If you’re like me, you’ve started watching more films than you’ve actually completed. More so, you’ve read the synopsis of more films than you’ve actually started. Careful consideration of a film’s synopsis can keep you from losing two hours to an unworthy film.
However, I recently watched a movie without reading the synopsis first. I loved it. Then, after watching, I went back and read the synopsis. I was surprised to see how inadequately the synopsis “sold” the movie. I don’t think I would have watched it had I read the synopsis first.
This left me wondering if I even know how to read a movie synopsis. Do you read hopefully assuming that there’s more in store than is detailed on the back of the box? It’s somewhat of a toss-up even after reading the synopsis, isn’t it?
What weight do you give to synopses? How do you read them? Do you read them?
photo credit: laurenfarmer
I’m with you. The synopsis isn’t always accurate. They have been targeting the marketing of movies for a while. I think they figure out the ideal audience, then market the trailer/synopsis to who they think will pay to watch the movie (whether or not they will actually like it). So, I read the synopsis from time to time, but I place more weight on previews. Still neither is a good tool.
Recently, we rented The Time Traveler’s Wife. I commented to my wife, “I think this was the most poorly promoted movie of all time!” I mean it was promoted as an emotional chickflick but turned out to be a rather philosophical treatment of life and death intermixed with one of the most intelligent treatments of time travel I’ve ever seen (though I will always believe that its logically impossible!).
Wes
Because of that same reason I had no interest in watching The Time Traveler’s Wife, but after reading what you have written… Allen and I are both interested in watching it…. I wonder how many movies I have passed up because of the way it was promoted?
sommer
Good thoughts, Wes. We’ll have to check out The Time Traveler’s Wife. It’d be interesting to see how many different ways they could portray a film if they did multiple previews.
I know Sommer, Wes sold it better than they did. But, of course, what couldn’t Wes sell!?
I think I need to contact New Line Cinemas and ask for royalties…
Wes