They're also called Twin Movies; two films released around the same time with almost identical or extremely similar plots. Why does this happen? It can be studios trying to outdo each other by getting their rendition of a compelling idea to the theatres first. Occasionally a script can float around the various film studios simultaneously and through some loop hole the idea is taken by alternate sides and two separate films are produced. In other cases it can just be a strange coincidence. Either way, when Movies Face Off is not a regular occurrence but can split audiences right down the middle over which version of the same idea they prefer. Here are a few examples with my own picks.
In this section...
* Dante's Peak vs Volcano
* Deep Impact vs Armageddon
* The Truman Show vs Ed TV
Dantes Peak vs. Volcano
The similarity
A big volcano threatens its nearby town/city and its up to one man to save the day
The difference
Where Dante's Peak revolved around the build up towards the eruption no one believed would happen, Volcano centred on a volcano that popped up where no one ever believed it possibly could. The volcano in Dante's Peak had lay dormant for years with our hero convinced it would go off. No one believes him until it actually does erupt. In Volcano, earthquakes are a common thing in Los Angeles but when a geologist suggests there's a volcano lying underneath the city, no one believes her until the volcano rises out of the La Brea tar pits
How they compare
Dantes Peak had a better story and more realistic tone. Volcano had a more original idea and more complex special effects.
My Pick
Volcano, because watching a metropolitan city being taken over by a volcano is pretty cool.
Deep Impact vs. Armageddon
The similarity
The set up for both these doomsday blockbusters couldn't be more similar. The plan to carry out the destruction of the asteroids and save the planet is identical. Before the world is saved, asteroids will hit the planet and cities will be destroyed.
The difference
Where Armageddon decides to spend the majority of its time on the asteroid, Deep Impact only makes a brief stop. Armageddon focuses on a rag tag team of oil drillers turned astronauts chosen to carry out the drilling. Deep Impact focuses on several key characters, including the young guy who discovered the asteroid, a journalist and the President, played brilliantly by Morgan Freeman.
How they compare
Armageddon was epic, action packed and somewhat corny, focusing on an ordinary group of people becoming heroes. Deep Impact used the approaching asteroid merely as a backdrop to tell the story of people making amends with their loved ones before the world ends.
My Pick
Tough call, but I'd have to go with Deep Impact, simply for having a better story.
The Truman Show vs. Ed TV
The similarity
A man is the star in a reality TV show about his life, with the entire world watching his every move.
The difference
Truman Burbank was born into a TV show, but he didn't know it. Ed was just a slacker picked at random who lapped up every moment of it. Truman starts to discover the truth of his existence and attempt to break free. Ed finds out that fame and attention has its price and discovers he can't walk away that easily.
How they compare
The Truman Show told the story of a man discovering the meaning behind his life, whereas Ed TV looked at the effect of reality TV on people and how it can negatively affect their life. No one could have predicted that these two films were the precursor for a phenomenon that would come to TV screens in the following years and change the way we watch TV shows and what they're made about.
My Pick
The Truman Show, for being the stronger films of the two and one of the most original films of all time
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