maarow
Ghost in the Graveyard
Posts: 509
|
Post by maarow on Oct 10, 2011 19:40:53 GMT -5
The cursing in American Horror Story really bothered me...not because I'm offended by cursing but because it was just distracting. My problem is that people who swear this often in real life are bound to occasionally drop an F bomb (or maybe even the dreaded C word...cookie, that is). But because this is basic cable, these characters never will. So if you're going for "realism" with the language (I'll be kind and not mention that they lost any hope for realism once the dialogue came out so atrociously) you're doomed from the start because there are going to be some very conspicuous absences from your characters' vocabulary. If they aren't going for realism then all that cursing is either desperate or they're just showing off. Seriously, I counted six instances of the word "shit" before the first commercial break (each one more forced than the last). You don't need any cursing to make a point but one well-placed use would have been much more powerful. In a way that's sort of how I feel about the show overall--somebody decided to substitute "pushing the envelope" for "having interesting things happen." I agree with Mister D's concise statement that it's trying too hard. Way off here dude. FX has that show Nip/Tuck and there is tons of nudity, similated sex, and profanities in that show and this show is on the same station. Just my 2 cents ... Then I would have the same complaint about Nip/Tuck, unless it is more well written.
|
|
|
Post by francoamerican on Oct 10, 2011 19:59:33 GMT -5
Way off here dude. FX has that show Nip/Tuck and there is tons of nudity, similated sex, and profanities in that show and this show is on the same station. Just my 2 cents ... Then I would have the same complaint about Nip/Tuck, unless it is more well written. I haven't seen this new horror show but it appears on the forum it got mixed reviews ... though on many sites and such critics gave it really good reviews. I'll check it out though.
|
|
maarow
Ghost in the Graveyard
Posts: 509
|
Post by maarow on Oct 10, 2011 20:17:33 GMT -5
Then I would have the same complaint about Nip/Tuck, unless it is more well written. I haven't seen this new horror show but it appears on the forum it got mixed reviews ... though on many sites and such critics gave it really good reviews. I'll check it out though. Be sure to post your opinion of it here. Overall I came down on the negative side for the pilot but I'd like to keep discussing it for as many episodes as I stick with it.
|
|
bigmac
Revolting Revenant
You mean the movie lied!?!?!?
Posts: 1,508
|
Post by bigmac on Oct 10, 2011 20:44:41 GMT -5
Agree with you, francoamerican. I'm also on the negative side, but am willing to give it a few more episodes to see if things pick up.
|
|
|
Post by bishop746 on Oct 11, 2011 18:41:20 GMT -5
Has anybody watched this yet? I have to admit the hour flew by. I wasn't sure what I was expecting but I was surprised by how 'horror' american horror story turned out to be. Really weird and sexual and unsettling - put in me in mind of Italian genre fare, right down to the strange jumpy editing but with some 90's style mtv shit thrown in on top. Kind of like if Argento and Fincher both tried to share a short-circuiting telepod, stumbled out the otherside in a bloody contorted mess that insisted on calling itself 'Fargenter', read a copy of the amityville horror and then schlepped off to make a tv show. I look forward to seeing where it goes from here. +1 ;D When you can't say it better, quote.
|
|
Stylus
Cellar Dweller
I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.
Posts: 24
|
Post by Stylus on Oct 12, 2011 0:45:36 GMT -5
Just finished the "Pilot" and I have to agree with most of the sentiments here. All the cliches make it seem like an effort to bring horror the the masses of middle-America who wouldn't normally watch genre-fare. Those of us with a love for horror have already seen most of these sort of characters and situations before.
I get the feeling that the writers have no idea what the story is and where it's supposed to go and that we're just going to see weird shit get even weirder with little or no character development (not good considering the three main characters are unlikable already...)
|
|
|
Post by mundays on Oct 12, 2011 18:06:23 GMT -5
I get the feeling that the writers have no idea what the story is and where it's supposed to go Whoa! I mean, I appreciate that we all have our own subjective opinions and all but... from one episode? Seriously? You don't think they know what the story is or where its going?! Well, if you're right then kudos to them for somehow negotiating the myriad of endless channel meetings required for obtaining a series commission without once ever having to explain the story! I'll have some of what they're having please.
|
|
|
Post by Peekysdad on Oct 12, 2011 22:31:17 GMT -5
I get the feeling that the writers have no idea what the story is and where it's supposed to go Whoa! I mean, I appreciate that we all have our own subjective opinions and all but... from one episode? Seriously? You don't think they know what the story is or where its going?! Well, if you're right then kudos to them for somehow negotiating the myriad of endless channel meetings required for obtaining a series commission without once ever having to explain the story! I'll have some of what they're having please. I've now seen the first two episodes and I agree that it's not the most original horror I've watched. However, I'm really enjoying it! This is TV, after all. It doesn't cost me anything and it's extremely watchable. Do we really have to expect the creators of a series to know exactly where it's going from the start? Did the writers of Dexter know that Trinity was going to kill Rita as soon as she was introduced? Maybe they did, but it certainly isn't a prerequisite for a good series. I think I'm not going to worry about where this is going and just enjoy the ride.
