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A Thread About Movies

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    AtomikaAtomika Live fast and get fucked or whatever Registered User regular
    That said, prequels generally are unnecessary because they don't tell you anything you didn't already know, or couldn't already surmise. I'm not arguing that something like the Star Wars prequels were destined for narrative failure, but as a writer you have to find the hook. Films are films, and whatever their intent they have to still be films at the end of everything. They are not Wikipedia entries.

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    shrykeshryke Member of the Beast Registered User regular
    You can get plenty of milege out a story who's ending the audience already knows. (see - tragedy) But there's gotta be something there to tell. You need some sort of story or dramatic arc, not just a connect-the-dots of events.

    I'm really struggling to thin of any prequel that actually worked.

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    PreacherPreacher Registered User regular
    shryke wrote: »
    You can get plenty of milege out a story who's ending the audience already knows. (see - tragedy) But there's gotta be something there to tell. You need some sort of story or dramatic arc, not just a connect-the-dots of events.

    I'm really struggling to thin of any prequel that actually worked.

    Potentially the Hobbit, I believe it was actually written post LOTR if I have my Tolkien right.

    I would like some money because these are artisanal nuggets of wisdom philistine.

    pleasepaypreacher.net
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    TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu PIGEON Registered User regular
    shryke wrote: »
    You can get plenty of milege out a story who's ending the audience already knows. (see - tragedy) But there's gotta be something there to tell. You need some sort of story or dramatic arc, not just a connect-the-dots of events.

    I'm really struggling to thin of any prequel that actually worked.
    Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom worked, I think. It used to be my least favorite Indiana Jones movie but then I read some convincing stuff about how it was a great movie, and I realized that it was better than I was giving it credit for.

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    PreacherPreacher Registered User regular
    shryke wrote: »
    You can get plenty of milege out a story who's ending the audience already knows. (see - tragedy) But there's gotta be something there to tell. You need some sort of story or dramatic arc, not just a connect-the-dots of events.

    I'm really struggling to thin of any prequel that actually worked.
    Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom worked, I think. It used to be my least favorite Indiana Jones movie but then I read some convincing stuff about how it was a great movie, and I realized that it was better than I was giving it credit for.

    Not your traditional prequel because aside from the year being earlier than Raiders (something most people don't even realize) it really doesn't expand any element in raiders, and plays out like a traditional sequel including references to something that happened later for Indy but Indy himself acted like it happened before (killing the swordsman in raiders vs a similar scene in temple where Indy doesn't have his gun but is confident he can shoot both of them).

    I would like some money because these are artisanal nuggets of wisdom philistine.

    pleasepaypreacher.net
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    CaptainNemoCaptainNemo Registered User regular
    I liked Crystal Skull a lot. I'm not gonna lie. I'd rank the films like this: Raiders, Last Crusade, Kingdom, and then Temple.

    PSN:CaptainNemo1138
    Shitty Tumblr:lighthouse1138.tumblr.com
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    PreacherPreacher Registered User regular
    I liked Crystal Skull a lot. I'm not gonna lie. I'd rank the films like this: Raiders, Last Crusade, Kingdom, and then Temple.

    Wow, there are no words.

    I would like some money because these are artisanal nuggets of wisdom philistine.

    pleasepaypreacher.net
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    shrykeshryke Member of the Beast Registered User regular
    edited June 2012
    Preacher wrote: »
    shryke wrote: »
    You can get plenty of milege out a story who's ending the audience already knows. (see - tragedy) But there's gotta be something there to tell. You need some sort of story or dramatic arc, not just a connect-the-dots of events.

    I'm really struggling to thin of any prequel that actually worked.

    Potentially the Hobbit, I believe it was actually written post LOTR if I have my Tolkien right.

    Nope. Published almost 20 years before.

    shryke on
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    CaptainNemoCaptainNemo Registered User regular
    I mean, it's got flaws, duh, but it's still a better movie then Temple.

    PSN:CaptainNemo1138
    Shitty Tumblr:lighthouse1138.tumblr.com
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    PreacherPreacher Registered User regular
    shryke wrote: »
    Preacher wrote: »
    shryke wrote: »
    You can get plenty of milege out a story who's ending the audience already knows. (see - tragedy) But there's gotta be something there to tell. You need some sort of story or dramatic arc, not just a connect-the-dots of events.

