tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post1997132918683853007..comments2024-03-05T21:05:36.848-05:00Comments on CommentaramaFilms: Guest Review: License to Drive (1988)AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-36684767053703495542012-03-25T02:58:15.415-04:002012-03-25T02:58:15.415-04:00I just finished watching Can't Hardly Wait on ...I just finished watching <i>Can't Hardly Wait</i> on my trusty ol' VHS. I know the mark of a good movie is that you can relate it to yourself, but is it bad that I most closely identify with Melissa Joan Hart's character? I <i>was</i> the male version of the "yearbook girl" back in my day.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-69846923718718032492012-03-23T10:33:17.276-04:002012-03-23T10:33:17.276-04:00Wow, this review is still getting comments! :-)
A...Wow, this review is still getting comments! :-)<br /><br />Anon -<br /><br />Re: skidding on a wet road, that's a classic example of setup and payoff. The trick is to make the setup itself entertaining so we don't think about it. As an audience, we're used to these things: if a character is learning something in Act 1, you can bet that skill is gonna come in handy in Act 3. At least in a comedy, it's wise to make the setup funny. We laugh and that's it, then we're pleasantly surprised later when it comes back.<br /><br />As for perspective, as I mentioned above, you'd think a basic element of screenwriting would be writing from the character's POV. Some writers forget this. <br /><br />Another problem I have is when critics second-guess this stuff. When <i>Superbad</i> came out, at least one reviewer nitpicked Michael Cera's reference to Orson Welles, implying it was something added by the writers to appear "smart." But I knew about Mr. Welles in high school... so it wasn't totally implausible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-14883384978017251942012-03-22T13:39:37.013-04:002012-03-22T13:39:37.013-04:00Scott, That's a good way to describe it -- it&...Scott, That's a good way to describe it -- it's as fake as a parent trying to act cool in front of their kids. That really is how so many films come across today. There is very little sense that the kids in these stories are real.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-15064375011738994192012-03-22T05:06:41.870-04:002012-03-22T05:06:41.870-04:00"Sadly, however, too often these days, Hollyw..."Sadly, however, too often these days, Hollywood writers write everything from their own perspectives rather than the perspectives of their characters."<br /><br />Very true Andrew and also very sad. Instead of just telling the story they have to put their spin on it, add their politics or their thoughts which quite often don't fit either the movie or the character thus making it seem as fake as a parent trying to act cool in front of their kids friends. <br /><br />And I agree with ScottDS their is room for it but it has to be handled with care. There is room for it but it seems over done now days.<br /><br />ScottAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-31439879028091169672012-03-19T19:49:23.092-04:002012-03-19T19:49:23.092-04:00Anon, I love little touches like that when somethi...Anon, I love little touches like that when something that happens early on pays off much later in the film -- especially when it pays off in a humorous way.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-90479721579621398132012-03-19T19:20:59.118-04:002012-03-19T19:20:59.118-04:00Early in the movie, he's shown getting the que...Early in the movie, he's shown getting the question about what to do when skidding on a wet road. Later on in the movie, he's shown reacting with his wrong answer. I thought that was hilarious.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-30781694073139674492012-03-19T15:34:39.201-04:002012-03-19T15:34:39.201-04:00With screenwriters, you'd think that would sim...With screenwriters, you'd think that would simply be standard operating procedure: if you're a writer, you write from the POV of your characters.<br /><br />With teen movies, I think people have gotten smart: they can instinctively tell when the screenwriter is trying to pander to them, instead of simply writing from the heart.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-45629394568203148472012-03-19T14:49:52.130-04:002012-03-19T14:49:52.130-04:00Scott, I agree entirely. Hughes wrote the book on...Scott, I agree entirely. Hughes wrote the book on teen movies and left a really brilliant and clear blueprint... and then Hollywood threw it away. I don't understand that.<br /><br /><br />ScottDS, I don't think Hughes' talent was all that strange, I think he just had the brains to write these things from the perspective of the teens. He dealt with the very issues kids dealt with growing up and he did it from their perspective. All good writers should be able to do that. Sadly, however, too often these days, Hollywood writers write everything from their own perspectives rather than the perspectives of their characters.<br /><br />On mean-spirited, I think the perfect example is the <i>Green Hornet</i>, as I discussed in my review. The problem there was that Rogen was abusing his power to take very nasty shots at people who could not defend themselves, and yet the film told us that we were supposed to find that cute or endearing. That's a problem.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-17566188841156385812012-03-19T14:40:57.749-04:002012-03-19T14:40:57.749-04:00Anon -
Thanks! Yeah, John Hughes seemed to have ...Anon - <br /><br />Thanks! Yeah, John Hughes seemed to have this strange talent that allowed him to tap into something that most filmmakers couldn't. <i>Sixteen Candles</i> is my favorite of his Brat Pack movies. And the man was such a fast writer - he'd crank out a script over a weekend!<br /><br />As for mean-spiritedness, it's tough... I don't mind a mean-spirited character on occasion, provided they get their just desserts in the end. I also don't mind seeing characters humiliated because, let's face it, comedies are about putting people in uncomfortable situations, but I guess there's a thin line to walk before it becomes a downer and stops being funny.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-56139424349298816902012-03-19T14:31:34.960-04:002012-03-19T14:31:34.960-04:00Just got the link from Big Hollywood, I really lik...Just got the link from Big Hollywood, I really liked this movie and do agree with the idea that 80's teen movies were way better then later years. I became a teen in 1987 so I was at the right age to enjoy them. It was good harmless fun.<br /><br />John Hughes wrote the book about teen movies and it looks as if no one read it. Not enough teen movies or comedies have heart and as mentioned too many are mean spirited which I can take in small doses but no all the time. <br /><br />I do agree with Tryanmax that Empire Records, Can't Hardly Wait and Dazed and Confused were great post 80's teen movies. Plus I also didn’t mind American Pie too.<br /><br />Scott.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-47532602968209293752012-03-17T13:01:29.060-04:002012-03-17T13:01:29.060-04:00Scott, LOL!
