Look, I’m obviously not talking about special effects or Dolby sound. When I mention directing, I mean the visuals—how someone actually translates a story onto the screen. For me, a movie isn't about *what* happens next; it's about *how* it happens. The camera angles, whether the actors feel natural or forced, the pacing of the cuts, the lighting... that's where the cinematic magic lives! All those "technical" details are what actually make or break a film. Honestly, some genius could have taken the script for Armageddon, added a layer of subtle irony, hinted at things through specific shots, and told the actors to stop acting like they're stuck in a bathroom and just improvise. It could have been fascinating. Instead, we got this total macho-garbage crap. Why? Because the guy behind the camera had a few scenes where Bruce just stares into the distance with a stone face. That's not even in the script! Sure, the script matters, but the director is what makes a movie good or bad.
So when I hear a director took a book as a template but the movie doesn't follow it closely, I think, "Hey, this might actually be good." It means they prioritized their own visual vision over the source material, which might actually create those moments of cinematic magic.
When I describe a great scene, I don't talk about the plot. Plot doesn't make a scene great. I say stuff like, "He walks into this dark alley, the camera pans up, you see a guy with a knife behind him, then sudden cut to his terrified face." That's what makes a scene for me. I don't care that he dishonored this woman, or that he's chasing her with a knife, or that they're actually siblings and don't know it... all that is way less important to me.
I'm 100% with Richard Hernandez13 on this. If I actually cared about the plot, I'd just read the book. But the story isn't the point here. It’s all about how the story is presented. You could have a cliché story, doesn't matter. Film is its own medium. Visuals and sound are everything. Words? They aren't the priority—that's what books are for. Look, I already said that twice, but whatever.
To me, Memento bad movie. Great script, but a bad movie. Those jumps between different timelines were poorly done—honestly, they felt fake. For me, the whole thing only works because of that one final line, "Now, where was I." Everything before that was just a massive headache.
If this had been a crime novel, it would've worked perfectly. As a reader, you build the visuals and the sound in your own head (is "auditory" the right word?). Instead, we got this weird hybrid that I just didn't vibe with.
There's your proof: a great script doesn't guarantee a great movie. In fact, having a killer script just makes it even harder to make a film that actually lives up to it.
First off, White, I totally disagree with you thinking the plot is everything. There are tons of (great) movies built entirely on vibes, framing, and production design. Those are the ones where you try to explain them to someone else, realize there’s nothing really to say about the story, but the movie is just undeniably good.
Regarding where films come from—what Ed Wood said about how Dancing in the Dark would never have been made in the USA. Look, every region brings its own flavor to cinema. That’s why we have terms like Italian cinema, British cinema, or Hollywood movies; they all share certain common traits. But lately, American movies are just flooding every theater and TV screen, and honestly, that Hollywood style gets on my nerves, whether the movie is good or bad. I want variety. I want to see what some Swedish director or a Ukrainian filmmaker can bring to the table. I don't need some John constantly selling me the same old Hollywood formula. So when someone says, "I'm sick of American movies," it doesn't have to be a total condemnation.
I get why White felt Dancing in the Dark turned sour after the murder, though. After that point, the movie starts veering into pure melodrama, which sucks. But man, Björk is just incredible. Her singing carries the whole thing for me. I get chills every time I hear her voice.
I'm not hating on musicals at all. I mean, who in their right mind rejects an entire genre like that? There is so much potential there. You can make absolute masterpieces. Take Dance in the Dark, for example. The music and the songs aren't just extras—they are everything. They are crucial. I remember sitting there, just waiting for the next singing or dancing scene to hit. Looking back now, I wouldn't call it a work of pure genius, but if you told me to watch it right now? I’d melt like cheese in a microwave.
I wouldn't say Moulin Rouge is a masterpiece, but I enjoyed it. No regrets watching it. The whole point of these movies is that the music hits you right in the feels—so you absolutely need a killer soundtrack. And Björk? She definitely delivered. Moulin Rouge borrowed from everywhere else, using all sorts of tracks, but their original stuff was just okay. Still, they did a great job making those covers work.
Look, I think musicals can actually offer way more than that. But let's be real—what are the odds that one or two musicals coming out a year are actually going to be any good?
Ryan Ruiz said:Stupidity 👎 Muslić isn't really my cup of tea—I'll admit that—but we aren't talking about religion here.
I don't hate anyone.
