To be sure, the film is worth the trip to the theatre even with the feeling of having experienced a mugging after purchasing tickets and snacks. The wife and I enjoyed the added bonus by taking a vacation day to have a relaxed lunch prior and the benefit of the fruits of an early matinee. There is nothing like having a clean, pristine totally empty theatre. Tends to enhance the viewing pleasure.
However, the movie has a few shortcomings. First, the Muguffin, that of the Crystal Skull is weak. Yeah, sure, they are alien in origin but possessing some power after the aliens are dead? I don’t know, it was confusing to understand without more context. Perhaps a believer in the skulls or someone with more knowledge of the lore surrounding them might better comprehend.
Secondly, the addition of the British friend/comrade-in-arms was puzzling. Why was he there? His presence added little to the story that could not have been handled with any of the other character. His only purpose seemed to be as a representative of the “gold hunters” who searched for the skulls or city of gold. Eliminating him would have freed up some screen and story time for the more interesting characters. I have the feeling the character was in the early drafts and no one thought to expunge him when he became superfluous.
Thirdly, the villainess is perfect for the story with the exception of the sword. Who, in 1957, would carry around a sword? I’m just saying, yes I can turn off my reality button long enough to enjoy the story but, a sword? Surely a better vehicle could have been found to give Henry Jones III his moment in the spotlight with the evil villainess.
Those and a few other small quirks could not distract from the adventure the movie produced. And isn’t that why we go to the theatre, for the adventure? Note to Hollywood when you want to preach to us instead of entertain. Anyway, the film was packed with action, adventure and those twists and turns we have come to appreciate with an Indiana Jones film. Lucas and Spielberg pay homage to their past pictures. An ardent fan of the series will have reason to purchase the DVD is for nothing else but to look for the numerous references to the first three. Much like Alfred Hitchcock fans search for his appearances.
The movie never forgets that its goal is adventure, which is why the weakness of the Magoffin is hardly an issue. Our hero and his associates run from one impossible situation to another with hardly a letup until the dramatic conclusion. As well, it does manage to tie up all of the loose ends of Indiana Jones as a character. We learn what happened during the lost years between #3 and #4? We discover why he didn’t marry Marian after #1. And we know the fate of Marcus and Henry Jones Sr. As a bonus, we have the introduction of a son with intelligence and quirks and the hint, possibly, of a continuation of the series in the same way Star Trek was passed on to new characters.
If nothing else, the movie did not tarnish the brand. From a marketing perspective, we can assume to see special editions of the complete set by Christmas, a fairly safe gift for just about anyone on your Christmas list. Hopefully, they will include commentaries from Spielberg and Lucas if not also from Harrison Ford. The four films will easily find their place in any serious collection for years to come.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian
As a youth, I dreamed of having adult adventures in an adult world and treated like an adult though still a child. I believed life was filled with possibilities. That is the essence of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.
The five principles in the film are teens but they are treated as grown up by all, the aspiration of any young person. And they have a noble cause for which they must fight, the salvation of Narnia. It is for these aspects alone that the film is worthwhile viewing by American teenagers and post teenagers, and anyone who still has a young heart within them. Because it is never too early to inspire people to the greatness they have within themselves nor too late to discover a purpose that makes life worth living.
The film does a very good job of telling a story to which people of any age can relate. It is positive and suspenseful, even though, like the movies of old, the viewer knows it will end well. And that is possibly the best of all reasons to watch Narnia, no fear of disappointment. In an age of cynicism, people should seek out positives. Dark films with shady protagonists and depressing endings are hardly the stuff upon which solid, confident lives are built. America was constructed on the dreams and aspirations of those who did not and do not allow events to drag them down or hold them back. Victimization may be the political and judicial flavor of the times but, it will not lead to long term success. Victims are the pitiful in need of care not heroes deserving of praise.
We need more screen writing which can see the light of hope through the darkness of the most desperate situation and point the movie-goer to a satisfying conclusion. If all life ends with death and that is all there is, then life is not worth the price of admission. However, if there is more to life then eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die, humans have a reason to exist.
