Tuesday, July 26, 2011
GHOSTBUSTERS BS2 -- Take 2
Friend and fellow Cat fan Jason Holborn gives his own take on Ghostbusters. He's a big GB fan and sites it as a major influence. Lots of similarities in my take & his...but some subtle/key differences to. Thanks Jason!
Opening Image (1): Tracking shot in on Lion outside NYPL
Theme Stated (5): Good movies have more than one good theme; I don't always agree with Blake's analysis of the Theme Stated moment. I have two suggestions:
1. "Get her!" They follow Ray's suggestion but the Library Ghost terrifies them away. Peter mocks Ray: "Get her!" Blake would say: "But that's what this movie is about… a guy who overcomes his discomfort (fear) of women and has to ultimately GET HER: win the hand of the Princess" or something Blake-ish like that.
2. "We regard science as a service to mankind. You seem to regard science as a hussy, a dodge". There would be no Ghostbusters (the business) without Peter. Ray & Egon would NEVER open up a Ghostbusters business… they would take their theories to another university and grovel for a second chance. Ray says after they're booted that they're finished in academia and will have to seek opportunity in the private sector - which terrifies him. Peter exploits Egon and Ray's research and work and findings for profit, and tries to use their science to get into Dana's pants. He turns them into celebrities with success and fortune and fame. He's a con artist capitalist who is ultimately given, by Egon, the Mr. Spock science officer on his team, the doorway to use science to serve mankind - at risk of his own life. He gladly takes up the opportunity and is the first to fire through the gateway to Gozer's domain. Blake might say "He's learned to use science to serve mankind -- and by confronting the flaw Dean Yeager bitterly points out to him, he achieves what he really truly wants: Dana Barrett.
*I don't know either of these are the "theme" or the "Theme Stated" of Ghostbusters. It's got more than one theme (which is part of its greatness imo).
Set-Up (1-10):
-A librarian encounters frightening paranormal activity in the cellar of the library
-Peter fakes research to cozy up to a naive and hot blonde student, maliciously using the male student (a combination of young Ray and young Egon) to butter her up into a date. "I was just about to say -- 8 o'clock". She's vain and shallow and enjoys seeing the Other Student suffer. Enter Ray - excited, enthusiastic, energetic. Ray insists Peter come, drags him along.
- Peter doesn't think highly of paranormal research. Doesn't respect Egon, ie "I'm Dr. Venkman, Dr. Stantz, Egon."
They enter the library cellar. Note disturbances. Meet ghost; run away in fear.
-But Egon believes with the encounter's readings, they're ready to physically capture and contain indefinitely a ghost. Peter has a respect for Egon.
*"Get her!" and they're terrified and bolt. Gozer takes the form of a woman and they must "get her", but climactically must not be afraid.
Catalyst (12): 13:34 They're thrown off the university campus. Venkman regards science as a hustle, the Dean views science as a service to mankind.
*(Venkman must apply Egon and Ray's science to serve mankind)
Debate (12-25):
Ray's afraid. Major disgrace. Humiliated. But Peter is sure there's a business opportunity… because he views science as a hustle.
- Peter gets a second mortgage on Ray's parents house. Peter positions Ray into a crippling mortgage. But sees massive $ potential.
- View firehouse. It's crap. Ray loves it. It's unspoken, but Ray holds the pursestrings.
B-Story 1 (pg 17) (arrives in Act 1)
- Meanwhile, on Central Park Avenue West, Dana Barrett gets out of a cab with celery in a paper bag (movie groceries).
- She has a B-Story of her own, Louis Tully. Big mistake to not fight harder for John Candy; Moranis doesn't have the courageous sadness of Candy, he just plays up geek. DANA LEFT HER TV ON (but doesn't recall doing so (ie. she didn't leave it on)
- A cheesy commercial for the nascent Ghostbusters business is on the tv. Dana unpacks her groceries and the eggs (next to the Stay-Puft Marshmallows) start to crack and fry on the counter. A terrifying DEMON is in her refrigerator. Dana encounters it and shrieks.
Break Into Two (25):
This is page 20 and I suppose it's debatable if this is now Act 2. The movie's about the business, and the business is now Open, and that's my reasoning here.
-Peter's insecure about the prominence of the text sign. Ray pulls up with a Plymouth ambulance which is obviously in terrible shape.
Fun and Games (30-55):
- Jeanine has nothing to report. Peter insults her and walks off. But, he apologizes before disappearing. Jeanine and Egon talk -- she has a crush on Egon.
- Dana enters the firehouse. Ray's working on the car. Dana asks for help. Peter spots the Pretty Lady and comes running.
- They interview Dana. Hiding from Dana's POV, Peter suggests "certain procedures", hinting "save me" to Ray & Egon. They have research ideas (Tobin's Spirit Guide, etc) while Peter seizes the opportunity to go back to Miss Barrett's and "check her out"
Peter checks Dana's apartment. She's suspicious immediately -- he makes sexual references to her. She challenges him -- he gets brave and enters the kitchen. Nada.
He sits on the couch and he tries to seduce her "Let me tell you about me" "Let me go for broke". He claims to be in love with her. She throws him out. But he vows to solve her little problem and impress her. (This is pre-Moment of Grace, he's just playing a line)
-They're out of cash. Peter's trying to use the business (their science) for seduction: petty cash for dinner with Dana. But they're broke.
Downstairs, Jeanine gets a call and activates the alarm. (pg 29)
They slide down pole, get into uniform, and unveil the Ecto-Mobile. First time you see the Ghostbusters logo (barring opening title)
-When they arrive at the Sedgewick, you see the proton packs for the first time. Debrief a history of 12th floor disturbances. They head upstairs, people find them bizarre (that's gotta be some cockroach). They haven't ever tested the equipment (a plot hole: they could have visited the basement of the Main Branch of the New York Public Library)
- They search hotel. Fire on maid; Ray spots Gluttonous Ghost (I'll just say Slimer), sets fire to hall; Egon touches man to test reality; Venkman sees Slimer, slimed; they lock themselves in ballroom. DON'T CROSS THE STREAMS: Egon explains that it means potential instant death (total protonic reversal). They catch the ghost successfully!
- Montage with music and Headlines and broadcast media. *Jeanine is now fully on board, she speaks the lingo and knows what to do. They are FAMOUS, established, and SUCCESSFUL: note the new 3D logo sign replacing the one Peter was insecure about. They hire Winston Zeddemore.
Midpoint (55)
Dana Barrett leaves the symphony and is actually pleased to see Peter, or "Dr. Venkman". He listened in on the rehearsal. He's a big celebrity now - he tries to hustle her into dinner but she wants the info now. He can't read the info (what's that word?) but she can. They still have no answers. He wants to exchange info on Thurs at 9ish. Peter ponies up and this I think is his
MOMENT OF GRACE
Peter confesses that he respects Dana. She's shunned him and put him in his place and thrown him out but he still likes her and he has a serious moment: "I respect you." He immediately gets jokey and drops the seriousness, charm-compliments her attire and style and makes her laugh, but the serious moment has been deployed. HE GETS HIS DATE WITH DANA AND HE SPINS ALONE IN THE SQUARE.
(I've always held this is the mid-point and still do; I see it's 44mins, with 1 full hour left to go. Perhaps it's just Peter's mid-point. The story is about the business.)
Bad Guys Close In (55-75):
They train Winston. Jeanine demands a raise - she's overworked and underpaid. Peter insults her. Walter Peck (you could say he's A Second B-Story) of the EPA wants to talk; he's hostile and officious. He's suspicious. Peter parries Peck's interrogation and they conflict more. Peck threatens and Peter threatens back. Peck assures he's not bluffing.
Egon has odd news. The PKE readings of the city are going crazy (that's a big Twinkie) Peter announces EPA visit and asks how grid is holding up: "Not good". He wants to hear about the Twinkie.
