The Chronicles of Riddick in 25 Words or Less, and also In Three Bullet Points
I am contemplating a new film review format. Here is The Chronicles of Riddick, reviewed in both. Commentary is welcome as to which is superior.
In 25 Words or Less:
A satisfying sci-fi world (would be good for an RPG, publishers) with story and characters customized for the don't-think-too-hard set. Grade: Bñ
In Three Bullet Points:
Comments
Just saw this film last week, myself. I was surprised both by how much I liked it, and by how much it did resemble a Conan tale, as I'd hoped. Right down to the final shots. I think it's a shame that the characters from "Pitch Black" weren't used a bit better, and that it may not warrant a sequel. Unlike so many other summer action pictures of late, this one is primarily about verve and looks, knows it, and is unashamed by it. Likewise, any chance to see new worlds designed is a treat for me.
The blame on the film's BO troubles rests, I say, with Universal and Diesel over-advertizing it. Audiences seemed to resent the enthusiasm they were supposed to have for it. Maybe they should have, but whatever. I'd see a sequel.
I am now playing the Riddick game "Butcher Bay," and liking it very much.
As for formats, I'm a fan of the classics. I like 25-word traditionalism, but will happily read bullet points, too.
I like the 25-word reviews. I think the limitation brings out a certain clarity.
I saw this film last week and watched Pitch Black on USA earlier this evening. I'd missed how much of the dialog from the first movie was brought forward in the making of the sequel. I, too, thought the production design was very WH40K and even some of the back-story seemed that way.
While Will blames Universal and Diesel for over-hyping this film, I think that blame can be laid squarely on the shoulders of the writer/director, David Twohy. I haven't seen anything more pretentious than the "special introduction" he gave the DVD. Only thing missing was a smoking jacket.
By the time Twohy got to do his DVD introduction, the damage was months old. The over-hyping came in the form of 40 days of pre-release marketing including animated short features, a re-release of "Pitch Black," tie-in video games and enough commercials, interviews and print ads to blind a casual movie-goer. I don't recall how many folks I heard saying "What is it about this Riddick guy? Am I supposed to know him? Am I really supposed to be that excited about Vin Diesel?" But it was a lot.
Regarding the review format, "Brevity is the soul of wit." :)
A lot of good points by all. There was a lot of hype for a character from a B sci-fi movie that most people didn't know of. They just pushed Vin Diesel's suckcess of other major movies. I liked Pitch Black because of its somewhat vague sci-fi storyline. It reminded me of Alien in some sense. Anyway, as for the format I think I like the three bullet. It offers a little more info and it makes you (Jeff) have to work a little more.
P.S. Hadn't thought of 40K with Chronicles but I can see what you are thinking.
Anyway, as for the format I think I like the three bullet. It offers a little more info and it makes you (Jeff) have to work a little more.
So, the interesting thing here is that if you want to make me work harder, you should pick the 25 words format. It's much harder to pack everything in than to let it expand into three unbounded bullet points.
I prefer the 25 words not precisely because it makes you work harder, but because it forces you to distill your opinions into a concentrated essesence (which is, of course, what requires all the work). Like a wine reduction sauce, or good gravy, it doesn't have any flour in it.
Okay, that analogy ran off the rails a bit. But I prefer the 25 words, slightly, although I see the benefits of both formats. I'm curious - what made you contemplate the switch?
I'm curious - what made you contemplate the switch?
Two reasons. The first is sloth; it takes work to concentrate the essence. The second is enthusiasm for my own genius; sometimes I have to leave out a nugget or two of insight and I thought a three-point review might be a happy medium between ultra-bounded and totally unbounded.
I think I'll probably stick with the 25 word format.
I (no stranger to the verbosity that can stem from enthusiasm for one's own genius) think the three-bullet format is a breath of fresh air.
Maybe if the bullets were limited to a certain word length, to keep the essence from becoming entirely unconcentrated. The first bullet seems a little long at 42 words; the second is great at 11, although you probably wouldn't want to restrict yourself under 25. Maybe the average of all three (27) is a good target to aim for!
Brevity is wit.