50 reasons Star Wars is better than Lord of The Rings

15. Mon Calamari vs. Army of the Dead

Who were the Mon Calamari? Race of cephalopod-like creators that helped the Rebels defeat the Empire in the Battle of Endor

Who was the Army of the Dead? Phantasmal army that helped the forces of good defeat the combined armies of Sauron in the battle outside Minas Tirith

Verdict: In the third movie of both the Star Wars and Lord of the Rings trilogies, both sets of our heroes turn to an as-yet-unheard of group of beings to help them in their most dire hour. Those groups are the Mon Calamari and the Army of the Dead, respectively.

The most recognizable of all the Mon Calamari was, of course, Admiral Ackbar. From seemingly out of the blue, Ackbar’s race has not only joined the Rebel Alliance but also become among its leading members, not only commanding the forces above Endor but also supplying a good amount of the hardware. Those huge, submarine-looking cruisers that take on the second Death Star are all Mon Calamari made.

The Army of the Dead’s origin is a bit more fleshed out than the Mon Calamari’s, but they play a slightly less central role in their fight in support of Gondor. Still, it’s a left field move for them to be included at all.

So which of these pinch hitters packs the bigger punch? Easy: the Mon Calamari. You come in hot with the leadership chops and the equipment, you get the victory.

Star Wars wins

Next: 14. Rogue Squadron vs. Riders of Rohan