this is a long but fascinating read, with many highly interesting points.

https://observer.com/2018/05/the-two-crucial-filmmaking-elements-causing-all-your-movie-feuds/

TL;DR:

Storytelling matters. And storytelling encompasses writing, acting, filming, and everything else that goes into making a film. (Shocker)

I disagree with his example stating that Thanos killing Gamora was unimpactful due to him not having an origin story movie prior to Infinity War.

TLJ had a bad story with bad writing. The good designs and sets and effects with the adequate acting wasn't enough for people to overlook the poor dialogue and story gaffes.

It's just a chance for better introspection. Nothing wrong with enjoying an indulging experience. Simply with trying to claim 'bad text' when it's really not.

10 hours ago, ViscerothSWG said:

I disagree with his example stating that Thanos killing Gamora was unimpactful due to him not having an origin story movie prior to Infinity War.

Especially considering that her relationship to him was something that was brought up before in both Guardians films, and was brought up a fair bit in Infinity War as if screaming how 'this is important' even going to show him picking her up from her homeplanet. And considering that a fair part of Infinity War is also from Thanos' perspective it makes it even more impactful.

If I understand him correctly, his point is that we are never shown why he picked Gamora or loved her. We're just being told that he does. He just did and that's the end of it. That is a lack of "text", to use his definition. That is why there was no actual empathy evoked by Thanos killing her - we have no clue why he loved her.

A similar example is in ANH and the prequel trilogy where we are told that Obiwan and Anakin were good friends. But we never see it, until the Clone Wars series where they are shown as good friends. That is why IMO the cartoon really elevated RotS into an actually good movie. But filling that blank is necessary.

Thanos picked her at random because randomly doing good is, for him, as good as it gets. Because he’s a monster.

43 minutes ago, TasteTheRainbow said:

Thanos picked her at random because randomly doing good is, for him, as good as it gets. Because he’s a monster.

Which is one possibility, an idea to fill the blank. It's a nice one, but we don't know.

Besides, that discussion misses the point of the article.

On 12/24/2018 at 6:03 AM, GreenDragoon said:

If I understand him correctly, his point is that we are never shown why he picked Gamora or loved her. We're just being told that he does. He just did and that's the end of it. That is a lack of "text", to use his definition. That is why there was no actual empathy evoked by Thanos killing her - we have no clue why he loved her.

A similar example is in ANH and the prequel trilogy where we are told that Obiwan and Anakin were good friends. But we never see it, until the Clone Wars series where they are shown as good friends. That is why IMO the cartoon really elevated RotS into an actually good movie. But filling that blank is necessary.

You're reading what the author said about Gamora the same way I am.

I wasn't impacted for a couple of reasons mostly because it wasn't a shock at all that he was going to do it. I could clearly see the manipulation prior. One of my complaints about the movie is that it is far too sympathetic to Thanos and I think the article tells me why the movie was, so we'd be "impacted" by him killing Gamora. We're supposed to at least sympathize with Peter when he loses it over her loss at the cost of not seeing their plan through. Thanos had to be shown to have a soul or he couldn't claim the soul gem.

Also agree with your take on RotS/Clone Wars. Clone Wars really redeems Anakin Skywalker as a character.

Nice find, thanks for sharing.

The other thing is this suggests an idea I've had for some time about the copious use of shaky-cam isn't all that far off. Often the shaky-cam feels like the film-makers not trusting their story is interesting. They're trying to add texture because they don't trust their text.