This weeks recommended film.
So last weeks post might have been a bit longer than I intended, a most certainly to long to read in the average busy day.
This week we are exploring another new dynamic of understanding cinema narrative, genre and how the story is told.
The genre of a movie says a lot about the story and how it as a movie expects the audience to act and view it. Scary movies except you to be scared, even with a confusing and sometimes stupid story line. Action movies expect shock and awe, even when cars fly 30 feet into a helicopter. every genre has its own particular feel, sound, aesthetic, and iconography.
Sci-fi movies for example typically have alien sounds, with spaceships and dialogue only crazed fans would totally understand. The story develops around a problem either solved by weapons, man, or science. there is always a slight romance between key characters, but its almost always void of any classic, women emphasized romance.
so when your looking for a movie or just starting one, think about what that genre wants you to feel, and what it asks you to think about. movies are just like songs and books, they are never changing but alow you to pick and choose what you want from them, which is why so many different people enjoy the same movies.
the last thing I want to leave you with is looking at how the story is told, particularly how do the characters react to it. Last week I talked about inception, and how many audiences got lost in the plot, well what most don't realize is through out the film most of the characters get confused, and when you look at the movie, the plot is supposed to confuse and make you feel lost. For a movie about dreams, which are often confusing, it does a good job of connecting you to characters and action, and a lousy job of connection with plot. don't get frustrated, some movies communicate through confusion. the characters in moves give you clues.
movie stories want to lead you, and teach you, and bring you to a climactic ending where you usually learn a lesson. the story is told to make that lesson apparent. as you watch pay attention to where it starts and what problems arise, and from whom the story is told. Next week's blog will have more on plot point of view.
