by Robbie Jones
The plot of a film is one of the key things in deciding whether you watch it or not. If it sounds daft and ridiculous, then you’ll leave it alone. But if it sounds interesting, or hilarious, or romantic, or dramatic etc. Then you’re sold. Some films have fantastic concepts and certainly deliver on them – Films like Inception, Jurassic Park and Looper all sound great on paper and when put to film, it’s even better. But sometimes, a plot can sound just too good. And when you finally get to watching it, you realise it’s nowhere near as good as it should’ve been
The plot of a film is one of the key things in deciding whether you watch it or not. If it sounds daft and ridiculous, then you’ll leave it alone. But if it sounds interesting, or hilarious, or romantic, or dramatic etc. Then you’re sold. Some films have fantastic concepts and certainly deliver on them – Films like Inception, Jurassic Park and Looper all sound great on paper and when put to film, it’s even better. But sometimes, a plot can sound just too good. And when you finally get to watching it, you realise it’s nowhere near as good as it should’ve been
The Purge (2013)
The concept:
One night a year, all crime is legal for 12 hours. When a security system salesman and his family have their home invaded by violent young men and women, they must protect their home themselves, with no aid from the police.
The Purge has one of those plots where you just have to see how it turns out. It also creates some scary thoughts, like the idea of anything being able to happen to you, and no intervention from emergency services. On top of that, it has a decent cast too, with Lena Headey and Ethan Hawke leading the family. But sadly, the film delivers very little. Whilst it has a very scary and well written villain, the film is over too quickly, with everything too easily resolved. Add to that the constant twists and turns, which clearly the writers thought would keep viewers excited and on the edge of their seats, but actually just leaving them sighing.
The concept:
One night a year, all crime is legal for 12 hours. When a security system salesman and his family have their home invaded by violent young men and women, they must protect their home themselves, with no aid from the police.
The Purge has one of those plots where you just have to see how it turns out. It also creates some scary thoughts, like the idea of anything being able to happen to you, and no intervention from emergency services. On top of that, it has a decent cast too, with Lena Headey and Ethan Hawke leading the family. But sadly, the film delivers very little. Whilst it has a very scary and well written villain, the film is over too quickly, with everything too easily resolved. Add to that the constant twists and turns, which clearly the writers thought would keep viewers excited and on the edge of their seats, but actually just leaving them sighing.
In Time (2011)
The concept: In the future, every person is born genetically engineered with a digital clock bearing 1 year of time. When they turn 25, they stop aging, but that clock begins counting down. As soon as it reaches 0, they time out and die instantly. Time is used as currency, transferred by linking forearms and used to pay for food, homes, transport etc.
Bloody hell, that does sound smart, doesn’t it? It’s a very intriguing idea, and it makes you wonder how it all works. But what you expect to be a super smart action film, is actually just Amanda Seyfriend and Justin Timberlake running a lot. It’s not necessarily a bad film, but isn’t quite what was promised. The time currency idea stops becoming amusing after a while, and Cillian Murphy’s talent is wasted as a one dimensional character. However, the film does pose some interesting concepts, such as these arm wrestle style games in which you could lose all your time upon losing. But that’s probably the smartest part of the movie
The concept: In the future, every person is born genetically engineered with a digital clock bearing 1 year of time. When they turn 25, they stop aging, but that clock begins counting down. As soon as it reaches 0, they time out and die instantly. Time is used as currency, transferred by linking forearms and used to pay for food, homes, transport etc.
