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Do you think modern movies don't focus enough on character building?

sourgrapes

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I was thinking about this yesterday and was talking with family on the topic. It seems like that is one of the biggest faults of modern movies and likely why I kind of zoned out from them. I would rather watch a series. There is enough time to develop characters in those. Movies seem to want to rush things and don't tell a good enough story cause they don't make the viewer feel anything for the characters. I need some level of attachment to feel invested in a movie and I have not had that in a while.
 

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    I was thinking about this yesterday and was talking with family on the topic. It seems like that is one of the biggest faults of modern movies and likely why I kind of zoned out from them. I would rather watch a series. There is enough time to develop characters in those. Movies seem to want to rush things and don't tell a good enough story cause they don't make the viewer feel anything for the characters. I need some level of attachment to feel invested in a movie and I have not had that in a while.
    yes, the focus too much on action and filler stuff, you can find a balance if you do it right, example Terminator 2 . Who didn't almost choke up when he had to terminate himself?.. lot's of action but also mad you feel sympathy for a robot!
    I like Guy Ritchie movies, he's a master at character development and story telling. check out "SNATCH" if you haven't already.
    Almost a perfect movie.
     

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    Kenton_Jerome

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    I was thinking about this yesterday and was talking with family on the topic. It seems like that is one of the biggest faults of modern movies and likely why I kind of zoned out from them. I would rather watch a series. There is enough time to develop characters in those. Movies seem to want to rush things and don't tell a good enough story cause they don't make the viewer feel anything for the characters. I need some level of attachment to feel invested in a movie and I have not had that in a while.
    Activist control Hollywood, they don't have the ability to create decent stories.
     

    sourgrapes

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    Activist control Hollywood, they don't have the ability to create decent stories.
    You right. I am aware of this but it slips my brain from time to time cause I can't fathom how bad things have become. They are teaching kids, making movies and music, they got into our news and other media. They are all over now.
     

    Nicole0646_718

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    Depending on the movie, I would say. My favorite genre is horror movies- which are not heavy into character building for obvious reasons - 99% chance that the characters will be murdered lol. Unless it’s a franchise horror series or psychological thriller/horror movie where we can get invested in the plight of the main characters.

    But for dramatic movies- I concur . There’s a heavy amount of lazy writing going on where It’s either 1)there’s an overused stereotype or trope 2)not enough backstory or 3)character with no qualities that are redeemable which makes you not care what happens to them.

    For example - those two movies released on Netflix - Bruised and True Story. Hated Halle Berry’s 50 Thousand Bruised Baby garbage dumb MMA movie but Kevin Hart bodied his role in True Story. Like I was surprised that Kevin could really act!! I went from not liking Kevin Hart to actually empathizing with him over the course of a series. And Halle is the Oscar actress but that movie was a Bruised batch of BASURA. Which goes to show you how much investment in character development can make or break a movie.
     

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    Depending on the movie, I would say. My favorite genre is horror movies- which are not heavy into character building for obvious reasons - 99% chance that the characters will be murdered lol. Unless it’s a franchise horror series or psychological thriller/horror movie where we can get invested in the plight of the main characters.

    But for dramatic movies- I concur . There’s a heavy amount of lazy writing going on where It’s either 1)there’s an overused stereotype or trope 2)not enough backstory or 3)character with no qualities that are redeemable which makes you not care what happens to them.

    For example - those two movies released on Netflix - Bruised and True Story. Hated Halle Berry’s 50 Thousand Bruised Baby garbage dumb MMA movie but Kevin Hart bodied his role in True Story. Like I was surprised that Kevin could really act!! I went from not liking Kevin Hart to actually empathizing with him over the course of a series. And Halle is the Oscar actress but that movie was a Bruised batch of BASURA. Which goes to show you how much investment in character development can make or break a movie.
    What I hate is when they don’t develop the characters but then the story starts asking you to care. It’s like they spend the whole movie with us having a razor thin connection to the characters and thenone dies and it’s supposed to be heavy and gripping but it’s not cuz you’re not even connected to the person.
     

    sourgrapes

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    What I hate is when they don’t develop the characters but then the story starts asking you to care. It’s like they spend the whole movie with us having a razor thin connection to the characters and thenone dies and it’s supposed to be heavy and gripping but it’s not cuz you’re not even connected to the person.
    Exactly! Like if the story is solid but I have no connection with a character, how you expect me to care if something bad happens to them. Or they go the complete other route and make the "good guy" out to be an insufferable character and get made when we connect with the "bad guy" of the film.
     