So you just "don't like" them? It's not hatred, just a lack of affection. You're basically saying you dislike an entire massive group of people simply because they follow Islam. Look, if that's your vibe, just go to the USA and vote for Bush. He doesn't "hate" them either; he just doesn't like them, which is why he'll drop as many bombs as possible before his term is up.
I didn't listen to anything. Literally nothing. I only started discovering how great unknown music can be when I turned 19. Now I'm 21 and trying to make up for lost time at lightning speed. It’s tough when nobody around you cares about music—not my parents, I don't have an older brother, and my friends? Nothing good there. Still managed to finish school though!
No, I’m talking about the total film snobs. The ones who won't even touch a movie with a budget over a million bucks because they think anything mainstream is just "childish." They love watching stuff they don't even understand just so they can lecture everyone else about how the director is some kind of genius, a messiah, or maybe even a god. And their absolute favorite thing to say? That the book was better than the movie.
Alright, maybe I came on a little too strong there, but you seriously need to know how to watch movies. Look, if you tried watching a Bergman film as a kid, you wouldn't understand a single thing. Now? Now we get it. Is that proof enough that you actually need knowledge to appreciate cinema? It’s the exact same deal as reading books, listening to music, or looking at art. Movies aren't just some bowl of chili where you just sit there and consume. There's a certain finesse to it that you have to learn.
I haven't seen SW, and I probably won't. But Titanic? Man, those love stories. The sinking part isn't even secondary—honestly, they could have cut the whole ship sinking out of the movie and it would still work. No joke. Okay, maybe a little joke. But seriously, I definitely teared up watching it. If you didn't like it, you just don't know how to watch movies.
Look, I’m that guy. I still don't think this movie is some absolute masterpiece—even if it beats most of the garbage playing in theaters right now. I still think Titanic is a great film. And honestly? I think Pale Blue Eyes has an avatar that's way too pretty. I’d give her the Kate Vinzletov avatar instead. 😉
So, what’s the verdict on my movie review?!? I already posted it, yeah, just scroll up a bit.. Let’s actually talk about this movie... unless I went overboard and you guys are too lazy to read it?!
P.S. S. Titanic is super. That’s just a fact. I polished off eight dumplings while watching it, fell head over heels for the lead actress, and I’m pretty sure I cried through half of it. If I hear one more person say that movie sucks, I’m going full Mickey and White—I’ll be the most toxic person on this board! :)
...though maybe there were a few too many scenes of people falling and tumbling around before hitting the water. But everything else? Great...
First, there's the family with the overweight dad and the thin Mother. She just has zero respect for her husband. It bugs her that he’s heavy, and she blames him for passing those traits down to the kids. If you remember, at the end, she even accuses him of being the source of some family illness. He just gets under her skin. The love is gone, plain and simple, and it eats at both of them. Since he's the more sentimental type, it hits him harder. There's that one scene between them that I actually liked—if nobody minds me saying so. But honestly? It should have been stronger. It should have left a lump in my throat. It didn't. Why? Who knows. No lump for me... The heavy sister feels like a side note. That scene between her and that guy was a total miss. It should have been cut entirely; making it short just made it look ridiculous. Like, the sister gets offended and goes for a walk along the pier.. ugh. What was the writer even trying to say there?
Then there's the family with the drunk woman, the hateful taxi driver, and the daughter who's a prostitute. Again, there should have been a lump in my throat when we saw that little kid carving an "s" into his body. I felt a twinge, sure, but no real lump. Someone messed up again. But the scene where the daughter calls out her parents for being useless is good. They're just taking up space when they should be calling the police after that crash. But they don't care. Why call the cops? They can't be bothered; they'd rather just watch TV. That dynamic was handled okay, but it leans toward bad.
Finally, the family with the mother stuck in her past and the pregnant daughter. Pointless. The mother is super liberal because she's already been through it all. She'll help her daughter. I don't even know what the writer was aiming for here. And frankly, the execution was poor. I will say, though, that Mother is the most likable character in the movie, but I guess that's by design. She's sweet, but man, given everything she went through... how is she still so optimistic?!
That final scene by the hospital bed is just pure "everything is fine" nonsense. In my opinion, this film could have been a masterpiece. The script had potential, but man, was it hard to pull off. It just didn't quite make it. Not for me...
Another way to lose control: it’s raining, you hit the tracks at too shallow an angle... I didn't even see it coming, my wheel just slipped out from under me. If a subway train had been passing by, it probably would've trashed my handlebars. To say the least.