Tragic characters and plotlines...meh...

NameGoesHere1066 · 08-01-2013, 06:44 PM

Hey am I the only one here that as you get older in age you kind of feel less impressed with shows with tragic characters and over all tragic storylines where everyone is unhappy and struggling? Recently I have become somewhat disenchanted with batman and his over all dark persona and recently have gotten into Brave and the Bold. It's lighter funnier more capy version of him and I got to say I enjoy it. I hear alot of people bash it because "thats not batman" I feel the same way with the endind of the Nolan batman triliogy where Bruce Wayne sort of gets a Disney-esche ending where he survives and Alfred's dream for him comes true. I liked like that it ended that way.

At one point all I ever wanted to see was dark brooding characters with everything against them because I thought that was interesting, but lately I think that type of character is more depressing than engaging. I also thinking the old ninja turtles comics and the story "the river" (I think that was the name) where the turtles pretty much come to the depressing conclusion that they will never procreate and that they are ll they have. And I thought, wow, what a bleak and depressing prospect. The turtles will never know love.

I used to think this made them unique but now I kind of think thats just depressing and not as mystical I once thought it was. This may be a poor example to use since I think at least leo find love.

Its not that I want everything to have a happy ending or no conflict I do I just want a little pay off and resolution in my characters and storylines instead of constant doom and gloom. Dark doesn't always mean good. Anyone else know what I mean or feel the same way? I'm not as taken with the tragic characters or the storyline where horriable crap happens just because.

*CyberCubed* · 08-01-2013, 06:47 PM

This is why the Nick TMNT is a success. It's lighthearted and fun. Although there is still tragedy of Splinter thinking his daughter is dead for 15 years.

*Cure* · 08-01-2013, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NameGoesHere1066

Anyone else know what I mean or feel the same way?

No, I agree. I'll always enjoy movies with more spectacle and excitement than tragedy and grit.

An example I can think of is that joint "Sleepers". It's technically well made and a good movie for what it is, but f*ck me is that subject matter awful and depressing. I wouldn't watch that again. "Speed", though? It's on whenever I see it on cable.

It even applies to video games. Give me Halo over Limbo aaaaaaaanyday.

*CyberCubed* · 08-01-2013, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cure

It even applies to video games. Give me Halo over Limbo aaaaaaaanyday.

Halo has a story?

*snake* · 08-01-2013, 08:34 PM

I'm more into lighthearted stuff anyway, but dark and gritty doesn't bother me, it just annoys me. Films try to be "edgy" of "dark" just for the sake of being dark and serious.

Peanut · 08-01-2013, 08:38 PM

It doesn't work for every character or every plot in every story, but it has it's place. While I personally prefer some light and whimsy in my entertainment, I also think something like Game of Thrones works specifically because it's so incredibly dark all the time.

愛 · 08-01-2013, 09:04 PM

I've been rewatching The Sopranos lately, and I think Tony is an incredibly tragic character. I love it.

*Cipher* · 08-01-2013, 09:06 PM

If you're only looking at infinite serials like supherhero comics, yeah, I agree.

But I'd hardly call them "tragic," unless the tragedy is that their own popularity and status quo damns them to unending, stagnant darkness. (And it isn't.)

Real "tragedy," as an element of fiction, requires an ending. Moreover, it requires the characters to be the progenitors of their own downfalls. And those types of stories still are, and will always be, among the most powerful fictional experiences around.

You aren't talking about "tragic" here. You're talking about "dark." And that can be as interesting or as juvenile as you want it to be, though I agree that it leans toward the latter nine times out of ten.

*Mr._Mutant_Man* · 08-04-2013, 05:15 PM

I actually like the darker stuff more now that I'm an adult.

It all depends on what mood I'm in. Sometimes I want to watch something silly like Ninja Turtles. Other times I'll read A Song of Ice and Fire where things seem to end miserably for everyone.

~~JakeSully~~ · 08-09-2013, 02:53 AM

Batman has always been intended as dark you know.

Have you all read Frank "i'm goddamn Batman" Miller's works? he's the best comic author ever who makes unique dark comics even reinvented Batman back to his dark roots and Chris Nolan's vision is based on Frank Miller

turtle1237 · 08-14-2013, 03:45 PM

Blame the greeks and there tragic storys.

*Allio* · 08-14-2013, 04:14 PM

I'm waiting/Hoping to see if Mero will have her tragic love story in Monster Musume...my hope is she kills everyone on a full moon then kills herself in the morning after realizing what she did

Jelly Bean · 09-04-2013, 05:38 PM

it has been my experience that if you don't like something tragic or don't appreciate the depth of something "dark" people think you are immature or just want happy endings.

Generally if something is tragic for the sake of tragidy I find that more shallow than a silly slap stick show.

~~Leo656~~ · 09-04-2013, 10:32 PM

I get that. but I also appreciate movies that are inherently dark because they're making a social commentary on something real or real life. I thought I was going to hate "Spring Breakers", for example, but I turned out to dig it, because it surprisingly has something to say about our culture and our value system. It just happens to be ridiculously dark and uncomfortable by design. I don't know when I'll bother watching it again, and I can absolutely understand someone wanting to avoid it like the plague or hating it outright. But it definitely stayed with me afterward and was uncomfortably real, except where it was purposely juxtaposed with instances of consequence-free "video game" violence in order to illustrate its point. It's a smart movie, and I appreciate it for what it is. But I definitely felt sticky after watching it.

