Comments on The House Next Door: Understanding Screenwriting #38

I have seen "Avatar" once (so far) and c...

2010-01-08T09:58:22.809-05:00

I have seen "Avatar" once (so far) and came away wondering what exactly I had seen. Was this perhaps the most expensive animated feature of all time, sort of a modern day "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (a real game-changer)? Or was it a modern day take on the old-fashioned (well, 1980'ies style) action film?

It could have been a bit of both. The thin story, even its subtext is thin, serves the visuals on the screen, but provides for little support or distraction, or those interesting detours which make for compelling characters and scenarios. The story and its characters felt flat to me, as if narrative had been intentionally removed (special extended edition coming up?). Explanations why characters act as they do, and why the action develops as shown are strangely absent. Strangely, because the story time and again uses "Chekhov's gun" to set up elements which pay off later.

The story may do exactly what it has to do. The rapid exposition, the all-but-complex characters and the story reminiscent of 'Pocahontas', etc. all serve to keep the viewer in familiar territory. The simplicity of the story and the characters may be a sign of restraint on the writer/director/editor's side. Given the same 'toys' other directors seem to feel so liberated from the conventions of traditional film making that the end result almost always starts out with noise and fury and ends in the same place.

I stayed through the credits on 'Avatar' and found it hard to applaud the film. It could have been the music. With John William's score, 'Star Wars' literally ends with as much fanfare as it begins. But 'Avatar' only has Leona Lewis, working hard not to get stuck in all the treacle.

On Avatar: It seems irrelevant to talk about ...

2010-01-07T01:04:29.987-05:00

On Avatar:

It seems irrelevant to talk about not liking Titanic. All it possibly does is reveal a negative bias towards Cameron.

I see nothing wrong with Cameron having a short voice-over at the start to explain some expository info rather than doing it throughout the movie by trying to sneak it in. I don't think Sully plays a 'typical jaw-clenched marine.' First of all, he's a paraplegic whose twin brother was murdered. There's more churning inside him than the rest of the marines we see. I saw him as someone who's defensive (not letting Grace help him get inside the avatar machine) because he has more to prove. He's understandably selfish because he wants legs and is willing to do what it takes. He follows the captain's orders but disobeys other authorities. He's more complex than he seems. He's obviously very brave but you have to wonder if it's genuine or it has to do with his 'fuck it' attitude he has toward life- probably both.

Though I agree that most of the characters are one note I don't see how "Sully has two notes that seem to contradict each other." He is genuinely appreciating the planet and falling for Neytiri. He's wrestling with that and his loyalty to his boss. He is not gung-ho in his human form. He just has to be very careful of how he presents himself in front of the system he's supposed to be working for. And I thought his voice-over was very comprehensible.

I agree that Avatar borrows from other movies. But Cameron put that in a visual spectacle that's beautiful as it is exotic. I'm surprised whenever critics don't give good action sequences the respect they deserve. Movies are not screenplays. Screenplays are made for movies and it's very challenging to try to write and plan cinematic scenes that directors like Cameron are able to achieve. Yes Sully was breaking the bird like you would a horse in a Western. But it wasn't just about the idea, it was the literal visual feast that took place before our eyes that made it exciting and beautiful to watch. Avatar has a fairly unoriginal story with a predictable ending that's catered toward the pleasure of a mass audience.... beacause that's what's intended! It was meant to satisfy a mass audience.

The Na'vi's voice communicators are from Sully... I thought that was clear.

It could be said that the movie has anti-Bush tones but if you look at it within the context of the movie... it works. Isn't THAT the most important thing?

With Men of a Certain Age, I think some critics ar...

2010-01-05T20:07:42.703-05:00

With Men of a Certain Age, I think some critics are overlooking the small brilliant details because the show seemingly lacks any sort of larger reason for being. However, there are moments in the first few episodes that are as good as what Nicole Holofcener does in her films. There is a lot of soon-to-be-explored complexity in every character, such as the bookie, who knows how to play with people's expectations about his profession, and yet also knows how to keep his interactions light and breezy despite the fact that his clients, such as Romano's character, are using him as tool with which to ruin their lives. I also loved Bakula "confronting" the man who almost hits him with the car, and how the interaction went according to how 99.9 percent of these interactions really would go in our lives: the man not only doesn't have a clue about what he's done, but he rightly threatens to call the police. As much as I like Curb Your Enthusiasm, this episode felt like a bit of anti-Larry-David tonic. Try watching again. This show has been a pleasant and unexpected surprise for me.

The voice communicators come from the avatar team:...

2010-01-05T18:42:31.813-05:00

The voice communicators come from the avatar team: they're seen using it on the trip Jake gets lost in the forest.

Doesn't alter the fact the writing–as they say–sucked. Too bad.

Very good writeups. On Precious - you may be spot ...

2010-01-05T02:53:04.918-05:00

Very good writeups. On Precious - you may be spot on there. I could not put my finger on what it was that prevented me from loving MoNique uninhibitedly but it just may be the one-noted way the character is written.

I have to sigh about Titanic though. Hated by critics and others, but alas I was not one of them. But you prefer Avatar's them song? I found it so nauseating. Though I did love the movie. :)

My nephew [and I] really liked The Princess & the Frog. Even though it's a "princess" movie, it really is unisex. And very action packed.