- Atop Dana's condo, during a brewing storm, you see there are statues of Terror Dogs like the one in Dana's fridge. One starts to fracture… there's a REAL demon Terror Dog inside the statue, emerging.
- Louis is distraught Dana made a date tonite (John Candy should have played this). Dana returns home. Suffers a "Bad Guys Close In" talk with her mother, and announces she's going on "a date", with a Ghostbuster - those guys on TV. Dana relaxes and doesn't notice the horrible light from the kitchen until it's too late. "Oh shit". She's dragged into kitchen to a horrible unseen terrifying fate.
- Louis's party. John Candy should have done this part. He has a desperation that evokes sympathy, Moranis is good but in this part he's just "desperate". This party is like another F&G. Louis has a Terror Dog in his bedroom, and just narrowly escapes. He runs across the street and into Central Park. He's locked out of Tavern On The Green and Vinz Clortho gets him.
- Peter arrives at Dana's. Curious at crowd, but it was just "a cougar went nuts at a party". Dana is possessed; he's not the Keymaster. He knocks again and claims he is. Enters. She is Zuul. He notes ectoplasm coating apartment. Zuul tries to seduce him; he wisely decides she's "too crowded". She levitates (and, how did they do that?, rotates).
- Vinz Clortho runs through Central Park seeking the Gatekeeper. Louis is played for total laughs in movie and lacks the depth of the other characters. Too bad John Candy was busy.
- Police knock on GB HQ with Louis/Vinz Clortho. Jeanine cozies up to Egon: "You're a kind humanitarian." "I don't think he's human."
- Jeanine claims to be psychic; she senses terror and Death.
Peter calls and confers with Egon. Dana's the Gatekeeper and Egon has the Keymaster. Peter will be right there. Egon needs Ray immediately.
- Winston and Ray return to HQ in Ecto-mobile as Ray looks over structural ironwork for Dana Barrett's apartment building. Winston wants to talk about the End of The World, Judgment Day. "Myth? We've been so busy lately because the Dead HAVE been rising from the grave." A shiver runs down Ray's spine.
- EPA and Con-Ed and Police show up at HQ, bustle past Jeanine. Peter returns on foot. Peck has shut down containment grid and everyone must clear the building as the grid explodes and thousands of ghosts escape in a paranormal surge of psychokinetic energy.
Ray and Winston return. Walter J Peck has them all arrested. THE KEYMASTER HAS ESCAPED.
Ghosts return to NYC and possess the city. (Another example of Fun & Games inside BGCI imho)
Possessed Dana wakes up. Possessed Louis is walking around the city free.
All Is Lost (75): The Ghostbusters are in jail. Peter is briefed on Dana's building and Ivan Shandor (BTW Ivan Shandor was the original "Gozer" in the script before they made it a woman). Dana lives in the corner penthouse of spook central.
Dark Night Of The Soul (75-85): Same scene: Egon intones that the end of the world is at hand, and Ray realizes the dread seriousness of the situation: "We have to get out of here". The team may split up: Winston needs his own lawyer.
Break Into Three (85): The Mayor wants them out of lock-up for a meeting, and Louis Tully/Vinz Clortho returns home to the Ivo Shandor's haunted apartment building on Central Park West where Zuul awaits. Moranis is really the weakest link in this movie. Zuul leads Vinz to the secret stairs hidden in her kitchen.
Mayor's office - city is falling apart and no one has answers.
Peter and Peck face-off in front of the Mayor. Peter's con artist powers are too tempting and Peck loses.
Finale (85-110): Aka STORMING THE CASTLE
1 - GATHERING THE TEAM
The National Guard/Army rallies, while NYPD provide an escort for the Ecto Mobile, Army escorting them. Black clouds gather around Dana's building (the Castle) while ordinary people (Villagers) surround the Castle. There's even 2 Dragons and an Evil Sorceress up top waiting…
2 - STORMING THE CASTLE
People cheer.
Egon looks up in fear. AN earthquake strikes. The Ghostbusters disappear, swallowed pin a chasm as the streets rip apart. A police cruiser disappears next.
Silence.
"There they are!". The Villagers CHEER as the Ghostbusters crawl back to safety. Chants of "Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters" and the team join hands and Enter the Castle.
Climb up stairs on foot.
They enter Dana's suite and discover the secret staircase.
"Where do they go?"
"They go up!"
They arrive in time to see Zuul and Vinz Clortho manifested as the Gate to Gozer's dimension opens up before them.
3 - HIGHTOWER SURPRISE: They're too late; the Princess is now a Dragon
Peter cares now: ("DANA!") but he's too late.
They meet Gozer. It's a girl (recalling "Get her!") (Hightower Surprise - it's a girl)
Peter sends Ray. Ray tries the legal approach. Gozer tries to kill them, they cling to life.
(Villagers at Castle foot cry in fear)
Peter now leads the charge. Rallies his troops and attacks.
Gozer disappears.
They've won. But Egon has a bad feeling about these readings.
Tremors and rubble and destruction ensue. Gozer challenges them to Choose.
Peter figures her ploy and orders all to clear their minds. You can see Ray accidentally choose.
IT's the StayPuft Marshmallow man.
They attack but are helpless and inutile.
Mr. StayPuft begins to climb the building, a la King Kong. Countdown to Destruction has arrived.
Egon poses Peter with the climactic question: if they cross the streams through the inter-dimensional door, there's a slim chance of survival.
4 - DIG DOWN DEEP
Everyone hesitates - but Peter happily accepts and leads his friends into battle to save the world.
5 - EXECUTION OF NEW PLAN
They activate proton streams and cross them JUST as Gozer in the form of Mr. StayPuft arrives to destroy them.
Gozer is destroyed.
Ray made it through alive.
He discovers Winston is also alive.
He next discovers Spenglis has survived.
So has Peter. He's the only one without marshmallow.
However the victory is a Pyrrhic one; Dana is dead.
Peter is hurt and Ray must apologize - Dana is gone. However there is hope and Dana is alive inside the statue; they pick it apart and release her. Peter sends his buds to go check on that little guy while he carries Dana to sure footing.
She's surprised to see Peter. He leads her away.
Winston LOVES THIS TOWN!
Before the adoring and cheering Villagers, Peter seeks a kiss from the Princess and she grants it. Dana gets into the Ecto-1 with the Ghostbusters, and they drive away.
Finale Image (110): Slimer flies into the camera.
Monday, July 25, 2011
GHOSTBUSTERS BS2
GHOSTBUSTERS by Dan Aykroyd & Harold Ramis
Genre -- I'm going to take an incomplete on this one. Going in, I was positive it was Superhero, but I'm not so sure now. I suppose they don't change so much as prove themselves...which suggests superhero. Or you could look at it as a Dude With a Problem but the event really doesn't materialize until midpoint. Or a golden fleece if you say it's Venkmann trying to win the love of Dana.
OPENING SHOT:
Gothic architecture; specifically a scary looking gothic lion statue that stands in front of the library. It suggests a secret/scary world that surrounds NYC. Both architecture and gothic statues will come into play in a big way later on.
SETUP:
A librarian is scared by something on screen! Meanwhile at the graffiti marred college office of our para-psychology heroes -- Venkmann (Bill Murray) is seducing a college volunteer via an ESP experiment while jolting another subject with electric shocks. It’s obvious he’s much more interested in blondes than science. Just when he’s about to get somewhere, Ray (Dan Aykroyd) interrupts – there’s something big going down at the library.
Once at the library, they meet up with their geeky colleague Egon, collect some ectoplasm, see some vertical book stacks, and witness an apparition…but they have no idea what to do. They try to grab it but it scares them away. But all is not for naught – Egon has collected some readings that show how they can trap a ghost.
CATALYST:
They find out the dean is kicking them out of the college – he thinks they are the worst kind of scientist. Venkmann isn’t worried – with this new ‘trap a ghost’ idea he’s ready to take their shtick to the private sector and start a ghost extermination business.
