One thing me love about Dr. No is how much it not feel like first installment in franchise. It not have familiar well-chreographed opening, it not have iconic theme music, it not have even mild suggetion that James Bond Will Return. Compared to later installments, it feel charmingly low-budget. It only afterwards that someone said, "hey, that was pretty good, maybe we should make another one." And frankly, that pretty good way to do it.
But if you plan on following Marvel blueprint, actually follow Marvel blueprint. Not one laid out by Russos, but one laid out by Stan and Jack. Create bold, colorful characters, and — and this is important bit that seem to always get lost — have something to say about them. Hulk is fun because Hulk Smash, but Hulk is *interesting* because Banner is reluctant hero afraid of what he can do. Spider-Man is fun because he swing through air while tossing off one-liners, but Spidey is *intersting* because under that bravado he insecure teenager who not have any other area of his life together.
If someone actually want to make franchise that work? That have lasting value? That not sputter out after one or two moveis? That how to do it. As with every story, you have to start not with who audience is, or earning potential, or even story or characters. You have to start with what make story interesting.
On surface, Moby Dick is story about whale, but under surface it story about obsession and fruitlessness of revenge. Great Gatsby story about guy who throw big parties, but under surface it about carelessness of idle rich and how no amount of money can change past. Mad Men about guy who work in ad agency, but under surface it story about identities we create for ourselves and lies we tell other people.
That secret of storytelling, and me suspect that under surface of Grey Man is just more surface.
Anyway, Nope look great. It sound like it messier than Peele's other films, but me intrigued by that precisely because Get Out was so precise. If Peele make messy film, it probably not by accident. Me will join him in scoffing at idea that he best horror director of all time, but he certainly one of best directors we have going right now.
I'm sorry this isn't about the movies, or your reviews, but i just want to say how much I LOVE that Gremlins 2 pitch sketch, and thank you for giving me a reason to watch it again.
One thing me love about Dr. No is how much it not feel like first installment in franchise. It not have familiar well-chreographed opening, it not have iconic theme music, it not have even mild suggetion that James Bond Will Return. Compared to later installments, it feel charmingly low-budget. It only afterwards that someone said, "hey, that was pretty good, maybe we should make another one." And frankly, that pretty good way to do it.
But if you plan on following Marvel blueprint, actually follow Marvel blueprint. Not one laid out by Russos, but one laid out by Stan and Jack. Create bold, colorful characters, and — and this is important bit that seem to always get lost — have something to say about them. Hulk is fun because Hulk Smash, but Hulk is *interesting* because Banner is reluctant hero afraid of what he can do. Spider-Man is fun because he swing through air while tossing off one-liners, but Spidey is *intersting* because under that bravado he insecure teenager who not have any other area of his life together.
If someone actually want to make franchise that work? That have lasting value? That not sputter out after one or two moveis? That how to do it. As with every story, you have to start not with who audience is, or earning potential, or even story or characters. You have to start with what make story interesting.
On surface, Moby Dick is story about whale, but under surface it story about obsession and fruitlessness of revenge. Great Gatsby story about guy who throw big parties, but under surface it about carelessness of idle rich and how no amount of money can change past. Mad Men about guy who work in ad agency, but under surface it story about identities we create for ourselves and lies we tell other people.
That secret of storytelling, and me suspect that under surface of Grey Man is just more surface.
Anyway, Nope look great. It sound like it messier than Peele's other films, but me intrigued by that precisely because Get Out was so precise. If Peele make messy film, it probably not by accident. Me will join him in scoffing at idea that he best horror director of all time, but he certainly one of best directors we have going right now.
I'm sorry this isn't about the movies, or your reviews, but i just want to say how much I LOVE that Gremlins 2 pitch sketch, and thank you for giving me a reason to watch it again.