Is the age of “Transformers” style of storytelling in jeopardy?
A film critic can dream, right?
Consider the following;
- Both “Prince of Persia” and “The A-Team,” two films which seemed like perfect popcorn fodder, faded quickly at the box office.
- The can’t miss “Sex and the City” sequel is doing just that, and it will barely cover its $100 million price tag.
- A little movie like “The Karate Kid” demolished the competition thanks to heartfelt performances and a sweet storyline that touched audiences’ hearts.
- “Toy Story 3,” part of a franchise that values narrative over glitz, rocked the box office, and there’s little doubt repeat viewings will keep coming back for more.
It used to be conventional wisdom that summer audiences demanded loud, shrill action … and character and plot need not stick around.
Films like “The Dark Knight” were the exception.
This year, audiences want something more substantial. How else to describe the neglect shown for mindless action films like “The A-Team” and “Jonah Hex.”
The trend could certainly be short-lived. Films like “The Expendables,” which all but promise mindless action writ large, are still coming our way. But wouldn’t it be nice to see audiences retreating from the shock and awe style of filmmaking in favor of movies with just enough story to keep us engaged?
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(Photo: Films like “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” rocked the box office with sheery visual power, not storytelling.)
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I have usually given popcorn fare the benefit of the doubt. I’ve excused it as being a frivolous endeavor with very little harm. But after watching Toy Story 3 yesterday, all the inadequacies of films like Prince of Persia and Transformers 2 became so exposed that it’s inconceivable that I could excuse them any more.
But, I wonder if these films are necessary evils. Do we appreciate masterpieces like Toy Story 3 more because of the bad movies we’ve seen in the past? Or is there a more Randian princple at work, namely that happiness is not just the absence of misery and can exist on its own? In other words, would Toy Story 3 be great in a vacuum absent all other films or does it need the existence of tripe movies to be appreciated? I lean toward the former, but I don’t exist in that vacuum so I have to at least mull the latter as a viable consideration.
I agree with shinsnake. There are good summer blockbusters like Dark Knight and Pixar’s movies, and there are bad ones like Michael Bay’s cinematic nightmares. Every year I pray the good will outweigh the bad, but it doesn’t.
I wish The A-Team performed better beacuse i really enjoyed it, and i doubt a sequel will be green lit if it’s classified as a bomb.
I actually liked the A Team film but it was escapest fantasy. Let’s face it, someone going to see an A Team movie expecting more than straight action and corny plot devices should get their head examined. I mean Really?
Now if Jonah Hex follows the plot of the comic, and people don’t get it, then thats that. I might be a dud simply because people don’t know it was a comic turned film and thought it was simply the hollywood western of the year, in which case they might not have went anyway. (Though from what I hear, this may not be the case)
At any rate, I don’t think there was any doubt that Toy Story 3 would be a hit. But I am somewhat surprised by the Karate Kid, however, even if it’s a hit, I don’t think it will be a successful simply because I don’t think the actors can sustain it.
I’m curious though why the industry puts so much credence into the opening day numbers? If a film doesn’t do as good as expected at the box office on opening day, but has a moderate run and great DVD or Download sales why is that film still considered a dud simply because it came in 4th or 5th the opening day? And why does that matter so much?
I don’t think “A-Team” could make up its mind if it was a covert-ops flick or an action farce, that hurt it substantially.
Some of the major comic book franchises have had good writing. The recent Batman, Spider-Man and Iron Man come to mind. But it seems every year there are new movies released under new banners that could just as easily been a movie from the previous two years. You could put all the non-Pixar animated stuff into a bowl (Shrek included) pick one out and not see much difference. The lesser comic and video game franchises hit the same bill.
This summer, the only movie that has my interest piqued is “Inception.” Outside of that, maybe “Knight and Day” just to see what Mangold does with Cruise and with a modern action flick, then ‘The Expendables,” because if you want to see mindless action, you want to see it done by the professionals.
A critic can dream.
D.