Christopher Nolan

[Sydney Aradi]

What is your opinion on Christopher Nolan? Me, while his films and directing style are simply okay at best but they aren't exactly my cup of tea. While I do respect the guy for his contributions to film but I don't really like him as a director at all.

[mecha-gino]

He's a really great director both comic book wise and outside of comics. TDK is arguably the best superhero flick of all time and one of the best films of all time and Inception is really good as well.

I'm DYING to see Man of Steel because besides him being a producer, HE'S ALSO A WRITER!!! Maybe you can stop your no reason hating on it Tyler.

[GotengoXGodzilla]

Christopher Nolan is, IMO, the best director in Hollywood at the moment. Every film that I've seen from the man has been a joy to watch, and he's yet to make a bad movie. Memento, Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight and Inception were all fantastic films (I've yet to watch The Following or Insomnia), with Memento being the most well-made of the bunch, as well as the best thriller in decades.

I think the thing that makes Nolan's films so enjoyable are how self-reflective they are. How the films seem to know who they are, what they're doing and what they stand for. And it's not just the characters, but the world of these films. These films will essentially analyze themselves, but leave enough open to the audience for their own analysis. For example, in Memento, how little Leonard Shelby knows about himself, yet he feels like he knows everything. We see how little he knows throughout the film, with other characters in the film taking advantage of this, yet he continues to have this attitude like he knows exactly what's going on. It's these little things that make Nolan's films better than others.

[Hellspawn28]

He is one of the best directors in Hollywood at the moment as GXG pointed out. I admit I haven't seen all of his films but I really enjoy his non Batman movies like Insomnia and Following where great movies in my opinion. I personally like his take of Insomnia to be better then the original (Which is not a bad film neither) but I found his Batman movies to be overrated. They are great films but I enjoy the Burton films much better in my opinion.

[Proofpoochie]

Vastly overrated, pretentious filmmaker. He's yet to make anything of actual substance rather than style.

I really hope that if David Fincher doesn't return for The Girl Who Played With Fire Sony doesn't hire him. I can easily see him butchering the novel.

[Jomei]

I've been a big fan of his since Memento. I think he's great. I've seen all of his feature-length films and, with the exception of the Prestige which I can't remember very well for some reason, thoroughly enjoyed them.

[tymon]

Vastly overrated, pretentious filmmaker. He's yet to make anything of actual substance rather than style.

Agreed, his films aren't nearly as smart as they think they are, and a lot of the dialogue is completely cringeworthy. He's a solid director I suppose, I just don't like his writing.

[GotengoXGodzilla]

He's yet to make anything of actual substance rather than style.

I think you have it backwards. I don't see Nolan's films as having lots of "style". Films that choose style over substance would be films like Blade Runner or Ghost In The Shell. Nolan's films are nothing like them. I appreciate Nolan's films for their ingenious stories and characters, especially Memento, The Dark Knight and Inception. They're not needlessly complicated, simple or non-existent. They're everything that makes the film what it is. The stories and characters give the film their identity.

[Jomei]

I don't agree with the remark about Blade Runner and Ghost in the Shell, but I do agree that Nolan's films have substance.

[Sydney Aradi]

Vastly overrated, pretentious filmmaker. He's yet to make anything of actual substance rather than style.

Agreed, his films aren't nearly as smart as they think they are, and a lot of the dialogue is completely cringeworthy. He's a solid director I suppose, I just don't like his writing.

I hate Nolan's writing also because it is just too complex for me to understand and it tends to be rather cold & devoid of humor

[Hellspawn28]

I still not a fan of the whole relativistic take on Batman since I like my Batman movies to feel like a comic book movie. The Dark Knight was a great movie but I don't watch it as much since it's so long and I need to be in the right mood to watch it.

[Proofpoochie]

He's yet to make anything of actual substance rather than style.

I think you have it backwards. I don't see Nolan's films as having lots of "style". Films that choose style over substance would be films like Blade Runner or Ghost In The Shell. Nolan's films are nothing like them. I appreciate Nolan's films for their ingenious stories and characters, especially Memento, The Dark Knight and Inception. They're not needlessly complicated, simple or non-existent. They're everything that makes the film what it is. The stories and characters give the film their identity.

I stopped reading when you said Blade Runner chose style over substance. Anyone who says something like that cleary did not pay attention to the film.

Inception is a film that has plenty of pretty CGI shots and a story that tries to be confusing in order to make you think it has a lot of depth. There is very little actual character development and poor performances from Dicaprio and Gordon-Levitt.

[GotengoXGodzilla]

I stopped reading when you said Blade Runner chose style over substance. Anyone who says something like that cleary did not pay attention to the film.

I adamantly believe Blade Runner does choose to look cool, futuristic, other wordly and just inspires awe in it's audience with the films visuals (style) over telling an engaging or interesting story with equally interesting characters (substance).

Inception is a film that has plenty of pretty CGI shots and a story that tries to be confusing in order to make you think it has a lot of depth.

