Comments on: Plotting disaster http://www.minor9th.com/2007/02/25/plotting-disaster/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=plotting-disaster minor9th.com is the weblog of Simon Pearson, a London-based web producer Sun, 11 Dec 2011 18:50:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Simon http://www.minor9th.com/2007/02/25/plotting-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-2429 Simon Sat, 03 Mar 2007 16:57:20 +0000 http://www.minor9th.com/2007/02/25/plotting-disaster/#comment-2429 You're right, Mrs D - I've always thought HG Wells' ending was a bit of a cop out, though - and perhaps that's why it makes good Hollywood fodder. There are, of course, films which could really do with a happy ending - I've never seen Vera Drake (is this required viewing?), but Requiem for a Dream springs to mind as the bleakest film I've ever seen, and that's American-made. I guess I'm just a bit infuriated with the sickly-ending formula (aren't lots of people?) - it's ubiquitous in television too. For a one hour comedy/drama, the first twenty minutes are solely exposition, the next half hour will be high crisis, and the last ten minutes will involve a hasty conclusion and a bit of morality thrown in for good measure. You can set your watch by it. On the other hand, I don't have to watch it. And I'm a big fan of Ugly Betty, even though it definitely fits the above description... You’re right, Mrs D – I’ve always thought HG Wells’ ending was a bit of a cop out, though – and perhaps that’s why it makes good Hollywood fodder.

There are, of course, films which could really do with a happy ending – I’ve never seen Vera Drake (is this required viewing?), but Requiem for a Dream springs to mind as the bleakest film I’ve ever seen, and that’s American-made.

I guess I’m just a bit infuriated with the sickly-ending formula (aren’t lots of people?) – it’s ubiquitous in television too. For a one hour comedy/drama, the first twenty minutes are solely exposition, the next half hour will be high crisis, and the last ten minutes will involve a hasty conclusion and a bit of morality thrown in for good measure. You can set your watch by it.

On the other hand, I don’t have to watch it. And I’m a big fan of Ugly Betty, even though it definitely fits the above description…

]]> By: mrsdanvers http://www.minor9th.com/2007/02/25/plotting-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-2428 mrsdanvers Sat, 03 Mar 2007 12:17:06 +0000 http://www.minor9th.com/2007/02/25/plotting-disaster/#comment-2428 War of the Worlds might have feel good ending, but that was the original ending given by HG Wells. However, American-made films might have the endings that the director/writer wanted if films weren't tested on a group of movie-goers (lowest common denominator presumably) and then re-written if they didn't like it. America would have liked a happy ending to "Vera Drake"! War of the Worlds might have feel good ending, but that was the original ending given by HG Wells.

However, American-made films might have the endings that the director/writer wanted if films weren’t tested on a group of movie-goers (lowest common denominator presumably) and then re-written if they didn’t like it.

America would have liked a happy ending to “Vera Drake”!

]]> By: Simon http://www.minor9th.com/2007/02/25/plotting-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-2427 Simon Tue, 27 Feb 2007 23:51:04 +0000 http://www.minor9th.com/2007/02/25/plotting-disaster/#comment-2427 You're all about Jake and the peril. Jake in the peril. Jake rescuing ladies from the peril. Not predictable at all :P I hope you enjoy Gael Garcia Bernal in extended scenes of SURREAL! You’re all about Jake and the peril. Jake in the peril. Jake rescuing ladies from the peril. Not predictable at all :P

I hope you enjoy Gael Garcia Bernal in extended scenes of SURREAL!

]]> By: Penny http://www.minor9th.com/2007/02/25/plotting-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-2426 Penny Mon, 26 Feb 2007 21:15:26 +0000 http://www.minor9th.com/2007/02/25/plotting-disaster/#comment-2426 I'm going to see The Science of Sleep tomorrow, and now I'm even more excitied! &to be fair, you can't really expect too much from Hollywood blockbusters. They would hardly be crowd-pleasers if they all ended in death and destruction. People *like* happy endings, it makes them feel all warm and fuzzy (read: sick) inside. However, I really enjoyed The Day After Tomorrow, on two points. 1. Jake Gyllenhaal (yep, shallow!). 2. Extended scenes of PERIL. How can one not like a film with extended scenes of peril?! Love the new layout twist, by the way :) xx I’m going to see The Science of Sleep tomorrow, and now I’m even more excitied!

&to be fair, you can’t really expect too much from Hollywood blockbusters. They would hardly be crowd-pleasers if they all ended in death and destruction. People *like* happy endings, it makes them feel all warm and fuzzy (read: sick) inside. However, I really enjoyed The Day After Tomorrow, on two points. 1. Jake Gyllenhaal (yep, shallow!). 2. Extended scenes of PERIL. How can one not like a film with extended scenes of peril?!

Love the new layout twist, by the way :)

xx

]]>