THEME STATED:
The arc of the movie is really the Ghostbusters going from quack scientists who are not respected by the college or their Clients(Dana) or the Government(EPA, Mayor) to being not only respected but being the toast of the town.
Venkmann is the point-man for the busters. And this disrespect to respect arc is also prevalent in his personal life with Dana.
It’s Venkmann’s methods that need to change. Early on, he has no respect for science and puts his personal life (girls & money) ahead of his science.
But later, he comes to be a guy who earns rewards in his personal life by putting in work instead of just trying to lie and con.
For a moral premise I started with --
Using your work for selfish reasons (women & money) leads to failure and lack of respect; working for others/self-sacrifice leads to victory and respect/fame.
...refining it a bit, I came to --
Lying and conning leads to lack-of-respect; proving your worth leads to respect/fame.
DEBATE:
They buy a near-condemned firehouse and setup shop. Cut a commercial. Hire a secretary.
Meanwhile, Dana (Sigourney Weaver) has an encounter with some evil creature in her refrigerator.
She shows up as their first potential client, and Venkmann immediately jumps in and offers to check out her apartment. His investigation is more focused on her than ghosts, frustrated she gets rid of him but he vows that he will gain her respect by figuring out her little demon problem in her refrigerator.
B-STORY:
Dana’s (Sigourney) story starts out in the background but by the midpoint becomes the main issue the Ghostbusters must face.
BREAK INTO ACT 2:
We got one!! Their first real case has arrived.
FUN & GAMES:
They go to a hotel and track down a slimmer, eventually trapping it using their new proton-pack/trap technology earning them $5000.
In the type of montage we usually see in Superhero origin stories like Superman or Spiderman – we see them on the cover of magazines, busting ghosts, and becoming a sensation.
Dana is watching and her interest in Venkmann is growing.
MIDPOINT:
Not only is the business getting more and more successful but Venkmann visits Dana and drops some research on her(and the name Zuul) and with things going good asks Dana out on a date and she accepts! Respectability!
Bill does a little victory dance around a fountain…his Moment of Grace…there might be something to honest work instead of scamming after all!
But there’s a downside to their success – an EPA guy shows up wanting to see their containment unit. Words are exchanged and he vows to come back with a warrant.
BAD GUYS CLOSE IN:
And more trouble – Ego says his reading suggest things are about to get really bad ‘supernaturally’.
Meanwhile, Dana and her geeky neighbor are possessed by Zuul!
Venkmann shows up for the date and Dana is full-on possessed. Meanwhile, the neighbor is dropped off at the Ghostbusters HQ. Venkmann shoots Dana up with some Thorazine.
ALL IS LOST:
The EPA guy comes back with his warrant. Shuts down the containment unit. All the captured ghosts are unleashed on NYC.
DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL:
The guys are thrown in prison. There, Ray shows some research – Dana’s building was built by a creepy cult leader to try to ‘channel Zuul’ to our world.
Meanwhile Gatekeeper/Keymaster get together…NYC is under siege by the paranormal. And the building is obviously channeling Zuul.
And here's another interesting thing -- I have no doubt that shutting down the containment unit is an All Is Lost...but in reality, as my buddy Dan points out -- it's never really said that Zuul comes because of the containment unit being shutdown...it's not even really suggested. So really? What do they lose there? They get thrown in prison and their respectability drops and I guess it signals the end of their business...but in some ways it more proves them right not wrong.
What follows is classic Dark Night of Soul stuff-- city under siege, guys in prison, etc.
BREAK INTO ACT 3:
The mayor wants to see the Ghostbusters…Venkmann convinces him to let them try to stop the bad-guy and earn his trust…
FINALE:
The Ghostbusters head to the top of Dana’s building. They do battle with Zuul using their proton packs. Eventually they pick their destroyer ‘the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man’. Their only hope is to perform a near suicidal/selfless act – Cross the Streams.
They do. And the marshmallow man is destroyed. New York is saved.
CLOSING IMAGE:
They return to a rabid-Ghostbuster loving crowd. Bill gets a kiss from Dana. They’ve gone from disrespected quacks to heroes.
Genre -- I'm going to take an incomplete on this one. Going in, I was positive it was Superhero, but I'm not so sure now. I suppose they don't change so much as prove themselves...which suggests superhero. Or you could look at it as a Dude With a Problem but the event really doesn't materialize until midpoint. Or a golden fleece if you say it's Venkmann trying to win the love of Dana.
OPENING SHOT:
Gothic architecture; specifically a scary looking gothic lion statue that stands in front of the library. It suggests a secret/scary world that surrounds NYC. Both architecture and gothic statues will come into play in a big way later on.
SETUP:
A librarian is scared by something on screen! Meanwhile at the graffiti marred college office of our para-psychology heroes -- Venkmann (Bill Murray) is seducing a college volunteer via an ESP experiment while jolting another subject with electric shocks. It’s obvious he’s much more interested in blondes than science. Just when he’s about to get somewhere, Ray (Dan Aykroyd) interrupts – there’s something big going down at the library.
Once at the library, they meet up with their geeky colleague Egon, collect some ectoplasm, see some vertical book stacks, and witness an apparition…but they have no idea what to do. They try to grab it but it scares them away. But all is not for naught – Egon has collected some readings that show how they can trap a ghost.
CATALYST:
They find out the dean is kicking them out of the college – he thinks they are the worst kind of scientist. Venkmann isn’t worried – with this new ‘trap a ghost’ idea he’s ready to take their shtick to the private sector and start a ghost extermination business.
THEME STATED:
The arc of the movie is really the Ghostbusters going from quack scientists who are not respected by the college or their Clients(Dana) or the Government(EPA, Mayor) to being not only respected but being the toast of the town.
Venkmann is the point-man for the busters. And this disrespect to respect arc is also prevalent in his personal life with Dana.
It’s Venkmann’s methods that need to change. Early on, he has no respect for science and puts his personal life (girls & money) ahead of his science.
But later, he comes to be a guy who earns rewards in his personal life by putting in work instead of just trying to lie and con.
For a moral premise I started with --
Using your work for selfish reasons (women & money) leads to failure and lack of respect; working for others/self-sacrifice leads to victory and respect/fame.
...refining it a bit, I came to --
Lying and conning leads to lack-of-respect; proving your worth leads to respect/fame.
DEBATE:
They buy a near-condemned firehouse and setup shop. Cut a commercial. Hire a secretary.
Meanwhile, Dana (Sigourney Weaver) has an encounter with some evil creature in her refrigerator.
She shows up as their first potential client, and Venkmann immediately jumps in and offers to check out her apartment. His investigation is more focused on her than ghosts, frustrated she gets rid of him but he vows that he will gain her respect by figuring out her little demon problem in her refrigerator.
B-STORY:
Dana’s (Sigourney) story starts out in the background but by the midpoint becomes the main issue the Ghostbusters must face.
BREAK INTO ACT 2:
We got one!! Their first real case has arrived.
FUN & GAMES:
They go to a hotel and track down a slimmer, eventually trapping it using their new proton-pack/trap technology earning them $5000.
In the type of montage we usually see in Superhero origin stories like Superman or Spiderman – we see them on the cover of magazines, busting ghosts, and becoming a sensation.
Dana is watching and her interest in Venkmann is growing.
MIDPOINT:
Not only is the business getting more and more successful but Venkmann visits Dana and drops some research on her(and the name Zuul) and with things going good asks Dana out on a date and she accepts! Respectability!
Bill does a little victory dance around a fountain…his Moment of Grace…there might be something to honest work instead of scamming after all!
But there’s a downside to their success – an EPA guy shows up wanting to see their containment unit. Words are exchanged and he vows to come back with a warrant.
BAD GUYS CLOSE IN:
And more trouble – Ego says his reading suggest things are about to get really bad ‘supernaturally’.
Meanwhile, Dana and her geeky neighbor are possessed by Zuul!
Venkmann shows up for the date and Dana is full-on possessed. Meanwhile, the neighbor is dropped off at the Ghostbusters HQ. Venkmann shoots Dana up with some Thorazine.