Outlaw, Yeah, at one point, R meant s...Scott, LOL!<br /><br />Outlaw, Yeah, at one point, R meant something very clear. Not today, today the rating system is pretty messed up.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-65802806230758843582012-03-17T09:32:40.403-04:002012-03-17T09:32:40.403-04:00On second thought, my comment doesn't read as ...On second thought, my comment doesn't read as well as it did in my head. But I'm definitely ready for this male nudity fad to stop!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-78613642673643043022012-03-16T23:31:42.501-04:002012-03-16T23:31:42.501-04:00Oink! Back in the day you knew if a film was rate...Oink! Back in the day you knew if a film was rated R you were going to see an actress take off her shirt. There was something to be said for that.Outlaw13https://www.blogger.com/profile/17232117096525959967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-50579512772015000452012-03-16T22:05:42.620-04:002012-03-16T22:05:42.620-04:00Outlaw -
I showed Animal House to a friend recen...Outlaw - <br /><br />I showed <i>Animal House</i> to a friend recently who had never seen it and he thought it was pretty tame and slow-moving. He did, however, sit in amazement as he pondered all the movies that have been made in its image.<br /><br />These things come and go. <i>Animal House</i> spawned a bunch of imitators, as did <i>American Pie</i>, though the latter films are a bit more graphic in some ways, but less graphic in others.<br /><br />Not to sound like a pig but I enjoyed these movies when the lead actresses got naked. Today if there's nudity, it's either an extra, or one of the male actors. Ugh!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-45352039592711800262012-03-16T21:38:52.493-04:002012-03-16T21:38:52.493-04:00You really can't blame the 90's for gross ...You really can't blame the 90's for gross out teen comedy films when the grand daddy of them all "Animal House" rolled out in '78 followed by "Porky's" and a slew of other like type films.<br /><br />Recent teen type comedies I enjoyed include "Role Models" and the aforementioned "Euro Trip" ...but then again I like South Park and Archer and hated Ferris Bueller so what do I know.<br /><br />I am a little old to have appreciated "the Coreys" when they were in their prime, so I have never seen the reviewed film.Outlaw13https://www.blogger.com/profile/17232117096525959967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-85801951280042030262012-03-15T12:54:40.952-04:002012-03-15T12:54:40.952-04:00And there is much truth to what Barnum said (or di...And there is much truth to what Barnum said (or didn't). You really can fool most of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time. You wouldn't believe the things I've run across in my practice, where people have fallen for things which you would think an infant wouldn't fall for.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-12213204449716734392012-03-15T12:52:01.419-04:002012-03-15T12:52:01.419-04:00P.S. Carnivals, snake-oil salesmen, even roving fa...P.S. Carnivals, snake-oil salesmen, even roving faith healers are all under the heading of traveling shows, so I meant no attempt to elevate the practice. P.T. Barnum, the world's greatest showman, was credited with saying, "There's a sucker born every minute." Though none can prove he actually said it, he let the rumor stand, claiming it was good for business.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-28888031643437162492012-03-15T12:48:06.694-04:002012-03-15T12:48:06.694-04:00tryanmax, That's true. The marketing guys pro...tryanmax, That's true. The marketing guys probably are in a very bad spot in Hollywood. I would expect they have little power or ability to suggest anything creative and yet will get blamed if the product tanks.<br /><br />My professors were all ex-professionals from the big firms and they had drunk the KoolAid. They honestly believed advertising has fantasy-brainwashing powers which could let them make anyone want to buy a product, if you just found the right bit of fairy dust. I was a noted dissenter.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-74583449002786856782012-03-15T12:44:19.114-04:002012-03-15T12:44:19.114-04:00I'm just saying that the Hollywood execs have ...I'm just saying that the Hollywood execs have their marketing guys over a barrel. After pondering it, I conclude that movie marketers are in the worst possible position to be in. So they resort to the only tool they have. <br /><br />Marketing in practice is a whole lot different than marketing in theory. I had one prof in particular who was sold on all that voodoo nonsense. Of course, she was a raging feminist who could find oppression in a box of corn flakes. But most of my profs were former professionals, so I feel I got very pragmatic instruction. It was mostly the same stuff that we nerd-out on in this forum.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-85926688996395987592012-03-15T11:26:38.005-04:002012-03-15T11:26:38.005-04:00P.S. I've always though marketing was voodoo. ...P.S. I've always though marketing was voodoo. I had a minor in marketing and I was amazed at how faulty the assumptions were of the professors and how bizarrely sure they were that they could make you believe anything.