    I'm really struggling to thin of any prequel that actually worked.

    Potentially the Hobbit, I believe it was actually written post LOTR if I have my Tolkien right.

    Nope. Published almost 20 years before.

    I think I misremembered and confused tolkien wanting to rewrite parts of the hobbit to make it more in line with his later LOTR.

    I would like some money because these are artisanal nuggets of wisdom philistine.

    pleasepaypreacher.net
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    AtomikaAtomika Live fast and get fucked or whatever Registered User regular
    Preacher wrote: »
    shryke wrote: »
    You can get plenty of milege out a story who's ending the audience already knows. (see - tragedy) But there's gotta be something there to tell. You need some sort of story or dramatic arc, not just a connect-the-dots of events.

    I'm really struggling to thin of any prequel that actually worked.

    Potentially the Hobbit, I believe it was actually written post LOTR if I have my Tolkien right.

    You do not.

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    JacobkoshJacobkosh Gamble a stamp. I can show you how to be a real man!Moderator mod
    so to summarize, prequels can be bad if they are made by the wrong people, or don't have a narrative hook, or are interfered with by the studio

    this sounds oddly familiar

    HMMMM

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    Mad King GeorgeMad King George Registered User regular
    I mean, it's got flaws, duh, but it's still a better movie then Temple.

    No.

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    CaptainNemoCaptainNemo Registered User regular
    I mean, it's got flaws, duh, but it's still a better movie then Temple.

    No.

    Yes.

    As shitty as Crystal Skull was in places, it was still better then Short Round or Willy Scott.

    PSN:CaptainNemo1138
    Shitty Tumblr:lighthouse1138.tumblr.com
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    PreacherPreacher Registered User regular
    I mean, it's got flaws, duh, but it's still a better movie then Temple.

    I dunno Red Letter Media didn't take apart Temple of Doom like they did to Crystal Skull.

    http://redlettermedia.com/plinkett/indiana-jones-and-the-kingdom-of-the-crystal-skull/

    I would like some money because these are artisanal nuggets of wisdom philistine.

    pleasepaypreacher.net
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    shrykeshryke Member of the Beast Registered User regular
    Jacobkosh wrote: »
    so to summarize, prequels can be bad if they are made by the wrong people, or don't have a narrative hook, or are interfered with by the studio

    this sounds oddly familiar

    HMMMM

    I'm still trying to come up with an example of one that worked.

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    CaptainNemoCaptainNemo Registered User regular
    X-Men First Class?

    PSN:CaptainNemo1138
    Shitty Tumblr:lighthouse1138.tumblr.com
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    Mad King GeorgeMad King George Registered User regular
    I mean, it's got flaws, duh, but it's still a better movie then Temple.

    No.

    Yes.

    As shitty as Crystal Skull was in places, it was still better then Short Round or Willy Scott.

    Again, no. And it was only shitty "in places" if we define places as "the part after the Paramount logo and before the credits."

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    PreacherPreacher Registered User regular
    shryke wrote: »
    Jacobkosh wrote: »
    so to summarize, prequels can be bad if they are made by the wrong people, or don't have a narrative hook, or are interfered with by the studio

    this sounds oddly familiar

    HMMMM

    I'm still trying to come up with an example of one that worked.

    You could go with Casino Royale, but the bond movies are not traditional sequels/franchises.

    I would like some money because these are artisanal nuggets of wisdom philistine.

    pleasepaypreacher.net
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    JacobkoshJacobkosh Gamble a stamp. I can show you how to be a real man!Moderator mod
    temple of doom has a lot of great stuff in it, great scenes that work really well on their own, but it is tonally really offputting. it tries to be funny inappropriately and then serious and emotional inappropriately.

    the first ten minutes are some of the best minutes ever though

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    CaptainNemoCaptainNemo Registered User regular
    I mean, it's got flaws, duh, but it's still a better movie then Temple.

    No.

    Yes.

    As shitty as Crystal Skull was in places, it was still better then Short Round or Willy Scott.

