this post was submitted on 25 Jun 2025
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me_irl
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Good movies are self-aware. Not everything needs to be a masterpiece of acting and cinematography, or have the best effects, or the best writing. But they have to know what they are. I don't mean breaking the fourth wall or self-deprecating humor. More like understanding their limits.
The people making Sharknado knew they were doing a campy action film (series) with sharks in tornadoes. Fun Movie. Would watch again.
M. Night Shyamalan is a great writer and director, but a lot of his films have a feeling of over-dramatized self-importance, where it seems like he really wants you to know how clever he is. So they get panned.
Chrisopher Nolan (I think) puts similar importance on symbols and archetypes with a dramatic and artistic style, but his movies have a feel of like "I don't give a shit if you get it, just enjoy the ride." He makes good films.
This is very clear when he made Tenet, which i quite like it but a confusing maze. Heck i'm pretty sure 80% of the people doesn't really understand what the heck is that even about.
I'm convinced he's trying to see if there's a limit to how many mental backflips an audience can take before they start to reign him in.
But before Tenet there was Primer, and it was a cult hit.