Your Emotions in Motion

I was a big fan of all the Indiana Jones movies back in the day. When the fourth one, Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull, finally came out, it was exciting times! Harrison Ford only seemed to get cooler with age, and what a treat it would be to see Indy in action again after so long.

The flick promised to be more practical effects-oriented and would be directed by Steven Spielberg, of course.

But it wasn't so hot.

The actors were good, the production value was high, and Marion from Raiders of the Lost Ark returned.

There was some unsatisfying CGI here and there, and a story and character motivations that were on the confusing side.

Hey, movies are hard to do. Writing is tough. This isn't about dissing anyone; it's about seeing problems that are much easier to see as an audience after something is made, and learning some lessons from it.

The story aside, I identified two big problems in the theater as I watched.

One - The events of the story didn't seem painful enough, physically OR mentally, for Indy. That was a big part of what made the other movies work. His adventures were hard on him.

Two - There was little variation to the emotions of the scenes, or the emotions weren't hit properly or with enough clarity.

In all the other three, there were exciting scenes. Suspenseful scenes, SCARY scenes. Sweet scenes. Funny scenes. A sense of astonishment and discovery here; a gross out scene there. The newest movie didn't hit those moments to me.

It was sort of similar to the newest Star Wars movie (I hate to say it. Not picking on Harrison Ford, either. Harrison Ford's the best!)

If a comic isn't a gag or strip oriented one, it's a good idea to have some variation to your pages or scenes, and hit as many different emotions as you can. At the right moments. It prevents reader fatigue and just makes a story better!

Do you think about the emotions of your scenes? Is a variety of emotion important to you as a creator or as a reader? Do you think all emotions squeezable into all stories?

Have a fine Thursday!

-Banes