    Again, no. And it was only shitty "in places" if we define places as "the part after the Paramount logo and before the credits."

    What was good in Temple of Doom? Eh?

    PSN:CaptainNemo1138
    Shitty Tumblr:lighthouse1138.tumblr.com
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    Mad King GeorgeMad King George Registered User regular
    I mean, it's got flaws, duh, but it's still a better movie then Temple.

    No.

    Yes.

    As shitty as Crystal Skull was in places, it was still better then Short Round or Willy Scott.

    Again, no. And it was only shitty "in places" if we define places as "the part after the Paramount logo and before the credits."

    What was good in Temple of Doom? Eh?

    The theme of the movie, the Man Who Would Be King ending, killing a dude with spit-roasted cornish game hens, etc.

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    CaptainNemoCaptainNemo Registered User regular
    I mean, it's got flaws, duh, but it's still a better movie then Temple.

    No.

    Yes.

    As shitty as Crystal Skull was in places, it was still better then Short Round or Willy Scott.

    Again, no. And it was only shitty "in places" if we define places as "the part after the Paramount logo and before the credits."

    What was good in Temple of Doom? Eh?

    The theme of the movie, the Man Who Would Be King ending, killing a dude with spit-roasted cornish game hens, etc.

    Oh. Alright then.

    I like the Flying Saucer, the Randomly Magenetic Skull, and the Awful Psychic Russian lady, the Brain frying Alien, etc.

    PSN:CaptainNemo1138
    Shitty Tumblr:lighthouse1138.tumblr.com
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    PreacherPreacher Registered User regular
    Jacobkosh wrote: »
    temple of doom has a lot of great stuff in it, great scenes that work really well on their own, but it is tonally really offputting. it tries to be funny inappropriately and then serious and emotional inappropriately.

    the first ten minutes are some of the best minutes ever though

    I personally liked the saving the kids montage, especially with the music swell and off screen punching of the child labor beater.

    I would like some money because these are artisanal nuggets of wisdom philistine.

    pleasepaypreacher.net
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    Harry DresdenHarry Dresden Registered User regular
    That said, prequels generally are unnecessary because they don't tell you anything you didn't already know, or couldn't already surmise. I'm not arguing that something like the Star Wars prequels were destined for narrative failure, but as a writer you have to find the hook. Films are films, and whatever their intent they have to still be films at the end of everything. They are not Wikipedia entries.

    Those are bad prequels. A prequel trilogy for Darth Vader's origin could have been amazing in the right hands.

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    JacobkoshJacobkosh Gamble a stamp. I can show you how to be a real man!Moderator mod
    I mean, it's got flaws, duh, but it's still a better movie then Temple.

    No.

    Yes.

    As shitty as Crystal Skull was in places, it was still better then Short Round or Willy Scott.

    Again, no. And it was only shitty "in places" if we define places as "the part after the Paramount logo and before the credits."

    What was good in Temple of Doom? Eh?

    the shanghai nightclub fight, the car chase, the raft ride, the spear room, the human sacrifice, and the literal cliffhanging finale

    indy's gradual turn from greedy heel to sensitive dude was also pretty well done even if it doesn't seem to entirely track with his character in Raiders

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    AtomikaAtomika Live fast and get fucked or whatever Registered User regular
    Jacobkosh wrote: »
    temple of doom has a lot of great stuff in it, great scenes that work really well on their own, but it is tonally really offputting. it tries to be funny inappropriately and then serious and emotional inappropriately.

    the first ten minutes are some of the best minutes ever though

    Raiders is really the only film that works 100% in the series. I have a lot of love for Temple, but you're right about the tone. It's all over the place, from slapstick to maudlin to outright horror, with a huge schmaltzy ending.

    I don't want to say Crusade is a better film, but I think it probably is.



    If you actually like Crystal Skull, I hate you.

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    shrykeshryke Member of the Beast Registered User regular
    What's with the hate for Crusade?

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    CaptainNemoCaptainNemo Registered User regular
    I hate you to, Atom. I hate you with love.

    Anyway, what's the general consensus on Prometheus? Is it worth seeing?

