What I’m driving at is that by making everyone flat, no one can grow. When Boromir falls for the Ring, everyone in the audience saw it coming from a mile away. When Denethor goes suicidal, there’s no surprise because he’s a raving madman from the moment we meet him.
But if it were like he’s suggesting, people would complain that those characters final(ish) actions were out of character and it would make no sense for them to do those things. Just because you can see something coming doesn’t mean it isn’t enjoyable to watch. If you saw two trains heading towards each other on one track you wouldn’t look away simply because the you see the outcome coming. There’s a difference between foreshadowing and being predictable and imo it’s not good criticism.
not gonna lie, the author does make a few interesting points
This is a fair point in particular.
Yeah I think the story benefits from some humorous beats, but maybe not like that, in retrospect.
Yeah, in retrospect, the movies kinda did Gimli dirty.
Damn
But if it were like he’s suggesting, people would complain that those characters final(ish) actions were out of character and it would make no sense for them to do those things. Just because you can see something coming doesn’t mean it isn’t enjoyable to watch. If you saw two trains heading towards each other on one track you wouldn’t look away simply because the you see the outcome coming. There’s a difference between foreshadowing and being predictable and imo it’s not good criticism.
Right, and I think Denathor is a good example. Spends his screen time being an asshat. Very satisfying when he gets what’s coming.
Right I guess that’s partly down to the medium of movies. Probably not enough screentime to devote to a more subtle character evolution.