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Lord love a duck, I lost a comment! I meant to reply in Suz' journal (I think - damn my inability to reply from email!) but had so many windows open, who knows where it went! So, if you see something odd from me, just point and laugh.
I don't normally do this...
Hey, maybe I'm just in a crabby mood. Or something. But I *am* ever so qualified to armchair critique this episode because of my many long years as *mumble mumble* See? Plenty of qualifications.
Okay. So. Was this trip really necessary? *reaches for the wine*
The direction...
I'm not sure if I'm being ultra critical because AT was a first-time director and knew this going in, or if I just picked up on this stuff naturally. I didn't have any intent to critique it. Seriously. But...I noticed things.
I guess it's that old film school stuff kicking in. She wasn't horrible at it by any means, just a novice. Everyone has to start somewhere. (Yes, with my many directing credits, I could have done better - yeah, right.)
The staging. Hmm. Okay, there's not a lot to work with when the whole ep's talking heads in a non-descript warehouse, but... Well, just as an example, the first interrogation room scene was static and a bit confusing. Why did they stand all the way across the room from him...in the doorway...not moving whatsoever? Well, I know why - it was to get the wide shot of Barrett moving onto the table and then the pan. Which brings me to another point - why isn't it until the middle of the scene that we realize that there's another person in the room? Ack! It felt like a reveal when it wasn't.
Actually, a lot of the shots were...um... But hey! I liked the boom/crane/whatever shot of the cell and last pull-away steady-cam shot! Woo!
Pacing. Again, I swear I didn't go looking for this. I actually *don't* want to be noticing this when I'm watching a tv show or movie. I guess all I'll say (I could be writing all night) is that there were parts that were slow that should have been sped up and parts that raced by should have been slowed down.
The plot...
They caught on way too slowly. Okay, they needed to fill time, but still, Sam should have clued in way quicker than that. Hell, I caught on way quicker than that and I ain't no rocket scientist. I tend to get peevish when characters have to temporarily dumb down in order to make the plot work.
I really wanted the dialogue in the interrogation scenes to be so much smarter. Barret was like the worst interrogator ever. I'm thinking that all the other NID agents will be taking turns kicking his ass for being so cheesy.
Did not feel the ticking clock pressure at all. Maybe because none of the characters seemed overly concerned. Bomb? Meh. No biggie.
Why *wasn't* Sam working on the bomb? They said, but for the life of me I don't remember. Nor care.
Is it a requirement that all guards are rock stupid? *hits head* That's right - it is!
The acting...
Nothing ultra noteworthy, although I feel like the scientist guy could have given a lot better performance if properly poked with a stick. Damn. I keep going over and over it and keep coming back to thinking he should have had better direction. He should have been reigned in a bit.
The characters...
I remain unimpressed by Agent Barrett. He's just so...cartoonish, but in a dull knob kinda way. That Blues Brothers quote comes to mind: "I'll have some toasted white bread please." "You want any jam on that honey?" "No ma'am, dry."
Why must slightly interesting new characters die at the end? Why? Sidenote - it's like that Goa'uld in that Jonas episode recently. I thought it would have been *way* more interesting if the snake had lived. But who wants complications when you can wrap things up neatly?
Ooo...I'm getting that bitter tone. I better stop now.
The part that made me laugh...
One lone palm tree = LA. Of course, maybe it was one lone cell tree. Now *that* I'd believe.
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poohmusings, I not only laugh at trees in trucks, I laugh at cell trees.
It's 10 p.m. already? Wow! Where does the time go? Well, there's no way I'm going to even start catching up on LJ now. :(
I don't normally do this...
Hey, maybe I'm just in a crabby mood. Or something. But I *am* ever so qualified to armchair critique this episode because of my many long years as *mumble mumble* See? Plenty of qualifications.
Okay. So. Was this trip really necessary? *reaches for the wine*
The direction...
I'm not sure if I'm being ultra critical because AT was a first-time director and knew this going in, or if I just picked up on this stuff naturally. I didn't have any intent to critique it. Seriously. But...I noticed things.
I guess it's that old film school stuff kicking in. She wasn't horrible at it by any means, just a novice. Everyone has to start somewhere. (Yes, with my many directing credits, I could have done better - yeah, right.)
The staging. Hmm. Okay, there's not a lot to work with when the whole ep's talking heads in a non-descript warehouse, but... Well, just as an example, the first interrogation room scene was static and a bit confusing. Why did they stand all the way across the room from him...in the doorway...not moving whatsoever? Well, I know why - it was to get the wide shot of Barrett moving onto the table and then the pan. Which brings me to another point - why isn't it until the middle of the scene that we realize that there's another person in the room? Ack! It felt like a reveal when it wasn't.
Actually, a lot of the shots were...um... But hey! I liked the boom/crane/whatever shot of the cell and last pull-away steady-cam shot! Woo!
Pacing. Again, I swear I didn't go looking for this. I actually *don't* want to be noticing this when I'm watching a tv show or movie. I guess all I'll say (I could be writing all night) is that there were parts that were slow that should have been sped up and parts that raced by should have been slowed down.
The plot...
