Anyone else loving the visual style of this movie? - Page 3

*Refractive Reflections* · 07-19-2014, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bry

Just when I think I'm out...

http://media.giphy.com/media/SkVREjcAhHggE/giphy.gif

I actually really dislike the visual style of this movie, actually. I'll explain why, but for the sake of fairness: it's a totally subjective thing and I don't expect anyone to agree, necessarily. Okay? Okay!

But... I actually don't think it has "good" cinematography or camerawork at all, based on the trailers I've seen. I think it has very flashy cinematography and camerawork, and that has its appeal and is definitely popular with some folks, but to me it just seems really obnoxious and overly-busy. It's eye candy, but... there's a reason you get sick if you eat too much candy in one sitting.

The most effective storytelling is often the simplest. The flashy stuff is best used sparingly, and it's more effective because of it. But with this movie, it seems to be all flash: we seem to have the camera almost constantly moving, sweeping and bouncing around, while nearly every shot seems to have spotlights and smoke machines going off in the background. Seriously, look at those shots in the original post - smoke and heavy, artificial-looking filtering and bright lights and lens flares all over the place. And I know that some people really enjoy that, but I think it's totally obnoxious and distracting.

And my worry about this, based on what I've seen so far, is that this movie's overall "look" is more concerned with being the cinematography equivalent of a fireworks show instead of offering any actual decent, legitimate storytelling - all flash, zero substance.

If you haven't seen it yet, there's a great (and fair) video describing the overall Michael Bay style called "Bayhem" that sums up a lot of my issues with the look of this movie. (And I know that Bay didn't direct it, but this movie is very much in his style and follows his influence, so I think it's relevant.) IMO, and as it says in the video, that style is great at being flashy, but it's incredibly limited by its need to be flashy at all times, and it suffers because of that on a basic storytelling level. There's no subtlety and no nuance. And I don't care what kind of movie you're making -- even a silly action/comedy -- you need those things, even just a little bit, to make anything worth watching.

I see what you are saying and I agree mostly with it. Just like the Turtle gear, the cinematography can be very distracting because I find myself looking at the flashy backgrounds and details rather than what's going on in the foreground. It seems so excessive that it does distract away from the storytelling and characters, just for visual "epicness". But I'm already apathetic with the direction of this film anyways...

*Shark_Blade* · 07-19-2014, 03:02 AM

I can sort of see it if it's Transformers what with everything machineries parts going all over the place when they fight, I can't tell what I'm seeing most of the time.

But from the trailers this one is much more tidied up and pleasant to my eyes.

~~Sumac~~ · 07-19-2014, 10:30 AM

Not really. What basically amounts to the darker Bayformers style is not really appealing to me.

Miles · 07-19-2014, 12:29 PM

My big concern is that the cinematography of the movie will make it unenjoyable for me, personally. I'm easily visually overwhelmed, which is probably why I find myself preferring older films more and more. It'd be great to go see this and enjoy it, but I fear I may need anti-nausea pills just to make it through.

Tora · 07-20-2014, 08:51 AM

Yeah it looks good to me. I like the fogginess to it.

*Cipher* · 07-20-2014, 02:45 PM

I want to hate on this for being all blue-and-orange, the easiest and most prolific of all Hollywood color contrasts, but ...

I can't, and it handles it better than just lazily relying on that. The visuals really do have some colorful, comic-booky pop to them, and it fits the designs of the Turtles, Shredder, etc. they've gone with.

It's not for me, but I can't fault that direction one bit. I have no doubt this will be a visually stunning movie, if not a great one in other regards.

*DVD* · 07-20-2014, 02:46 PM

I'm loving the cinematography. It's gorgeous.
I'm hoping this doesn't get a late release here. With Transformers 4 getting all the attention - not to mention toy shop shelf space, I'm hoping this doesn't get bypassed. Turtles aren't exactly big here. And TRU are only now stocking the first wave of toys.

07-19-2014, 03:02 AM	#42
Shark_Blade Emperor Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 7,909	I can sort of see it if it's Transformers what with everything machineries parts going all over the place when they fight, I can't tell what I'm seeing most of the time. But from the trailers this one is much more tidied up and pleasant to my eyes.

07-19-2014, 10:30 AM	#43
~~Sumac~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 6,129	Not really. What basically amounts to the darker Bayformers style is not really appealing to me.

07-19-2014, 12:29 PM	#44
Miles Thug Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 80	My big concern is that the cinematography of the movie will make it unenjoyable for me, personally. I'm easily visually overwhelmed, which is probably why I find myself preferring older films more and more. It'd be great to go see this and enjoy it, but I fear I may need anti-nausea pills just to make it through.

07-20-2014, 08:51 AM	#45
Tora Hench Mutant Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 254	Yeah it looks good to me. I like the fogginess to it.

07-20-2014, 02:45 PM	#46
Cipher Foot Elite Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,454	I want to hate on this for being all blue-and-orange, the easiest and most prolific of all Hollywood color contrasts, but ... I can't, and it handles it better than just lazily relying on that. The visuals really do have some colorful, comic-booky pop to them, and it fits the designs of the Turtles, Shredder, etc. they've gone with. It's not for me, but I can't fault that direction one bit. I have no doubt this will be a visually stunning movie, if not a great one in other regards.

07-20-2014, 02:46 PM	#47
DVD Mad Scientist Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Shanghai Posts: 2,066	I'm loving the cinematography. It's gorgeous. I'm hoping this doesn't get a late release here. With Transformers 4 getting all the attention - not to mention toy shop shelf space, I'm hoping this doesn't get bypassed. Turtles aren't exactly big here. And TRU are only now stocking the first wave of toys.