←back to thread

The new literalism plaguing today’s movies

(www.newyorker.com)
231 points frogulis | 3 comments | 15 Jul 25 03:52 UTC | HN request time: 0.703s | source
Show context
oDot ◴[15 Jul 25 04:25 UTC] No.44567816[source]▶
There's a disconnect somewhere in the industry, because as I writer I can guarantee you one of the things readers get most annoyed with is on the nose dialogue.

My screenplays are heavily influenced by Japanese Anime (which I have researched to a great degree[0]). Some animes have _a lot_ of that kind of dialogue. Sometimes it's just bad writing, but other times it is actually extremely useful.

The times where it is useful are crucial to make a film or show, especially live-action, feel like anime. Thought processes like those presented in the article make it seem like all on-the-nose dialogue is bad and in turn, make my job much harder.

[0]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igz7TmsE1Mk

replies(4): >>44567919 #>>44568222 #>>44568750 #>>44571231 #
1. pixelfarmer ◴[15 Jul 25 05:53 UTC] No.44568222[source]▶
The problem is that it permeates writing in so many places. For example, games get more and more littered with this sort of nonsense, too. And worse, it is often also used as a vehicle to convey all sorts of ideologies. Many people don't care about these ideologies, but they get annoyed fast if someone shouts them into their face like a zealot. Plus it feels just fake, completely artificial.

The other problem with it: To me, as an adult, it feels like whoever wrote this made the assumption I'm stupid. This sort of writing is ok, up to a certain degree, for kids. But for adults? A lot of anime are aimed at the younger generations. Anime written for adults are done very differently.

The Matrix is heavily influenced by manga / anime, which you see in quite a few scenes in how they are shot. But many of the explanations that are done are part of the development of Neo, so they never really feel out of place.

Cyberpunk 2077, which does have on the nose dialogue here and there as part of random NPCs spouting stuff. But by and large it tells a story not just through dialogues but also visually. And the visual aspect is so strong that some reviewers completely failed at reviewing the game, they were unable to grasp it. Which is a huge issue, because we are talking about adults here.

replies(1): >>44571248 #
2. pjc50 ◴[15 Jul 25 14:00 UTC] No.44571248[source]▶
> Many people don't care about these ideologies, but they get annoyed fast if someone shouts them into their face like a zealot. Plus it feels just fake, completely artificial.

Unfortunately this is a real problem even if you agree with the message. People won't let a pro-diversity story speak for itself, they have to fit in a PSA like the ones stuck on the end of He-Man episodes.

Mind you, they feel they have to do that because of all the "wait, Superman is woke now?" commentary idiots.

replies(1): >>44574027 #
3. BobaFloutist ◴[15 Jul 25 17:59 UTC] No.44574027[source]▶
It reminds me of the classic tweet:

'Black Panther was a fine movie but its politics were a bit iffy. wouldve been way better if at the end the Black Panther turned to the camera & said "i am communist now" & then specified hes the exact kind of communist i am'

Some writers are certainly taking cues from the criticisms that tweet was mocking. Or were the same people making those criticisms.