Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Redeemable?




I told myself I wouldn't admit to anyone that I saw this movie because it was a little bit sleazy. Okay, so it was a lot bit sleazy. Even though it is only PG 13, it's not for the easily blushable. So what do I do? I post it on my blog. The reason I decided to post this is because I think there is a lesson here. I went to see it with one of my non-writer friends (yes, I have living, breathing friends) and at the end she said, "He didn't deserve her."

That's what I've been thinking about since seeing the movie. It's true. He didn't deserve her. They couldn't redeem him because they'd painted him too horrible. He was a sleaze ball. Not only do they tell us about the hundreds of girls (possibly thousands) he had slept with just for fun, they gave us a visual too. A bar in his "vision" was packed full of his past girls.

So into the picture comes the girl he's supposedly always loved. And she's perfect. She's sweet and deep and beautiful. And now the movie has the daunting task of trying to convince me that this slimy guy deserves this perfect girl. They don't do it. They could've done it. They could've made it less about his "casual sex" partners and more about his phobia towards commitment due to some experiences he had in his life. But nope, they didn't. They could've given him some other redeeming qualities that off-set his horrible ones. They didn't do that either.

It was a good lesson to me. I definitely think characters need flaws. They wouldn't seem real if they didn't have them. But every character needs something redeeming, even if at first it's just a little something, that makes the reader want them to succeed.

Now, tell me this, will I ever be able to watch a movie or read a book without picking it apart? Will I ever be able to stop focusing on character development and plot holes and just watch a movie for fun again? Whyeeeeeee!!!!

21 comments:

  1. Welcome to my twisted over analytical world...Once your here, there's no turning back. Sorry to break it to you.

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  2. Kasie, What kind of silly question is that? Of course not! You're a writer!

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  3. Short answer: No. Never again.

    But great picking apart! That's a shame they didn't make him more redeemable. That is so key to those kind of movies.

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  4. Ok, so I really wanted to see this movie, but if it is that sleazy, I don't think I want to now.

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  5. How funny! No, of course you won't watch a movie or write a book without being able to pick it apart. :) That's not true. I do the same thing all the time. And then, everyone once in awhile, I'll come across something so deep and profound or so sweet and special that I am too busy enjoying it to pick it apart.

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  6. And then again, you can watch any Hugh Jackman movie over and over and use the excuse that it's writing research.

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  7. I had wanted to see this and now I don't care to. But yep-- I think we analyze everything now like books and movies!

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  8. Not unless it's a really good movie or book and you're so into it you can't! But wait after the warm fuzzies have worn off you'll pick it apart too. It's just what we do. It's the unavoidable, analytical part of writing.

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  9. yeah, not so much. You're stuck picking them apart now like the rest of us. I do the same thing with books too.

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  10. The days of movie enjoyment are all over for you, chicky. Get used to it. Once you are in the business to entertain the naive pleasure you once had goes out the window.

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  11. Kasie,
    That's exactly why I don't watch shows like ER, Scrubs, etc. Way too frustrating! I'm glad I can still enjoy literature without too much analyzing going on:)

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  12. To answer your question -- no, because you're a writer! But at least these "skills" will help your own work. :)

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  13. I just saw a movie review of this, and both guys said the exact same thing as you.

    It sounds like they sacrificed credibility for comedy. (and the movie reviewers said that it actually wasn't even funny.) Definitely a lesson we writers need to keep in mind.

    And, yeah, I'm gonna throw my "nope" answer into the group. I even find myself analyzing why TV commercials "work."

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  14. That's interesting that they didn't make him redeemable. I'm finding that a lot lately when I'm reading books that I'm almost looking for mistakes. It's horrible.

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  15. Dang it! he's so hot too! LOL! I honestly didn't think they could ever make him too sleazy--i thought his charm would always win him over--I guess not. Good lesson. LOL! Jenni

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  16. Kevin, NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

    Debra, yeah, so I'm sensing. I just want to be naive again.

    Nat, yes, it is key. I'm still angry. (well, not really because Wolverine redeemed all else and I'm still basking in its happy energy)

    Nikki, no, you don't, trust me. If it was funny, I might have been able to overlook its other faults, but it wasn't even that.

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  17. Cindy, sounds like I just need to watch/read more of those types of movies/books. I'll get on that. :)

    Linda, it's so true. Just saw Wolverine tonight and I said to myself, "now there is how you make a character redeemable." LOL (you just have Hugh Jackman play him)

    Terri, yes, its so easy to analyze. I just want to turn it off every once in a while.

    Candi, I know, there's no turning back. We're messed up for life.

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  18. Lois, I should just accept it and move on, huh? :)

    Tricia, I think you're right. I wish you weren't.

    Nicki, No Scrubs?????? Oh no, maybe your condition is worse than mine. I'm so sorry. :)

    Angie, it's true, it does help me see some flaws in my own stories when I see them played out in others. So maybe I should just be grateful for this new attitude and move on.

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  19. Yes, I agree that Jennifer Garner is hot. Isn't that what this blog was about? Maybe I shouldn't just look at the pictures and guess...

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  20. Renee, that's great that you even analyze commercials. You must be a true writer. I love it.

    Patti, when you find the off button, maybe you can share it with me.

    Jenni, nope, not even the Matthew dimples could pull him out of the sleazy black hole he fell into. It was a sad, tragic day. :)

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  21. Jared, yes, she was cute, but still couldn't save the movie.

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