MovieChat Forums > Guillermo del Toro Discussion > Really great at everything EXCEPT...

Really great at everything EXCEPT...

posted 8 years ago by fluffyburger
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With the exception of Pan's Labyrinth, his screenplays are quite subpar and often have plot holes and narrative missteps. Even his dialogue, although adequate, has no sparkle. He is remarkably visual, and his artistry over the mood and texture of his films is truly wonderful. I just wish that he wouldn't insist on writing the screenplays. Of course he has fantastic ideas, but he should really hire or collaborate with a gifted screenwriter to convey those stories, while he works on the visual elements. He doesn't have to do it all. Hitchcock didn't. Kubrick didn't. Why does del Toro think he must? I think his films would be much better regarded if he delegated the scripts to another.

[–] jnskrft 8 years ago

Let's take the first minutes of trollhunters. I know it is an animated series and a fantasy tale. But the main character finds an amulet which is calling him out by his name. Next thing he sits in school and already is busy with drooling over his love interest. Even within a story filled with magic and magic realism you shouldn't forget the realism. Especially in this category of film making it is crucial to get the realism right to be able to suspend disbelief. No 'real' character would just go by his day after something like that happened and casually suggest to his friend to search the term "speaking amulet". If the amulet just had made some noise or spoken cryptic or any words it would have made sense. But it spoke HIS name, so his behavior afterwards makes no sense at all... Lazy stupid writing. There are so many intelligent minds involved in creating a series like this and nobody is realizing this complete nonsense in character presentation?! smh