I'm just as likely to watch several episodes of Full House in a row, like I'm doing at the moment. I'm weird like that. I can really get into anything.

*CyberCubed* · 09-04-2013, 10:52 PM

I've never seen Spring Breakers for obvious reasons, but that was one movie from the trailers that I was hoping all the main characters either died by the end or went to jail for life.

~~Leo656~~ · 09-04-2013, 11:03 PM

Spoiler:

I wanted to hate it; but the fact is I've known a lot of people who are like that and glamorize and glorify that lifestyle, and the way the movie basically beats you over the head how retarded that way of thinking is eventually won me over. They try and show consequence, but at the same time it could have gone farther, but then it would have been even darker and uncomfortable to the point of being unwatchable for most people. I also am kinda "meh" about James Franco, usually, but he really disappeared into his character's gimmick for this movie. I kept forgetting it was him, and I hated that, because I don't want to admit he's that good of an actor.

And anything with Jeff Jarrett involved gets a big "thumbs up" from me. I really hope I meet him again, just so I can ask him "Are you Jacked Up on Jesus?"

NameGoesHere1066 · 09-12-2013, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Real "tragedy," as an element of fiction, requires an ending. Moreover, it requires the characters to be the progenitors of their own downfalls. And those types of stories still are, and will always be, among the most powerful fictional experiences around.

You aren't talking about "tragic" here. You're talking about "dark." And that can be as interesting or as juvenile as you want it to be, though I agree that it leans toward the latter nine times out of ten.

I guess I just do not care for tragedy (or angst) for the sake of it. If something is already have an over-all dark feel and the characters in question are already miserable with pleanty of conflict, why twist the knife some more with more crap. At that point I just find it exhausting. I particualy do not like it when I sense the writting is just throwing misery at a character just so the audience/reader can go "awww poor (insert characters name)" some more. Give me some resolution or pay off.

Jelly Bean · 10-02-2013, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo656

Spoiler:

I wanted to hate it; but the fact is I've known a lot of people who are like that and glamorize and glorify that lifestyle, and the way the movie basically beats you over the head how retarded that way of thinking is eventually won me over. They try and show consequence, but at the same time it could have gone farther, but then it would have been even darker and uncomfortable to the point of being unwatchable for most people. I also am kinda "meh" about James Franco, usually, but he really disappeared into his character's gimmick for this movie. I kept forgetting it was him, and I hated that, because I don't want to admit he's that good of an actor.

And anything with Jeff Jarrett involved gets a big "thumbs up" from me. I really hope I meet him again, just so I can ask him "Are you Jacked Up on Jesus?"

Has anyone ever seen "Grave of the fire flies?" Holy crap what a effed up movie.

what is weird is that according to the director of the movie you are not supposed to feel sorry for the kids in the show but feel critism for the older brother who put his younger sisiter in the situation.

*PApagreg* · 10-02-2013, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jelly Bean

Has anyone ever seen "Grave of the fire flies?" Holy crap what a effed up movie.

what is weird is that according to the director of the movie you are not supposed to feel sorry for the kids in the show but feel critism for the older brother who put his younger sisiter in the situation.

Something tells me you are not gonna like Bokurano

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05p646nlYS0

NameGoesHere1066 · 10-03-2013, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jelly Bean

what is weird is that according to the director of the movie you are not supposed to feel sorry for the kids in the show but feel critism for the older brother who put his younger sisiter in the situation.

I heard this as well and to be honest I wasn't sure how to feel toward the kids after I read that. Am I supposed to feel annoyed at them for not staying with their aunt? The boy came across at first as being pushed out because his aunt comes across as a bitch. But when you think about it his aunt just wanted him to not lie around the house and help out more. You see scenes of the brother and his sister running around the beach oblivious to the fact a war is going on and everyone is scraping for rations and food. My feelings on this were very mixed. Who has seen this film?

Also any body seen Plague Dogs?

Its actually the thought provoking kind of tragic and dark that I like.

08-01-2013, 06:44 PM	#1
NameGoesHere1066 Stone Warrior Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: at home LOL Posts: 957	Tragic characters and plotlines...meh... Hey am I the only one here that as you get older in age you kind of feel less impressed with shows with tragic characters and over all tragic storylines where everyone is unhappy and struggling? Recently I have become somewhat disenchanted with batman and his over all dark persona and recently have gotten into Brave and the Bold. It's lighter funnier more capy version of him and I got to say I enjoy it. I hear alot of people bash it because "thats not batman" I feel the same way with the endind of the Nolan batman triliogy where Bruce Wayne sort of gets a Disney-esche ending where he survives and Alfred's dream for him comes true. I liked like that it ended that way. At one point all I ever wanted to see was dark brooding characters with everything against them because I thought that was interesting, but lately I think that type of character is more depressing than engaging. I also thinking the old ninja turtles comics and the story "the river" (I think that was the name) where the turtles pretty much come to the depressing conclusion that they will never procreate and that they are ll they have. And I thought, wow, what a bleak and depressing prospect. The turtles will never know love. I used to think this made them unique but now I kind of think thats just depressing and not as mystical I once thought it was. This may be a poor example to use since I think at least leo find love. Its not that I want everything to have a happy ending or no conflict I do I just want a little pay off and resolution in my characters and storylines instead of constant doom and gloom. Dark doesn't always mean good. Anyone else know what I mean or feel the same way? I'm not as taken with the tragic characters or the storyline where horriable crap happens just because. __________________ ]