ALL IS LOST:
The EPA guy comes back with his warrant. Shuts down the containment unit. All the captured ghosts are unleashed on NYC.
DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL:
The guys are thrown in prison. There, Ray shows some research – Dana’s building was built by a creepy cult leader to try to ‘channel Zuul’ to our world.
Meanwhile Gatekeeper/Keymaster get together…NYC is under siege by the paranormal. And the building is obviously channeling Zuul.
And here's another interesting thing -- I have no doubt that shutting down the containment unit is an All Is Lost...but in reality, as my buddy Dan points out -- it's never really said that Zuul comes because of the containment unit being shutdown...it's not even really suggested. So really? What do they lose there? They get thrown in prison and their respectability drops and I guess it signals the end of their business...but in some ways it more proves them right not wrong.
What follows is classic Dark Night of Soul stuff-- city under siege, guys in prison, etc.
BREAK INTO ACT 3:
The mayor wants to see the Ghostbusters…Venkmann convinces him to let them try to stop the bad-guy and earn his trust…
FINALE:
The Ghostbusters head to the top of Dana’s building. They do battle with Zuul using their proton packs. Eventually they pick their destroyer ‘the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man’. Their only hope is to perform a near suicidal/selfless act – Cross the Streams.
They do. And the marshmallow man is destroyed. New York is saved.
CLOSING IMAGE:
They return to a rabid-Ghostbuster loving crowd. Bill gets a kiss from Dana. They’ve gone from disrespected quacks to heroes.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Air Force One
AIR FORCE ONE written by Andrew W Marlowe
Genre Type: Dude With a Problem
Die Hard on Air Force One. The screenwriters make the most of the premise -- fictionalized parachute ramps and escape pods, attacks by MIGs on the plane, a crash landing/takeoff, Zip-lining to another plane.
OPENING:
Paratroopers descend on a Kazakhstan building. A special forces team nabs General Radek, the leader of the ‘terrorist regime’.
SETUP:
President Marshall is in Russia celebrating the joint mission with the Russian leader Petrov. He gives an improvised and tough speech (can anyone say Axis of Evil) where he states that "real peace" is the presence of justice along with absence of conflict. The speech signals a change in foreign policy. It's dubbed the ‘be afraid’ speech. His cabinet members are worried.
Marshall gets on board Air Force One and meets up with his supportive wife and daughter; most of his cabinet is aboard. We get a feel for how much of a regular guy he is and how his life is pretty much all about work.
A Russian TV crew is also boarding, getting exclusive access to the President. They get the tour of the plane (and so do we – laying out where the action is happening).
THEME:
During his speech the President says “political self-interest will no longer stop America from doing what is right and that the capture of Radek is the start of a new offensive against terrorism and vows that he will never negotiate with terrorists, and that it's their "turn to be afraid"
The theme is really the question of self-interest vs. ideology. Oldman believes guys like the President order smart bombs while dressed in a Tuxedo. Oldman has personally witnessed war and justice.
The President has made a tough speech, but over the course of the film he’ll be forced to put his money where his mouth is – possibly sacrificing his wife and daughter for his ideology.
Similarly, the VP will be forced to make a judgment call – should she do the logical thing and take over as President thus endangering her friends/colleagues on Air Force One. The question arises – “is he making his decision as a father or as the president?
As for a morale premise, it’s something along the lines of:
Blindly following rules/laws without weighing them on a case-by-case basis leads to death and helplessness; using carefully applied judgment leads to heroism and success.
The President is willing to sacrifice everyone including his wife and daughter, blindly following his ‘do not negotiate with terrorist’ edict until he witnesses his Press Secretary’s murder. Then, he tries the new way of make choices based on saving lives – he attempts to save the hostages and even eventually gives the terrorists what they want when his daughter has a gun to her head.
This theme is pretty much THE theme of the TV show 24. Jack Bauer is the type of guy who makes the tough decisions but he's constantly having to weight the cold demands of his job vs. the lives of his wife/girlfriend/friend/etc.
CATALYST:
The Russian TV crew (led by Gary Oldman) attacks! They’re terrorists! One of the President’s security guys is a turncoat (Gibbs) and gives the Russian bad guys access to the weapon cabinet.
DEBATE:
Several passengers and crew are killed. Security Agents hustle the Pres to the escape pod before he can be captured.
When the flight crew attempts to make an emergency landing at Ramstein Airbase Oldman executes the pilots and wreaks mayhem in the base before setting the plane on a course back to Russia.
Oldman gathers the prisoners into the conference room and contacts the White House situation room (specifically the Vice President Glen Close). He gives his demands -- he will kill one person every hour until Radek is released. And he kills the National Security Advisor just to prove he’s Gary Oldman.
BREAK INTO ACT 2:
The Escape Pod is found and it’s empty! President is alive…and the Situation room realizes he’s the best chance they have to save the plane.
B-STORY:
The Vice President is advised to ‘take control of the presidency’; her struggle with this decision makes up the B-Story.
FUN & GAMES:
President Marshall is downstairs and kills two bad-guys.
Marshall is able to contact the VP via a mobile phone. Just as he does, another terrorist takes him prisoner. Pretending to talk to the terrorist, he secretly signals the VP to have fighters fire on the ship so its auto-pilot defense will take over. He uses this to get the jump on the terrorist.
He orders the VP not to give in, no matter what, sticking to his ‘tough justice’ policy. Kind of cold considering his wife and daughter are on board.
Oldman finds out and, thinking the man downstairs is a Secret Service agent, demands through the plane's intercom that the man surrender in ten seconds, or he will kill White House Deputy Press Secretary. The President is indecisive and Mitchell is killed.
This is his Moment of Grace – the President must witness firsthand what it’s like to personally sacrifice for an ideal.
The Prisoners begin to worry.
The President gets some experts to talk him through dumping some fuel. Oldman immediately demands an in the air refueling by the VP or he’ll kill a person a minute.
The Pres sneaks into the conference room where the prisoners are held. They come up with a plan – if they can get the plane to slow down and drop altitude they can parachute out the back.
The plan works, the hostages jump out of the plane, but the terrorists figure it out at the last moment and capture the president and a few others. They’re taken to the cockpit.
Oldman forces the US fighters to back off as they enter Russian airspace.
The president is beaten savagely by Oldman in front of his family. Oldman demands that he call president Petrov personally and arrange for Radek to be released.
ALL IS LOST:
Oldman holds the gun on the President’s daughter. The President is forced to make the call to Petrov. Radek will be released.
DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL:
The White House intercepts the call. The Attorney General wants the VP to take control of the presidency, but she refuses.
In Russia, Radek is being released.
BREAK INTO ACT 3:
The President cuts himself free with a piece of glass. They take out the remaining terrorists.
FINALE:
President makes call to stop the Radek release. Radek is shot.
Oldman grabs the first-lady and attempts escape. Once in the parachute bay he throws away all the remaining shoots but one claiming they’ve killed the only pilot.
The President gets the drop on him and pulls his shoot, killing him.
Now, the President – a former chopper pilot – is forced to fly the plane. But some MiGs attack…US forces intercept, one pilot takes a missile headed for Air Force One. But Air force One is damaged.
Their only hope is to zip line from Air Force One to a cargo plane. One by one they do it. The President Turncoat security guard pulls a gun and a fight ensues. But the president zips aboard at the last minute.
Air Force jets escort them home.
Friday, July 22, 2011
MIB: Men In Black BS2
MIB: Men In Black by Ed Solomon
Genre Type: Superhero/Buddy
OPENING IMAGE:
A long tracking shot of a very alien looking firefly. SPLAT! It ends up a bug on a windshield. A very subtle but specific metaphor -- the driver of the truck oblivious to this whole world of alien creatures and whether they live or die.
