"Film of the Week" Club

[Hanelle]

I've been thinking that participation has been low on MR for some time. Sure the holidays came and it was presumed that it would pick up afterward. It hasn't yet, so I thought maybe this idea would help get things going again. I know some might disagree...and that's fine. Then just think of this as fun.

Perhaps Blaggers or another admin can sticky this, as it could be a recurring thread each week. Basically it's like a book of the week Club, except with MR films. Each week a new one will be chosen and anyone who wishes to participate can read the film and we can have a lengthy discussion on likes/dislikes, favorite scenes, room to improve, etc. etc.

If you do not wish to read/discuss then that is fine. But I think this will be good for all users who make films. A good way to garner a lot of attention to the films that are made here on MR.

So, as I said, if you wish to join in on this the film this week will be "The Raven" by Xplayadam. The hope here is to get enough people to view and discuss to at least keep this thread going a few days. As it gets closer to next Saturday, I will announce the next film. If you have a recommendation for upcoming films to discuss, feel free to send a PM.

Thanks and feel free to start any discussion regarding the Raven anytime.

[Casablanca]

I think this idea is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, and I will gladly read and discuss any film that happens to fall on that week. Count this reply as my promise to be in every week.

[iamthebatman]

I am totally in on this.

[T-Mac]

Yeah, me too

[Hellish]

Yo, sign me up son!

I mean......

I would enjoy joining this

[Movie Lord Productions]

Yeah I can join this. So, this week ends tonight or next saturday night though?

[SCF]

Hanelle is brilliant.

[Dale]

This is an excellent idea. Sticky granted. I won't be able to participate every week, but I'll do my best. Again, fantastic idea Hanelle.

[Natalie]

I love Hanelle and her fantastic ideas

[Natalie]

Jan 17, 2009 10:36:10 GMT -5 Movie Lord Productions said:

Yeah I can join this. So, this week ends tonight or next saturday night though?

..Next Saturday, It wouldn't start and end on the same day

[Movie Lord Productions]

Jan 17, 2009 14:11:58 GMT -5 Natalie said:

Jan 17, 2009 10:36:10 GMT -5 Movie Lord Productions said:

Yeah I can join this. So, this week ends tonight or next saturday night though?

..Next Saturday, It wouldn't start and end on the same day

Just wanted to be sure I had time to be part of this week's thing.

[Hanelle]

Yeah Raven starts this week. From yesterday until next Saturday. I've got my ticket and plan to read later on today.

[Hanelle]

So I just finished reading this week's film, "The Raven". I thought I would give my thoughts on it, in hopes to generate some debating or get other peoples opinions. I apologize if this is a lengthy post...it was a lengthy script.

I do not want to sound harsh or anything, because the film WAS enjoyable. But I also found many things I thought could be done differently to improve the script. I made some notes while reading, so I will just briefly go over them.

First CON of the film, which I noticed right away and it continued throughout was the many, many spelling and grammar errors. I do not want to sound, dare I say, anal, as I know it's not a big deal really. But for me, when I read anything, a spelling error just really sticks out in my mind. I'm not sure why. I just think that given the time spent on this film, which I'd guess is roughly 70-90 pages in length, why not take the extra ten minutes to run a spell check and proofread it? One specific example that I noticed near the beginning of the film was a scene involving Rachel Roth, the lead character, pulling out her lunch at school. Instead of a piece of bread, she pulled out a piece of beard. I know it's not a big deal, but you can imagine how that takes the focus off of whatever that scene was meant to invoke.

A PRO, for me, was just the story. I'm not familiar with comic books, but I thought that this was a nice take on the superhero genre. The way it combined the classic superhero theme with teenage life was fresh and unique.

Another PRO I also noticed right away, really in the first scene involving Rachel, was the great use of description to paint a picture. After one introduction of the character, you could picture her look and attitude easily. I thought he made good use of description in that sense.

Back to a CON, I felt the dialogue in many parts was choppy and forced. Now I know I have no reason to point fingers as I will admit my dialogue is nothing to write home about, but I think constructive criticism can only help. And being on the outside reading, rather than writing, makes it easier to notice these sort of things. The dialogue, for me, just seemed monotonous and didn't really help push the story along as it should.

Another CON now, just a quick one. I felt that the lengthy action sequences throughout the film made the script appear/seem convoluted in it's structure. Perhaps spacing out the sequences a bit more, like when you start a new scene would help.

