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40 Things That Immediately Ruin A Movie As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group
After seeing a good amount of movies, you start to see the patterns in the story lines, in the way certain characters are portrayed and even can quite easily guess the events that were supposed to be unexpected plot twists. The predictability might be one of the factors why a movie could be considered to be bad or at least boring.
But Reddit users have many more reasons that completely ruin a movie that initially seemed promising. User lawyeratyourservice asked “What ruins a movie instantly?” and people provided their opinions on what movie directors’ decisions distract them from enjoying the movie or make it annoying altogether.
More info: Reddit
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You most probably had or have to write essays or stories during some of your lessons at school. And even if writing is one of your strengths, you know that the process can be tiresome and you are not always satisfied with the result. What may be even more frustrating is that you might not know how to fix it.
For most people, creative writing or pros and cons essays end when they finish school, but those who feel that their writing skills are better than average might choose it as their career path. They get to know how a good story is written and what it needs to be captivating and interesting, even though there will be people, like those on Reddit, who will find some of their ideas annoying.
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#2
When it’s so dark you actually can’t see what is happening. Also characters that’s mumble their lines. Drives me nuts
#3
That all the major issues could be solved by a simple conversation but instead "No, I dont have time to explain", leading to force conflict from misunderstanding.
Rose the Cook 2 years ago
If people did the sensible thing in situations it would make for very short films.
Bored Panda reached out to a screenwriter to find out more about the process of writing a script. We got in touch with Juliet Giglio, a screenwriter who attended NYU Grad Film school and now is a screenwriting professor at SUNY Oswego.
She also works as a screenwriter with her husband Keith Giglio and worked on such films like Disney’s Tarzan, Pizza My Heart, Return to Halloweentown, Joshua, and A Cinderella Story. They also are publishing their first novel this year called The Summer Of Christmas.
#4
Forced romance. Sometimes movies don't need it and that's ok.
#6
running through wilderness in heels for the majority of a movie. IRKSOME.
We asked her what the screenwriting process looks like and what it all starts with. Juliet Giglio explained, “The process of screenwriting begins when you come up with the idea (the logline) and then begin fleshing out the story. This is typically done with index cards or using a program like trello.com that helps to organize the story. From there you create an outline (Google Docs works well). After you have a very fleshed-out outline and you know what will happen in all of the scenes, you can begin writing the script, using a screenplay software. Screenwriting is ALL about structure. It's 3 acts (with act 2 broken in half) and 8 sequences.”
#7
I watch movies with subtitles. When they speak a different language and it just says "speaks foreign language." Especially when it's not just a few lines, but actual dialog.
#8
When people figure out someone’s password in literally no time.
Rose the Cook 2 years ago
If they didn't the film would be too long and viewers would loose interest.
Very often, when you watch movies, some unexplainable things that happen in the beginning of the movie are implicitly explained later on and you may wonder if that was planned from the start or if the screenwriter came up with it as they went along. Juliet Giglio told us that “You definitely need to know the ending of the script before you begin writing so that you know what you're going toward.”
#9
Sex. No seriously. When I see a movie labelled "Action/Thriller", I want action or thriller. I do not want the undercover spy to start diving deep inside some random girl who may or may not be involved in the plot.
#10
When there's a scene that's just advertising a brand.
postboredom 2 years ago
This movie reminds me of the half-assed moment where the main character removes their glasses and becomes hot all of a sudden. Kills the movie for me
#11
The "exotic foreign country" yellow filter.
The most challenging part of screenwriting, according to Giglio, is “Breaking the story and figuring out who the characters are is the most challenging and can take at least a month if done properly. Once the story is fully fleshed out, the actual writing of the script isn't as hard.”
You may think that maybe screenwriters shouldn’t take so much time developing a character because the actor will do that for them, but it is one of the biggest misconceptions about screenwriting and our expert says clearly that actors don’t make up their own dialogue. “Sure, there can be some improvisation on set, but typically actors stick to the lines because they know they work for their character.”
#12
Characters that are brought back alive just to keep the show moving
#13
knowing the story from a book and the adaption is just not meeting expectations
Rose the Cook 2 years ago
See the movie first then read the book to see how it should have been done.