Despite those who consider the film a flop because it did not initially pull in the bucks expected, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian will make money, lots of money. Simply because of its positive nature, it will be purchased by many and kept in that place in a movie collection where one reserves films for those times when a pick-me-up is required. It will be one of those films that will sell for generations given its timeless quality and inspiring character.
The five principles in the film are teens but they are treated as grown up by all, the aspiration of any young person. And they have a noble cause for which they must fight, the salvation of Narnia. It is for these aspects alone that the film is worthwhile viewing by American teenagers and post teenagers, and anyone who still has a young heart within them. Because it is never too early to inspire people to the greatness they have within themselves nor too late to discover a purpose that makes life worth living.
The film does a very good job of telling a story to which people of any age can relate. It is positive and suspenseful, even though, like the movies of old, the viewer knows it will end well. And that is possibly the best of all reasons to watch Narnia, no fear of disappointment. In an age of cynicism, people should seek out positives. Dark films with shady protagonists and depressing endings are hardly the stuff upon which solid, confident lives are built. America was constructed on the dreams and aspirations of those who did not and do not allow events to drag them down or hold them back. Victimization may be the political and judicial flavor of the times but, it will not lead to long term success. Victims are the pitiful in need of care not heroes deserving of praise.
We need more screen writing which can see the light of hope through the darkness of the most desperate situation and point the movie-goer to a satisfying conclusion. If all life ends with death and that is all there is, then life is not worth the price of admission. However, if there is more to life then eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die, humans have a reason to exist.
Despite those who consider the film a flop because it did not initially pull in the bucks expected, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian will make money, lots of money. Simply because of its positive nature, it will be purchased by many and kept in that place in a movie collection where one reserves films for those times when a pick-me-up is required. It will be one of those films that will sell for generations given its timeless quality and inspiring character.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
That Sense Of Accomplishment
Why do we write? The question plagues every screenwriter who has yet to successfully market a project. And yet, we continue to plug away.
I have a dozen finished scripts. Most of them are not the best, early efforts. But I take pride in every one of them. Because I did it. I took an idea and turned it into a completed work.
How many people think about, talk about, dream about writing a screenplay? But they never do. They go to the movies and leave feeling as if they have been cheated by the poor quality crap they just watched. And paid good money to do so. Many think they could do better but never try.
Those of us who have sat down at the keyboard know how really difficult it is to turn out a good story. Forget writing a great story, just pounding out a story worthy of consideration is hard enough. The idea sounds so good inside your brain. You walk it though and work it out. Make notes and develop the characters. You pin the cards to the storyboard. Then you sit at the computer and begin to type away and junk flows. What happened!? It sounded so great inside your head. However, finally, after weeks or months or even years you have the completed product in front of you. You print it out, punch the holes and insert the brads. It is done!
Perhaps no one in the industry will ever read it. Perhaps the only people you will convince to give it a look are friends and that special mate. They will patiently read every word and try their best to be positive. Or you will take it to your screen writing association and they will pick it apart or give you the big thumbs up. Regardless, you did it. You did the work, put in the time, sweat out the details. You have a completed piece of work you can hold in your hands.
And at that job you need to pay the bills, you will listen to people complain about how much their lives suck while they do nothing to change it. But you, you did something to try to change your life. And you can hold it in your hands with pride.
Congratulations.
I have a dozen finished scripts. Most of them are not the best, early efforts. But I take pride in every one of them. Because I did it. I took an idea and turned it into a completed work.
How many people think about, talk about, dream about writing a screenplay? But they never do. They go to the movies and leave feeling as if they have been cheated by the poor quality crap they just watched. And paid good money to do so. Many think they could do better but never try.