SETUP:
A coyote transporting illegal aliens in a van runs into a blockade of law enforcement. They open the back and a bunch of immigrants get out. Just then the Men In Black (MIB) appear – Tommy Lee Jones and another older guy. They dismiss the law enforcement and discover a real ET among the bunch. The older MIB is slow, and they end up having to shoot the alien. It’s time for the older MIB to retire. He’s too old for the job. Tommy Lee pulls out his Neural Nebulizer – a device that makes people forget used to cover-up the Alien conspiracy. He uses it on his friend partner.
Will Smith straight out of his cop-character from Bad Boys is in the middle of a foot chase. He eventually corners the super-powered culprit (who also has a high-tech alien pistol) on the roof of a building. The bad-guy says ‘He’s coming’ and does a weird alien blinky thing with his eyes before leaping to his death.
A spaceship crashes on a farm. A creature inhabits the farmer’s body. This is The Bug, our villain.
Back in NYC, Will gets debriefed and nobody believes his wild tale. Tommy Lee shows up, he believes. He wants to know exactly what Will heard/saw. They go to a pawn shop that’s selling high-tech alien weaponry and have an encounter with an alien. Will’s dumbstruck…but Tommy Lee uses his Neural Nebulizer to erase Will’s memory.
Note: One pattern I'm finding with some of these more popular blockbusters - it's hard to pick a catalyst. The entire setup plays like a catalyst. Jaws & ET for example...every scene furthers the a-story plot.
Note: One pattern I'm finding with some of these more popular blockbusters - it's hard to pick a catalyst. The entire setup plays like a catalyst. Jaws & ET for example...every scene furthers the a-story plot.
CATALYST:
But seeing something in him, Tommy Lee gives him a business card and tells him to show up at the building the next morning.
THEME STATED:
You can summarize the theme as simply ‘ignorance is bliss’. It’s constantly hammered on – Tommy’s first partner looks at the stars in the opening scene and says “They’re beautiful aren’t they…the stars.” He can’t look at the stars for their simple beauty because he knows the dangers that lurk beyond them.
Later on Tommy Lee expands this idea ‘globally’:
“There's always an Arquillian Battle Cruiser, or a Corillian Death Ray, or an intergalactic plague that is about to wipe out all life on this miserable little planet, and the only way these people can get on with their happy lives is that they do not know about it! “
The moral premise seems to be:
KNOWLEDGE of the harsh realities of our universe leads to sadness/loneliness; IGNORANCE leads to happiness.
It could almost be analogous to modern man navigating the world blissfully ignorant of how tenuous their lives given politics/dwindling natural resources/threat of war/threat of disease/etc.
While the Moral Premise is clearly stated throughout, I question its effectiveness; it’s never really shown how horrible life is knowing these things. Tommy Lee seems pretty well adjusted, sure he misses the life he could have had but he doesn’t seem torn up from being a MIB and having the knowledge he has. He seems pretty cool/calm and a good mentor/worker who generally has a good demeanor.
Similarly, Will goes from blissful ignorance to knowledge…but it doesn’t seem to harm him in anyway. So while the theme is presented, I’m not sure it’s really executed in a way that resonates. His knowledge changes, but his emotional life doesn’t seem too. He pretty much seems like the same guy as he was in the beginning. And certainly he doesn’t seem ‘worse for the wear’ from it.
On the surface, Tommy Lee seems like the arc character. But if he truly was training Will the whole time, then the reality is, he already had arced before he even meets Will. I guess we could assume he doesn’t decide this until the course of his training Will, but I don’t see a clear Moment of Grace where he realizes he needs to try ‘blissful ignorance’.
NOTE: After I wrote this I saw that Stan Williams (Moral Premise guru) tackles MIB on his blog. He and I land on a similar MP, but he finds a couple Moments of Grace that I don’t. Read it and decide for yourself:
DEBATE:
Will shows up at the MIB headquarters where a bunch of other ‘candidates’ (stiff military types) are put through their paces. After a written and shooting test, the others are nebulized…but Tommy Lee wants to work with Will.
He takes Will aside and fills him in on ‘the real world’. Aliens exists. The Earth is like Casablanca a sort of neutral area where aliens hide-out. They originally crashed landed in ships passed off as World’s Fair exhibits and a young Tommy Lee (mysteriously holding flowers) was among the first to encounter them.
During this time, we check in with the bug – he kills an exterminator and steals his van.
Will is offered the job but to do it he must “sever human contact”…Will asks “Is it worth it?” Tommy Lee gives an all too quick answer of: “It’s worth it”
BREAK INTO ACT 2:
Will shows up and enters the amazing MIB HQ. His history is erased. He gets a locker and he’s renamed Agent J.
B-STORY:
But I'd prefer to go with the non-thematic thread of The Bug. Mainly because the story of the Bug and our heroes does not directly intersect until the midpoint.
B-STORY:
But I'd prefer to go with the non-thematic thread of The Bug. Mainly because the story of the Bug and our heroes does not directly intersect until the midpoint.
FUN & GAMES:
The guys get debriefed and first hear about the mysterious farm crash and then get their first case, an alien has gone outside of his restricted area.
Meanwhile the bug follows a jeweler to a diner and we get the first whiff of what he’s after with talk of ‘Arquillian’ and a ‘galaxy’. The Bug attacks and steals something from the jeweler; it turns out to be just diamonds.
The MIB pull over the fleeing alien. His wife is having a baby. Will delivers the squid like creature while Tommy Lee finds out the alien is trying to get off the planet in a hurry.
MIDPOINT:
They visit the farm, interview the wife of the farmer, and now have a description of The Bug. Tommy Lee describes bugs as despicable destroyers of life/etc.
It’s a false victory – on one hand they’re closing the loop, on the other hand a dangerous monster is out on the streets.
BAD GUYS CLOSE IN:
So they go to the morgue, there they discover some bodies. Will and Linda have a Déjà vu connection.
Back at the HQ, Will observes Tommy Lee checking out a satellite feed of a woman – Will realizes it’s the woman Tommy Lee was taking the flowers to the woman back when he encountered aliens. “Better to have loved and lost…” Will says. “Try it,” Tommy Lee answers in a very on-the-nose hit of where his arc is going.
An Arquillian battle cruiser shows up. It’s holding earth responsible for the missing ‘galaxy’. Now the stakes are raised, if the MIB don’t get the galaxy back, the earth will be destroyed.
They visit an alien that looks like a Pug and shake him down (literally). He describes how the galaxy is very small.
Will realizes “Orion’s belt” is the cats collar. They race back to the morgue.
Meanwhile, the Bug has already gone to the morgue, killed the clerk and confronted Linda.
Will & Tommy Lee show up. End up in a confrontation with the Bug.
ALL IS LOST:
The Bug escapes with the galaxy and Linda.
DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL:
The Arquillians are giving them one hour before they blow up the planet. Will and Tommy Lee search for a clue/lead.
They know the Bug will be looking to escape from the planet.
BREAK INTO 3:
Will realizes where the Bug’s headed – to those World’s Fair Spaceships.
FINALE:
They confront the Bug and shoot down his spaceship. He attempts to go for the other ship but they take him down…with help from Linda.
Tommy Lee reveals he wasn’t training his new partner, he was training his replacement. He has Will mind erase him.
We see a headline “Man Awakes From 35 Year Coma” -- Tommy Lee is reunited with that woman he was delivering flowers to.
Linda is Will’s new partner, they ride off to start their day.
Friday, July 15, 2011
ET: The Extraterrestrial BS2
ET
Blake Snyder Genre: Rite of Passage
OPENING IMAGE:
A starry sky…and below it in the woods the Mothership.
SETUP:
As Extraterrestrials wander around the woods, gathering samples, headlights cut through the woods, trucks rush to the scene. The ETs race back to the ship. But one is left behind.
Cut to a house where a bunch of teenagers are playing Dungeons & Dragons. We meet Elliot, the younger brother of Michael. He gets no respect. They ignore his pleas to play. And ultimately send him out to meet the Pizza Wagon.
