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Why are there no good dinosaur films?

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Re: Why are there no good dinosaur films?

#431

Post by computershit »

mlsu wrote: post #418
GMoromisato wrote: post #94

The Alien, Terminator, and Matrix franchises have similar problems. Aliens successfully changed genres, from horror to action. But subsequent movies could never recapture the primal horror of the original or the fun action of the second. It's almost like there are only two local optima in the Alien movie universe and Alien + Aliens took them both. Terminator is the same. The first movie was a perfect sci-fi action mo…

Imho the first Terminator movie is way more than simple scifi action. It's a a reflection on Vietnam. Structurally, it's closer to a slasher/horror flick -- the action sequences are tense, tight, gritty, sparse. The main characters are completely helpless and totally undermatched by the monster. Reese is torn apart by PTSD and Sarah Connor goes through this immense psychological trauma during the film and is complete…

> Structurally, it's closer to a slasher/horror flick

Having rewatched T1 very recently, I couldn't agree more with this. At one point I turned to my partner and asked what genre this actually was because all things pointed to horror.

Re: Why are there no good dinosaur films?

#432

Post by nurettin »

Levitz wrote: post #257
nurettin wrote: post #246

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I didn't say "not". But I do have addiction in family and I wouldn't wish this on other families.

Hallucinogens have a reputation for many things, addiction is not one of them.

Sure, but tell that to the addicted people.

Re: Why are there no good dinosaur films?

#433

Post by fsckboy »

worldsayshi wrote: post #356
wishfish wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To me, the sequels were worthwhile just for one solitary scene. In the third movie, Trinity is piloting the ship and has to gain higher than usual altitude for some reason that I've now forgotten. This takes her above the black clouds permanently enveloping the Earth. Sunlight pours into the cockpit. For the first and only time in her life, she sees the real sun with her own physical eyes. She's overwhelmed. It's jus…

A hint at subverting the Cyberpunk genre with Solarpunk. Too bad there hasn't been any genre defining Solarpunk movie yet.

>Too bad there hasn't been any genre defining Solarpunk movie yet

Twilight! did you see Edward's skin in the sun!? you do realize the fact that you omit this marks you as Team Jacob, so much for your opsec.

Re: Why are there no good dinosaur films?

#434

Post by JKCalhoun »

southernplaces7 wrote: post #201
bartread wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> And, of course, they never even bothered to make sequels to The Matrix. Like you, this is the reality I choose to inhabit. The Matrix was an incredible film, still stands as an incredible film, but that sequel tease at the end? Should have been a tease, or perhaps a prompt, for the viewer’s imagination only. There are no sequels to The Matrix.

I'll just pop in here to mention another fantastic and curiously similar film that came out around the same time, but was completely overshadowed by The Matrix. Dark City. If you liked The Matrix, this is one you might really enjoy, and while I say it's similar, I only mean in a very essential way. The plot is its own very unique story aside from that.

Agree. I prefer Dark City in fact. I watch it as an allegory though.

Re: Why are there no good dinosaur films?

#436

Post by ep103 »

qingcharles wrote: post #415
ep103 wrote: post #383

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I'm not in the movie industry or anything, but it seems to me like if one was so inclined, they could put together a list of all of the things that have to be done well in order to make a fantastic movie. If we ignored all of the things that aren't obvious in the end product, like market research and staff salaries, etc, I think it would probably look something like: * Plot * Well written * Inherent meaning * I…

The script is the cheapest part, but also where the most damage is dealt. The higher-ups always want to meddle with the script to feel some control for the money they are spending. Changing some character or plot point. And the damage just runs downhill from the script like a cartoon snowball building up size. (Even the cheapest "indies" these days are running to hundreds of thousands of dollars and someone is paying…

Yeah, writing a script can be the cheapest part. Developing a full script, and getting that plot vision expressed on screen, blocking the meddling along the way... THAT's expensive.

Re: Why are there no good dinosaur films?

#437

Post by cm2012 »

andrewingram wrote: post #274
GMoromisato wrote: post #94

The Alien, Terminator, and Matrix franchises have similar problems. Aliens successfully changed genres, from horror to action. But subsequent movies could never recapture the primal horror of the original or the fun action of the second. It's almost like there are only two local optima in the Alien movie universe and Alien + Aliens took them both. Terminator is the same. The first movie was a perfect sci-fi action mo…

My take on Terminator is that the portrayal of a bleak late 80s / early 90s LA was a key component of what made the first two movies work. Bringing the Terminator antagonist into a setting in which there's already very little optimism about the future was a key part of the vibe. Subsequent movies have generally taken place in slightly brighter versions of the world, and have never felt right.

In real life by the 80s, crime had been rising steadily every decade since the 50s in the US to a murder high that is 10x today's. The world really is different today.

Re: Why are there no good dinosaur films?

#438

Post by SV_BubbleTime »

MengerSponge wrote: post #129
GMoromisato wrote: post #94

The Alien, Terminator, and Matrix franchises have similar problems. Aliens successfully changed genres, from horror to action. But subsequent movies could never recapture the primal horror of the original or the fun action of the second. It's almost like there are only two local optima in the Alien movie universe and Alien + Aliens took them both. Terminator is the same. The first movie was a perfect sci-fi action mo…

[flagged]

IDK, it doesn’t take it away from what happened with the sequels and the fourth disaster at all that both brothers both happened to announce they are transgender. It’s really an amazing coincidence, two brothers, crazy.

Re: Why are there no good dinosaur films?

#439

Post by mbonnet »

mlsu wrote: post #418
GMoromisato wrote: post #94

The Alien, Terminator, and Matrix franchises have similar problems. Aliens successfully changed genres, from horror to action. But subsequent movies could never recapture the primal horror of the original or the fun action of the second. It's almost like there are only two local optima in the Alien movie universe and Alien + Aliens took them both. Terminator is the same. The first movie was a perfect sci-fi action mo…

Imho the first Terminator movie is way more than simple scifi action. It's a a reflection on Vietnam. Structurally, it's closer to a slasher/horror flick -- the action sequences are tense, tight, gritty, sparse. The main characters are completely helpless and totally undermatched by the monster. Reese is torn apart by PTSD and Sarah Connor goes through this immense psychological trauma during the film and is complete…

Great analysis.

Re: Why are there no good dinosaur films?

#440

Post by 4gotunameagain »

slg wrote: post #420
4gotunameagain wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The 4th is a disgrace. It completely defiles the legacy of the Matrix. I've never seen more people leave a cinema before. I wish I'd left too.

People were disappointed because they wanted just another rehash of The Matrix, but why do that when The Matrix already exists? The more interesting idea is to explore why people wanted another rehash of The Matrix, so the movie is about that instead.

I disagree. Nothing of value could be added through the contemporary lens. So leave it at that, no need for a new cash grab. It's not like Warner Bros is poor anyway..
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