Terminator Salvation

My Expectations Were Terminated

Considering the last movie review I actually took the time to sit down and write was for the phenomenal Dark Knight, I hope it is understood that I only choose to share my thoughts when I have a certain degree of conviction behind them.   This is certainly the case when discussing one of my favorite franchises – Terminator. I had high hopes going into this, besides – the first two are classic films, the television show was outstanding – and this had a script that was doctored not only by Dark Knight writer Jonathan Nolan, but Crash scribe Paul Haggis.  Add in the acting talents of Christian Bale, and the underrated but capable action sequencing of douchey-namesake McG – and I expected an excellent crossover into the oft-hinted about “future” of the Terminator mythology.

Unfortunately, my vision of the future would not come to pass – much like that of John Connor.   Im not going to break down the movie scene by scene as you can easily google a review that is laden with spoilers.   My concern here is pointing out the key elements of the film that outright WHIFFED in missing the mark.  But before I touch on the negative, I would like to point out a few positive elements of the film.   Anton Yelchin, much like his performance in the outstanding Star Trek reboot – is excellent here as Kyle Reese.  He somehow manages to extrapolate a great deal of Biehn’s mannerisms from the original, while still infusing his own personality so he is not merely pantomiming.   Sam Worthington does a good job as Marcus – however given the bizarre “two-protagonist/not enough story” approach between his character and Bale’s Connor, there is no real opportunity for him to shine in the movie.

Now onto the bad….

Common:  Yet another laughably bad performance.   Common’s attempt at emoting the loss of his brother and pseudo-tough guy posturing are groan-worthy, and while I don’t think he is a terrible actor (i.e. Street Kings as a serviceable performance) – Common needs to gain a greater grip on his limitations as a performer.

Skynet:  Apparently the most sophisticated artifical intelligence ever conceived in the history of the universe has the tactical prowess of a Scooby-Doo villain.  As Connor realizes in the beginning of the film, his very existense is irrefutably tied to the survival of Kyle Reese.   If Kyle Reese is never sent back in time to impregnate his mother in the original Terminator, then Connor is never born, and the machines have a much easier time.   This movie obviously takes place pre-time travel, and thus Kyle Reese is public enemy number-one with Skynet.

Now, the obvious progression is for Skynet to exhibit the logic of a third grader and kill Kyle Reese, thus wiping John Connor off the face of the planet.  Does this happen?  Fuck no!  Why would it?  Though Skynet has Reese dead to rights on multiple occasions, it instead opts to capture him.   Now why would the greatest intelligence in the history of mankind do this…. well to lure John Connor in of course!

Let me recap.   The machines can..

a)  kill the inexperienced and youthful  Reese,  who is John Connor’s father, ONLY if he is sent back in time after the events of this film – thus resulting in the non-existence of John Connor on any timeline.

or..

b)  use Reese as bait to lure the now highly-capable Connor into their base, so that they can attempt to kill him and Reese using a newly minted T-800.

The machines choose b.  In all the script doctoring, noone realized that this is a completely illogical and asinine manuever by Skynet?  They could have easily shot Reese in the face about thirty times in this movie with virtually no chance of failure, and instead they decide to concoct a completely ludicrous plan using an “infiltrator” model and a fake “off-switch radio signal”.   YEAHOK.

I would like to revisit one final point before I finish my dissection of this movie, and that was the aforementioned T-800.  If you are unaware, this is a Terminator complete with CG- Schwarzeneggar skin. (Arnold refused to be in the movie, as he has aged considerably since the 1984 debut of the original – which is what model this Terminator just so happens to be).  Some reviews will say this CG is well done.  I agree… it is well done if this is Beowulf, or Shrek.  It is not well-done in the sense that we are supposed to believe that he is in a movie with HUMAN FUCKING BEINGS.

So Claymatianeggar is the icing on the cake of one of the worst-written action movies in years.    As expected, McG nails the action scenes – they are all excited, well shot, well edited, well scored, and for the most part well acted.  Unfortunately, the plot of the movie is a weak link that ultimately melts the entire chain – ala Arnie’s fate in T2.

I give it 4 out of 10.

No Idea’s Original

Nasir Jones never spoke truer words.

My script for Kinetic was moving forward at a surprisingly good pace until today.  I threw the hook, but Hollywood stopped me in my tracks with a stiff jab.  I was reading the daily coverage from Comic-Con in L.A. and came across an interview with actor Chris Evans, regarding his upcoming movie Push.

As I read the interview with horror, I realized that the synopsis of this movie was frighteningly similar to my movie!  Even more ironic that one of my characters was being written with Chris Evans in mind..

so for now..

its back to the drawing board.

Kinetic Moves Forward

The oh-so-joyous outlining process

Play on words non-withstanding, I wanted to post an update that my screenplay for Kinetic is finally beginning to take its first productive steps towards completion.  With all the medical issues as of late, as well as the impending birth of a new addition to our family – this blog, and my work have both been equally disrupted.