Those of us who have sat down at the keyboard know how really difficult it is to turn out a good story. Forget writing a great story, just pounding out a story worthy of consideration is hard enough. The idea sounds so good inside your brain. You walk it though and work it out. Make notes and develop the characters. You pin the cards to the storyboard. Then you sit at the computer and begin to type away and junk flows. What happened!? It sounded so great inside your head. However, finally, after weeks or months or even years you have the completed product in front of you. You print it out, punch the holes and insert the brads. It is done!
Perhaps no one in the industry will ever read it. Perhaps the only people you will convince to give it a look are friends and that special mate. They will patiently read every word and try their best to be positive. Or you will take it to your screen writing association and they will pick it apart or give you the big thumbs up. Regardless, you did it. You did the work, put in the time, sweat out the details. You have a completed piece of work you can hold in your hands.
And at that job you need to pay the bills, you will listen to people complain about how much their lives suck while they do nothing to change it. But you, you did something to try to change your life. And you can hold it in your hands with pride.
Congratulations.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Hollywood Is Broken
The fix lies out there beyond the entertainment business.
Americans are starved for entertainment. A recent survey found that most teens are … wait for it … bored. You did not misunderstand. The average US teenager is bored with his/her life. That is why we witness on TV and the Internet some of the most bizarre, some would say, stupid behavior in the history of the world. Here is the punch line; most movies are cut for a teen audience. And yet, the average movie released this year will fall short of insider expectations at the box-office. In other words, Hollywood cannot seem to make films their target audience wants to see despite the fact that the audience is bored to tears and looking for distractions.
That is where we come in. We, the aspiring screenwriters located out in flyover country, the non-insiders.
An unfortunate reality is that the odds of a writer living outside of Los Angeles or New York selling a spec script is about as good as winning the lottery, for now. But for how long? Hollywood is run on money. Those of us out here in the boonies find that hard to believe given the poor to terrible quality of most films, especially those considered blockbusters.
Case in point, 10,000 B.C. I recently attended a private showing in a pristine theatre. The showing was private because my daughter, son-in-law and I were the only ones who bought tickets and the theatre was sparkling clean since no one attended the previous screening. $150,000,000.00 to make a film with a weak plot, little character development and an ending that left one saying, “What?” And before you defend this massive failure as non-typical, remember King Kong, The Golden Compass and I could name a dozen if pressed to do so. The movie business is currently clueless on appealing to their customers' desires.
Back to my point, money makes the film go round. So, how long will the money people continue to give huge sums of cash to people to produce movies with sketchy track records of returns? Especially given the entertainment industry’s ability to manipulate the numbers to reward some and screw others. Eventually, one would think, the money people would seek out new. New, defined as anything but those currently wasting money hand over fist.
Aspiring writers keep writing. Continue to search out any and every opportunity to sell your work. Dare to dream. It may be a long shot but the odds are shrinking.
Americans are starved for entertainment. A recent survey found that most teens are … wait for it … bored. You did not misunderstand. The average US teenager is bored with his/her life. That is why we witness on TV and the Internet some of the most bizarre, some would say, stupid behavior in the history of the world. Here is the punch line; most movies are cut for a teen audience. And yet, the average movie released this year will fall short of insider expectations at the box-office. In other words, Hollywood cannot seem to make films their target audience wants to see despite the fact that the audience is bored to tears and looking for distractions.
That is where we come in. We, the aspiring screenwriters located out in flyover country, the non-insiders.
An unfortunate reality is that the odds of a writer living outside of Los Angeles or New York selling a spec script is about as good as winning the lottery, for now. But for how long? Hollywood is run on money. Those of us out here in the boonies find that hard to believe given the poor to terrible quality of most films, especially those considered blockbusters.
Case in point, 10,000 B.C. I recently attended a private showing in a pristine theatre. The showing was private because my daughter, son-in-law and I were the only ones who bought tickets and the theatre was sparkling clean since no one attended the previous screening. $150,000,000.00 to make a film with a weak plot, little character development and an ending that left one saying, “What?” And before you defend this massive failure as non-typical, remember King Kong, The Golden Compass and I could name a dozen if pressed to do so. The movie business is currently clueless on appealing to their customers' desires.