08-14-2013, 04:14 PM	#12
Allio Foot Elite Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 4,208	I'm waiting/Hoping to see if Mero will have her tragic love story in Monster Musume...my hope is she kills everyone on a full moon then kills herself in the morning after realizing what she did __________________

09-04-2013, 11:03 PM	#16
~~Leo656~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,703	Spoiler: Some of 'em get killed, so at least it would be a partial "victory" for you. I wanted to hate it; but the fact is I've known a lot of people who are like that and glamorize and glorify that lifestyle, and the way the movie basically beats you over the head how retarded that way of thinking is eventually won me over. They try and show consequence, but at the same time it could have gone farther, but then it would have been even darker and uncomfortable to the point of being unwatchable for most people. I also am kinda "meh" about James Franco, usually, but he really disappeared into his character's gimmick for this movie. I kept forgetting it was him, and I hated that, because I don't want to admit he's that good of an actor. And anything with Jeff Jarrett involved gets a big "thumbs up" from me. I really hope I meet him again, just so I can ask him "Are you Jacked Up on Jesus?"

08-01-2013, 06:47 PM	#2
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,887	This is why the Nick TMNT is a success. It's lighthearted and fun. Although there is still tragedy of Splinter thinking his daughter is dead for 15 years.

08-01-2013, 08:34 PM	#5
snake Disgusting Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Outer Heaven Posts: 12,231	I'm more into lighthearted stuff anyway, but dark and gritty doesn't bother me, it just annoys me. Films try to be "edgy" of "dark" just for the sake of being dark and serious.

08-01-2013, 08:38 PM	#6
Peanut Second Gear Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The New World Posts: 15,422	It doesn't work for every character or every plot in every story, but it has it's place. While I personally prefer some light and whimsy in my entertainment, I also think something like Game of Thrones works specifically because it's so incredibly dark all the time.

08-01-2013, 09:04 PM	#7
愛 Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 7,449	I've been rewatching The Sopranos lately, and I think Tony is an incredibly tragic character. I love it.

08-01-2013, 09:06 PM	#8
Cipher Foot Elite Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,454	If you're only looking at infinite serials like supherhero comics, yeah, I agree. But I'd hardly call them "tragic," unless the tragedy is that their own popularity and status quo damns them to unending, stagnant darkness. (And it isn't.) Real "tragedy," as an element of fiction, requires an ending. Moreover, it requires the characters to be the progenitors of their own downfalls. And those types of stories still are, and will always be, among the most powerful fictional experiences around. You aren't talking about "tragic" here. You're talking about "dark." And that can be as interesting or as juvenile as you want it to be, though I agree that it leans toward the latter nine times out of ten.

08-04-2013, 05:15 PM	#9
Mr._Mutant_Man Mad Scientist Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,340	I actually like the darker stuff more now that I'm an adult. It all depends on what mood I'm in. Sometimes I want to watch something silly like Ninja Turtles. Other times I'll read A Song of Ice and Fire where things seem to end miserably for everyone.

08-09-2013, 02:53 AM	#10
~~JakeSully~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 782	Batman has always been intended as dark you know. Have you all read Frank "i'm goddamn Batman" Miller's works? he's the best comic author ever who makes unique dark comics even reinvented Batman back to his dark roots and Chris Nolan's vision is based on Frank Miller

08-14-2013, 03:45 PM	#11
turtle1237 Stone Warrior Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 986	Blame the greeks and there tragic storys.

09-04-2013, 10:32 PM	#14
~~Leo656~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,703	I get that. but I also appreciate movies that are inherently dark because they're making a social commentary on something real or real life. I thought I was going to hate "Spring Breakers", for example, but I turned out to dig it, because it surprisingly has something to say about our culture and our value system. It just happens to be ridiculously dark and uncomfortable by design. I don't know when I'll bother watching it again, and I can absolutely understand someone wanting to avoid it like the plague or hating it outright. But it definitely stayed with me afterward and was uncomfortably real, except where it was purposely juxtaposed with instances of consequence-free "video game" violence in order to illustrate its point. It's a smart movie, and I appreciate it for what it is. But I definitely felt sticky after watching it. I'm just as likely to watch several episodes of Full House in a row, like I'm doing at the moment. I'm weird like that. I can really get into anything.

09-04-2013, 10:52 PM	#15
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,887	I've never seen Spring Breakers for obvious reasons, but that was one movie from the trailers that I was hoping all the main characters either died by the end or went to jail for life.