 
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
|
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
4.235.200.122
In Reply to: RE: Your characterization of foreign films vs. domestic seriously is flawed. nt posted by jamesgarvin on August 22, 2007 at 16:26:39
totality of foreign film but merely the art house ones which make it across the pond. If one compares art films of the US vs. other countries' the differences you agree with vanish.
I'd also point out that "foreign" and "international" hardly are interchangeable.
Follow Ups:
"If one compares art films of the US vs. other countries' the differences you agree with vanish."
Please refer to my prior post. Approximately 15% of films from the U.S. are made outside the Hollywood system - independent films. I will agree that the majority of those films are generally character driven, but they make up a small percentage of U.S. based films.
"The reviewers that hold that opinion probably aren't considering the totality of foreign film but merely the art house ones which make it across the pond."
Well, if you live in the U.S. and have seen the film, you likely have seen it because it has made it across the pond. On the other hand, if you have not seen the film, how do you know it exists? Care to give specific examples of all these films that you have seen and are not available in the U.S., either in a theater or on D.V.D.? Perhaps then we could discuss specific examples rather than these unknown films to which you refer.
One simply can't lump so much: European films, for instance, must be considered differently than "Asian."
Hong Kong produces more (except, perhaps, for India) films than any other market. There are many styles of martial art films, almost all of which, by definition, are plot driven. Films like those of Wong Kar-Wai are in a very, very small minority.
India also produces few films similar to those of Ray or Mehta, most being Bollywood cheapie productions. Ditto China. Taiwan.
I might add that Brasilian films, also, follow this general rule of many plot driven, few character.
Perhaps Patrick can enlighten about the situation in France: I'd bet that most films there are NOT character driven but the ones we know, historically, and the ones exported to our shores, are.
When one says "international" or "foreign," it takes in a lot of ground, doesn't it? :-0
"European films, for instance, must be considered differently than "Asian."
Sure. But films there are really two choices in terms of structure - plot driven or character driven. On the other hand, subject matter, scenery, language (by which I mean style) are always different.
"There are many styles of martial art films, almost all of which, by definition, are plot driven."
No argument there
"Films like those of Wong Kar-Wai are in a very, very small minority."
Not sure what you mean by this. You mean that most films from Hong Kong are martial art films? I would disagree.
"India also produces few films similar to those of Ray or Mehta, most being Bollywood cheapie productions. Ditto China. Taiwan."
Cheapie production does not equal plot driven, or character driven.
"I might add that Brasilian films, also, follow this general rule of many plot driven, few character."
In looking over my notes, I have seen two Brazilian films relatively recently, Mango Yellow and Carandiru. Mango Yellow was unquestionably a character film. I would argue Carandiru was as well because the film spends 95% of its running time exploring the various characters within a static environment. Place the same characters in a bakery, restaurant, etc., and you have essentially the same film. The signigicance of the the fact they are in prison does not take place until the last twen minutes.
"I'd bet that most films there are NOT character driven but the ones we know, historically, and the ones exported to our shores, are."
So now you are supporting your arguments not with facts but with assumptions? I'll play. I'd bet that most Films in France are character driven, and that what we see over here is a representative sample. Sort of like in an election when the first 20% of the votes are counted from a representative geographic area, the remaining 80% will more likely than not reflect the first 20%.
overwhelmingly martial arts, as are several other Asian markets.
The two Brasilian films you mention are both "art" films, Carandiru being considered among the ten best from the Samba country. Mango also is an "art" film; neither is typical of the Brasilian industry which has a lot of crime and slapstick type of fare.
Plot driven films are the norm in all markets for a very understandable reason: the writing needn't be as excellent. Also, the actors needn't have the same acting skill level. A knowledge of popular television, which is similar in Europe and SA, will confirm that plots drive it.
| FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
