Problems with reality in movies.

[Cthulu2]

I for one am sick and tired of the old excuse of "It's movieland. Anything can happen in movieland." I don't care about where the movie is supposed to be set or when it's supposed to be set. There should be at least a little more realism in these movies.

My case in point is the Terminator series. If the war with the machines is meant to be set after a full blown nuclear war where is the after effects of such a war? Where is the debilitating affects of extended exposure to nuclear radiation?

Please tell me your issues with movies.

 

[The Blue Mongoose]

I misread the title, thinking that you were saying that reality in movies was the problem, not the lack thereof.

However I still have my two cents to throw in. I like movies like Taken and James Bond where one unbelieveably awesome man kills, bludgeons, and maims hundreds of randoms because he can on his way to completing his mission. That's as unrealistic as any musical or cartoon, and yet it's entertaining. So long as the movie is fun to watch, does realism really matter?

 

[Larenxis]

I disagree. A lot. There are things one can only imagine, and films give them such solidity that it can take one's breath away. Whether it be the creepy eyes-in-the-hands guy from Pan's Labyrinth (which would never evolve that way, it's a terrible place for eyes) or Racer X flipping his car to punch the driver of another car who is also flipping through mid-air from Speed Racer (holy shit!). These things are awesome, and I'd never want to lose that.

 

[Mr. Ejuice]

Personally, when I watch a movie, I find that things like that nag at me to the point where I find myself ignoring the film completely and pondering what the film crew was doing other than their jobs. Sometimes I'll go the other way around entirely though - I'll see an awesome (albeit undeniably impossible) stunt and mentally applaud the stunt coordinators, stuntmen, cameramen, etc. for making something so epic, perfectly timed, and sometimes humorous (James Bond driving an armored boat through a bustling marketplace in The World is Not Enough [if I'm wrong don't flame me, I'm just making an example]) piece of cinematography. I tend to pass by things like the eye-hands dude in Pan's Labyrinth, simply because of the fantasy aspect of the film in general. In my opinion, it's all a matter of perspective. I usually just enjoy the ride.

Glad to partake in the discussion.

 

[Labyrinth]

Fantasy has it's place, just as gritty realism.

Pan's Labyrinth appealed to me (not for name, believe it or not) because it was escapism while still having that real feel. I've got so much respect for the director. As someone who is not a fan of fairy tales, I came into it cynical, and left very satisfied.

In other cases I just can't bring myself to appreciate the unreal nature of a thing. I loathe romantic comedies because of their falsity, the same going for any feel-good movie I've seen. They're just saccharin and wildly unpleasant because of that.

 

[SonofSeth]

I think he's talking about internal logic and consistency of the film and it's story. Pan's Labyrinth is a great example because it's fantastical setting doesn't get in the way of proper characterisation and inner motivation of every character.

When the movie becomes it's effects than you often get actors as props, doing things and acting like you would never expect from a person in the given situation.

Characters doing impossible things is ok if the setting explains it well enough. I still think The Matrix (one) does the best job at doing that. It's fantasy kung-fu but looks and feels right in that movie. But when you watch Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, you constantly have to tell yourself, it's just a movie, it's a fable, it's this is that...

I too like to just relax and enjoy the ride, but if there is too much of those small annoyances where I go, wait a minute, what the hell, why did he have to do this, why couldn't he just kill the guy, he was chasing him the whole time, no way metal doesn't act like that, he was shot just a moment ago, how can he run and shoot and roll and everything all of a sudden, where did he just come from, they were all looking in that direction, only the camera was looking elsewhere, why are they surprised, did they temporary go blind.... and so on.

More movies like Batman Begins, Matrix and Pan's Labyrinth and less movies like Transformers and Transporter2.

 

[joystickjunki3]

I misread the title, thinking that you were saying that reality in movies was the problem, not the lack thereof.

However I still have my two cents to throw in. I like movies like Taken and James Bond where one unbelieveably awesome man kills, bludgeons, and maims hundreds of randoms because he can on his way to completing his mission. That's as unrealistic as any musical or cartoon, and yet it's entertaining. So long as the movie is fun to watch, does realism really matter?

I thought the same thing. I watch movies and play games to escape reality. You can still identify w/ a character even though they might not exist in a world you inhabit w/ all the rules that apply to you.

 

[Willwillwritehiswill]

Spoiler: i immediately thought of this

 

[FattyMcGee]

I for one am sick and tired of the old excuse of "It's movieland. Anything can happen in movieland." I don't care about where the movie is supposed to be set or when it's supposed to be set. There should be at least a little more realism in these movies.

My case in point is the Terminator series. If the war with the machines is meant to be set after a full blown nuclear war where is the after effects of such a war? Where is the debilitating affects of extended exposure to nuclear radiation?

Please tell me your issues with movies.

you know, on the same note, wouldn't the EMP after the nuclear war whipe out all the machines?

 

[Mr. Ejuice]

Only after the protagonist ramped off the incomplete highway overpass in slow-motion, barrel rolling twice into the ocean to swim away unscathed to a conveniently placed luxury yacht which carries him and the beautiful lady off into the sunset. Then the bombs fall and the EMP screws everything up.

 

[October Country]

Movies generally tend to want to entertain as a primary purpose, not show a realistic reality in all aspects. And what if the Terminator was realistic, then there would be no movie, it would just be an hour and a half with people diying of cancer and radiation. Sometimes movies are a depiction of reality, sometimes they are just trying to tell a good story or show off some action. As corny as it may sound, I am perfectly happy with the fact the only reality can be one hundred percent realistic.

 

[kazork]

If the movie is good, I don't care wich artistic liberties the director takes.

And it also makes for a good discusion after the movie.

 

[Adam Jenson]

I'm usually fine with what the movies can dish out and I can usually laugh at the stuff that couldn't happen anyways.

But theres on thing I always hate

When Thunder strikes and lightning flashes at the same time. Arrgggh!

 

[Brotherofwill]

I immeadiatly thought about the scene in Last Action Hero where Arnold realizes that his crazy action moves will no longer work in the real world ... awesome

It's all relative I think, if it's Matrix and everything is bonkers, then it's all good. If the event breaks the usual sublety of the movie than it can be quite... well, flowbreaking.

 

[PurpleRain]

I want my movies to play with my creative thought. If it requires me to leave my brain at the door, then so help me god I'll pry this damn skull open with a crowbar if I need to!

 

[rossatdi]

My case in point is the Terminator series. If the war with the machines is meant to be set after a full blown nuclear war where is the after effects of such a war? Where is the debilitating affects of extended exposure to nuclear radiation?

Easy. "It's the future, they created a cure for radiation sickness." From Judgement Day you can clearly see the effects of the war.

As for Terminator 4, it can go fuck it self with a neural net processor for all I care. The Terminator series is two films. End of.