4 ms·
> Trailers don't summarise the whole movie. Some do. If they contain: * the protagonist's set-up * the antagonist's set-up * an explanation of the protagoni
by B-Con 8y ago
> Trailers don't summarise the whole movie.
Some do. If they contain:
* the protagonist's set-up
* the antagonist's set-up
* an explanation of the protagonist's challenges
* the protagonist overcoming the challenges
* the nature of the twist
* (sometimes the twist itself is hinted at)
* any romantic relationship of significance is both shown
and the direction it ultimately goes is implied
* half the big awesome SFX scenes
* half the funny scenes
* almost every character of significance to the plot
then there isn't much left, I know almost all the key checkpoints, who has to be where and do what and what action has to occur. It's pretty much sketched out. There's minimal suspense because I know who can't die and who has to be where at the end of the movie.
> And even if you feel they do, knowing the outline of a movie isn't going to ruin the actual movie experience itself.
It definitely can. Part of a story is experiencing it for the first time, watching it unfold and not knowing what will happen. Trailers take that away from you. "Oh yeah, I've seen this fight sequence and heard that joke before" just doesn't carry the same weight. And when I have a checklist of people with places to be and action scenes to happen, I can predict things. "Well, I know there's going to be a twist because X has to fight Y in the streets and it looks like they're getting along OK as we approach 1h 20m mark."
There's minimal surprise left, which really hampers my ability to empathize with the characters and engage in the story.
- zaarn 8y agoA movie can work even if you know how these things. The how is just as important as the what in a movie, even if, for example, you know the twist of a movie, it can be just as fun to watch how you get there, how all the scenes and narration from the trailer is strung together into the movie.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- always_good 8y agoI don't believe anyone here was suggesting that the movie becomes literally unwatchable. But a movie is just a 90 minute experience. It's nice to maximize it. And one simple approach is to avoid giving in to curiosity by watching its 30 second summary for the same reason you don't read plot outlines on Wikipedia before reading books or tv show episodes.
- zaarn 8y agoI do actually go to Wikipedia and other places to spoil the plot outline to myself. Makes it much easier to focus on the implementation of the story rather than having to focus on both story and implementation.
- ironcan 8y agoIf there is one comment that embodies the HN spirit, it's this one...
- zaarn 8y agoI would disagree there a bit, I do it because I enjoy taking things apart and seeing how it all ticks together. Like taking apart a running grandfather clock to see it tick. Movies and TV series or even books are similar to me. I do enjoy digging deep into TVTropes and AllTheTropes so I can whlie watching a movie, take it apart and see how it ticks. How the movie achieves the suspension of disbelief, how the heroes journey is being implemented in lockstep with the villain (if there is even one) or how a character is built, what parts make them what they are. I think it's more of a hackers spirit rather than HN. I read the manual of the movie so I can take it apart like some hacker might read a device manual to be able to take it apart more easily.
- lawn 8y agoThe point is knowing the twists changes the experience and it's frankly not the same.
- zaarn 8y agoI personally consider it an equally or more enjoyable experience once you know the story and all the tricks.
- hrktb 8y agoFor me watching a movie after one of these trailers is like participating in a magic show after the trick has been revealed. You still enjoy it, looking for small details and appreciating how good or not the magician. But you won't get that sense of amusement of not knowing what's going on or where it's going.