Duel vs THX-1138

Fifty years ago, legendary directors Steven Spielberg and George Lucas released their respective debut films – Duel and THX-1138. All this time later, we’re revisiting them to see which one holds up the best. Will the killer truck win the day, or will the futuristic motorcycle cops pull it off the road? Let’s talk about movies!

NATHAN’S GOLDEN IDOLS

1. Best Location: THX-1138 Underground City

2. Best Character: THX-1138 OMM-0000

3. Best Kill/Death/Defeat: THX-1138 SRT crashes into a concrete pillar

4. Best Score or Soundtrack: THX-1138 & Duel Clever sound design throughout both films

5. Best Screenplay: Duel Richard Matheson

6. Best Special Achievement: THX-1138 The scale of Lucas’ first film

7. Best Scene: Duel Pair of scenes, both involving David at a gas station

8. Defining Moment/Attribute: THX-1138 & Duel Both films are considered foundational by their directors

9. Best Director: Duel Steven Spielberg

10. Wildcard: THX-1138 The So Heavy Handed and Obvious, it Actually Works Award

11. WTF: THX-1138 The sounds of the police motorcycles are the sped up sounds of women screaming in a tiled bathroom

12. Best Picture: Duel

Total after deductions:

• Duel: 6

• THX-1138: 7

BRANDON’S GOLDEN IDOLS

1. Best Location: Duel Chuck’s Cafe

2. Best Character: Duel The Truck

3. Best Kill/Death/Defeat: Duel The truck goes over the cliff

4. Best Score or Soundtrack: THX-1138 Lalo Schifrin

5. Best Screenplay: Duel Richard Matheson

6. Best Special Achievement: Duel Stunt Work

7. Best Scene: Duel All of the chase scenes with emphasis on Chuck’s Cafe

8. Defining Moment/Attribute: RUBBER CHICKEN

9. Best Director: Duel Steven Spielberg

10. Wildcard: Duel Stepping Stone Award

11. WTF: Duel No Explosion at the end of Duel.

12. Best Picture: Duel

Total after deductions:

• Duel: 11

• THX-1138: 1

MARSHALL’S GOLDEN IDOLS

1. Best Location: Duel Inside the Plymouth

2. Best Character: Duel David Mann

3. Best Kill/Death/Defeat: Duel The truck goes over the cliff

4. Best Score or Soundtrack: RUBBER CHICKEN

5. Best Screenplay: Duel Richard Matheson

6. Best Special Achievement: Duel Cinematography

7. Best Scene: TIE Duel & THX-1138 Car overheating down hill & Getaway car chase

8. Defining Moment/Attribute: THX-1138 Great story creator but mediocre storyteller

9. Best Director: THX-1138 George Lucas

10. Wildcard: THX-1138 Best Sound Design Award

11. WTF: Duel No Explosion at the end of Duel.

12. Best Picture: Duel

Total after deductions:

• Duel: 7

• THX-1138: 4

MATT’S GOLDEN IDOLS

1. Best Location: THX-1138 Underground Tunnels

2. Best Character: Duel David Mann

3. Best Kill/Death/Defeat: THX-1138 Mission over budget

4. Best Score or Soundtrack: Duel Billy Goldenberg

5. Best Screenplay: THX-1138 George Lucas & Walter Murch

6. Best Special Achievement: THX-1138 Sound montage by Walter Murch

7. Best Scene: Duel Stopover at Chuck’s Cafe

8. Defining Moment/Attribute: THX-1138 THX’s first encounter with “Jesus on tape.”

9. Best Director: Duel Steven Spielberg

10. Wildcard: Duel Best Villain Award

11. WTF: THX-1138 Inmate rapes LUH

12. Best Picture: Duel

Total after deductions:

• Duel: 8

• THX-1138: 5

Golden Idol Winner: Duel