Watched Punch-Drunk Love, it blew my mind. Really a perfect film.
I know, right? What's almost as mind blowing as the film itself is Adam Sandler's performance. Who knew the guy could actually act (apparently nobody else, because his roles continue to be shit)?
apparently nobody else, because his roles continue to be shit
Um, have you seen Reign Over Me? Adam Sandler is a talented man. He just happens to get cast in stupid roles with frequency. It's the Jim Carrey problem.
apparently nobody else, because his roles continue to be shit
Um, have you seenReign Over Me? Adam Sandler is a talented man. He just happens to get cast in stupid roles with frequency. It's the Jim Carrey problem.
Except that he casts himself in stupid roles. A lot of movies that Adam Sandler is in, he has written/directed/produced. Those were projects he created in some way.
Um, have you seenReign Over Me? Adam Sandler is a talented man. He just happens to get cast in stupid roles with frequency. It's the Jim Carrey problem.
apparently nobody else, because his roles continue to be shit
Um, have you seenReign Over Me? Adam Sandler is a talented man. He just happens to get cast in stupid roles with frequency. It's the Jim Carrey problem.
I feel like he should have some control over that. After starring in Funny People, where his character is an EXACT parody of his film career, it feels like he should do more serious roles. And while he is really recognizable for being such a goofy person, he was in a decent amount of dramas before.
No, this is bullshit. This is the very reason it took me so long to watch it. When you say romantic comedy-drama, you are setting a movie up to be a trite and predictable cliche-fest. This movie defies genres. Sure, there is a love story, there is clever dialogue, there are sad bits, but it is not a romantic comedy-drama. Simply put, anyone who considers themselves a seriously movie person has to watch it.
Snarlylow, it seems like you might be making a lot of assumptions about movies within certain genres. Just because it is in a genre does not necessarily mean it conforms to the cliches of that genre.
You're saying it isn't romantic, comedic, and dramatic? Every story every told can be boiled down to basic concepts, saying that any movie "defies genres" is ridiculous. Those words have been associated with a very specific characters and plot structures, but the concepts of genre and character arc are so useful that we shouldn't let Hollywood buzzwords get in the way of intelligent conversation.
EDIT: to bring it back to Starship Troupers, the film is indeed waaaay bad, but I quite enjoyed it. Comparisons to Ender's Game are valid, but just know the novel Starship Troupers is the story that set the mold for military science fiction, of which Thee Forever War and Ender's Game are held up to be the best two in that tradition, each telling the story of a recruit who goes through training and ends up in battle against buglike aliens. Each has a very distinct view on war and morality, and can be read as a set.
I also point out that it is the work that certainly defined - if not outright invented - the modern concept of Power Armor and Space Marines.
Snarlylow, it seems like you might be making a lot of assumptions about movies within certain genres. Just because it is in a genre does not necessarily mean it conforms to the cliches of that genre.
You're saying it isn't romantic, comedic, and dramatic? Every story every told can be boiled down to basic concepts, saying that any movie "defies genres" is ridiculous. Those words have been associated with a very specific characters and plot structures, but the concepts of genre and character arc are so useful that we shouldn't let Hollywood buzzwords get in the way of intelligent conversation.
I'm saying it is all of those things, but boiling the film down to that specific genre, and associating it with the connotations such a genre implies, is a huge disservice to the film, and will in no way encourage anyone to see it.
You're saying it isn't romantic, comedic, and dramatic? Every story every told can be boiled down to basic concepts, saying that any movie "defies genres" is ridiculous. Those words have been associated with a very specific characters and plot structures, but the concepts of genre and character arc are so useful that we shouldn't let Hollywood buzzwords get in the way of intelligent conversation.
I'm saying it is all of those things, but boiling the film down to that specific genre, and associating it with the connotations such a genre implies, is a huge disservice to the film, and will in no way encourage anyone to see it.
You associating only the cliches of a genre with the genre in its totality appears to be the problem.
I think that everyone thinks of a similar set of elements when they hear the phrase "romantic comedy," elements that Punch Drunk Love either does not contain or twists into something rarely associated with those elements before. I am no good at arguing semantically, and would much prefer to appreciate the film as it's own entity rather than attempt to pigeon hole it into categories I do not agree with.
I think that everyone thinks of a similar set of elements when they hear the phrase "romantic comedy," elements that Punch Drunk Love either does not contain or twists into something rarely associated with those elements before. I am no good at arguing semantically, and would much prefer to appreciate the film as it's own entity rather than attempt to pigeon hole it into categories I do not agree with.
It is a romance, it has comedic elements, and it is a drama. What else would you call it? The "to label it would be to diminish" attitude only applies when people actually diminish it in their own minds. If you really have such a knee jerk reaction to genres, then I highly recommend you learn enough about them to see that they are more than their cliches.
I think that everyone thinks of a similar set of elements when they hear the phrase "romantic comedy," elements that Punch Drunk Love either does not contain or twists into something rarely associated with those elements before. I am no good at arguing semantically, and would much prefer to appreciate the film as it's own entity rather than attempt to pigeon hole it into categories I do not agree with.
Is it Romantic? Is it a comedy? Then it's a Romantic comedy. Avatar is considered a great film by most people, but it's still Syfy Si-Fi, despite all the horrible tropes attached to Si-fi. Gone with the Wind is a classic, and it's still a musical, just like high school musical. Just because a film is a stand-out example in it's genre doesn't change a god-damn thing, now quit yer bitchin' and just enjoy the bloody flick.
Yeah, you're right, I am making knee jerk generalizations, and I should work through that. I guess my real issue is the idea of IijanGin seeing that genre as the answer to his/her question and making the same knee jerk generalizations that I make.
Yeah, you're right, I am making knee jerk generalizations, and I should work through that. I guess my real issue is the idea of IijanGin seeing that genre as the answer to his/her question and making the same knee jerk generalizations that I make.
That's weird, Normally when I clip someone across the ear like that, they get grumpy. Thank you, for the nice change!
Yeah, you're right, I am making knee jerk generalizations, and I should work through that. I guess my real issue is the idea of IijanGin seeing that genre as the answer to his/her question and making the same knee jerk generalizations that I make.
IijanGin specifically asked
What genre of film is it?
What would you answer? "It falls in the genre of awesome"?
Comments
The "to label it would be to diminish" attitude only applies when people actually diminish it in their own minds. If you really have such a knee jerk reaction to genres, then I highly recommend you learn enough about them to see that they are more than their cliches.
I'll have to see it then.