MovieChat Forums > The Raven (2012) Discussion > Does anyone write dialogue anymore?

Does anyone write dialogue anymore?

posted 12 years ago by ihtpsswrds
29 replies | jump to latest

While I have no complaint of Cusack's work in this film, I am amazed by the dialogue littered with chronological grammatical inconsistency.

Most glaring: "ok" is not ok until after Teddy Roosevelt's presidency.
Use of "stuff" as the descriptor of a list of items and "nuts" meaning "lack of sanity" are unforgivable in a period piece; In a film concerning writers, a new level of unintended horror.

This completely broke the fourth wall and pulled me out of the world of the film.

Bad form!

And please explain why the CG raven morphing in the end credits? Were we trying to attract the young viewers at the END of the film?

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[–] hodie 12 years ago

When I think of 'hear, hear!'
I'm reminded of people saying that after hearing speeches they approved of, meaning 'listen to this guy!'

"Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?"

[–] Nomad310 11 years ago

I'm watching this movie right now. Interesting story, decent production values, but the worst, most trite and banal dialogue I've heard, especially in a film with actors of this quality. Luke Evans is at risk if he keeps making films like this and the ridiculous Three Musketeers. Such a waste of talent.

[–] JoeSeppy24 11 years ago

I have to admit to scant knowledge of when particular phrases came into use, but I found Reynolds' line "Shut it Emily...or I'll shut it for you." quite jarring.

"I'm hungry...I been under the car a long time."

[–] monstermayhem32 11 years ago

that line was rather funny but disturbing at the same time.

[–] leonardlikesthispost 11 years ago

Such a disgrace. Those writers or those responsible should hang their heads in shame.

I will be your Sherpa up the mountain of gayness.

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[–] leonardlikesthispost 11 years ago

I completely agree. In fact, I came here specifically to write about those examples. Also, when they say "See ya!" instead of "goodbye." It is so modern and casual to say that. It sounds like something Bart Simpson would say. This is would be bad in any period film, but to give a celebrated American author that kind of dialogue is inexcusable.

I will be your Sherpa up the mountain of gayness.

[–] Helenus 11 years ago

Thank you for your post, ihtpsswrds. I do read a lot of 19th century lit (Poe is a favorite) and the dialogue was glaringly anachronistic to me. Yes, not everyone would notice but as the writer of the film, wouldn't you want your script to be the best it could be? There are so many scholars who specialize in the language/behaviors of the 19th century... this could have been corrected by any one of them to make a better film.
Too many film makers and novelists rely on their audience being uneducated... do we always have to pander to the lowest common denominator?
The film wasn't a total loss... I enjoyed the costumes and the sets, and the story was fun. It just could have been so much better with so little effort.

Margo Channing:
"Heaven help me. I love a psychotic!"

[–] Jelly-4 11 years ago

It was very annoying. They went through all the trouble to make the sets and costumes true to the period - yet with the dialogue, they just threw everything out the window.

I realize that they want viewers to understand what's going on so they may want to modernize the language a bit, but to not bother at all is just crazy. It was so distracting in an otherwise suspenseful, interesting film.

[–] edhel23 11 years ago

Absolutely agreed.
Why would they use all those modern words when English language is so beautiful and has words like 'goodbye' or 'farewall' instead of 'see ya', 'insane' instead of 'nuts', and so on.

The Billion Dollar Girl
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009K5DV6Q