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Critics with attitude

Dick Tracy vs The Rocketeer

 
 

Created by Chester Gould in 1931, Dick Tracy was the original comic-strip detective. Created in 1982 by Dave Stevens, The Rocketeer was an homage to such classic heroes from Saturday matinee serials. In the early 1990s, Hollywood released big-budget films about both of them. Which is better—the OG or the pretender? Who would you rather take out on the town—Breathless Mahoney or Jenny Blake? Pour yourself a glass of hooch, and let’s talk about movies!

BRAD'S GOLDEN IDOLS

  1. Best Location: DT The City

  2. Best Character: TR Neville Sinclair

  3. Best Screen Duo: TR Cliff & Peevy

  4. Best Villain/Antagonist: TR Neville Sinclair

  5. Best Hero/Protagonist: TR Cliff Secord/The Rocketeer

  6. Best Kill/Defeat: DT Concrete Bath

  7. WTF: RT American Flag Burning

  8. Best Score or Soundtrack: DT Danny Elfman & Stephen Sondheim

  9. Best Quote: TR Cliff Secord: “Where's your stuntman now, Sinclair?” 

    Neville Sinclair: “I do my own stunts!”

  10. Best Screenplay: TR Danny Bilson & Paul De Meo

  11. Best Special Achievement: DT Comicbook film with the most Oscars

  12. Best Supporting Actor/Actress: DT Al Pacino

  13. Best Lead Actor/Actress: TR Billy Campbell

  14. Best Scene: TR Airshow Rescue

  15. Defining Moment: DT Roller Coaster Rabbit

  16. Best Director: DT Warren Beatty

  17. Wildcard: TR The Girl I Want to Take Out on the Town Award

  18. Best Picture: The Rocketeer

Total after deductions:

  • Dick Tracy: 7

  • The Rocketeer: 12

COUSIN WAYNE'S GOLDEN IDOLS

  1. Best Location: DT The City

  2. Best Character: TR Cliff Secord

  3. Best Screen Duo: DT Dick Tracy & The Kid

  4. Best Villain/Antagonist: TR Neville Sinclair

  5. Best Hero/Protagonist: TR Cliff Secord/The Rocketeer

  6. Best Kill/Defeat: TR Neville Sinclair’s “Hollywood” Death

  7. WTF: DT Nobody did anything

  8. Best Score or Soundtrack: DT Danny Elfman & Stephen Sondheim

  9. Best Quote: TR Cliff Secord: “Where's your stuntman now, Sinclair?” 

    Neville Sinclair: “I do my own stunts!”

  10. Best Screenplay: TR Danny Bilson & Paul De Meo

  11. Best Special Achievement: DT Art Direction

  12. Best Supporting Actor/Actress: DT Charlie Korso

  13. Best Lead Actor/Actress: TR Billy Campbell

  14. Best Scene: TR Fight on the zeppelin

  15. Defining Moment: TR Valentine turning on Neville Sinclair

  16. Best Director: TR Joe Johnson

  17. Wildcard: DT Rogues Gallery of Villains Award

  18. Best Picture: The Rocketeer

Total after deductions:

  • Dick Tracy: 6

  • The Rocketeer: 13

KYLE’S GOLDEN IDOLS

  1. Best Location: DT The City

  2. Best Character: TR Jenny Blake

  3. Best Screen Duo: DT Dick Tracy & The Kid

  4. Best Villain/Antagonist: DT Big Boy Caprice

  5. Best Hero/Protagonist: DT Dick Tracy

  6. Best Kill/Defeat: DT Car bomb kill

  7. WTF: TR The gum

  8. Best Score or Soundtrack: DT Danny Elfman & Stephen Sondheim

  9. Best Quote: TR Cliff Secord: [inside the South Seas club] “Jenny, prepare yourself for a shock: I'm the Rocketeer.” Jenny: “The Rocke-who?“ Cliff Secord: [frustrated] “Oh, for crying out loud, haven't you read the papers?” Jenny: “No, I've been working all day.”

  10. Best Screenplay: DT Jim Cash & Jack Epps Jr.

  11. Best Special Achievement: DT Art Direction

  12. Best Supporting Actor/Actress: DT Al Pacino

  13. Best Lead Actor/Actress: DT Warren Beatty

  14. Best Scene: TR Field test

  15. Defining Moment: DT Visual Style

  16. Best Director: DT Warren Beatty

  17. Wildcard: TR All Dressed Up Award

  18. Best Picture: Dick Tracy

Total after deductions:

  • Dick Tracy: 15

  • The Rocketeer: 4

SETH’S GOLDEN IDOLS

  1. Best Location: DT The Docks

  2. Best Character: TR Neville Sinclair

  3. Best Screen Duo: DT Dick Tracy & Breathless Mahoney

  4. Best Villain/Antagonist: TR Neville Sinclair

  5. Best Hero/Protagonist: TR Diner Heroes

  6. Best Kill/Defeat: TR Lothar’s own undoing

  7. WTF: DT Skylight catapult

  8. Best Score or Soundtrack: Rubber Chicken

  9. Best Quote: TR Neville Sinclair: [on the road leading to the Griffith Observatory] “C'mon, Eddie. I'm paying you well. Does it really matter where the money comes from?” Eddie Valentine: “It matters to me. I may not make an honest buck, but I'm 100% American. I don't work for no two-bit Nazi. Let the girl go!”

  10. Best Screenplay: TR Danny Bilson & Paul De Meo

  11. Best Special Achievement: TIE DT & TR Pulp genre

  12. Best Supporting Actor/Actress: TR Jennifer Connelly

  13. Best Lead Actor/Actress: Rubber Chicken

  14. Best Scene: TR Field test

  15. Defining Moment: TR Airshow Rescue

  16. Best Director: TR Joe Johnson

  17. Wildcard: TR Hollywood Award

  18. Best Picture: The Rocketeer

Total after deductions:

  • Dick Tracy: 3

  • The Rocketeer: 13

The Golden Idol Winner:The Rocketeer