CATALYST:
Outside, he encounters something in the shed. He tosses a ball in, and it’s thrown back. He races inside, dropping his pizza. The other boys and Elliot’s mother race out to investigate. They see some tracks inside the shed – “Coyotes are back.”
It’s an early setup, leaving surprisingly little room for setup of characters or theme…
THEME STATED:
The pacing is so fast and furious it takes a while to get to the theme. During the ‘penis breath’ conversation at the kitchen table…Michael says – “why don’t you grow up and think about how other people feel for a change.’
There is a lot of talk about ‘feelings’ as the movie goes on…at one point Michael says Elliot doesn’t think what ET feels – he ‘feels what ET feels’.
And I think that’s the Moral Premise in a nutshell – Selfish Thinking leads to isolation and lower social status; empathy…especially with a stranger from another planet!...leads to acceptance and true friendship.
Ignored by family, Elliott starts out trying to get people to think his ideas and feelings are important – it’s all about him. But by the end he puts others(ET's) feelings and needs in front of his own, and becomes a kid-of-action in order to save his friend.
Admittedly, I was trying to work Peter Pan into this. But I think it’s a bit of a head-fake. Just like how Spielberg tried to smash Pinocchio into Close Encounters. I think it’s a dead-end thematically, though it emotionally evokes nostalgic feelings of childhood.
DEBATE:
In bed, Elliot hears noises outside. There’s no way it was a coyote! So he does what every unsupervised latchkey 80’s kid would do, he goes out in the backyard and sleeps with a flashlight. There he sees ET for the first time in the corn. They both scream and run away.
The next day he lays his Reese’s Pieces trailer, and spots KEYS the government ET-Hunter looking around.
That night, we get – if you’re watching the original – the Penis Breath conversation. It’s here that we see Elliot is a bit of a whiny prick. Ticked off nobody will listen to him he hurts his Mom’s feelings by telling her about
Dad being away in Mexico with his girlfriend.
BREAK INTO ACT 2:
ET shows up in the backyard munching candy. Elliot leads him upstairs.
B-STORY:
Keys finds Reese’s Pieces in the woods. The hunt for ET is constantly present.
Neither ET nor Elliot has a ‘measurable goal’ at the end of Act 1(he’ll get one at the midpoint). It’s just keep ET a secret or be friends with ET. What I’ve noticed is these kind of ‘goalless’ protag-movies need a constant threat to keep a sense of inevitability in the audience’s mind.
The film comes back to Keys every couple of beats and every time he’s a little closer. It’s a ticking clock of sorts.
FUN & GAMES:
Elliot fakes sickness. Hangs at home with ET. Shows him toys and starts their friendship. Ultimately, he introduces his brother Michael and sister Gertie to ET as well.
One of my only logic hiccups is why Michael – a somewhat reasonable 15 or 16 year old – is so willing just to keep ET in the closet. Not a huge speed bump, but something that would have been worth some explaining.
The group learns about ET. Witness his telekinetic abilities.
All the while Keys closes the noose, taking pictures of Elliot’s neighborhood, ultimately roaming around the woods in Elliot’s backyard.
Elliot goes to school and we see the telepathic empathy ET and Elliot share as ET drinks beer from the fridge.
Elliot frees the dissected frogs – evidence that he’s starting to feel what others feel.
This is about as close as I can get to a Moment of Grace. Somehow feeling what ET feels directly opens Elliot up to this new way of thinking. I’d even point to ‘the kiss’ he lays on the girl as feeling especially like a thematic turning point
During this drunken interlude, ET learns to speak. He even starts gathering materials.
MIDPOINT:
ET Phone Home! ET wants to phone home and he’s building a communicator out of toys and household items.
BAD GUYS:
It’s a false victory of sorts, since as Michael and Elliot are gathering equipment – surveillance crews are listening to them. They know exactly where ET is at this point. A new ticking clock of sorts is introduced – via a tell not show moment - when Michael says “he’s not looking good” Elliot tells Michael he’ll be fine once he’s near his home planet.
The next day is Halloween; they sneak ET out dressed as a ghost and go to the woods to setup the ‘phone’. ET takes Elliot’s bike on a ‘flying trip’.
Once everyone is out of the house, the bad-guys/scientists swoop in and explore Elliot’s house with instruments.
The next morning, Elliot is missing; the cops are taking a report. When Elliot shows up, he’s looking very ill.
He tells Michael to go find ET.
Michael finds a sick looking ET by the river by the communicator. Helicopters are circling the woods.
Once home, Mom freaks as she sees ET for the first time (in an embarrassing coffee spilling cliché that I’d cut in the next Special Edition).
Just then – guys in Astronaut suits crash the party! Take everyone hostage! And wrap the house in a big condom.
ET and Elliot are side by side on medical beds. Keys interview the family.
ALL IS LOST:
ET dies on the operating table. The telepathic link to Elliot is broken.
DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL:
Gertie cries. Keys consoles Elliot. Elliot gets some time to be with ET.
As he says a tearful goodbye, ET’s heartlight shines! He’s alive! And the heartlight means his ship has returned.
BREAK INTO ACT 3:
Elliot and Michael hatch a plan to get ET back to the ship.
FINALE:
Enlisting the help of Michael’s friends, the guys hijack the van ETs to be transported in. Then end up on bikes. They finally escape doing the bike-flying trick and end up in the woods where the spaceship awaits.
They say their goodbyes. ET says “I’ll be right here.” Suggesting that friends remain in our hearts/feelings forever.
CLOSING IMAGE:
As the ship flies off into the same sky we opened with, we hang on Elliot’s face. And we can tell he’s a changed man…err...kid…happy for his friend’s triumphant return home.
Blake Snyder Genre: Rite of Passage
OPENING IMAGE:
A starry sky…and below it in the woods the Mothership.
SETUP:
As Extraterrestrials wander around the woods, gathering samples, headlights cut through the woods, trucks rush to the scene. The ETs race back to the ship. But one is left behind.
Cut to a house where a bunch of teenagers are playing Dungeons & Dragons. We meet Elliot, the younger brother of Michael. He gets no respect. They ignore his pleas to play. And ultimately send him out to meet the Pizza Wagon.
CATALYST:
Outside, he encounters something in the shed. He tosses a ball in, and it’s thrown back. He races inside, dropping his pizza. The other boys and Elliot’s mother race out to investigate. They see some tracks inside the shed – “Coyotes are back.”
It’s an early setup, leaving surprisingly little room for setup of characters or theme…
THEME STATED:
The pacing is so fast and furious it takes a while to get to the theme. During the ‘penis breath’ conversation at the kitchen table…Michael says – “why don’t you grow up and think about how other people feel for a change.’
There is a lot of talk about ‘feelings’ as the movie goes on…at one point Michael says Elliot doesn’t think what ET feels – he ‘feels what ET feels’.
And I think that’s the Moral Premise in a nutshell – Selfish Thinking leads to isolation and lower social status; empathy…especially with a stranger from another planet!...leads to acceptance and true friendship.
Ignored by family, Elliott starts out trying to get people to think his ideas and feelings are important – it’s all about him. But by the end he puts others(ET's) feelings and needs in front of his own, and becomes a kid-of-action in order to save his friend.
Admittedly, I was trying to work Peter Pan into this. But I think it’s a bit of a head-fake. Just like how Spielberg tried to smash Pinocchio into Close Encounters. I think it’s a dead-end thematically, though it emotionally evokes nostalgic feelings of childhood.
DEBATE:
In bed, Elliot hears noises outside. There’s no way it was a coyote! So he does what every unsupervised latchkey 80’s kid would do, he goes out in the backyard and sleeps with a flashlight. There he sees ET for the first time in the corn. They both scream and run away.
The next day he lays his Reese’s Pieces trailer, and spots KEYS the government ET-Hunter looking around.
That night, we get – if you’re watching the original – the Penis Breath conversation. It’s here that we see Elliot is a bit of a whiny prick. Ticked off nobody will listen to him he hurts his Mom’s feelings by telling her about
Dad being away in Mexico with his girlfriend.