|
|
|
Post by mundays on Oct 13, 2011 4:04:24 GMT -5
Do we really have to expect the creators of a series to know exactly where it's going from the start? Did the writers of Dexter know that Trinity was going to kill Rita as soon as she was introduced? For a season, yes, I was being faceitious before - but despite frequent accusations to the contrary no season makes it up as it goes along. The whole things has to be plotted out quite far in advance and you have to justify it to the advertisers and poor sods who give you the money to make the thing. Individual Writers work in episode blocks and need to be aware of what other writers on the show have done previous and are doing next to ensure continuity. Script editors oversee it all, they also have to know where its going to make sure individual writers eps tie in to the overall arc. Boring stuff all that wasn't it? But a bug bear of mine this sort of criticism. Be thankful nobody used the naueseating phrase "they haven't EARNED that" or my reply would have been 20 times as long and a lot swearier!
|
|
|
Post by jmodlinc on Oct 13, 2011 4:45:24 GMT -5
Whoa! I mean, I appreciate that we all have our own subjective opinions and all but... from one episode? Seriously? You don't think they know what the story is or where its going?! Well, if you're right then kudos to them for somehow negotiating the myriad of endless channel meetings required for obtaining a series commission without once ever having to explain the story! I'll have some of what they're having please. I've now seen the first two episodes and I agree that it's not the most original horror I've watched. However, I'm really enjoying it! This is TV, after all. It doesn't cost me anything and it's extremely watchable. Why should one expect anything less from TV versus film or any other form of art/storytelling?
|
|
|
Post by Peekysdad on Oct 13, 2011 15:54:59 GMT -5
I've now seen the first two episodes and I agree that it's not the most original horror I've watched. However, I'm really enjoying it! This is TV, after all. It doesn't cost me anything and it's extremely watchable. Why should one expect anything less from TV versus film or any other form of art/storytelling? It doesn't cost me ten bucks to watch an episode of a tv show.
|
|
|
Post by Peekysdad on Oct 13, 2011 15:59:46 GMT -5
Do we really have to expect the creators of a series to know exactly where it's going from the start? Did the writers of Dexter know that Trinity was going to kill Rita as soon as she was introduced? For a season, yes, I was being faceitious before - but despite frequent accusations to the contrary no season makes it up as it goes along. The whole things has to be plotted out quite far in advance and you have to justify it to the advertisers and poor sods who give you the money to make the thing. Individual Writers work in episode blocks and need to be aware of what other writers on the show have done previous and are doing next to ensure continuity. Script editors oversee it all, they also have to know where its going to make sure individual writers eps tie in to the overall arc. Boring stuff all that wasn't it? But a bug bear of mine this sort of criticism. Be thankful nobody used the naueseating phrase "they haven't EARNED that" or my reply would have been 20 times as long and a lot swearier! Well, yes, I would expect them to have a pretty good idea where the season is going before cameras roll. However, they might to have all loose ends tied up until later. Future seasons might be a total mystery to even the shows creators.
|
|
|
Post by jmodlinc on Oct 13, 2011 17:43:54 GMT -5
Why should one expect anything less from TV versus film or any other form of art/storytelling? It doesn't cost me ten bucks to watch an episode of a tv show. ... So... ? Why should that make a difference?
|
|
maarow
Ghost in the Graveyard
Posts: 509
|
Post by maarow on Oct 14, 2011 0:46:17 GMT -5
Boring stuff all that wasn't it? But a bug bear of mine this sort of criticism. Be thankful nobody used the naueseating phrase "they haven't EARNED that" or my reply would have been 20 times as long and a lot swearier! Out of curiosity what's your beef with that phrase? I think it can be a valid criticism.
|
|
bigmac
Revolting Revenant
You mean the movie lied!?!?!?
Posts: 1,508
|
Post by bigmac on Oct 14, 2011 1:44:53 GMT -5
I've now seen the first two episodes and I agree that it's not the most original horror I've watched. However, I'm really enjoying it! This is TV, after all. It doesn't cost me anything and it's extremely watchable. Do we really have to expect the creators of a series to know exactly where it's going from the start? Did the writers of Dexter know that Trinity was going to kill Rita as soon as she was introduced? Maybe they did, but it certainly isn't a prerequisite for a good series. I think I'm not going to worry about where this is going and just enjoy the ride. I think you're mention of the Dexter spoiler is rather off. That moment spun the series in a new direction. I agree, it wasn't plotted out in the early seasons (IMO), but it was an interesting creative decision. Now, I'm not saying this was the case, but at times such decisions can be based on what the actor is interested in (or salary demands, and it's not like we don't know that hasn't happened), but it could also be a chance to expand upon the central character. With AHS, we only have two episodes to judge whether we invest our time in the series or not. I've only seen the first episode, and I have to say, it's nowhere NEAR as gripping as the first episode of Dexter. We can argue premium channel verse regular cable all you want, but the fact is, I just don't care about the storyline or the characters. The writers on AHS failed basic story writing 101; grab the audience with the first paragraph. It's the basic standard of every short story, every novel, every tale told around a fire. If you don't gain interest in the first page or so, you're screwed. AHS's first chapter was rather bland, if you discount all the forced attempts to shock the audience. Not that they didn't drop some interesting tidbits at the very end, which is what is making me watch the show for the next couple episodes. But I don't feel the writers have anything interesting to say, other than rehash standard haunted house props and include references to better movies. You have to grab the audience within the first episode (or page, in a novel) or else people will move on. Unlike Dexter, which grabbed you by the throat in the opening moments, that didn't happen here.
|
|