Columbia Movie Madness
posted by
Kenny Chen |
15sc
March 30, 2016
Think you know about Columbia University? Like movies and pop culture references? Is your NCAA bracket busted but you still want to take part in March competition?
If you answered "yes" to any of the above, you're in the right place.
We've got our own bracket-style knockout tournament underway where we start with eight of the most iconic movies set in or featuring characters related to Columbia University (our "Elite 8," if you will) and look to narrow that list down until we crown a sole champion.
...But we need your help!
Here's how to participate:
Beginning Monday, March 28 at 10 a.m. EST, take part in the #ColumbiaMovieMadness elimination tournament on the Columbia Alumni Association Twitter account (and directly on this page) by voting daily for your picks to advance in each round. We'll tally up the votes before the start of each daily match up and declare winners to proceed on as we look to crown the most popular movie with references to Columbia University.
Up for the challenge? Here are the contenders:
...And a huge shout-out to Columbia Men's Basketball for wrapping up a historic postseason run and winning the Collegeinsider.com Tournament (CIT) - their first-ever postseason championship! The Lions' 25 wins this season represents the highest total in program history. Relive the championship game moments and keep the celebration going and join the team at the annual Men's Basketball Banquet on April 18.
Your Columbia Movie Madness Champion...
Ghostbusters (1984)
When we first meet the Ghostbusters in this 1984 classic, they are working at “Weaver Hall" as researchers in the Department of Psychology. In actuality, Weaver Hall is Columbia's Havermeyer Hall. And the Ghostbusters/Columbia fun doesn't stop there. The reboot of the movie, which will be released later this year, was seen filming on campus and stars Columbia alumna Kate McKinnon '06CC.
---
Thank you for participating in the Columbia Movie Madness tournament. Did we miss any movies? Disagree with the picks? Let us know using #ColumbiaMovieMadness and remember to follow the CAA on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
See below for the full recaps of each round
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
It's time. We've reached the final round of #ColumbiaMovieMadness and narrowed down the most iconic Columbia-related movies to 2 finalists. Will Sam Raimi's Spider-Man (2002) be able to overcome perennial 80's classic Ghostbusters (1984)? Help us crown a champion! Voting begins Monday 4/4 at 10 a.m. and ends on Friday 4/8 at 10 a.m.
Final Match
| Ghostbusters (1984) |
VS |
Spider-Man (2002) |
|
|
|
|
When we first meet the Ghostbusters in this 1984 classic, they are working at “Weaver Hall" as researchers in the Department of Psychology. In actuality, Weaver Hall is Columbia's Havermeyer Hall. And the Ghostbusters/Columbia fun doesn't stop there. The reboot of the movie, which will be released later this year, was seen filming on campus and stars Columbia alumna Kate McKinnon '06CC. |
|
In Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, Peter Parker gets his powers after being bitten by a radioactive spider at a laboratory at Columbia University, the school he later attends. (The lab scenes were actually filmed at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles). In the comic books, Parker attended the fictional Empire State University, which is based on the real-life Columbia University. |
ROUND 2 - SEMIFINALS
The dust has settled on Round 1 of #ColumbiaMovieMadness and your final four movie contenders are officially set. Welcome to the semifinals! This special double header round pits Ghostbusters (1984) against Still Alice (2014) and Spider-Man (2002) against Hitch (2005). Voting for both match ups begins Friday 4/1 at 10 a.m. and ends on Monday, 4/4 at 10 a.m. Who will make it to the finals?
Semifinals Match #1
| Ghostbusters (1984) |
VS |
Still Alice (2014) |
|
|
|
|
When we first meet the Ghostbusters in this 1984 classic, they are working at "Weaver Hall" as researchers in the Department of Psychology. In actuality, Weaver Hall is Columbia's Havermeyer Hall. The 2016 reboot of the movie was seen filming on campus and stars alumna Kate McKinnon '06CC. |
|
Julianne Moore plays Alice Howland, a linguistics professor at Columbia University who finds herself diagnosed and dealing with the struggles of Alzheimer's Disease. The performance earned Moore the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2014. |
Semifinals Match #2
| Spider-Man (2002) |
VS |
Hitch (2005) |
|
|
 |
|
In Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, Peter Parker gets his powers after being bitten by a radioactive spider at a laboratory at Columbia University, the school he later attends. (The lab scenes were actually filmed at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles). In the comic books, Parker attended the fictional Empire State University, which is based on the real-life Columbia University.
|
|
In this 2005 romantic comedy, Alex "Hitch" Hitchens (played by Will Smith) provides consultation advice to men on how to improve their dating game. In a flashback scene to his college days, Hitch meets a girl after tripping on The Steps at Low Plaza that indirectly sets him on the path to becoming the "Date Doctor." |
ROUND 1
"The Heroes" Region
| Ghostbusters (1984) |
VS |
Daredevil (2003) |
|
|
|
|
| When we first meet the Ghostbusters in this 1984 classic, they are working at “Weaver Hall" as researchers in the Department of Psychology. In actuality, Weaver Hall is Columbia's Havermeyer Hall. And the Ghostbusters/Columbia fun doesn't stop there. The reboot of the movie, which will be released later this year, was seen filming on campus and stars Columbia alumna Kate McKinnon '06CC. |
|
Before Ben Affleck ever donned a bat cowl he dipped his toes in the superhero genre with 2003's Daredevil, playing Matt Murdock - defense lawyer by day, and his alter ego Daredevil, crime-fighting superhero by night. You may even know the character from the Netflix-exclusive take on this popular Marvel Comics hero who, incidentally, was valedictorian of his class at Columbia Law School. |
"The Mutants" Region
| Spider-Man (2002) |
VS |
X-Men (2000) |
|
|
 |
|
In Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, Peter Parker gets his powers after being bitten by a radioactive spider at a laboratory at Columbia University, the school he later attends. (The lab scenes were actually filmed at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles). In the comic books, Parker attended the fictional Empire State University, which is based on the real-life Columbia University.
|
|
The box office success of X-Men in 2000 may have to be credited for revitalizing the superhero movie genre on the big screen. But before X-Men leader Charles Xavier (played by Patrick Stewart) founded Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, the mutant known as "Professor X" completed his graduate studies at Columbia, where he received his PhD in Anthropology. |
"The Professors" Region
(Before you ask, the answer is yes, we realize the irony that Professor X is not in this region)
| The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996) |
VS |
Still Alice (2014) |
|
|
|
|
| In this 1996 film produced and directed by Barbra Streisand, she and co-star Jeff Bridges both play Columbia professors (of English literature and Mathematics, respectively) who form an unlikely relationship. |
|
Julianne Moore plays Alice Howland, a linguistics professor at Columbia University who finds herself diagnosed and dealing with the struggles of Alzheimer's Disease. The performance earned Moore the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2014. |
"The Romantics" Region
| Hitch (2005) |
VS |
The Nanny Diaries (2007) |
|
|
|
|
| In this 2005 romantic comedy, Alex "Hitch" Hitchens (played by Will Smith) provides consultation advice to men on how to improve their dating game. In a flashback scene to his college days, Hitch meets a girl after tripping on The Steps at Low Plaza that indirectly sets him on the path to becoming the "Date Doctor." |
|
Before they teamed up as Black Widow and Captain America in The Avengers franchise, a young Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans co-starred in The Nanny Diaries, a romantic comedy based on the novel of the same name. In one scene, Scarlett Johansson's character hangs out on Low Plaza after applying to Columbia's grad program in anthropology. |