    PSN:CaptainNemo1138
    Shitty Tumblr:lighthouse1138.tumblr.com
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    PreacherPreacher Registered User regular
    Jacobkosh wrote: »
    I mean, it's got flaws, duh, but it's still a better movie then Temple.

    No.

    Yes.

    As shitty as Crystal Skull was in places, it was still better then Short Round or Willy Scott.

    Again, no. And it was only shitty "in places" if we define places as "the part after the Paramount logo and before the credits."

    What was good in Temple of Doom? Eh?

    the shanghai nightclub fight, the car chase, the raft ride, the spear room, the human sacrifice, and the literal cliffhanging finale

    indy's gradual turn from greedy heel to sensitive dude was also pretty well done even if it doesn't seem to entirely track with his character in Raiders

    The problem with indy stems more from Indy being an audience insert character in whatever movies he's in, so it doesn't really matter his character arc doesn't seem to fit. I mean in each movie he seems to have a different motivation.

    I would like some money because these are artisanal nuggets of wisdom philistine.

    pleasepaypreacher.net
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    PreacherPreacher Registered User regular
    I hate you to, Atom. I hate you with love.

    Anyway, what's the general consensus on Prometheus? Is it worth seeing?

    From what I've read and heard from those who have seen it, seems like a mix between alien 3 and 4 of "possible good idea with bad execution and adds more plot holes an inconsistencies than it resolves."

    I would like some money because these are artisanal nuggets of wisdom philistine.

    pleasepaypreacher.net
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    AtomikaAtomika Live fast and get fucked or whatever Registered User regular
    shryke wrote: »
    What's with the hate for Crusade?

    The character assassination of Sallah and Marcus, taking their Raiders characters from dignified and eloquent to a ditzy poindexter and racist stereotype.

    But it's still a good film.

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    CaptainNemoCaptainNemo Registered User regular
    Preacher wrote: »
    I hate you to, Atom. I hate you with love.

    Anyway, what's the general consensus on Prometheus? Is it worth seeing?

    From what I've read and heard from those who have seen it, seems like a mix between alien 3 and 4 of "possible good idea with bad execution and adds more plot holes an inconsistencies than it resolves."

    I've heard some of that two. I've also heard a lot of praise for it. Most people seem to agree that it's an experiance regardless, so I'll see it in the theatre.

    PSN:CaptainNemo1138
    Shitty Tumblr:lighthouse1138.tumblr.com
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    JacobkoshJacobkosh Gamble a stamp. I can show you how to be a real man!Moderator mod
    Preacher wrote: »
    Jacobkosh wrote: »
    I mean, it's got flaws, duh, but it's still a better movie then Temple.

    No.

    Yes.

    As shitty as Crystal Skull was in places, it was still better then Short Round or Willy Scott.

    Again, no. And it was only shitty "in places" if we define places as "the part after the Paramount logo and before the credits."

    What was good in Temple of Doom? Eh?

    the shanghai nightclub fight, the car chase, the raft ride, the spear room, the human sacrifice, and the literal cliffhanging finale

    indy's gradual turn from greedy heel to sensitive dude was also pretty well done even if it doesn't seem to entirely track with his character in Raiders

    The problem with indy stems more from Indy being an audience insert character in whatever movies he's in, so it doesn't really matter his character arc doesn't seem to fit. I mean in each movie he seems to have a different motivation.

    that's true, yeah

    I mean, I think it KIND of works - young Indy is an idealist ("it belongs in a museum!"). then years later he gets a job teaching, has a bad breakup with his jailbait girlfriend, and becomes (or completes his journey toward being) a giant asshole. he gets a little bit better in India, then gets a lot better in Raiders, then decides "it belongs in a museum!" again in Last Crusade.

    the problem is that Raiders kind of begins with him as an asshole as well. it makes it seem like he backslid. which, while I guess realistic, is not really a very clean transition.

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    AtomikaAtomika Live fast and get fucked or whatever Registered User regular
    Jacobkosh wrote: »
    Preacher wrote: »
    Jacobkosh wrote: »
    I mean, it's got flaws, duh, but it's still a better movie then Temple.

    No.

    Yes.

    As shitty as Crystal Skull was in places, it was still better then Short Round or Willy Scott.

    Again, no. And it was only shitty "in places" if we define places as "the part after the Paramount logo and before the credits."