As for another PRO: I thought the volleyball sequence toward the scripts beginning was very well written. It was a nice way to hint at Rachel's powers in a common in-school scenario.

This could be taken either as a PRO or a CON, depending on the way you look at it. I thought the film was very heavy from an emo perspective. Lot's of staring at the floor and things of that nature. One part of that, which I definitely feel was a CON, was Rachel's lack of quality dialogue. I can't even begin to count how many of her responses/interactions were either "no", "sure" "okay" "alright", "i don't know", "oh", etc. It seemed to make her appear very One dimensional in my view.

PRO. I particularly enjoyed the earlier flashbacks, including the boat scene and the first underground city scene. They were well placed in the script and filled with intrigue, only revealing bits of information at a time.

Another PRO was Alex and Rachel's introduction scene on the bus. Quite possibly the best scene in the film to be honest. It was at this moment that Rachel's dialogue actually seemed full of life. It was vastly superior to the previous dialogue and the awkwardness added a nice effect. But the icing on the cake seemed to be the little mannerisms that she displayed during the conversation. It was very realistic and easy to picture in your head.

Another CON. The entire FB involving Rachel's mother and father and their pregnancy seemed to run on quite too long. Rachel is the key figure here and being away from her for what felt like a good ten pages seemed out of place. I think it would have been better to break that FB up and fit it in in sections throughout the remaining of the film.

CON. Unfortunately I wasn't really into the sexually explicit parts of the film. It seemed to just randomly happen, which made it feel forced and out of place. The sex scene and the ferris wheel four-play seem just didn't quite do it for me. They actually felt a bit like Wonderland's explicit scenes, which I didn't really enjoy.

One last CON. I felt that the climactic end-scene/battle between Rachel and Trigon was rushed and not as satisfying as it could have been.

One last PRO. Though I didn't understand the ending, mostly because as I've said I'm not a comic book fan...I still really enjoyed it. I thought the conversation between Rachel and Robin was great and for some reason reminded me of the end monologue in the Dark Knight.

So in all I have 7 cons and 7 pros. If I had to rate this film I would give it something like a 6.5/10.

Anyway, feel free to bring up any points or thoughts on "The Raven".

[Casablanca]

"Many, many spelling and grammar errors"

Yes, this was one of the flaws which didn't go to affect the story or what not, and was disappointing. It feels more professional, and also just plain out better when the script is perfect from a grammatical view. You go on to give a fine example, the "beard" (humorous in its own right), and yes, that can be distracting. God knows I'm not perfect with spelling in my scripts, I have found more then I would like to have found in already released projects; but it is always nice to go back and edit.

"Combined the classic superhero theme with teenage life was fresh and unique"

Yeah, it really was; but let me do you one better. I'd say it was refreshing and nice to see a superhero movie with the life of a character, period. I mean, many films of the sort make us "feel" for the hero, or enjoy our time with them, but few of them have actually taken the time to revolve around a character so thoroughly. Actually, the film ISN'T a superhero film in any manner, but a film about...Rachel Roth. The action is minimal, the powers are never explained, in depth; and really this doesn't even need to be a "Raven" movie, but the story of any other isolated youth, distant from their peers. And it deserves recognition for that- for being about isolation in the most entertaining sense.

"Great use of description"

Okay, I'll agree that we seemingly "knew" Rachel, and that it helped the film alot; but as for reasons why we felt for her. I have a few. The scenes with Alex on the Ferris Wheel, and the sex scene are not descriptive as they could be. Needless to say, they do not paint the image solely on details. It is a combination of the dialogue and the description; but more so, it is up to the reader to create the character. What I said in my review is that the reader pulls moments from their life (particularly when they have felt isolated or depressed), and put those in the film. So, this makes us feel for her as sometimes we can relate to her.

"Dialogue in many parts was choppy and forced"

Yes, and cold too. Why don't I take this as a huge flaw? It can be, but it also can be slightly excused. If you think about it, it makes the characters more plain, more open to attachment and to ambiguity. Of course, narrative-wise, it doesn't help at all. But, it makes the character a clean slate to which the audience can paint themselves on. Though, noe can bring up the argument, shouldn't the director be the one doing the paining?