#14
MLD802 said:
Breaking the rules they set
BadDudes4Life2018 replied:
The Walking Dead did this so blatantly, that I couldn’t watch it anymore. First season: Walkers can smell us so we have to cover ourselves in rotting meat to escape. Second season: Oh that hoard of Walkers can’t smell us with this car in between us and them.
Luther von Wolfen 2 years ago
TWD had so much bad writing. I stuck with it for a while because I thought "It's a zombie show - it doesn't have to be realistic." Eventually, I just coul;dn't stand anymore.
To conclude, we asked how Giglio herself would answer the question the redditor gave as we were quite interested to know what a professional thinks. She told us that for her, a movie is ruined “When the inciting incident is rushed. Before we can throw a problem at our hero, we need to get to know them first. See what their life is like if the movie never happens. If we don't fully grasp who the hero is, then we won't be as invested in the movie.”
Let us know what you think about the screenwriter’s insights and if anything surprised you. Also, did anyone mention the thing that makes you not want to rewatch a movie? Upvote the ones that you agree with and if nobody shares the same opinion as you, share it in the comments!
#15
When the two main characters fall in love quickly, especially if they start out hating each other. Most recently: Jungle Cruise. It would have been a good movie without them falling in love. They could have just been friends.
Pisco 2 years ago
Yeah. Why media forces romance all the time? I have barely ever seen a movie where the protagonist doesnt fall in love with "the girl". Friendship and family relations exist people. Why not making a movie about two siblings (of different sex) or two best friends who dont like each other romantically.
#16
treedemolisher said:
Heavy makeup and perfect hair. How am I supposed to enjoy a post-apocalyptic movie when the lead actress looks like a beauty pageant contestant? Drives me insane.
fly-not-fox replied:
God this is season 2 of Witcher! Was watching it last night with my partner and we kept commenting on the pink lipstick someone was wearing. It kept pulling us out of the moment, which was driving me mad.
Adam Belaire 2 years ago
What gets me is perfect teeth. A character is captured for months or out in the woods, covered in dirt yet their teeth are pearly white.
#17
Firing more ammo than the gun actually holds without reloading. Car keys in sun visors. Hacking a protected computer system in seconds.
#18
Slightlyunlucky said:
People driving in films and talking and NEVER looking at the road. That ruins it and makes it not believable
TheBravan replied:
Olivia Wilde 'driving' in Tron....
#19
When the story includes, "the magic was inside you all along" cliché
#20
ImReellySmart said:
In superhero movies when the balance of someone's abilities constantly changes.
Especially in fight scenes when a character could end the fight in 2 seconds but that doesnt allow for an epic battle scene so instead that character just randomly decided to avoid using their most valuable abilities.
This completely takes me out of the moment.
Rubels replied:
The Flash series lost me because of this issue.. literally every fight with a non speedster would be over in 0.2 seconds
TheBlackPanda (JustABlackBear) 2 years ago
This one bothers me a lot especially in superman movies
#21
Dregoralive said:
Background actors in fight/war scenes waiting for their turn to attack the main character
xasdfx666 said:
Throne room sceen in star wars 8. The red guards just keep spinning for no reason or obviously miss their hits on purpose. Its so dumb.
#22
Successful_Morning95 said:
Characters acting out of character just to make the plot work. Immediately makes me see them as puppets for storytelling rather than people and I stop caring about them.
Bot8556 replied:
The last 2 seasons of Game of thrones
Rachael Sampson 2 years ago
Daenerys was absolutely NOT out of character. She was a power hungry tyrant since the end of season one. She always showed signs of anger and violence when someone disagreed with her or she didn't get her way.
#23
Showing and then telling anyway/ treating the audience like idiots.
#24
Time period movies where every car looks like it just drove off the lot. What cars never get dirty in movies?!?
#25
liashor56 said:
A bad accent
stevenmeyerjr replied:
House of Gucci why didn’t we just get some actual Italians to act for the main parts?
Auntriarch 2 years ago
I thought actors were supposed to be able to successfully pretend to be someone else, it being the actual job description
#26
When they repeat the same sentence 2-3-10 times in the story for no reason, just to have a kind of motto.
