No pic for this one. I'll add one later if the fates allow!
I was a big fan of all the Indiana Jones movies back in the day. When the fourth one, Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull, finally came out, it was exciting times! Harrison Ford only seemed to get cooler with age, and what a treat it would be to see Indy in action again after so long.
The flick promised to be more practical effects-oriented and would be directed by Steven Spielberg, of course.
But it wasn't so hot.
The actors were good, the production value was high, and Marion from Raiders of the Lost Ark returned.
There was some unsatisfying CGI here and there, and a story that was on the confusing side.
Hey, movies are hard to do. Writing is tough. This isn't about dissing anyone; it's about seeing problems that are much easier to see as an audience after something is made, and learning some lessons from it.
The story aside, I identified two big problems in the theater as I watched.
One - The events of the story didn't seem painful enough, physically OR mentally, for Indy. That was a big part of what made the other movies work. His adventures were hard on him.
Two - There was little variation to the emotions of the scenes, or the emotions weren't hit properly or with enough clarity.
In all the other three, there were exciting scenes. Suspenseful scenes, SCARY scenes. Sweet scenes. Funny scenes. A sense of astonishment and discovery here; a gross out scene there. The newest movie didn't hit those moments to me.
It was sort of similar to the newest Star Wars movie (I hate to say it. Not picking on Harrison Ford, either. Harrison Ford's the best!)
If a comic isn't a gag or strip oriented one, it's a good idea to have some variation to your pages or scenes, and hit as many different emotions as you can. At the right moments. It prevents reader fatigue and just makes a story better!
Do you think about the emotions of your scenes? Is a variety of emotion important to you as a creator or as a reader? Are all emotions squeezable into all stories?
Have a fine Thursday!
-Banes
Emotional Color Wheel
Banes at 12:00AM, Nov. 10, 2016
1 like!
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Banes at 7:52AM, Nov. 11, 2016
@bravo - haha...fair enough
bravo1102 at 6:11PM, Nov. 10, 2016
I really don't do enough emotions. In future scripts I will but right now just not enough involvement. Too much calm acceptance.
bravo1102 at 6:09PM, Nov. 10, 2016
No! We need something around here that does not refer to the American presidential election. Please!
Banes at 2:33PM, Nov. 10, 2016
I realized after the fact that maybe this post should've been US Election related. Oops!
Banes at 2:32PM, Nov. 10, 2016
@essaybee - I agree! Thanks! Modest Medusa is a strip but also a story ... I saw one page out of context recently, and it brought me to tears. Maybe I'll post it next week in "Tears and Feelings part 2"
Banes at 2:30PM, Nov. 10, 2016
@KimLuster - thanks! That's so cool - I've made myself cry with a few pages too! It's great! Which Godstrain pafe made you cry?
EssayBee at 8:43AM, Nov. 10, 2016
Good article. I'm a fan of all the Indy movies, and, although I enjoy Crystal Skull, it is definitely lacking a spark that the others have, and I think you hit the nail on the head. For any story-driven comic, emotion is very important; if the stakes are real for the characters, and the characters are well developed so that readers are fully invested in them, the emotional payoff for characters will likewise be an emotional payoff for readers. Even strip-oriented comics can benefit from this, as evidenced by all of the emotional and genuinely touching strips from Calvin and Hobbes.
KimLuster at 8:18AM, Nov. 10, 2016
Absolutely... I'm big on emotions of all sorts! I try to feel them (even keep a mirror near so I can see what my face looks like when feeling them) and convey that... Sometimes I'm too good haha... Made myself cry a bit on a recent page :D Always enjoy these articles!!