They caught on way too slowly. Okay, they needed to fill time, but still, Sam should have clued in way quicker than that. Hell, I caught on way quicker than that and I ain't no rocket scientist. I tend to get peevish when characters have to temporarily dumb down in order to make the plot work.
I really wanted the dialogue in the interrogation scenes to be so much smarter. Barret was like the worst interrogator ever. I'm thinking that all the other NID agents will be taking turns kicking his ass for being so cheesy.
Did not feel the ticking clock pressure at all. Maybe because none of the characters seemed overly concerned. Bomb? Meh. No biggie.
Why *wasn't* Sam working on the bomb? They said, but for the life of me I don't remember. Nor care.
Is it a requirement that all guards are rock stupid? *hits head* That's right - it is!
The acting...
Nothing ultra noteworthy, although I feel like the scientist guy could have given a lot better performance if properly poked with a stick. Damn. I keep going over and over it and keep coming back to thinking he should have had better direction. He should have been reigned in a bit.
The characters...
I remain unimpressed by Agent Barrett. He's just so...cartoonish, but in a dull knob kinda way. That Blues Brothers quote comes to mind: "I'll have some toasted white bread please." "You want any jam on that honey?" "No ma'am, dry."
Why must slightly interesting new characters die at the end? Why? Sidenote - it's like that Goa'uld in that Jonas episode recently. I thought it would have been *way* more interesting if the snake had lived. But who wants complications when you can wrap things up neatly?
Ooo...I'm getting that bitter tone. I better stop now.
The part that made me laugh...
One lone palm tree = LA. Of course, maybe it was one lone cell tree. Now *that* I'd believe.
poohmusings, I not only laugh at trees in trucks, I laugh at cell trees.It's 10 p.m. already? Wow! Where does the time go? Well, there's no way I'm going to even start catching up on LJ now. :(
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I think Doc Reed and Teal'c were good together but by that stage I had started to dry my hair.
Re:
I was pretty indifferent to him in S5&6 but this episode has made me consider shoving him in the "Oh Lord!" category.
and I fast forwarded over the interrogation scenes because they were so bad it was vaguely embarrassing.
Yes. Very cringe-worthy.
Sam and he have next to no chemistry at all. Good grief.
Yeah, didn't feel it either. It's worked with some recurring/guest characters. I think the best acting chemistry with a recurring character is between RDA and the guy who plays Maybourne. Of course, RDA could create chemistry with a wet rag. But no - just am not picking up on any acting chemistry between AT and the guy who plays Barrett.
no subject
Oh thank god. I was starting to think I was nuts for seeing this. And I didn't intend to be critical, I didn't watch to pick out stuff she'd done wrong, but the not-so-great bits just jumped out at me. I felt guilty for dwelling on them, too. Ah well. I have much sympathy for the novice thing, and I'm sure she'll get better. Plus, it's got to be awfully hard to judge the pacing and stuff while you're filming scenes you're actually in.
And they didn't give her great material to work with on her first try, either. Oy.
I don't think I see the Barrett chemistry so much as see where other people will find it. Because I've sort of trained myself to, mostly. The same way I can see where you will find Sam/Dan. :P
Re:
Yep.
I felt guilty for dwelling on them, too.
Yep yep.
Ah well. I have much sympathy for the novice thing, and I'm sure she'll get better. Plus, it's got to be awfully hard to judge the pacing and stuff while you're filming scenes you're actually in.
It's *gotta* be hard.
And they didn't give her great material to work with on her first try, either. Oy.
Yes. Oy.
I don't think I see the Barrett chemistry so much as see where other people will find it. Because I've sort of trained myself to, mostly. The same way I can see where you will find Sam/Dan. :P
Heh. I *tried* to make a distinction but again I was too subtle. Why aren't you reading my mind??
I differentiate between acting chemestry and shippy chemistry. Some actors will just click together - you just love watching them on screen because they've got *something*. Mojo. The IT. Whatever you want to call it. And has little to do with their characters' relationship. RDA and MS have it. The guy who plays Grissom and the woman who plays Sara on CSI have it. The people who play the Palmers on 24 have it. I "ship" for none of these pairings but they all have this chemistry that just works.
As far as people wanting to ship for Sam/Barrett - dude, go for it. I mean, he asked her out! Rock on!
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I find with first time directors (and I will include myself when I do my short) that they do tend to go for the "film school" look. I noticed it when the Star Trek actors started directing. But they got better.
Re:
Hee hee!
I find with first time directors (and I will include myself when I do my short) that they do tend to go for the "film school" look. I noticed it when the Star Trek actors started directing. But they got better.
Yeah. Shots for the sake of the shot rather than the story, aka look what I can do with a camera. Yeah, I'm sure she'll get better the more she does it. And like I said before, it's far from horrible by any means.
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Re:
Yeah. You only want to be able to say good things. :(
I was actually surprised that they got AT to direct an ep that she had to be in so much. The time(s?) MS directed he wasn't in the ep much, so he got to devote more time to directing over acting.
That's a very good point. It's tough enough directing the first time, but to direct the first time *and* have a lead role...that is an enormous task.
But in defense of AT, I think I read in a recent interview with her that she didn't get all that much prep time as she was doing a lot of second unit for "Grace".
That's a shame. I'm sure that bugged her a lot - well, it must have if she brought it up in an interview. :(