So, what does make a movie enjoyable? There is no blanket 'one-line' to answer that question. It does depend…
While watching a drama, the constant nagging thought has to be, “What’s going to happen next…How are they going to get out of this one?â€. You should be at the edge of the seat, holding your partner’s hand really *tight* in a thriller. An action movie should make you go, “Co-ol…Where on earth did they get that idea from?â€. “ohhhhh…why does this happen only in movies?…sigh… †should be what your heart says, when you watch a romantic movie. A comedy shouldn’t make you just laugh; it should make you laugh so hard that you are in tears. Movies based on social issues should make you squirm because you realize you live in the world that you see on the screen.
The very basic requirement of a serious movie is “attention to detailâ€; make-up on when the lady gets up in the morning – most certainly, big no-no. This could be a social issue or a story that has no scope for humor, it’s the details that make it feel real. Even a no-brainer masala movie, needs to have a base genre for it to work.
A horror movie…should not be made at all!
Of course, there are those typical things that are ever-so-annoying. No matter what justification the makers find for putting them in. Melodrama, slapstick, characters trying to hide a lie and thus behaving predictably, comic relief sub-plots – all extremely nauseating.
Even if a movie falls in two or more genres, it has to do justice to all of them and evoke sentiments that each genre is supposed to. Off late, we have had some unique combinations like social issue and comedy – “Lage Raho Munnabhaiâ€. Another wonderful treatment was seen in “Dorâ€, it was a drama with a hint of romance – a romance with a non-existent male lead.
But, I think a movie that picks one genre and sticks to it works the best. Okay, I allow one more…any more and then the experience begins to deteriorate. Of course, there are gems that have touched almost all genres mentioned above and yet are as enjoyable as it can get. Really, how many times in a life-time can we expect a “Sholay� But, exceptions can’t become the rule now, can they?
And then there are those great concepts that leave you with a bad taste. Either because two genres are fighting for attention (Krishh) or because they are oil and water and no attempt is made to make them blend (Fanaa). Not to mention the dozens that want to be everything and end up creating a ruckus. Just because a mixed fruit salad tastes good, you can’t watch it go stale on screen for two-plus hours.
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Why shouldn't horror movies be made at all?
I myself am not a big fan of the genre, but there is definitely something to say about film-makers who have just totally scared the s*** out of you.
And this does not necessarily mean gory make-up, loud sudden sounds and skeletons jumping on you of the Ramsay bros. variety.
The best horror film I've seen is easily The Shining. The scene in which the little boy is rolling his tennis ball out of the frame and when it just suddenly rolls back... it gives me goose pimples just writing about it. Of course, the director has very cleverly established that there is no other person in the corridor pretty well for it to be so effective. I have never stayed in a hotel room without thinking of this movie ever since.
I feel Horror, maybe more than any other genre, requires finesse to make. So when somebody can pull it off, its a much bigger credit to them.
The only other movies that came close are Sixth Sense (if you insist on calling it Horror), The Haunting (with Liam Neeson) and maybe The Ring (only the first part). Do watch but don't watch them alone.
I hate the feeling that you have throughout the movie when you are watching a well-made horror movie...just can't stand it....
Seen Sixth Sense, The Shining and The Ring...needless to say was horrified. Silence of the Lambs...gives me the creeps everytime I see Anthony Hopkins or Jodie Foster
Understandable if you don't like horror in general. I don't too. But some films like Sixth Sense and Shining are just too amazing to miss.
Silence of the Lambs was nice. But only because of Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster. I thought the book was far more chilling as it dwelled extensively on the psyche of the serial killer. But I guess its very rare that a movie is as good as the book. Have you read Psycho? Sure you've seen the movie. An exception to the rule of 'Don't judge a book by the movie'.
While on the subject, Godfather I and II could be examples of good (excellent, actually) movies from books while the Bourne series was a disaster. Looking forward to Kiterunner.
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