I have all but finished the arduous process of outlining the first act of the film, and I am excited to actually begin to write the actual first draft of the screenplay.  As you can probably tell by my rather homeless appearance in the above picture – outlining is not exactly my favorite thing in the world to do.  However, it is a necessary evil.  I am far too scatterbrained to write freeform, and even if I could – I am a chronic reviser.  My first two attempts at treatments never crossed the finish line before I began to rewrite the first page.  Obviously, this is a cancer to the writing process, if you are constantly reworking things in the script before finishing your first attempt at a complete idea.

On the other hand, I am also very averse to detailed outlines.  I am refusing to outline dialog, and am only using the cards to frame the introduction of characters and the ebb and flow of action throughout the script.  It definitely took a while for me to fully embrace doing this, but my inspiration was based on a suggestion from B-Moore, who was utilizing a similar approach.

I can say with a high degree of certainty, that had I not taken the “cards” approach – I would probably still be trying to figure out what my idea was truly about.   As always, any comments/questions/etc are appreciated – and will serve as a break from the grindstone.

Coming Together

The Dark Knight

As a child, most of us would agree that the movie watching experience was just that… an experience. As we age into adults who are ever-growing cynics, I believe we begin to appreciate film and storytelling less. This is not necessarily intentional, as the amount of entertainment we subject ourselves to increases, we obviously begin to realize how derivative of each other the majority of movies are.

However, every once in a while – a film comes along that challenges the conventions of a genre, as well as your own expectations. It is this challenge that renews that childhood excitement we all once had in movies, and forces us to appreciate the exorbitant level of creative depth necessary to produce a truly masterful work.

The Dark Knight is that film.

An hour into the movie, as the second act begins to pick up – I was in awe. I was no longer watching the movie as a fan, but utilizing it’s craftsmanship as a learning tool. I could visualize the words on the page for each scene as they were spoken – and it resonated thoughts of inspiration, as well of defeat.

I could never write something this good.

This was the thought echoing in my mind for the majority of the film, as well during the 4am drive home while trying to recollect and piece together the story I had just experienced. Now, Im not trying to tell you this is a brand new story that you haven’t seen before – it is. From Point A, to Point Z – this movie does not break any conventions in terms of plot devices and overall flow, it is the hero’s journey through and through.

What makes this movie incredible is the way the characters are developed and defined within that framework. The way their actions and words are scripted out and intertwined to ultimately produce a novel and unique approach. The level of depth achieved by the actors and The Nolans with directing/writing is unparalleled in the “summer movie” genre, and should serve as a blueprint for movies that attempt to fall in a similar vein.

I can admit, at first I did not buy into the Heath Ledger hype for this role. Honestly, I didn’t see the direction they were attempting to take the character in until actually watching the film. After watching this movie, I can say that all the fanfare surrounding his performance (Oscar talks, etc), is truly, truly deserved – and honestly probably still does not do it justice. Ledger is definitive in his performance, he eclipses the Nicholson performance of Burton’s Joker, if not in style – certainly in the impact his character creates in the overall story.

He is haunting, both entertaining and unsettling at the same time. The laughs generated from his character’s lines are nervous in nature, there are no overtly comedic moments. I have read comments in reviews labeling his performance as being the greatest villain of all time, and I can certainly appreciate that opinion. Ledger’s Joker is not a character you cheer for, it is a character that captivates you with its mystique and pure unpredictability. With Bale, you can hear notes of Patrick Bateman in his inflection, a reminder that you are watching a movie – this same familiarity cannot be found with Ledger. He is the Joker. His voice, mannerisms, etc are altered to an unrecognizable point, and never once does he venture into familiar territory to remind you that this is in fact, the guy from 10 Things I Hate About You.

Overall, this is one of few movies I have seen as an adult that I could categorize as an “Experience”. Though Marvel struck first with an excellent visualization of the Iron Man character, and a much improved rebirth for the Incredible Hulk, DC has trumped their rival with a film that transcends them both, as well as the superhero/comic book genre. The Nolan’s, and the cast of this film took a fantastical subject, and created a gritty, realistic world for the characters to exist in – one that will certainly have movie fans nervously looking over their shoulders when leaving the theater.

DLS

Arthritis and The Mist

No, that isnt the title of my movie.

However, it is the reason I have been slack in updating the blog… After a month of going to the chiropractor for treatment of my “pinched nerve”, I was finally recommended to a real doctor.

Real Doctor did blood work, etc on me because he was suspicious that I did not actually have a pinched nerve, that in fact, i had arthritis.

So blood work comes back, boom I have arthritis.. got some pills, and overall am feeling a million times better… hopefully the pills will continue to kick ass over the next ten days, and I will be back to 100%.

The second part of this concerns Stephen King’s The Mist – which I watched last night.. overall, the movie gets a C from me.. but the ending – a fucking A. Easily one of the most fucked up endings Ive ever seen..

