MovieChat Forums > Apocalypto (2006) Discussion > The "Hollywood-formula" (possible spoile...

The "Hollywood-formula" (possible spoilers)

posted 9 years ago by nalini-kluth-735-879554
5 replies | jump to latest

... killed this movie for me.

Great actors, great costumes, great make-up, great setting, great cinematography - I could go on and on about the positive aspects of this movie, nevertheless I lost complete interest after roughly 40 minutes for the following reason: The "Hollywood-Formula" kills the story:

- If you drop a pregnant woman and a small child in a deep hole, there is no way they are not gonna get rescued by the end of a Hollywood movie.

- You cannot blame a film for having a protagonist, but if he is such a nice fellow as Jaguar Paw, you know nothing fatal will happen to him and he will not be sacrificed or caught by his pursuers.

- If you build up a sadistic villain like Middle Eye you know he is gonna get what he deserves in the end.

- If you show a peaceful village with people living in harmony and joy, you know something bad is going to happen to them.

These are just four of the most striking "Hollywood-formula" features, which you can rely on and which always spoil movies for me.

Suspense is an important factor to keep up the viewer's interest, but since the studio bosses (and script writers) do not want to surprise (or shock) them, they always use the same cliches and worn-out plot devices and turn any great film into a mediocre one by using these formulas.

I could still admire the images, but I could watch these nearly as good in a documentary. The story itself became boring and trite.

Please help me - is it possible that there are viewers who know all that as well and nevertheless do not lose interest in the (obvious) outcome? How do you keep up your interest ? Do you still feel thrilled and find scenes suspenseful?

I am really desperate: either I stop watching Hollywood movies completely or I must find a way to cope with that. If you can send me suggestions where these formulas, cliches and plot devices are not used, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks

Nali :*

[–] tudyniuz 9 years ago

I enjoyed the movie but I agree with everything you said. I think that Hollywood has it's own way of doing things and even on "different" movies like this one, those really common ideas and ways of making a movie still get through.

You mentioned at the end that you would stop watching Hollywood movies. I have been having that same thought for a few years, and I've started watching more and more European and Asian movies. The amount of very good movies is quite staggering and you start wondering how Hollywood gets away with making terrible movies all the time (I'm not talking about Apocalypto here).

[–] Robbmonster 9 years ago

I don't think you can blame 'Hollywood'. As far back as storytelling goes, stories have been filled with likeable heroes, people waiting to be recused, the guilty being punished for their crimes. These are standard aspects of storytelling.

The trick is to find stories that somehow subvert formula, directed by directors and written by writers who understand formula and know how to twist it around, or simply how to hit the right beats at the right time. It's not about not using such 'plot devices' - they SHOULD be used. The trick is to use them with originality and imagination.

But sometimes cliche is just cliche, comforting and familiar.

Never defend crap with 'It's just a movie'
http://www.youtube.com/user/BigGreenProds

[–] nalini-kluth-735-879554 9 years ago

You are absolutely right and I wholeheartedly agree. That's what I meant to say - thanks for adding this useful reply.

Nali :*

[–] agwrvi 8 years ago

How about the tapir as the protagonist where he turns the tables on his pursuers and takes them all out, then leads his animal farm to a peaceful utopian society for a period of years, until Spaniards unexpectedly land and have them for breakfast food.

[–] jambawala 8 years ago

I love your response because it suitably lampoons the original poster. Apocalypto, like any great film, obeys its genre conventions while still offering a remarkably fresh setting and imaginative set-pieces. The film is suitably intense and visceral but thankfully gives us the outcomes we really want by letting the hero live and rescue his family. That's the most basic pillar of the chase-action genre.

Nalini, if you only want movies where the good guy loses and the bad guy wins, then it sucks to be you. I'm very glad that good filmmakers are aware of various genre conventions and follow them so that audiences get what they want.