The Flux of Casanova

I have talked before that movies must have several things to make them good:
· An interesting and engaging plot.
· Good acting.
· Good dialogue.
· Enjoyment.
I think I may be paring this list down to two basic components, however. Now I say that every movie must have
· A good idea and
· Must be well-executed.
I can define these however I want, of course, and they encompass the previous list.

Let me give an example. The new live action Aeon Flux (2005) is a bad idea well-executed. Now I must explain that, however, because the idea is really quite interesting. I remember watching the original mini-series when it came on MTV. I don’t think I saw every episode, and I certainly couldn’t get anything like a coherent plot out of it, but man, my memory says that show was awesome. Now that I watch the new Aeon Flux, I think perhaps I was a bit mistaken. The mini-series didn’t need a coherent plot. It didn’t need anything, really, because it was done in short segments, and it was only meant to look cool. This new movie does the same thing. The plot is confusing and when everything is finally revealed, it’s, well, stupid.

But boy does it look cool. I think the special features on the DVD were more interesting than the actual movie because they’re so concerned with set design and the filming of the movie in Berlin. Yeah, the settings are awesome. But the idea is a stinker.

The new Casanova (2005) with Heath Ledger is the same way. It’s a beautiful film, and I love the filming of historical Venice. So it’s well-executed. But the idea is stupid. Nothing about it makes any sense, and the historical inconsistencies drove me up the wall.

So when it comes to thinking about movies now, I will think in these terms. How do I know a movie is really good? When it’s a great idea and is well-executed. When it’s bad? A bad idea poorly executed…

These two films are simply bad ideas well-executed, and that makes them tolerable. But they’re anything but good.

Grade for Aeon Flux: 4
Grade for Casanova: 4