Overall Impression – Not a bad movie, but one with a very muddled central question. And a few more comedy punch-up writers wouldn’t have hurt, either. THE FOUR QUESTIONS Who is your main character? – Susan What is she trying to accomplish? – Professional: First half of the film she wants to get out… Continue reading MONSTERS VS ALIENS
Tag: Central Question
SEVEN POUNDS
Overall Impression – Bewildering! Frustrating! Then I gave up trying to figure out why everything was happening and actually started enjoying it. THE FOUR QUESTIONS Who’s your main character? – Ben. What’s he trying to accomplish? – The movie gets its drive by withholding an answer to this question. Why is Ben doing all these crazy good deeds? WHY!? Until all is revealed… Continue reading SEVEN POUNDS
BEDTIME STORIES
Overall Impression — Ah, to be young again. Then I would have liked this movie rather than just liked that my kids liked it. THE FOUR QUESTIONS Who’s your main character? — Skeeter. What’s he trying to accomplish? — Take over control of the hotel that was promised to him as a child, build a… Continue reading BEDTIME STORIES
Three Areas of Conflict
Syd Field first described the three areas of conflict your main character is dealing with, and I’ve gone back to this concept over and over again, particularly in crafting a good CENTRAL QUESTION for my stories. (The Central Question is the question that once it’s answered definitively “yes” or “no” the movie is over.) These… Continue reading Three Areas of Conflict
ENCHANTED
Overall Impression — A confused movie that delivers more sizzle than steak. THE FOUR QUESTIONS Who’s the main character? — Giselle. What’s she trying to accomplish? — Sort of return to Andalusia (her fairy tale realm) but she doesn’t actively try to do that much after a few first efforts. Her main drive is to… Continue reading ENCHANTED