#27
Probably cringy pop culture references that will be soon outdated.
TheBlackPanda (JustABlackBear) 2 years ago
As long as it makes money in the moment, they don't care.
#29
when you indentify the protagonist love interest 5 minutes in
#30
Trying to explain unexplainable things with quantum mechanics, nanotechnology, worm holes, etc
El muerto 2 years ago
this is classical trope. they always turn the newest popular science theories to make plots work. In Frankenstein was electricity, people knew about electricity, but many couldn't understand it. War Worlds, were germs. in the 50's and 60's was radioactivity and nuclear power. in the 80' and 90's DNA, like in X-Men...people know about them, but they are still close to magic for most
#31
S***ty fight scenes where I can barely tell what I’m looking at
#32
When it starts following a familiar formula. Basically when s**t gets predictable.
#33
Warkitz said:
When you know an actor was chosen for the role for their fame and not for the casting.
AllPowerfulSaucier replied:
It’s getting more and more commonplace too. Especially with movies put out by streaming services like Netflix just jamming celebrities in to get more viewers. I just watched Don’t Look Up yesterday and Ariana Grande felt force fed to the movie audience any time she was on screen (Kid Cudi was a bit too but he’s not as recognizable as Ariana).
#34
Characters not showing emotion when someone passes away. Often they look a bit sad for one shot, and then the movie continues like nothing happened. Totally takes me out of the movie.
Guy MacGregor 2 years ago (edited)
I don't necessarily agree. I personally don't really react physically to things. Some people think things pass over my head but they don't. The fact that I don't show does not mean I don't process. Don't expect your own kind of reaction from others.
#35
When they use CGI to make an almost 80-year-old man look like a 40-year-old but he still moves like an 80-year-old when trying to kick a poor shopkeepers a**.
#36
Cringey and inappropriate use of gen z slang
#37
I will say when they have a whole well designed space suit or futuristic outfit or something that has a helmet to it or face cover that would normally always stay on or be on 80% of the time, BUT they just decide to never wear it or are constantly taking it off to remind us of the "famous actor" who is playing that person.
I've also seen a few movies where a character will have a whole really cool looking space suit or battle attire, only to ditch the whole thing at the beginning and go the rest of the movie looking like the most generic person ever.
Susie Elle 2 years ago
Rule no. 1: When on a distant planet where other crewmembers have died under mysterious circumstances YOU DO NOT TAKE YOUR HELMET OFF HAVEN'T YOU EVER HEARD OF AIRBORNE DISEASES
#38
xluqx said:
Overanimated, overacted friend of the main character.
[deleted] said:
Akwafina in Shang-Chi. She’s good but she was over the top in this one.
#40
justmoochin said:
Cringey dialogue, takes me right out the scene, in fact I want to leave the scene
Potatobender44 replied:
The entirety of Free Guy. Like every single line. Especially f**king Antwan
What do you think ?
Susie Elle 2 years ago
Women waking up with fresh make-up and their hair styled. I mean, have you met women? Like, at all?
Vicky Z 2 years ago
Let's just say people in general... we all wake up like s**t in the morning! I wish i also saw an actor with messy hair and drooling! But ok it's more obvious with women and make up
Load More Replies...
PjandBolt 2 years ago
Oddly specific, but I hate it when the twist villain is one of the main character's parents or close loved one and their excuse for being villainous is "I only did it to protect you" or "I did it for us" but when putting that logic into the context of their actions it just makes no sense as to why
Susie Elle 2 years ago
Women waking up with fresh make-up and their hair styled. I mean, have you met women? Like, at all?
Vicky Z 2 years ago
Let's just say people in general... we all wake up like s**t in the morning! I wish i also saw an actor with messy hair and drooling! But ok it's more obvious with women and make up
Load More Replies... PjandBolt 2 years ago
Oddly specific, but I hate it when the twist villain is one of the main character's parents or close loved one and their excuse for being villainous is "I only did it to protect you" or "I did it for us" but when putting that logic into the context of their actions it just makes no sense as to why
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