Something I would like to do if I ever make movies is hang a lampshade on paramilitary style sequences. Like there’d be a part with exciting minor key march, flashing alerts and people running around bellowing LET’S GO MARINES etc etc etc, and it’d be *incredibly* clear all this was accomplishing exactly nothing related to the characters’ goals but merely looked effective.
@Leucrotta
Yeah, I find exactly zero interest or tension in those types of sequences. They keep coming up, especially in sci-fi movies.
@emanate y’know... I wonder whether that’s contextual. Like everyone thinks it’s cool and should be in the movie because it’s so cool in Aliens, right? But it’s in Aliens as a plot point, you’re supposed to think the Marines are so competent they can defeat any opposition.
@Leucrotta
Yeah, I think it evolved into a way for a lazy filmmaker to ratchet up tension or even just pad out the minutes with something that resembles action, even if it's ultimately action that's preparing for the /actual/ action later on.
@emanate I’m thinking about the heavily armed mercs in Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom. The takeaway should be a very clear “hold on. You mean they brought all these badasses and AFVs, but no vets or paleontologists? This isn’t a project launched because someone likes dinosaurs. Something’s off here.” But it never really clicks.
@Leucrotta jeez I need to watch "The Blues Brothers" again. "HUT! HUT! HUT HUT! HUT!"