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-81301289861473071412012-03-15T11:25:34.467-04:002012-03-15T11:25:34.467-04:00tryanmax, In this case, however, they are using li...tryanmax, In this case, however, they are using lies to generate hype. It's like the old carnival tricks of promising you that you'll see something amazing -- like "A man eating chicken!" which turns to be a man, eating chicken, rather than a man-eating chicken.<br /><br />It's the same thing with Hollywood marketers. They suck out whatever moments they needs to fill their trailers. So long as they can find the images or words in the film, they run with it -- sometimes they even splice sentences to get what they need.<br /><br />Thus, people who are only in the film 10 seconds become "the star", dull drama is presented as action, etc. And they have no shame in trying to present the same film as different types of films to different audiences. Thus, you'll see the same film advertised as a comedy on the comedy channel, a drama on the chick channels, an action film on TNT and then a horror/suspense on the horror channel -- even though it can't possibly be all of that.<br /><br />They will also change the genre after a week to get a new audience the second week, and then again for the DVD sales.<br /><br />It would be fraud in most industries, except they actually use things you will find in the film -- they just don't appear the way they are presented.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-58477161172424622552012-03-15T11:05:48.710-04:002012-03-15T11:05:48.710-04:00More specifically, marketing is a bad science, lik...More specifically, marketing is a bad science, like global warming science. The problem marketers in almost any organization face is that, while production and R&D expenditures are regarded as investments, marketing is thought of as a money-hole. So marketers are always in the position of having to justify their existence. Excepting the most renowned firms, this generally means marketers will suppress their instincts and pipe whatever tune the money-man calls. <br /><br />As was already pointed out, Hollywood measures success by opening weekend numbers. Marketers must produce an opening weekend crowd or be out of a job. I don't envy them. The easiest product to sell is a good one, but the hardest product to sell is not a bad one, it's an unknown one. The only tool in the belt for that is hype. <br /><br />Hype doesn’t equal lie, but it is the oldest angle in entertainment. Ever since there have been travelling shows, entertainers have known to make a prolonged display of their setup before opening night in contrast to a hasty tear-down after the close. It’s none too different than the operation of a con artist. Really, the last centuries is the first time in recorded history where entertainers are generally regarded in significantly higher standing than hustlers and whores.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-87428429477950154722012-03-14T23:57:28.440-04:002012-03-14T23:57:28.440-04:00Scott, I think that's true. I think that in t...Scott, I think that's true. I think that in the modern world, there is just too much competition for films to be anything special. You've got 100 usable cable channels. You can stream any old television show or film at any time. You can listen to any music you want. You've got video games, sports, internet pages, etc. Films have become just one more activity, and they are a huge time-sink for modern people. Who has two hours to spend staring at a television or movie screen anymore?<br /><br />That will be a problem for the industry.<br /><br />But even worse, they are going the wrong way with it. When you face a lot of substitutes, you need to up your game to make your product more compelling. If you make it less compelling, you just make the substitutes more attractive and you develop bad habits in your consumers.<br /><br />Hollywood is essentially killing itself by making itself less competitive.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-14321200162826029752012-03-14T23:48:11.532-04:002012-03-14T23:48:11.532-04:00I suppose I was speaking colloquially. But I total...I suppose I was speaking colloquially. But I totally agree with the "burger" analogy. It's the one thing that bothers me about all this talk about downloading, streaming, the cloud, etc. Films will cease to be films - they'll just be files, out there in the ether, waiting to be viewed on whatever screen is available.<br /><br />Convenient? Definitely. But there is something lost. <br /><br />Not to go off-topic, but an indie filmmaker/DVD producer with whom I was briefly acquainted with in LA once speculated that movies will eventually go the way of something like opera - it'll still be a leisure activity but it won't be "popular." Kids today - and yes, I just used that phrase - don't value movies the same way my generation and previous generations did. It's just another "thing" to them.<br /><br />And this doesn't bode well for future restorations, film preservation, etc. We're seeing it already - the studios not putting as much effort into their back catalogs because "the kids don't like black and white" (for example).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-77092501568961338652012-03-14T23:39:53.268-04:002012-03-14T23:39:53.268-04:00Scott, I have to disagree with your comment... it&...Scott, I have to disagree with your comment... it's not an art. Marketing is not an art. Marketing has become a science. And that's the problem, they are not treating film like art, they are treating it like a burger.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.com