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    Exactly! Like if the story is solid but I have no connection with a character, how you expect me to care if something bad happens to them. Or they go the complete other route and make the "good guy" out to be an insufferable character and get made when we connect with the "bad guy" of the film.
    Yes and what makes it worse is that those scenes will be playing sad and suspenseful music, there’s slow camera pans, everyone is sad in the scene and you’re sitting there like:

    blackwomancoffee
     

    Kenton_Jerome

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    You right. I am aware of this but it slips my brain from time to time cause I can't fathom how bad things have become. They are teaching kids, making movies and music, they got into our news and other media. They are all over now.
    The extreme "Left" controls the narrative and in their mind the message is more important than profit. If they fail they will get a bail out anyway. Remember the movie Demolition Man? It foretold this madness in a jokey joke way.
     

    Kenton_Jerome

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    What I hate is when they don’t develop the characters but then the story starts asking you to care. It’s like they spend the whole movie with us having a razor thin connection to the characters and thenone dies and it’s supposed to be heavy and gripping but it’s not cuz you’re not even connected to the person.
    That's my main gripe, there is nothing in the story to make you care. That is basic story telling and they can't do it.
     

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    That's my main gripe, there is nothing in the story to make you care. That is basic story telling and they can't do it.
    Yes and I feel like it's becoming more and more prevalent. Movies are being made in such a cookie cutter and basic fashion but I think it's to cater to a low attention span and low intellect population. That's why I love Interstellar so much because it made you think, it made you feel, it challenged you scientifically but it let you come to your own determination of it all. It didn't tell you what was right or wrong, you can watch it yourself and have your own takeaways.,
     

    sourgrapes

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    The extreme "Left" controls the narrative and in their mind the message is more important than profit. If they fail they will get a bail out anyway. Remember the movie Demolition Man? It foretold this madness in a jokey joke way.
    Yeah, I do remember that. I mean don't these people only make up like 5% of the entire population yet everything is being changed to please them? They are mostly white, come from wealth, and feel entitled to everything in life. They need to handle them like you do spoiled children and stop giving them what they want. They are ruining shows, movies, music, and basically everything for everyone else.
     

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    yes, the focus too much on action and filler stuff, you can find a balance if you do it right, example Terminator 2 . Who didn't almost choke up when he had to terminate himself?.. lot's of action but also mad you feel sympathy for a robot!
    I like Guy Ritchie movies, he's a master at character development and story telling. check out "SNATCH" if you haven't already.
    Almost a perfect movie.
    There’s a lot of Fast and the Furious level productions aka “popcorn flicks” where you mindlessly stare at the screen unengaged and with slippery fingers.

    No thanks.
     

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    Yes and this theme spills into music as well, the only artist I've heard tell a story backward and forward since Nas is Kendrick. Truth be told, these writing workshops are low key sweatshops for Greenlit industry artist and the same can be said for these film writers and their industry agenda.
     

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    I think the character building is OK like it is in a lot of films. What I don't like is anytime the storyline "disneys." One example is a film called Illjang: Wolf Brigade. On Netflix. It's damned good until the very end. The foolishness started when the main protagonist "disneyed. " He forsook his comrades he has deep history with, for a random woman. Even when knowing she is a deep cover enemy operative who nearly got him waxed. I don't like that.
     

    Rollie Forbes

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    yes, the focus too much on action and filler stuff, you can find a balance if you do it right, example Terminator 2 . Who didn't almost choke up when he had to terminate himself?.. lot's of action but also mad you feel sympathy for a robot!
    I like Guy Ritchie movies, he's a master at character development and story telling. check out "SNATCH" if you haven't already.
    Almost a perfect movie.
    Snatch was great! Have you seen "Layer Cake"?
     

    Tellitlikeitis

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    I was thinking about this yesterday and was talking with family on the topic. It seems like that is one of the biggest faults of modern movies and likely why I kind of zoned out from them. I would rather watch a series. There is enough time to develop characters in those. Movies seem to want to rush things and don't tell a good enough story cause they don't make the viewer feel anything for the characters. I need some level of attachment to feel invested in a movie and I have not had that in a while.
    You know I never thought about it like that but you are right. Character building in series is a lot easier because you have episodes. With movies, there is only so much time, so the character in most cases has to be built to a degree within the first five to ten minutes depending on the length of the movies itself. Brilliant observation.