Now, the script – the script is coming along, during my pain-induced hiatus from the blog, alot of ideas have started to come together.. and Im beginning to gain a little more confidence of my overall story – hopefully by this weekend I will get back to work on the actual typing..

Crash and Burn

The first two acts of my screenplay met their death on Sunday.  I wasn’t happy with the direction of the story, so I subjected it to the irreversable demise of the delete button.  Over at www.johnaugust.com, I read a comment that there is a Five-Script rule that applies to screenwriters.   This rule states that the first five scripts anyone writes will almost certainly suck.

Needless to say, I was a little taken aback by this theory.  The positive news is that I am nearly as far on my second synopsis for the story as I was on my first.  The plot on this version definitely seems much tighter, and hopefully I will be able to finish and begin the script by the weekend. Be sure to check b-moore’s page, as he too is attempting a journey into the world of screenwriting.  If you do nothing else, harass him to make sure he doesn’t slack off.  We all need someone there to push us to stay focused.

Lastly, the back is feeling much better.  Hopefully the pinched nerve saga is coming to an end.   This will be helpful both in writing, as well as to my wife – who is growing increasingly frustrated by my inability to do anything around the house.

Until next time,

Henry Hill

Much like Henry Hill in Goodfellas, a nerve in my spine has gotten pinched.   For anyone who has never had a pinched nerve – please commence to knocking on wood as you read this.  For those that have, you surely understand the agony associated with this satanic affliction.

It causes me to wake up throughout the night unable to breathe, as my muscles are all constricted around my spine which causes my entire chest to tighten up.  If I do manage to sleep through the night, the next day my leg is in pain – as the nerve runs from my spine to my toes.  This causes me to walk with a limp, and makes sitting down for any period of time extremely uncomfortable.  Though I have gone to the chiropractor 12 times in the past two weeks, I am not seeing any improvement.  The next step is having an MRI done to see if I have more serious damage to my nervous system.

Obviously, this has delayed my progress in writing – however today I plan on staying covered in ice and popping Motrin in an effort to make it possible for me to sit at the computer and accomplish something.

Damn you Henry Hill.

Method vs. Feel

I began writing the treatment for my screenplay last night. “Treatment” is apparently just movie slang for a five page synopsis of your film from start to finish. During this process, I continued to realize what I had already begun to perceive about writing prose/screenplays.

Writing in this format is much more about METHOD than it is about FEEL.

Granted, great ideas, creativity, etc are all things that can occur naturally – the actual formulating of these ideas into a treatment or script is very regimented. Where music was all about “feel” – you would hear the beat, it would inspire you to write the words, which would inspire you to perform the song, etc… This is very much a step by step lesson in formatting, screenwriting has to be visual and creative – yet precise and organized. Its a very strange tightrope to walk.

If I had never visited blogs like Artful Writer, or read any books on this – I wouldnt know where to begin. How would anyone inherently know that scripts must be written in 12 point Courier, as it takes the human brain one minute to process a page of words written in this font?? I wouldnt have, but Im glad to know now.

As far as the treatment goes, I have a fairly solid synopsis of my first act. I hope to have it done by the weekend so I can officially launch into writing the actual script. That is, if I can continue to resist the urge to color outside the lines…

Dustin

ACT I

For some of you – this blog may come as no surprise.  However, for some of you who may have stumbled onto this by fate/accident, there may warrant some back story behind my desire to pursue screenwriting.  Like most children of the eighties, I have grown up on countless hours of television,  film, and video games – which has almost naturally made me attuned to and interested in the entertainment field.

As a lifelong fan of music, especially hip hop – it was a natural progression for me to pursue that as my first dream.  For several years I was one half of the group Forge and Amen, and while you certainly never saw us on TRL – it was a character building experience that really opened my eyes to the “business” of entertaining. From doing shows up and down the east coast, to the harsh and sometimes glorious reviews from critics, the time we spent doing music definitely exposed us both to the thick skin one must develop in order to flourish in any creative industry.

In preparation for what will hopefully be a long and fruitful journey – I have dedicated as much time as possible to reading books on screen writing, reading the blogs of successful screenwriters, and most importantly – reading scripts.  Throughout this process I have discovered that the similarities between music and my current endeavor are staggering.  Both are greatly dependent on possessing a certain style.  Much in the sense that it would be very difficult to perform music having never heard it, it would be equally difficult to understand the nuances of writing in the style of a screenwriter without having actually read it..

I went into this expecting to write a novel. I quickly learned that my mind worked a little too visually to really go into the copious detail required of a novelist.  Through reading a few scripts, I realized that my best bet of getting the stories in my mind onto the page was through screen writing.

I can admit, rather selfishly, that the sole purpose of this blog is to provide me with an outlet for writing outside of the lengthy process of putting together a screenplay.  Regardless of whether anyone is reading or not – it will hopefully serve to keep me motivated and focused on the task at hand.  Not to be a complete ass however, I certainly would love to engage with anyone who chooses to read during this progression – as each discussion/post can only lead to future inspiration.

Stay Tuned.