Okay, one, there isn't a ton of CG in Inception. And even if there was, it's used so effectively, that it's very hard to tell the difference between a computer generated image and what is actually real. So, in the end, who cares if it has a lot of CGI if it's used so well? Two, I don't find the story to Inception confusing at all. The first 20 minutes of the film dumps everything you need to know about how the world of the film works, which is entirely necessary for the film to get moving.

There is very little actual character development and poor performances from Dicaprio and Gordon-Levitt.

...I found that it has plenty of character development for Dicaprio and Ellen Page's characters. Also, I freakin' loved Dicaprio's performance in that film. It was, IMO, the best performance he's ever given. And that's saying something great about Nolan's directing, because Dicaprio has worked with other fantastic directors like Martin Scorsese, James Cameron and Steven Speilberg, yet his best performance came out of a film by Christopher Nolan.

And Gordon-Levitt was pretty damn good too.

[Proofpoochie]

Dicaprio's performance is EXACTLY the same as his performance in Shutter Island. They are literally the same character. Also, Nolan's dialogue as stated above is extremely cringe-worthy and his films are not as smart as they are trying to be.

If you actually watched Blade Runner, you would have found that the story is equally as engaging as the visuals.

[GotengoXGodzilla]

Dicaprio's performance is EXACTLY the same as his performance in Shutter Island. They are literally the same character.

I've seen Shutter Island. His performance in that film was alright. In Inception though? It's amazing. I really feel for his character, because I can see the pain that his character is going through. Not being with his wife, what he did to her, the pain of not being able to see his kids, etc. It's all there. The flashback where his wife kills herself is the best example of his acting, especially in his facial expressions. It's done so well that it saddened me that he wasn't nominated for an Academy Award for that performance.

Also, Nolan's dialogue as stated above is extremely cringe-worthy and his films are not as smart as they are trying to be.

I'm fine with Nolan's dialogue. I think it sounds cool and reflects the circumstances and situations of the film, especially the dialogue in The Dark Knight. As for his films not being as smart as they're trying to be, I disagree. I don't think his films try to be smart, especially Memento, Batman Begins and The Prestige. They just try to tell in interesting story with some unique characters in Nolan's own way.

I think the word you're looking for is: heavy-handed.

If you actually watched Blade Runner, you would have found that the story is equally as engaging as the visuals.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Blade Runner's story sucks. Hell, it's almost non-existent. The film would rather show of its world and effects instead of telling an interesting or captivating story.

I have this condition, where if I watch a film that chooses to focus the bulk of its attention on the world of the film or effects or whatnot, I don't give a damn about the film. I've watched Blade Runner three times now, and I've fallen asleep twice during the film. If the film actually focused on the story, then that wouldn't have happened.

[Proofpoochie]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Blade Runner's story sucks. Hell, it's almost non-existent. The film would rather show of its world and effects instead of telling an interesting or captivating story.

I have this condition, where if I watch a film that chooses to focus the bulk of its attention on the world of the film or effects or whatnot, I don't give a damn about the film. I've watched Blade Runner three times now, and I've fallen asleep twice during the film. If the film actually focused on the story, then that wouldn't have happened.

You've never even seen Blade Runner. If you actually watched it, you would have seen the depth of the story and characters.

I shouldn't even bother arguing with you, considering Dicaprio's performance in Inception isn't even great. It's just merely there. It doesn't go beyond Nolan's poor dialogue or limited character development.

[mecha-gino]

Here we go again....

[GotengoXGodzilla]

You've never even seen Blade Runner. If you actually watched it, you would have seen the depth of the story and characters.

Just because I don't find an interesting story or characters in Blade Runner, doesn't mean I haven't seen the film. It just means that I view the film differently than you do.

As I said, I've seen Blade Runner three times. That's more than enough to know the story and characters, especially in a film that chooses to show interesting visuals instead of developing it's story and characters.

I shouldn't even bother arguing with you, considering Dicaprio's performance in Inception isn't even great. It's just merely there. It doesn't go beyond Nolan's poor dialogue or limited character development.

...You call this arguing? All you've been doing is making blank vague statements without any kind of support or examples of what you're talking about.

You say Dicaprio's performance isn't great. Okay, why isn't it great? You say Nolan's dialogue is poor. Why? You say it has limited character development. Why? Statements like these mean nothing if you don't support them with some kind of evidence.

And for the record, I disagree with all of that. Dicaprio's performance is the best one he's ever given (I already said why), I'm perfectly fine with Nolan's dialogue because it sounds great and works well for the situations of the film, and I think there's plenty of character development for Dicaprio's character (and Ellen Page's character).

[Sydney Aradi]

Well Proofy, I liked DiCaprio's performance in Inception and like GxG said it is his best film performance. While I don't really like Inception, it does have some good acting and the effects are amazing to look at and the world's are amazing

[Proofpoochie]

I'm perfectly fine with Nolan's dialogue because it sounds great

And statements like that aren't vague? I would like you to explain to me exactly how Nolan's dialogue is memorable in any way.

Also, I didn't think Ellen Page's character was developed well at all. I don't think they even said her name in the film.