress.
on 2/9/2012
Yeah, the whole Jesus thing gets on my nerves. That's why I'm reluctant to rewatch the film because I know it's going to bug me even more now that I'm older. Cool Hand Luke came to me when I was young and semi-rebellious, and so I wasn't concentrating on the heavy-handedness of it all. Ode to Joy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy40TT_i7us
Man, 60's perverts were like badass pioneers for MTv. Awesome clip, especially the dude in the cowboy hat dangling off of those giant man-warmers. Couldn't help but think of the LMFAO lyrics to 'Sexy And I Know It': "Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, yeah!" Crap song, but apt lyrics. Youthful rebellion is a time you can really feel alive (ageing fucking sucks). This would've been about the time you were rockin' out to The Doors'/Apocalypse Now's 'This Is The End' right? (Eh, I'm only asking that to show-off my suddenly awesome memory.) Anyway, why is it that the Jesus stuff irritates you so? Don't get me wrong I understand you position on Christianity/religion and share much of it, but the stuff in CHL isn't really sanctimonious or Bible-thumping is it? It's allegorical, sure, but I didn't detect a spiritualist agenda or ulterior motive or anything. It's just borrowing from a famed story.
It's a weightiness that the film didn't really need, I felt. I mean, was Luke really on the level of a Savior? I liked him more because he was a man of conviction that didn't really have any convictions. That's the best kind. A screw up with a code. Maybe I fancied myself as that sort of person back in the day. It wasn't that I believed in anything worthwhile, but I felt confident in that regard. I'm not sure what to call that sort of person. I don't believe in the Nietzschean Superman. I believe in whatever Luke is. Being Jesus gives him a purpose he doesn't need.
Oh, yeah, thanks once again for making me remember something I said years ago.
OK, so here's where my memory is hazy because it's been a long while since I've read Freddy's work, but isn't that basically part and parcel of the definition of his Overdude/Superguy? Luke minus Jesusness = Ubermensch? I dunno, does anyone really understand wtf he was on about with that stuff?
The way I understand it is that the Übermensch is supposed to step up and impose his superior Will upon the weaker folks. Luke has a superior Will, but he doesn't want to step up. He doesn't know what he wants to do. But the Übermensch is also supposed to be an alternative to equality and Christian values. I like Luke being a leader by example who doesn't really want to lead, but also isn't hoity-toity. An inspiration with no aspirations.
on 2/10/2012
Oh. I actually thought the Ubermensch was suppose to evolve beyond man without forcing his superiority over regular men. Again, it's been a while so you're probably right. Back to the study books I guess.
on 6/4/2012
whats wrong with you cool hand luke off course
on 7/18/2012
These movies were both so much fun and a real pleasure to watch. I'm going against the grain here and giving the slight advantage to Cool Hand Luke.
Fascinating battle here. Going with Cool Hand Luke, but this is a tough one. Two classics.
on 11/6/2012
Great Escape takes it out for me. More of an epic.