Bloody hell, that does sound smart, doesn’t it? It’s a very intriguing idea, and it makes you wonder how it all works. But what you expect to be a super smart action film, is actually just Amanda Seyfriend and Justin Timberlake running a lot. It’s not necessarily a bad film, but isn’t quite what was promised. The time currency idea stops becoming amusing after a while, and Cillian Murphy’s talent is wasted as a one dimensional character. However, the film does pose some interesting concepts, such as these arm wrestle style games in which you could lose all your time upon losing. But that’s probably the smartest part of the movie
Dark Shadows (2012)
The concept: A 200 year old vampire is imprisoned in a coffin by his ex lover, and is soon unearthed, returning to find his mansion is owned by his dysfunctional descendants. On top of that, his ex lover has taken over his fishing business, and he struggles to adjust to modern day life
Fish out of water stories are great. Enchanted, for example, is a wonderful film. There is so much fun to be had watching Amy Adams walk around the streets of New York dressed as a princess and talking absolute nonsense. Elf is the same too, as Will Ferell leaves the North Pole to visit his father, and he too has fun exploring the city. The problem with Dark Shadows is that it should’ve been MORE like that, which could’ve made it a lot funnier. Instead, it just became another edition of “Tim Burton presents: Johnny Depp doing stuff in a dark world whilst dressed stupid”. By the way, I am completely aware that this is based on a TV show, however I can’t draw any comparisons. All I know is the film wastes a lot of comedy potential. Also, it was marketed horribly; the trailers made out this light hearted, child friendly comedy, but the actual film is dark as hell and has some really strong jokes, pushing the boundaries of 12A. Still, anything to see the gorgeous Eva Green in action.
The concept: A 200 year old vampire is imprisoned in a coffin by his ex lover, and is soon unearthed, returning to find his mansion is owned by his dysfunctional descendants. On top of that, his ex lover has taken over his fishing business, and he struggles to adjust to modern day life
Fish out of water stories are great. Enchanted, for example, is a wonderful film. There is so much fun to be had watching Amy Adams walk around the streets of New York dressed as a princess and talking absolute nonsense. Elf is the same too, as Will Ferell leaves the North Pole to visit his father, and he too has fun exploring the city. The problem with Dark Shadows is that it should’ve been MORE like that, which could’ve made it a lot funnier. Instead, it just became another edition of “Tim Burton presents: Johnny Depp doing stuff in a dark world whilst dressed stupid”. By the way, I am completely aware that this is based on a TV show, however I can’t draw any comparisons. All I know is the film wastes a lot of comedy potential. Also, it was marketed horribly; the trailers made out this light hearted, child friendly comedy, but the actual film is dark as hell and has some really strong jokes, pushing the boundaries of 12A. Still, anything to see the gorgeous Eva Green in action.
Never Let Me Go (2010)
The concept: The story of three friends who grow up together in a boarding school, in which the students are specifically destined to live short lives as they will be made to donate organs when they leave
I remember how much I was looking forward to this movie. At the risk of getting a lot of stick, the delivery of this tragic yet engaging plotline is so arse-paralysingly painful that eventually I gave up. In the long run, it’s not a bad film; the actors all do a good job and the direction is great, as well as the cinematography, but it’s the lack of any major events going on that make this film feel dull, almost as if nothing happens. And then if there is a major event, it’s not a big deal, nothing is changed to engage you more, it just stays the same. In essence, Never Let Me Go is 1 and 40 minutes of depressing talking. And it’s sooooo slow! It drags so bad.
Despite its many fans, I’d say that Never Let Me Go fails to make the tragic and harrowing plotline worth caring about.
Well, those are my choices. Have I missed out any? What plots got you excited, but the finished product let you down? Let us know in the comments!
The concept: The story of three friends who grow up together in a boarding school, in which the students are specifically destined to live short lives as they will be made to donate organs when they leave
I remember how much I was looking forward to this movie. At the risk of getting a lot of stick, the delivery of this tragic yet engaging plotline is so arse-paralysingly painful that eventually I gave up. In the long run, it’s not a bad film; the actors all do a good job and the direction is great, as well as the cinematography, but it’s the lack of any major events going on that make this film feel dull, almost as if nothing happens. And then if there is a major event, it’s not a big deal, nothing is changed to engage you more, it just stays the same. In essence, Never Let Me Go is 1 and 40 minutes of depressing talking. And it’s sooooo slow! It drags so bad.
Despite its many fans, I’d say that Never Let Me Go fails to make the tragic and harrowing plotline worth caring about.
Well, those are my choices. Have I missed out any? What plots got you excited, but the finished product let you down? Let us know in the comments!
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