The anecdotal observations as "evidence" and fanboy hyperventilations aside, this was truly my favorite part of that whole exchange:

Just awesome!

Fincher. Always been a fan. Alien 3 is his only film I don't care for. Nolan's ok, but his films don't resonate with me like Fincher's do. For example Inception felt like a way longer movie than Zodiac, to me anyway. Nolan's Batman movies are great, but I still have a soft sport for Burton's. As far as comic book movies go, nothing usurps Donner's Superman.

I can see the why Nolan gets the love though, he has a better track record critically than Fincher. Although for my tastes, nothing in Nolans filmography quite rivals Fight Club. It was the perfect bookend film for the 90's.

I don't know, before this thread I've never thought about comparing them before. I don't really see them as rivals.

This thread and Hokeyboy's argument in Sucker Punch have disappointed me greatly. Maybe someone has hacked his account?

I blame Powell & Pressburger.

i agree. movies like fight club, usual suspects, and pulp fiction really saved the 90's as far as filmmaking goes. they left their mark on that decade as did the LOTR movies did for this past decade. i like the prestige and memento but i think the DK is just a crime drama packaged to look like a comic book movie. but i still watch it. both make movies that people love. but fincher is my fav.

Two of my top 5 directors but I would say Fincher has a better body of work. The Game, Se7en, Fight Club were all brilliant and Nolan has one (Memento) maybe two if you consider The Dark Knight brilliant. They both have a few misses- Insomnia, Panic Room, Alien 3. Love them both though.

Have not seen Inception yet so Nolan may now have another Masterpiece.

Can't we just merge them into one all powerful being known as Finchlan or Noler?

The best idea in this thread

Insomnia is far from a miss...

My answer is still Fincher.

I mentioned this in another Fincher thread. I always thought he would make an awesome Batman movie after seeing Se7en. The visuals from Se7en looks exactly like how my favorite artist (Neal Adams) would layout his Batman panels; especially the chase scene through the theatre and the rain soaked alley.

I agree completely. I would love to see Fincher do a Batman film. Dear god yes.

Oh and Neal Adams. Greatest comic book artist of all-time.

Love them both, but have to give the tip of the hat to Fincher. Se7en, Fight Club, Zodiac, and The Social Network are absolutely brilliant (especially Fight Club and Zodiac). The Game, Alien 3, Girl With The Dragon Tattoo are all very good. Panic Room is decent and Benjamin Button was not.

For Nolan, The Dark Knight, Prestige, and Memento are brilliant. Batman Begins and The Dark Knight Rises are very good. Insomnia and The Following are decent. Inception is really bad, worse than Benjamin Button bad.

But in terms of major American directors, I'd choose Tarantino over both.

...Fincher is just better than Nolan. He gets the crazy as shit minute details right that Nolan may overlook. I love Nolan..but Fincher..is..well he's motherfucking David Fincher.

I'd also choose Tarantino over them both..not in quality maybe (in comparison to Fincher) but...in terms of enjoyment.

In terms of quality I would still choose Tarantino. There's no Tarantino film that I think is less than good.

Inception worse than Benjamin Button? Benjamin Button is soo fucking boring. You tripping, SM.

I think I gotta go with Fincher. Both great directors but Fincher has more style and more masterpieces for me.

Nice...

Tarantino is pretty much my God. Just when I think "Well, he's bound to make a bad movie. It's just time." he says "Fuck you, Jules." I even like Death Proof. Like more than the average person.

I'm actually a little surprised at the poll results so far. I think Fincher by far - The Game, Fight Club, The Social Network, Zodiac, Seven...heck, even the movies I DON'T like (Benjamin Button, Alien 3, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) I think are visually stunning (just don't like the stories).

I think Nolan is a very GOOD director, but I think that's more in terms of storytelling than any visual/directorial style. I think I would be able to ID a Fincher movie if I didn't know who directed it...not sure I can say the same about Nolan. But maybe he's not given us everything he has...not yet.

I'd say from BB onward he's established a color palette that I can tell is him. Specifically the hue of blue, orange, and yellow he uses.

I personally feel that Nolan has had the more consistent career and I basically like all of his films. His Batman films, Memento, and The Prestige are all great. Inception isn't bad either, even though a lot of people like to make it out to be and I still find it funny how a bunch of people liked it when it first came out but when it got popular it became cool to hate on. Insomnia is decent too. I haven't seen Following (always meant to buy it on DVD but then I switched to Blu-ray and have been waiting on a release).

Fincher is really great too particularly Se7en, Zodiac, The Social Network, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo but has some stuff I'm not a really huge fan of like Alien 3, Fight Club (overrated as shit if you ask me), Panic Room, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I wouldn't say any of his movies are bad though either just some I like less than others.

Have to go with Fincher. I feel like I WANT to see everything that Fincher puts out week 1 in the theaters, whereas for Nolan, I'll get around to it whenever I can, or maybe wait for Blu-Ray.

I prefer Fincher's body of work & directing skills over Nolan's.

Fincher hes good