Comments on: A Lesson in Character Motivation from “Avatar” http://www.annastan.com/2009/12/character-motivation-in-avatar/ Author of Books for Children and Young Adults Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:11:56 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: annastan http://www.annastan.com/2009/12/character-motivation-in-avatar/comment-page-1/#comment-880 annastan Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:50:40 +0000 http://www.annastan.com/?p=1141#comment-880 Hi Martha! I think you're right that having Jake be a marine made his role more believable since he was already used to following orders. It also made his choices later on in the movie even more interesting. And yes, it was very pretty. I just loved the scenes when all the plants were lit up! Plus I could actually follow the action scenes without having a seizure, which was a nice change. :-) Hi Martha! I think you’re right that having Jake be a marine made his role more believable since he was already used to following orders. It also made his choices later on in the movie even more interesting.

And yes, it was very pretty. I just loved the scenes when all the plants were lit up! Plus I could actually follow the action scenes without having a seizure, which was a nice change. :-)

]]> By: Martha Flynn http://www.annastan.com/2009/12/character-motivation-in-avatar/comment-page-1/#comment-879 Martha Flynn Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:38:11 +0000 http://www.annastan.com/?p=1141#comment-879 I also think it's good that he's military to begin with, so it's almost natural for him to fall into that role, thus not detracting from his heroic-ness. (is that a word? well, it's 8am here so it's a word for me.) :) And wasn't it beautiful?? I also think it’s good that he’s military to begin with, so it’s almost natural for him to fall into that role, thus not detracting from his heroic-ness. (is that a word? well, it’s 8am here so it’s a word for me.) :)

And wasn’t it beautiful??

]]> By: annastan http://www.annastan.com/2009/12/character-motivation-in-avatar/comment-page-1/#comment-878 annastan Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:48:59 +0000 http://www.annastan.com/?p=1141#comment-878 Andrea, I think you're absolutely right that film can convey things like desires in a flash, whereas writers really have to work at it. If a writer comes right out and says, "My character wants this," then we'd probably call that bad writing. Still, I think there's something to be learned from the way some films convey their characters' motivations in a simple way. I think sometimes writers (myself included!) can complicate our stories so much that we lose sight of what's most important to our characters. Andrea, I think you’re absolutely right that film can convey things like desires in a flash, whereas writers really have to work at it. If a writer comes right out and says, “My character wants this,” then we’d probably call that bad writing.

Still, I think there’s something to be learned from the way some films convey their characters’ motivations in a simple way. I think sometimes writers (myself included!) can complicate our stories so much that we lose sight of what’s most important to our characters.

]]> By: Andrea Vlahakis http://www.annastan.com/2009/12/character-motivation-in-avatar/comment-page-1/#comment-877 Andrea Vlahakis Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:23:15 +0000 http://www.annastan.com/?p=1141#comment-877 I think this is the obvious advantage movies have over books—the ability to visually show you what a character wants and his struggle with it. It gives it to you in pictures. You don't have to envision anything on your own. Personally, I think I'd rather let my imagination create those 'pictures', but when film gets it right, it's breathtaking. I'm thinking of the expression on Orson Wells face at the very end of The Third Man. Or Garbo at the end of Queen Christina. I'm not sure if written word could capture the volumes the actor and the screen shows us. I think this is the obvious advantage movies have over books—the ability to visually show you what a character wants and his struggle with it. It gives it to you in pictures. You don’t have to envision anything on your own. Personally, I think I’d rather let my imagination create those ‘pictures’, but when film gets it right, it’s breathtaking. I’m thinking of the expression on Orson Wells face at the very end of The Third Man. Or Garbo at the end of Queen Christina. I’m not sure if written word could capture the volumes the actor and the screen shows us.

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