BREAK INTO ACT 2:
ET shows up in the backyard munching candy. Elliot leads him upstairs.
B-STORY:
Keys finds Reese’s Pieces in the woods. The hunt for ET is constantly present.
Neither ET nor Elliot has a ‘measurable goal’ at the end of Act 1(he’ll get one at the midpoint). It’s just keep ET a secret or be friends with ET. What I’ve noticed is these kind of ‘goalless’ protag-movies need a constant threat to keep a sense of inevitability in the audience’s mind.
The film comes back to Keys every couple of beats and every time he’s a little closer. It’s a ticking clock of sorts.
FUN & GAMES:
Elliot fakes sickness. Hangs at home with ET. Shows him toys and starts their friendship. Ultimately, he introduces his brother Michael and sister Gertie to ET as well.
One of my only logic hiccups is why Michael – a somewhat reasonable 15 or 16 year old – is so willing just to keep ET in the closet. Not a huge speed bump, but something that would have been worth some explaining.
The group learns about ET. Witness his telekinetic abilities.
All the while Keys closes the noose, taking pictures of Elliot’s neighborhood, ultimately roaming around the woods in Elliot’s backyard.
Elliot goes to school and we see the telepathic empathy ET and Elliot share as ET drinks beer from the fridge.
Elliot frees the dissected frogs – evidence that he’s starting to feel what others feel.
This is about as close as I can get to a Moment of Grace. Somehow feeling what ET feels directly opens Elliot up to this new way of thinking. I’d even point to ‘the kiss’ he lays on the girl as feeling especially like a thematic turning point
During this drunken interlude, ET learns to speak. He even starts gathering materials.
MIDPOINT:
ET Phone Home! ET wants to phone home and he’s building a communicator out of toys and household items.
BAD GUYS:
It’s a false victory of sorts, since as Michael and Elliot are gathering equipment – surveillance crews are listening to them. They know exactly where ET is at this point. A new ticking clock of sorts is introduced – via a tell not show moment - when Michael says “he’s not looking good” Elliot tells Michael he’ll be fine once he’s near his home planet.
The next day is Halloween; they sneak ET out dressed as a ghost and go to the woods to setup the ‘phone’. ET takes Elliot’s bike on a ‘flying trip’.
Once everyone is out of the house, the bad-guys/scientists swoop in and explore Elliot’s house with instruments.
The next morning, Elliot is missing; the cops are taking a report. When Elliot shows up, he’s looking very ill.
He tells Michael to go find ET.
Michael finds a sick looking ET by the river by the communicator. Helicopters are circling the woods.
Once home, Mom freaks as she sees ET for the first time (in an embarrassing coffee spilling cliché that I’d cut in the next Special Edition).
Just then – guys in Astronaut suits crash the party! Take everyone hostage! And wrap the house in a big condom.
ET and Elliot are side by side on medical beds. Keys interview the family.
ALL IS LOST:
ET dies on the operating table. The telepathic link to Elliot is broken.
DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL:
Gertie cries. Keys consoles Elliot. Elliot gets some time to be with ET.
As he says a tearful goodbye, ET’s heartlight shines! He’s alive! And the heartlight means his ship has returned.
BREAK INTO ACT 3:
Elliot and Michael hatch a plan to get ET back to the ship.
FINALE:
Enlisting the help of Michael’s friends, the guys hijack the van ETs to be transported in. Then end up on bikes. They finally escape doing the bike-flying trick and end up in the woods where the spaceship awaits.
They say their goodbyes. ET says “I’ll be right here.” Suggesting that friends remain in our hearts/feelings forever.
CLOSING IMAGE:
As the ship flies off into the same sky we opened with, we hang on Elliot’s face. And we can tell he’s a changed man…err...kid…happy for his friend’s triumphant return home.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Independence Day BS2
ID4
GENRE TYPE: Dude With a Problem -- Earth and all of our characters are innocent heroes. The alien attackers are the sudden problem.
OPENING IMAGE:
The flag impaled into the moon. It instantly establishes the patriotic theme that will be bludgeoned over the head with throughout this flick. A large shadow is cast over it...the aliens have arrived.
SETUP:
At SETI they're detecting communication signals from the moon. The military is called. We meet the president, a former Iraq War Pilot, a loving father and husband, who seems to be in a bit of a political crisis. "We wanted a warrior and got a wuss". We rapidly meet our characters -- as this is an ensemble -- the chief of state, her ex-husband science dude Jeff Goldblum who never reached his potential and still wears his wedding band plays chess with his dad Judd Hirsch who has lost his religion, drunken dad./crop duster Randy Quaid who embarrassingly is dusting the wrong crops.
THEME STATED:
The theme is stated early on as a pundit says "We need a warrior not a wuss".
My first take at the moral premise is -- Politics and compromised principals leads to ineffectiveness and disaster; but leadership and working together leads to victory.
The movie's MP seems to suggest that by working together for what's important we can do amazing things -- like put a man on the moon(shown in the opening image) or defeat alien invaders...but unless we all get on the same page we won't even be able to save the world from ourselves(ala Golblum's frustration over recycling).
The movie seems like a 'Save the Planet' allegory (especially given the future work of the film's creators -- specifically -Day After Tomorrow).
Unfortunately, the theme doesn't hit deeper levels because the theme is 'told' more than shown. Really, the alien attack isn't something that is either caused by our lack of unity or could even be prevented...but it is the thing that brings the world together. And has humanity prove they're capable of seemingly impossible things.
CATALYST:
During the President's cabinet meeting it's discovered the UFOs are about to enter earth atmosphere. Sightings are reported all over the globe (this is key, as the patriotic message will shift from the US to a sort of global patriotism).
We meet fighter pilot Will Smith and his girlfriend and her young son -- it's a late introduction, but the script is so stacked with characters and plot we just haven't had time for him -- he sees the spaceship hovering above, all his neighbors are out staring.
DEBATE:
The debate section is longer than normal, mainly because it's a combo of fun & games style 'trailer moment' and the question of 'what do these aliens want' and how the world reacts to their sudden appearance.
The President decides to stay put in Washington but sends his wife and kid away.
Goldblum realizes that the aliens are using the satellites as a countdown. They're planning an attack. He heads to Washington to tell his Secretary of State ex-wife and warn the president.
We're treated to press conferences, news reports, shots of the UFOs moving into place, looting, and lots of UFO's appear over earth fun.
Goldblum gets to Washington D.C. and convinces the President about the impending attack. The President organizes an evacuation.
Will Smith learns he didn't get into NASA. A bit of 'theme stated' as his buddy says you need to kiss ass to get in those places. Politics vs. Progress.
Meanwhile some military craft are attacked by the aliens and then...
BREAK INTO ACT 2:
The UFOs attack. They blowup national monuments and the white house, challenging our patriotism. They also attack major cities turning them into fireballs.
B-STORY:
As an ensemble film -- there's a few secondary threads to track -- Will's girl and her son who are on a trek for survival and find the President's wife. Also, Randy Quaid and his family and the caravan they're leading. Plus, the love story/father-son relationship of Jeff Goldblum.
FUN & GAMES:
People react, survivors escape, and the military plans a counter attack.
Will's team gets briefed and then gets sent out. A squad of fighter planes approaches the big spaceships and run into their powerful force-fields.
We see all the b-story characters flee the destruction of their major cities. In particular Will's girlfriend heads towards the base he suggested she go to.
The fighter jets get their butts kicked. While fleeing Wil tricks one of the bad-guys into crashing right after he himself ejects from the plane. On the ground he knocks the alien out.
Aboard airforce 1, everyone -- including the President -- finds out that Area 51/Roswell isn't a myth. They set course for the base.
Will's girl drives a truck/leads a survivor caravan including the President's wife/daughter. They continue toward the military base.
Will hitches a ride with Randy Quaid's caravan. Will points them toward Area 51.
