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Tuesday, October 14, 2014

What makes a movie good?

                Cinema are one of the major parts of the entertainment industry. Some argue that films are easily made and that films do not deserve the revenue it gets. These people do not see films as a an art form. Not any movie can be good. Watchable and good are two very different levels quality-wise and many think that all films are good because they are watchable. People fail to appreciate the few good movies that are actually out there. How do we tell a good movie from a mediocre movie? Simple, there are plenty of factors to what makes a good movie.
                The cast is an important part to a good movie. With a great script and dialogue, actors are needed to deliver them with passion. To those that argue that acting is easy, it’s not. There are many type of actors. From your popcorn actor to your Oscar-worthy actor, a movie needs to be able to find the suitable actor to play its character. Sometimes, an actor can make a mediocre film good. In ‘Primal Fear’, Edward Norton plays an altar boy with a multiple personality convicted of murder. The film had nothing special in it, with it’s courtroom drama not as exciting as it should’ve been and the story as normal as possible. Richard Gere has his moments but Edward Norton was what brought the film to a whole new level.
                A good script is a very important factor to a movie. Every movie needs a script because without a script nothing can be played out the way the director envisions it to be. A good script does not necessarily mean a mind-blowing concept but rather means a script with great dialogue which inserts realism into the movie and personality to its characters. After all, with the exception of the slasher genre, what would a movie be with uninteresting and bland characters. What would a movie be if the movie is way too imaginative and unrelatable to its audience. Pulp fiction is a classic with the script carrying the quality of the film. Giving the audience characters who are involved in the crime industry and yet transforming characters to normal pedestrians that we see all the time on the streets.
                Direction and style are the most important factors to making a good movie. A good director would play out the script exactly as he envisions it to be. The style varies depending on the director. The direction is what really brings out the genre to the audience. With lousy direction, the film would bring a completely opposite affect onto the audience, thus not being able to give them the director’s vision of the film. David Fincher is a master at direction and always gives the audience such a realistic style and feel of the movie. In ‘Se7en’, he makes the theme and the message of the movie clear with the addition of a dark realistic which made the movie one of his best.

                The factors are all inter-connected to one another. Only a great movie will have all three factors. Look at the classics, ’Citizen Kane’ or ‘The Godfather’ has the audiences captivated with a great cast, great script and most importantly, great direction. Movies are common, good movies are rare, and great movies the rarest.