    What was good in Temple of Doom? Eh?

    the shanghai nightclub fight, the car chase, the raft ride, the spear room, the human sacrifice, and the literal cliffhanging finale

    indy's gradual turn from greedy heel to sensitive dude was also pretty well done even if it doesn't seem to entirely track with his character in Raiders

    The problem with indy stems more from Indy being an audience insert character in whatever movies he's in, so it doesn't really matter his character arc doesn't seem to fit. I mean in each movie he seems to have a different motivation.

    that's true, yeah

    I mean, I think it KIND of works - young Indy is an idealist ("it belongs in a museum!"). then years later he gets a job teaching, has a bad breakup with his jailbait girlfriend, and becomes (or completes his journey toward being) a giant asshole. he gets a little bit better in India, then gets a lot better in Raiders, then decides "it belongs in a museum!" again in Last Crusade.

    the problem is that Raiders kind of begins with him as an asshole as well. it makes it seem like he backslid. which, while I guess realistic, is not really a very clean transition.

    I don't know that I'd say Indy was an asshole at the start of Raiders. Self-interested, sure, but not totally an asshole.

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    Form of Monkey!Form of Monkey! Registered User regular
    Kate Capshaw pretty much ruins Temple of Doom, though. "We get it, you're literally blowing Steven Spielberg for the part and will later marry him. You're in over your head, it's cool. But were those your own little choices as an actress to be that shrill and off-putting throughout the whole flick? Really?"

    Karen Allen's character in Raiders is kind of the same. Yell and fuss a lot. Get abducted and damsel-in-distressed a lot so that Harrison Ford can rescueswoon you. That just comes with the action movie territory. But she could also could drink anybody under the table and had this interesting past romance with Indiana Jones that gave her a better and more logical screen presence.

    When Temple of Doom was released, it wasn't like it was impossible for an Indiana Jones movie to have a love interest that was good. There had already been precedent 3 years earlier!

    Whatever, it's just one of many things that Temple did that much worse than Raiders.

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    AtomikaAtomika Live fast and get fucked or whatever Registered User regular
    Some potentially cool news today:

    A "source" is saying that X-Men: First Class 2 is actually going to be X-Men 4, starring characters from both series.

    "How's that possible?" you might ask.

    Days of Future Past.


    For real.

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    Form of Monkey!Form of Monkey! Registered User regular
    edited June 2012
    Jacobkosh wrote: »
    temple of doom has a lot of great stuff in it, great scenes that work really well on their own, but it is tonally really offputting. it tries to be funny inappropriately and then serious and emotional inappropriately.

    the first ten minutes are some of the best minutes ever though

    Raiders is really the only film that works 100% in the series. I have a lot of love for Temple, but you're right about the tone. It's all over the place, from slapstick to maudlin to outright horror, with a huge schmaltzy ending.

    I don't want to say Crusade is a better film, but I think it probably is.



    If you actually like Crystal Skull, I hate you.

    Sean Connery makes Crusade a better film, just not substantively. His acting and charisma saves a film that could have been just as bad as the Richard Lester version of Superman II, complete with the same sort of over-the-top comedic moments.

    Form of Monkey! on
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    KruiteKruite Registered User regular
    I would suggest that anyone who doesn't have the Alien Quad dvd set somehow get their hands on the Alien 3 discs and watch everything. The theatrical, the director's cut, and the behind the scenes discussion with those involved in its writing, filming, and production. It sheds light on the fiasco that it was and considering what came out at the end I don't think it was all that bad.

    Some of the reasons people hate it is exactly why I've come to love it; it brings the tragedy to a conclusion with the tones and themes from the first two films intact.

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    Robos A Go GoRobos A Go Go Registered User regular
    edited June 2012
    Some potentially cool news today:

    A "source" is saying that X-Men: First Class 2 is actually going to be X-Men 4, starring characters from both series.

    "How's that possible?" you might ask.

    Days of Future Past.


    For real.

    How would that work?
    Would we only see Wolverine and the others as older versions of themselves running from the Sentinels, or would there be past, present, and future in the story?

    That alone would be a pretty big departure from the original story.

    Robos A Go Go on
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