The President arrives at Area 51. Turns out they have one of the Bad-Guys spaceships, and some bodies of the aliens. We get some exposition about what they're like. "Similar to us". They can be killed. And they use telepathic communication.
MIDPOINT:
Will's Caravan arrives merging the B-Stories. Plus they have the alien in tow. There's hope!
But in the next beat, Jeff Goldblum reveals that the alien plan is an extermination that will culminate in 38 hours. The dreaded TICKING-CLOCK is set!
BAD-GUYS CLOSE IN:
During an autopsy/dissection of sorts, the captured alien attacks and kills the science team. It eventually telepathic communicates with the president -- he sees their plan -- they exterminate planets, use up their natural resources, and then move on.
ALL IS LOST:
The president agrees to use nukes against the ship. They don't work. It's hopeless...they have no other means to attack.
DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL:
Will steals a chopper and heads back to the decimated military base where he was supposed rendezvous with his girlfriend. There he reunites with his girlfriend and her kid and the president's wife and daughter.
The President's wife dies.
Goldblum breaks down, frustrated at humanity and their inability to save themselves. Judd Hirsch admits he lost faith when his wife dies.
BREAK INTO ACT 3:
Goldblum gets a crazy idea from his talk with Judd...maybe we can infect the alien ship with a virus.
FINALE:
The plan is hatched. A global counterstrike with all the nations of the world participating is launched. All our heroes are involved -- Goldblum will go up in the ship with Will to implant the virus. The President and Randy Quaid will fly fighters.
The President gives a strong Moral Premise enforcing speech about how July 4th will forever be a worldwide holiday celebrating humanities battle to exist!
The battle commences. Fighters vs. Spaceship. Goldblum and Will insert the virus. Shields drop. They take down the ships.
On the ground the victorious pilots reunite. Worldwide celebrations ensue.
CLOSING IMAGE:
Streaks of Spaceship debris rain down on the earth -- fireworks for the new worldwide 4th of July.
GENRE TYPE: Dude With a Problem -- Earth and all of our characters are innocent heroes. The alien attackers are the sudden problem.
OPENING IMAGE:
The flag impaled into the moon. It instantly establishes the patriotic theme that will be bludgeoned over the head with throughout this flick. A large shadow is cast over it...the aliens have arrived.
SETUP:
At SETI they're detecting communication signals from the moon. The military is called. We meet the president, a former Iraq War Pilot, a loving father and husband, who seems to be in a bit of a political crisis. "We wanted a warrior and got a wuss". We rapidly meet our characters -- as this is an ensemble -- the chief of state, her ex-husband science dude Jeff Goldblum who never reached his potential and still wears his wedding band plays chess with his dad Judd Hirsch who has lost his religion, drunken dad./crop duster Randy Quaid who embarrassingly is dusting the wrong crops.
THEME STATED:
The theme is stated early on as a pundit says "We need a warrior not a wuss".
My first take at the moral premise is -- Politics and compromised principals leads to ineffectiveness and disaster; but leadership and working together leads to victory.
The movie's MP seems to suggest that by working together for what's important we can do amazing things -- like put a man on the moon(shown in the opening image) or defeat alien invaders...but unless we all get on the same page we won't even be able to save the world from ourselves(ala Golblum's frustration over recycling).
The movie seems like a 'Save the Planet' allegory (especially given the future work of the film's creators -- specifically -Day After Tomorrow).
Unfortunately, the theme doesn't hit deeper levels because the theme is 'told' more than shown. Really, the alien attack isn't something that is either caused by our lack of unity or could even be prevented...but it is the thing that brings the world together. And has humanity prove they're capable of seemingly impossible things.
CATALYST:
During the President's cabinet meeting it's discovered the UFOs are about to enter earth atmosphere. Sightings are reported all over the globe (this is key, as the patriotic message will shift from the US to a sort of global patriotism).
We meet fighter pilot Will Smith and his girlfriend and her young son -- it's a late introduction, but the script is so stacked with characters and plot we just haven't had time for him -- he sees the spaceship hovering above, all his neighbors are out staring.
DEBATE:
The debate section is longer than normal, mainly because it's a combo of fun & games style 'trailer moment' and the question of 'what do these aliens want' and how the world reacts to their sudden appearance.
The President decides to stay put in Washington but sends his wife and kid away.
Goldblum realizes that the aliens are using the satellites as a countdown. They're planning an attack. He heads to Washington to tell his Secretary of State ex-wife and warn the president.
We're treated to press conferences, news reports, shots of the UFOs moving into place, looting, and lots of UFO's appear over earth fun.
Goldblum gets to Washington D.C. and convinces the President about the impending attack. The President organizes an evacuation.
Will Smith learns he didn't get into NASA. A bit of 'theme stated' as his buddy says you need to kiss ass to get in those places. Politics vs. Progress.
Meanwhile some military craft are attacked by the aliens and then...
BREAK INTO ACT 2:
The UFOs attack. They blowup national monuments and the white house, challenging our patriotism. They also attack major cities turning them into fireballs.
B-STORY:
As an ensemble film -- there's a few secondary threads to track -- Will's girl and her son who are on a trek for survival and find the President's wife. Also, Randy Quaid and his family and the caravan they're leading. Plus, the love story/father-son relationship of Jeff Goldblum.
FUN & GAMES:
People react, survivors escape, and the military plans a counter attack.
Will's team gets briefed and then gets sent out. A squad of fighter planes approaches the big spaceships and run into their powerful force-fields.
We see all the b-story characters flee the destruction of their major cities. In particular Will's girlfriend heads towards the base he suggested she go to.
The fighter jets get their butts kicked. While fleeing Wil tricks one of the bad-guys into crashing right after he himself ejects from the plane. On the ground he knocks the alien out.
Aboard airforce 1, everyone -- including the President -- finds out that Area 51/Roswell isn't a myth. They set course for the base.
Will's girl drives a truck/leads a survivor caravan including the President's wife/daughter. They continue toward the military base.
Will hitches a ride with Randy Quaid's caravan. Will points them toward Area 51.
The President arrives at Area 51. Turns out they have one of the Bad-Guys spaceships, and some bodies of the aliens. We get some exposition about what they're like. "Similar to us". They can be killed. And they use telepathic communication.
MIDPOINT:
Will's Caravan arrives merging the B-Stories. Plus they have the alien in tow. There's hope!
But in the next beat, Jeff Goldblum reveals that the alien plan is an extermination that will culminate in 38 hours. The dreaded TICKING-CLOCK is set!
BAD-GUYS CLOSE IN:
During an autopsy/dissection of sorts, the captured alien attacks and kills the science team. It eventually telepathic communicates with the president -- he sees their plan -- they exterminate planets, use up their natural resources, and then move on.
ALL IS LOST:
The president agrees to use nukes against the ship. They don't work. It's hopeless...they have no other means to attack.
DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL:
Will steals a chopper and heads back to the decimated military base where he was supposed rendezvous with his girlfriend. There he reunites with his girlfriend and her kid and the president's wife and daughter.
The President's wife dies.
Goldblum breaks down, frustrated at humanity and their inability to save themselves. Judd Hirsch admits he lost faith when his wife dies.
BREAK INTO ACT 3:
Goldblum gets a crazy idea from his talk with Judd...maybe we can infect the alien ship with a virus.
FINALE:
The plan is hatched. A global counterstrike with all the nations of the world participating is launched. All our heroes are involved -- Goldblum will go up in the ship with Will to implant the virus. The President and Randy Quaid will fly fighters.
The President gives a strong Moral Premise enforcing speech about how July 4th will forever be a worldwide holiday celebrating humanities battle to exist!
The battle commences. Fighters vs. Spaceship. Goldblum and Will insert the virus. Shields drop. They take down the ships.
On the ground the victorious pilots reunite. Worldwide celebrations ensue.
CLOSING IMAGE:
Streaks of Spaceship debris rain down on the earth -- fireworks for the new worldwide 4th of July.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)