It's amusing how much more I post on here when I'm supposed to be doing work

[redfiona99]

There will be Sherlock thoughts later, because despite not liking episode 2 as much, I still have a lot to say about it and I'd rather have two medium sized posts than one ginormous post.

Probably my last ponderings on Inception

I think some of the reason why I wasn't blown away by Inception was because I didn't much like the main character (which given that I didn't mind Borden or Angier in 'The Prestige' probably says bad things about me, except that was a revenger's tragedy, so you don't have to like them). Lots of Nolan's films have unlikable protagonists, which is what I like about them, but I think this needed someone less absent that Cobb was. Opinion amongst my RL friends varies as to why (oddly, given what a disperate bunch they are, none disagree with the overall conclusion), but I've plumped for the writing, other people have plumped for the premise and a couple of people (of who I am not one) are blaming the actor.

Your opinions are being canvased.

TV Meme, Day 8 - A Show Everyone Should Watch

There was a time, not so long ago, when I would have said the news. Because you really should try and keep informed about stuff and life in general. It will help you in the future. That's why editorial type news such as Fox News (and, in the interest of fairness, Channel 4 on the liberal/left-wing end) annoy me so much. You're not news anymore, you're a programme that discusses the issues from a particular view-point, and that's fine, I don't care, but don't claim that you're news.

I have to admit that the one thing I do like about the Channel 4 news is that, because of it's political bent, it will at least cover stories that the others won't, and 9/10ths of it is without bias, there's just those occasional moments, which are mostly Jon Snow, where it's a bit 'dudes, I agree with the point you're making, but I want news, not opinions'.



Day 1 - A show that shouldn't have been cancelled
Day 2 - A show that more people should watch
Day 3 - Your favourite new show
Day 4 - Your favourite TV show
Day 5 - Your least favourite TV show
Day 6 - My favourite episode of my favourite show(s)
Day 7 - My least favourite episode of my favourite show(s)

Day 09 - Best scene ever
Day 10 - A show you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 11 - A show that disappointed you
Day 12 - An episode you've watched more than 5 times
Day 13 - Favorite childhood show
Day 14 - Favorite male character
Day 15 - Favorite female character
Day 16 - Your guilty pleasure show
Day 17 - Favorite mini series
Day 18 - Favorite title sequence
Day 19 - Best TV show cast
Day 20 - Favorite kiss
Day 21 - Favorite ship
Day 22 - Favorite series finale
Day 23 - Most annoying character
Day 24 - Best quote
Day 25 - A show you plan on watching (old or new)
Day 26 - OMG WTF? Season finale
Day 27 - Best pilot episode
Day 28 - First TV show obsession
Day 29 - Current TV show obsession
Day 30 - Saddest character death

Comments

[pyroyale.livejournal.com]

I found it hard to have any sympathy for Cobb. I understand why the true story of what happened with his wife was kept hidden for most of the movie but it meant I spent 3/4 of the film wishing he'd either get his mind back on track or get out of the dreams altogether.

I don't know if it was the writing or DiCaprio's acting that made it worse. He was very absent and distant throughout and it harmed the connection with the audience.

Plus, the rest of the team were pretty awesome (Arthur and Ames especially) so as a protagonist, he was dull and boring compared to them.

[redfiona99.livejournal.com]

>>his wife was kept hidden for most of the movie but it meant I spent 3/4 of the film wishing he'd either get his mind back on track or get out of the dreams altogether. << Ooh, I think you might be onto something there. And I agree with you about Cobb suffering from boring designated protagonist syndrome.

[angstbunny.livejournal.com]

Oddly enough, Inception is the one movie where I enjoyed Leo's work, when normally I find him to be a fairly mediocre actor.

There is definitely something very distant about Nolan's protags. There is a coldness to his movies. As I was discussing with somebody, the word to use is "methodical." There is passion, definitely, because a lot of his movies are about obsession, with the focus on justice/vengeance for a loved one. Rage and love inspire his protags, but it's cold rage.

Same deal with Cobb. There is so much structure and layer, and they in turn insulate the character.

Could it be an issue of catharsis? In some ways, a lot of the emotional impact for Inception actually took place with Fischer (Cillian Murphy). When he found the windmill, it was a LOT more a;fdjlafjdkla;fd than Cobb and Mal's final goodbye. The "misplaced" release resulted in a less satisfying movie?

[redfiona99.livejournal.com]

I think you could be onto something with Cobb's resolution seeming to be tacked on after Fischers. I do wonder if it's also partly that he's the architect (no pun intended) of his own misfortunes which some of Nolan's other characters aren't really, or they are, but at least they're up-front about it (not that I can blame Cobb for not being upfront about it) and I wonder if that's an issue.

[angstbunny.livejournal.com]

Oh, I have to HEARTILY disagree. Nearly all of Nolan's protags are architects of their own misery. Yes, their original misfortune is outside their own control (tangent: I believe you asked me how many of his movies I've seen, but how many of his have you seen? Because I don't wanna accidentally spoil since we keep cross-refing his movies), but how they deal with it thereafter is their own, and they definitely do not deal in healthy ways (to say the least). As for being up-front about it... hm. Considering perception is the other theme Nolan is obsessed with, not just the mechanics, but how one sees oneself and how others see you, there's some variation there.

But I agree that that could be it. Why Nolan's protags are so cold and hard to sympathize with, because they created their own misery. And it's hard to feel catharsis for a character you don't like. Whereas you feel a great deal for Fischer.

[redfiona99.livejournal.com]

All of them, except the first half of Memento. The second half is very odd without the first half, let me tell you ;)

>>Yes, their original misfortune is outside their own control ... but how they deal with it thereafter is their own,<< I think that's it. Because the rest seem to try to deal in a way that protects their nearest and dearest, or at least minimise the risk (if you're being generous about the dectective in Insomnia), Cobb won't deal with his problems, and puts other people in danger. Which is actually probably half of the plot of the two Batman films. You're right that he does keep coming back to some themes.

[angstbunny.livejournal.com]

Haha, you really should watch the whole thing.

There's a lot of manpain in Nolan's movies, but Cobb's manpain is certainly one of the least of all of them. He does seem more mopey than epic. Leonard covered himself in tats and went all murderating. Bruce Wayne suited up as Batman. Harvey Dent went apeshit nuts. But Cobb just... mopes. A lot.