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So is the gist of the second point (the one he/she calls "gross")... a character having a destiny (whether it plays out or is pre-ordained) is bad?
I mean, that is literally almost every damn movie.
granted he specifically mentions genetic destiny as being gross, which is relevant to only some movies (e.g, SW, Terminator etc.)_ but there is nothing nefarious in that concept. it is a way to limit and focus your story without having to bring in too many external events/factors/etc.
If noting noteworthy, interesting, terrifying, whatever is not to happen to the main character(s), then why make or watch a ****ing movie?
Maybe I am misreading what he wrote....
"Destiny" might be the wrong word, because I think there's a difference between "destiny" and being "the chosen one," the latter of which is more what FCH is calling "gross" (he's discussed this before, which is how I know what he's getting at).
The Matrix will forever be one of my all-time favorite movies, but between it, Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc, the down side of "the chosen one" conceit is that it's essentially saying that only a certain blood line, mark, etc. can truly "win" or vanquish evil. Not me, not you, not Average Joe. That what makes us special or capable can only come from something pre-ordained.
And purely on storytelling level, honestly, it creates a kind of laziness and for a while became more of an annoying fad than anything (even though, yes, I realize it's something that's been around as long as time). I don't mean this literally, but theoretically speaking, it started to feel like a hero like John McLane could no longer be just an average cop who rose to the occasion. Instead, he had to be "chosen" as "the one" to fulfill the prophecy of Nakatomi Plaza or some bullsh*t, and I'm so glad that trope has faded over the past few years.
(And this is basically what TLJ is saying, btw - that any of us can find it within ourselves to lead the Resistance, defeat The First Order, etc. By saying Rey's parents are nobodies, it's saying that a nobody, or even broom boy, can ultimately be somebody - that we don't have to have special blood or a mark or be "chosen." Even though I do agree that this goes against certain elements hinted at/set up in TFA, which is why it's all so sloppy and frustrating.)
To me, "destiny" is a little more generic. It can be your "destiny" to be/do just about anything, and anyone/everyone can have one, in terms of storytelling/narrative. Sure, it still might come from a higher power in certain instances, but it's a little different than the whole "prophecy" thing. At least in my opinion.
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And the Twitter rampage? Cmon man, we can barely read 3 sentences of each other's writing, we're not reading 50 Tweets of some random idiot.
I wasn't aware that my posts were binding and that TexAgs was forcing you to read them. My bad.
Seriously, though... "rampage"? Nothing about that thread was even remotely close to a rampage. It was a level-headed critique of Abrams' storytelling insufficiencies, which most everyone here agrees with. He's calling out Abrams' tendency to not deliver on the whole mystery box thing, and is saying
that's what got us into this whole, meaningless, "Who are Rey's parents?" issue to begin with. Because Abrams only had a question with no answer, it put impossible exceptions on Rey's story that could never deliver. Also, this was all from a highly respected story guru with 64K Twitter followers, who writes for Entertainment Weekly and Vulture
on the side, while also working in the industry full time. He's certainly not "some random idiot."
