Anything Goes : Realistic accuracy & story continuity - Can both be utilized without sacrificing effective entertainment appeal? by John 'JJ ' George

How about a few examples of movies where a certain level of realism and continuity has been sacrificed for special effects and popular misconceptions carry the storyline instead of the story itself being the center.

Fast and Furious....for one. Marvell anything. Sweet meat in tight spandex and FX and voila' you got box office.

D/Simon, thanks for chiming in! Those are perfect examples, Simon! - as well as these new age mythological/fantasy films, 'Immortals', and the more recent 'Hercules'. As a former cop, I particularly find some of the larger issues of these examples are involving films/TV spots that are 'police-related' or involving law enforcement/detectives in a large portion of the storyline. It seems almost commonplace for scripts to instinctively enact inane but popular misconceptions, inaccuracies, and uncoordinated details, such as all cops eat donuts, are overweight as veterans, cannot drive their police units at high speeds without wrecking into each other, seem to have no discernible common sense or affable personalities, are usually worst shots (and under-armed) than the bad guys, shoot people routinely every day which involves no paperwork or administrative investigation of any kind....you get the picture! The latest violator to my senses was the recent Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, 'The Last Stand', where he plays a retired LA narcotics officer now Sheriff in a small AZ town dealing with Mexican Drug Cartel.... PLEASE!!! (Calgon....take me away!!) (: This has so many examples of the stereo-typical audience misperception of what real-life police work is like, that I literally felt pain in my head trying to watch it.! (:

Okay, so fantasy films like the Marvel superhero films often sacrifice realism and continuity. But fantasy sets it own "realism" does it not? A kid gets bit by a spider and takes on some of the attributes of arachnids. That is its own "realism". It seems to me that since your expertise is in law enforcement your sensitivity is heightened. I don't want to see a cop story where the cops spent a realistic amount of time doing paperwork and dealing with administrative investigations. Boring to most of us. The cops being outgunned by the bad guys makes a thrilling scene. the other way around, less exciting. You're probably right that it's not realistic. I watch movies to escape realistic. "The Last Stand" was unrealistic. Any more examples?

D, I think I may not have been as clear about my opinion as I had hoped. I completely understand the huge difference and large scale entertainment values of fantasy and action. As there is no preconceived expectations of any rules or bearing in reality, I would think it is generally perceived by viewers as less a important element to the storyline. As well, the fact that I have somewhat on an inside track to real police work does not necessarily mean I am looking at this strictly within the minority eyes of law enforcement to base my opinion on the levels of reality verses whats entertaining alone. Obvious, no one would want to sit through police actually conducting a long-term paperwork scene or sitting and waiting to return to duty. There are, I feel, certain elements of 'believability' that can often fall short and, although entertaining for some, honestly make other viewers go ' What? That doesn't make any sense!'... Unfortunately, I have just been handled an assignment and have to stop where I am at, but you have a sound opinion, D, and i would like to follow up soon with some examples when I can return.... Thanks for the great conversation gents and we'll continue this soon...however, duty calls! (:

I figured you weren't basing your opinions only on your level of expertise. That's why I asked for some examples of movies where a certain level of realism and continuity has been sacrificed for special effects and where popular misconceptions carry the storyline instead of the story itself being the center. It would help me understand what you mean by pointing out a few specific movies. I don't see what you see regarding a certain level of realism and continuity being sacrificed for special effects or popular misconceptions carrying the storyline instead of the story itself being the center.

JJ, I am an Architect by profession and am occasionally "entertained" by the misconceptions about buildings (and designers) that I see on the screen. For example, ductwork is designed to carry air, not spies. However, unlike your list of cop clichés, my list is too short. There just isn't that much architecture in movies or television. I believe there is a lot of story material in the design, construction, and restoration of buildings that goes untapped. But back to your point, good stories are crafted and detailed much like a house. The structure and utilities are concealed, but if they were missing, you'd have a sad story indeed.

I read a while back the motto in Hwood is "facts be damned, just effing entertain me!" Some movies are a bit ridiculus (Fast and Furious) but if you get bogged down in too much real life stuff it slows the pace and sometimes becomes boring. You have a limited time to show alot of action and push the story forward. Some movies/shows do a good job of hiding that stuff, others don't. You are always going to have an expert in something calling bullshit on this or that. Remember, most people come to see a movie to escape everyday crap.

I agree with you Wayne. I do not go to the movies to see accuracy in the details. Okay, the air ducts are not built for the spy to crawls through, but that makes an exciting scene. Sure, cops must do a lot of paperwork after a shooting, but no one want to spend several minutes in a movie watching that. A story must condense reality in order to tell the story. The story itself is (as JJ puts it) the center of entertainment and if realism must be sacrificed, so be it. Of course no one can run from an explosion as the fireball rolls down the hallway and then jump out of the window into the water below as the fireball and debris explodes out over their head. But it sure looks cool.

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Very condescending, Diana.

"Reality is for People who lack imagination". The Simpsons :)