How do you look at movies/comics/fiction etc?

[Necrotech]

To me, there is nothing better then a well writen story. I don't care what the media used is. Video games, movies, comics, manga whatever you can name. I get really into characters that are believeable, even if they are totally fictional, just because they are THAT well writen.

Likewise, I know many people that watch movies, play video games and what not simply to be entertained. They play Halo because...killing dudes is fun! or watch an action flick because...stuff blowing up is fun!

I'm not saying their side of the coin is wrong, but how do all of you choose to involve yourself with your chosen media? What do you feel gives you a better experiance? Watching a dude wipe out a room full of people, or feeling like the reason the dude is willing to wipe out a room full of people is well written? Please feel free to explain (and if you happen to think along my lines some titles would be nice, I'm always up for a new one!)

 

[The Wykydtron]

Story is most important in everything, but excuse me if i insta-condemn your Manga for using that insuffurable really lightly shaded type of art.

 

[Sinclair Solutions]

Depends on what I am watching/reading/playing. If it is a piece of work that is supposed to have a story or at least be interesting and moving (Bioshock, Of Mice and Men, Cinderella Man), story tops all.

If I'm enjoying something that is just dumb fun (Gears of War, Captain Underpants, Shoot 'Em Up, Taken), I sort of give it a pass. For these kinds of works, I want the badassness or humor to set to 11.

 

[Random Fella]

Depends on what I am watching/reading/playing. If it is a piece of work that is supposed to have a story or at least be interesting and moving (Bioshock, Of Mice and Men, Cinderella Man), story tops all.

If I'm enjoying something that is just dumb fun (Gears of War, Captain Underpants, Shoot 'Em Up, Taken), I sort of give it a pass. For these kinds of works, I want the badassness or humor to set to 11.

Lol I had to read of mice and men for school one time :/

 

[Sinclair Solutions]

Depends on what I am watching/reading/playing. If it is a piece of work that is supposed to have a story or at least be interesting and moving (Bioshock, Of Mice and Men, Cinderella Man), story tops all.

If I'm enjoying something that is just dumb fun (Gears of War, Captain Underpants, Shoot 'Em Up, Taken), I sort of give it a pass. For these kinds of works, I want the badassness or humor to set to 11.

Lol I had to read of mice and men for school one time :/

Sad as hell, isn't it?

 

[The Grim Ace]

It all depends on my mood when I approach the medium in question. Using gaming as an example: some days I want an experience that enriches me or challenges my mind, so I'll reach for something like Persona or Portal (one of the advanced maps). Other days there is nothing more cathartic than mowing down room after room of cannon fodder, those days will have me clambering for Painkiller or Final Doom. Then, when I venture out of my cave long enough to be playing with others in the same room, then DDR or Guitar Hero are right up my alley.
I don't think anyone really has only one way they approach any medium of entertainment, kind of more of a using the medium to make the mood you want or to checkmate the mood you're already feeling. Like watching a funny movie to cheer you up or reading some Hemmingway to just feel like the manliest of men that he was. The mindless explosion mindset is less "ooooh, fire pretty" than it is getting the excitement they're missing in their lives in as over-the-top fashion as possible.
Right now I feel like another run in Painkiller, it's been a long day.

 

[badgersprite]

I like a story that teaches me something, even if it's only teaching me about how a character works, how the fictional world works, or whatever. Not everything I like does this, I suppose, but many things I like are new and different (at least to me; they're the first thing like this I've come across).

Really, overall, I like journeys. I like watching characters develop and grow. Any story that doesn't have an arc will lose my interest quickly. This is precisely how I got bored with the last show I was into. There were no arcs in a show that sorely needed them, and no one was learning anything or doing anything even remotely meaningful in the individual episodes either, and those episodes weren't entertaining enough to compensate for that, like, say, a good sitcom or a half-hour cartoon which don't have continuity, but make each episode count so well that it still FEELS like a journey.

I guess the simplest way to put it is I just find it fascinating watching things change, or watching people change, even if they're only one off characters who will never be seen again. Stagnation is the worst thing that can happen to something I like. Even bad changes are more engaging to me than no changes, or the same changes happening again and again.

 

[ChildofGallifrey]

Depends on what kind of mood I'm in. If I'm in the mood to see blood and explosions galore, then I can excuse bad acting or story, as long as the action is good (FFVII: Advent Children is a good example, or most anything starring Tony Jaa). As much as some people will try to deny it, human beings like violence. If you're feeling pissed off and think that putting your fist through the wall will help, odds are you'll get the same effect from watching a Rambo movie. Violence is cathartic.

Likewise, if I'm in the mood for a good story, then no amount of gunfights and tittays can excuse the absence of one. Even worse is when they pass off a balls-to-the-wall action flick as story heavy. No, writers, your main character is not 'deep' because he looks at himself remorsefully in the mirror after wiping out a building full of people.

I love it when we're lucky enough to get both in one package. Things like Saving Private Ryan or The Professional are both brilliantly told and action-tastic.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Depends on the film, video game or whatever and what it is intended for. If a movie is intended to just be fun not really much story but good action scenes and it succeeds in that then it is a good movie. Same for all types of media.

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

To me, there is nothing better then a well writen story. I don't care what the media used is. Video games, movies, comics, manga whatever you can name. I get really into characters that are believeable, even if they are totally fictional, just because they are THAT well writen.

Likewise, I know many people that watch movies, play video games and what not simply to be entertained. They play Halo because...killing dudes is fun! or watch an action flick because...stuff blowing up is fun!

I'm not saying their side of the coin is wrong, but how do all of you choose to involve yourself with your chosen media? What do you feel gives you a better experiance? Watching a dude wipe out a room full of people, or feeling like the reason the dude is willing to wipe out a room full of people is well written? Please feel free to explain (and if you happen to think along my lines some titles would be nice, I'm always up for a new one!)

Video games require interaction if that interaction fails then there is no story that can redeem it, video games are not film and should not be treated like it(production,review,ect)...EVER...........EVER DAMNIT!!

For animation I have high tolerance for silly/whacky/bad for live action it really has to be half good to keep my attrition...er...attention... hehe, if its a comic to film screw fest I want the comic fiction to be as un watered down as possible and preferbly to be from the better comic era of the comic(IE ultimate marvel SUCKS)

 

[AdamRBi]

I enjoy the story element, no matter how small. The less I'm invested I am in the story the more inclined I am to inject it with some, which turns into commentary, usually with others. I actually wish I owned more non-story titles, but I wouldn't play them unless it's local multiplayer. There are few games that I do play online, one being TF2 since there's a story element injected into the characters instead of a campaign.

So yeah, I'm a largely story driven individual.

As for Film, Novels, and Graphic Novels it's roughly the same. For visual mediums the visual style is largely part of the story and I'm usually more drawn to stories with appealing visuals, but no amount of great art can save a bad story. Novels too, except that delves into how they're written and wether or not the subject matter is of interest to me.