Timewaster's Guide Archive

I disagree.  In my industry, the two are synonyms, and quibbling over distinctions is silly.  Hero=Main Viewpoint Protagonist. You can write a book without a hero, but it is difficult to do.  99% of the stories we experience have one--and Ocean's 11 is certainly included in the 99.  If you want to make a distinction here, simply say you didn't find them very 'heroic' which means something else.

If you'll notice, I said the character's in the movie were PRESENTED as Robin-Hood like characters.  The viewers were encouraged not to think about the consequences of the heros' actions.  Indeed, the core of the main hero's conflict was enhanced by hinting that his actions were done in the name of love, rather than money.  They made several of the characters comedic sidekicks, and even threw in a small 'apprentice' storyline.    

The 'hero' of a story is completely dependent on viewpoint presentation.  This story, if told with the exact same events, could be shown from the casino-owner's viewpoint.  If we were made to empathize with him as he struggled to protect his casino from bandits, he would instead become the hero of the story--if a tragic one.  The same could be done for a police man, or some random worker in the casino.  

The person with whom the reader/viewer is made to empathize becomes the hero of the story.  The only exception to this are anti-heroes, for whom our empathy may grow, but so does our level of discomfort.  In the end, when an Anti-Hero fails, we are glad, though we often pity him at the same time.  Michael Douglas in "Falling Down" is a wonderful example.

Oh, I'm not THAT interested.  Just curious, forum-wise, what people think on the topic.

Yeah, wow.  Uh, that was a long time ago...not four years, but at least a year ago.  I'd suggest just trying a google search.  Some nerd somewhere has to have made a walkthrough.

All right, so I'm curious.  Anyone know any real economic theory?  I'm not asking for rightist or leftist arguments--I get plenty of those from television pundits.  My father claims that cutting taxes, even bringing a government into a deficit, is the only way to stimulate an economy.  He, however, is rather conservative in his political ideals.  Anyone know about such things?

You know, the only ones I've ever liked are zingers--and, to be honest, I don't really like those a ton.  But, I've never been a sweets guy.  Twinkies, however, provide an amazing amount of comedic enjoyment.

Every book on writing I've read, nearly every writing panel I've attended that addresses the subject, and nearly every writer I know uses hero as the term that means 'main point of view protagonist of the story.'

I liked Laputa, but it was nowhere in the same league.  It betrays more 'old Miazaki.'  Was it me, or were several of the pirate characters very Lupin-esque.  Anyway, the story, animation, and conception weren't as good.  That still made it better than a lot of things--it's still a Miazaki.

As for the about question, the movie has some typical Miazaki 'Man vs Nature' themes mixed in with a adventure-style plot.  Two young teens (or younger?  not sure) have to discover the secret about a mysterious flying city from the past.  Kind of an Atlantis lost-technology stort of thing.  There are some pirates, lots of airships, and the requisite mysterious strangers and pasts.  In all, it's a bit more goofy than later Miazaki works, but not too bad.

As for the introduction, what a stupid thing to do!  They knew that most of these DVD's would be bought by fans who wouldn't care what some guy from Pixar had to say.  Who's inane idea was it to put those intros on, anyway?

That's what I assumed.