Back to my point, money makes the film go round. So, how long will the money people continue to give huge sums of cash to people to produce movies with sketchy track records of returns? Especially given the entertainment industry’s ability to manipulate the numbers to reward some and screw others. Eventually, one would think, the money people would seek out new. New, defined as anything but those currently wasting money hand over fist.
Aspiring writers keep writing. Continue to search out any and every opportunity to sell your work. Dare to dream. It may be a long shot but the odds are shrinking.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
The Scriptwriter - Beginnings
Wisdom does not always emanate from wise men. Over the years, I have learned that fact by hearing and assimilating truth from individuals who proved unable to apply their intelligent thought to their own lives. And so it is with this thought, spoken by a man in the process of leading a righteous organization down a destructive path.
Writing a novel begins by sitting down and typing.
A few years ago I was frustrated. Frustrated with my job, my life, my everything. I needed a change and had no idea which way to go. I pulled out a notebook and started to write. When I had enough pages, I sat at the computer and pecked away. It was the Great American Novel. Only, it was not that great. Actually, it was not that good. I still have the completed manuscript. I think it is a good story but needs a lot of work. Anyway, I wrote several more stories but, as those who have tried to have their material published quickly learn, the market is so tight; a writer must have the entire universe aligned to hope for a publishing deal. More frustration.
Then I received a request for one of my stories. But, it seems, I made a mistake. I had sent a query letter to an agency representing both screenplays and book manuscripts but failed to specify that the material was a novel. They requested the screenplay. I had one month to send the requested material before the offer expired. Not wanting to lose the opportunity, I bought a cheap scriptwriting program, dumped my novel into it and began frantically changing the format.
Yeah! It seems funny now. I knew nothing about how to write a script. The completed manuscript was more than 200 pages.
While I was waiting for a response, I purchased a couple of books on the subject and did a little internet research. It did not take long to realize that my “script” was going to be soundly rejected and it was. But I was hooked. Sure, the odds of selling a script are not that much better for an amateur writer than for a amateur novelist but you do not tell a dreamer the odds. They do not care.
Since that time, I have written a dozen screenplays. Each one is progressively better. I am discovering my strengths and weaknesses. I am learning technique and style. I have no illusions but I do have dreams. And is it not dreams that keep us moving? Dreams that allow us to tolerate the mundane of life?
Let the dreams continue.
Writing a novel begins by sitting down and typing.
A few years ago I was frustrated. Frustrated with my job, my life, my everything. I needed a change and had no idea which way to go. I pulled out a notebook and started to write. When I had enough pages, I sat at the computer and pecked away. It was the Great American Novel. Only, it was not that great. Actually, it was not that good. I still have the completed manuscript. I think it is a good story but needs a lot of work. Anyway, I wrote several more stories but, as those who have tried to have their material published quickly learn, the market is so tight; a writer must have the entire universe aligned to hope for a publishing deal. More frustration.
Then I received a request for one of my stories. But, it seems, I made a mistake. I had sent a query letter to an agency representing both screenplays and book manuscripts but failed to specify that the material was a novel. They requested the screenplay. I had one month to send the requested material before the offer expired. Not wanting to lose the opportunity, I bought a cheap scriptwriting program, dumped my novel into it and began frantically changing the format.
Yeah! It seems funny now. I knew nothing about how to write a script. The completed manuscript was more than 200 pages.
While I was waiting for a response, I purchased a couple of books on the subject and did a little internet research. It did not take long to realize that my “script” was going to be soundly rejected and it was. But I was hooked. Sure, the odds of selling a script are not that much better for an amateur writer than for a amateur novelist but you do not tell a dreamer the odds. They do not care.
Since that time, I have written a dozen screenplays. Each one is progressively better. I am discovering my strengths and weaknesses. I am learning technique and style. I have no illusions but I do have dreams. And is it not dreams that keep us moving? Dreams that allow us to tolerate the mundane of life?
Let the dreams continue.
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