I am totally prepared to be eaten alive by comments on this post — okay, not really, but I want to express my opinion anyway.
I went to see the movie Gravity with high expectations, having heard so many good things about it. I was seriously disappointed and, in fact, bored for most of the movie. Yes, bored.
It was a story of survival. For Sandra Bullock. There was lots of action and spectacular special effects. And um, that was it. I didn’t see much of a story arc in it, and I don’t even remember her character’s name.
I was leery going into Interstellar, afraid that it was going to be more of the same.
It was a story of survival – for our main characters and the entire human race. There was lots of action and spectacular special effects. But there were also CHARACTERS who had story arcs. They interacted with each other. Their stories entwined. I cared about Coop and Murph and Brand – both Brands, in fact. I liked the parts about multi-dimensional theory, since that ties in with my own WIP BRANEWORLD, and while I admit there were some predictable parts, overall I really enjoyed the story.
For me, characters are everything. Without them, there is no story. Interaction is important, yes, but I liked Cast Away a whole lot better than Gravity, and Tom Hanks had no one to interact with except a soccer ball. But it was still a better story, because Chuck Noland had a substantial character, whereas Sandra Bullock just panted a lot and got lucky that her clunky space gloves were able to hang on to stuff.
Okay, pelt me with tomatoes if you must – but what do you think makes a good movie? The plot, the visuals, or the characters?
This is my last post until December, when I will be back with First Impressions.
No tomato pelting – I agree. Gravity felt very cold and you’re right that there wasn’t much in the way of character development. Interstellar went much deeper.
I haven’t seen either Gravity or Interstellar, so I can’t really say 😉 However, I agree that characters and plot arc are extremely important in getting me to care for a story.
I am thrilled to read this post. I had a similar reaction to GRAVITY as you did. I felt flat after she reached that beach at the end. There was little to ponder. However, a story/film with character arcs is where it is for me. I need that. Maybe it’s because my brain gets bored easily and needs complicated elements and chaos. As a reader/watcher/writer, I need to have a story that requires a deeper look. Characters with complex arcs (or at least some sort of an arc) do that for me.
Hi Dianne .. can’t say I wanted to see either, and definitely not now!
Turner – hope you can get to see that film … the painter – I’ve posted about him .. but look anon ..
I do like characters and story and don’t want to just sit in a sort of wonderment of dumpland … cheers and Happy Thanksgiving … have fun – Hilary
I haven’t seen Interstellar yet, so I can’t comment on that, but I wasn’t bored by Gravity. Still, it’s probably not something I’d watch over and over, which is the mark of a really great story.
I agree with JE. I liked Gravity, but I wouldn’t buy it because I wouldn’t want to see it again. On the other hand, I’d love to own Oblivion (2013), which I would definitely watch multiple times. I’m hoping to see Interstellar soon.
I haven’t seen many SF movies recently, and neither of the ones you mentioned. I’m more action/plot oriented though. I loved Pacific Rim. 🙂
I won’t eat you alive (eww), but I did like both movies for different reasons. I wonder what will happen when The Martian gets made into a movie (and it should), about a stranded astronaut on Mars. That’s the ultimate Castaway scenario! 🙂
Yeah, They are really two completely different movies. Gravity was more of a thriller, complete with roller coaster rides. Castaway was more about the character dealing with his problem as opposed to solving it.
I haven’t seen either movie, but I agree that character is so important. If I’m fifteen minutes into a movie, or fifty pages into a book, or what-have-you, and I don’t have a reason to care about the people involved, then I’m done. And that’s something that has to be maintained throughout the whole story – I’ve quit long books partway through because I realized I didn’t care how they ended. Plot’s important, but character really is everything.