Wow. What a ride. After a full week of heated competition, we’ve been deposited here at the threshold of Round Three. The teams that survive what promises to be a brutal round of competition will be the final four standing, and will be only one more victory away from standing strong in the Championship Round. Many great films have fallen, and what remains includes a meddling French girl, a haunted hero in a cape and cowl, a man who spies on others, an ex-porn star, a young girl working for a witch, a man who would be king, impoverished youths in Brazil, and a girl caught between the horrors of WWII Spain and a giant faun.
Here is your handy recap as we head into Round Three:
Group One
Amelie – This French fantasy emerged as the surprise victor against the South African representative. The heavily favored District 9 apparently couldn’t stand on fanboy appeal alone and fell in a match that saw three lead changes. The final score was 56–44, and Amelie faces strong competition from The Dark Knight on Sunday.
The Dark Knight – The juggernaut continued its supremacy against the fantastic thriller The Secret in Their Eyes, ending with a score of 74–26. Is that large margin a sign that it will make it all the way to the Championship? First, it has to face Amelie and the threat of an upset.
Group Two
The Lives of Others — In another surprising upset, the German drama beat out The Good The Bad The Weird 57–43 to earn a spot in this next round. Once again, the fanboy appeal was not enough for the modern Western, and The Lives of Others will live to fight another day. It will face the dangerous Serbian Film next.
A Serbian Film – This shock of debauchery from Serbia held its own against Slovenia, defeating the call girl drama of Slovenka 59–41. However, it may be leaving its money on the dresser and sneaking out of this competition if it can’t pull off a strong showing against The Lives of Others.
Group Three
Spirited Away — Favored at the beginning of the Group Round to win it all, the Japanese masterpiece easily took down Antichrist in a battle that saw a final score of 74–26. Sadly, chaos did not reign. The animated film goes up against Return of the King next.
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King — Steamrolling through the competition, Return of the King finished off the Italian political drama Il Divo with a nasty score of 90–10. It’s had high scores because of its draws, but it faces its first true competition of the tournament with Spirited Away hoping to make it bow down.
Group Four
City of God — The Brazilian love of fans and critics alike went head to head with the exhilarating heist film Os Imortais from Portugal and emerged victorious. With a current score of 86–14, our statisticians are able to call the match. It drew against the winner of the Mandrill/Pan’s Labyrinth match up, and there’s little surprise who is winning there.
Pan’s Labyrinth — Despite the strength and ass-kicking of Marko Zaror, Mandrill could not handle the power of Guilermo del Toro’s unique vision. Pan’s Labyrinth holds a stunning 90–10 lead and, barring any unforeseen comebacks of epic proportion, will see City of God next on its journey to the final four.
Just two more days, a couple hundred gallons of Gatorade, and one more round before we see who battles for ultimate supremacy.
Keep up with all the Movie World Cup Action, and stick with us through Tuesday, June 22nd, when the Championship Round finds the strongest two contenders battling it out for eternal glory.