"Perhaps spacing out the sequences a bit more"

The pacing was different here, and it was hard, sometimes, to go from slow, little dialogue, almost detached scenes to something like an action segment. It only had one or two scenes of such action, though, having them farther couldn't have hurt. Again, this is just to make it easier for the transaction between moods, which are harmed with jumpy movements like this.

"Volleyball sequence toward the scripts beginning was very well written"

It was, simple way to show powers. There were more ways it could have been done; but I suppose this was as good a way as any, as inside a Volleyball game, it only distanced her more from others, where as it wouldn't have been as bad in some dark, lonely basement.

"EMO Perspective"

Sometimes it seemed it, but I suppose that one can make the case she was simply depressed. I'd be lying if I would say I haven't had days where I felt like her, (I'm sure), though you are right, it takes a dark, emotionally gothic view of things; and while this paints a dark picture black, it makes it more heavy, more easy to turn people away.

"I particularly enjoyed the earlier flashbacks"

I liked them too. Not the best parts of the script, but they had neat ways of telling information, and were also a good story by themselves. So, really, we had two ideas going on here.

"Alex and Rachel's introduction scene on the bus"

I'll be the first to admit this, Alex is the best thing that happened to the film. He added life to it, added subplot, added romance, and ultimately, added tragedy. It made the film what it was, and without him, then really, it would have sunk fast. And yes, that scene is one of the best in the film. (I prefer the Ferris Wheel scene, for some reason, just a nice, unique scene).

"The entire FB involving Rachel's mother and father and their pregnancy seemed to run on quite too long. "

Adding a mystery element to Rachel would have been good, and also easier to connect to, as now she has this whole other layer we must attach to. It ran on long, then again, so does real pregnancy. However, yes, I liked it more when that was done with and the story really resumed.

"Wasn't really into the sexually explicit parts of the film"

Here is our only plain out disagreement here. While it is hard to debate the way the scenes were written, I did like them, especially the Ferris Wheel scene, and thought it was out of place. It was random. It was an odd scene. And that is why I liked it, because they didn't take a c*cky approach to sex, they had it, nervously, and while this only somewhat added to the characters (I'll admit it could have done more-though it is great how even a scene where the utmost passion should have been is cold), it is a scene which makes you think "huh?". And I like that, I enjoy it being so deliriously out of place.

"Scene/battle between Rachel and Trigon"

It was an okay action scene, if you judge it to others, but it did, to me, at times, feel rushed. Of course, this is a flaw I always go back to and change my mind on. Half of me thinks it is fine, half of me wonders if it could have been better paced; so it must fall somewhere in between, in my view. I think that it showed redemption, and I love the "thank you" line, so it sure as heck as that going for it. It made the film this almost ironic view where no one is plain out "bad". Is Trigon bad? Or is the world bad?

Ending Scene

Yes, I do like it too. As I said in my review, it is such an odd way to end it. You have this whole film about character, and then this campy ending. But this is also why I enjopy the sexual scenes (remember, I thought "Wonderland" was delightfully inventive). But, yes, I cannot say much more here, I agree.

Nice points though, and I cannot wait to see what others think, as well as more of what you, Hanelle, think of it.

[Hanelle]

I agree Casa, that the film did seem more of a teenage drama than a superhero film. I think that will be viewed as good and bad depending on the reader.

About the dialogue being choppy and forced, I have to disagree with what you said about how it was good because it made the characters feel "plain" and "open to attatchment". I felt that Rachel Roth especially was TOO plain, and better dialogue could have spiced up her character a little more.

I too think the Emo/gothic approach to the film is hit or miss with certain viewers. It didn't bother me as much as I would have normally expected, but I think for some it may.

And again I disagree with you on the pregnancy FB that ran too long. Yes, pregnancies are long, but this is a 2 hour film give or take. A film about Rachel Roth. I don't think it was a good idea to remove her completely from the film and look at her backstory for what would amount to fifteen-twenty minutes of the film. Not straight through. Breaking them up into maybe three sections would have been a better idea, I think.

Now the ferris wheel scene wasn't bad, even though I didn't care for it that much. But the sex scene was just too much for me. The dialogue during it and the silliness of it just put me off. It may just be me, I don't know. I just really wan't digging it.

About the final confrontation between Rachel and Trigon...it wasn't so much that the particular battle was rushed, so much as that the story, which ultimately became the climax to the movie, didn't really have anything to do with the story until the very end. I mean, it seemed like it was on the backburner throughout the entire story until the last ten minutes.