Bad Dialogue vs Good Dialogue ROUND 3 (Writing Advice)

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  • Опубліковано 30 жов 2024

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  • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
    @WriterBrandonMcNulty  2 місяці тому +5

    Making these videos require a ton of time and effort, so please remember to like, share, and subscribe. Thanks! Also, please consider supporting the channel on Patreon: www.patreon.com/WriterBrandonMcNulty

  • @velkonemriam1935
    @velkonemriam1935 Рік тому +3803

    We all know The Room is absolutely terrible, but MAN that “I did not hit her!… Oh hi, Mark!” scene always cracks me up uncontrollably 😂

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +396

      It's gold!

    • @messinalyle4030
      @messinalyle4030 Рік тому +175

      Unfortunately, picking on the bad dialogue in that movie is like shooting fish in a barrel because the acting is atrocious, too! It's so obvious from their body language that they aren't in character at all and are just trying to force it, especially the darker-haired guy. (I haven't seen it all the way through because the clips I've seen repeatedly on the internet make me think it wouldn't be worth it).

    • @ulaznar
      @ulaznar Рік тому +69

      I did nawt

    • @rome8180
      @rome8180 Рік тому +119

      @@messinalyle4030 you should see it. It's so bad it's entertaining. The "darker-haired guy" is the director, Tommy Wiseau. He can't act at all. The blond guy is his friend, Greg Sestero. He does a competent job given how bad the material is. He actually wrote a book about the experience called The Disaster Artist. It's one of the funniest books I've read. Tommy Wiseau's incompetence and delusions of grandeur are unrivaled.

    • @tearstoneactual9773
      @tearstoneactual9773 Рік тому +8

      That is such a meme. :D

  • @EurasianHobos
    @EurasianHobos Рік тому +3844

    The Force Awakens scene could have accomplished the goal of showing Poe being calm and humorous under pressure by having the same dialogue with a stormtrooper, and then establish Kylo Ren as intimidating by having him take over the interrogation and Poe immediately going pale and dropping the humor.

    • @redsnorlax1945
      @redsnorlax1945 Рік тому +297

      Good work sir im impressed lol

    • @Jodus_MacGotuss
      @Jodus_MacGotuss Рік тому +151

      That's a good idea bro

    • @redsnorlax1945
      @redsnorlax1945 Рік тому +321

      @@Jodus_MacGotuss if some simpeltons on the internet ncan figure this out then why could disney with 200 million behind it...its almost like they destroyed lucas legacy on purpose...or at least tried to

    • @Jodus_MacGotuss
      @Jodus_MacGotuss Рік тому +106

      @@redsnorlax1945 bruh why would you call him a simpleton that's so rude lol

    • @redsnorlax1945
      @redsnorlax1945 Рік тому +174

      @@Jodus_MacGotuss i was also calling myself a simpelton i dont mean it offensivily just that we're not writers or actors maybe i should have said lamen something else lol

  • @sweetnumb
    @sweetnumb Рік тому +829

    "Don't ask me about my business, Peach!" That's actually some of the best dialogue I've ever heard.

    • @Whookieee
      @Whookieee Рік тому +72

      Michael Corleone got me! "It's-a me, Michael!"

    • @detectiveghost8856
      @detectiveghost8856 Рік тому +39

      Mario when the plumbing business hasn't been-a-doing all that good

    • @atomicdancer
      @atomicdancer 10 місяців тому +43

      "Luigi, you're my brother, and I love you. But don't ever take sides with anyone against the Family again."

    • @krampus7520
      @krampus7520 8 місяців тому +2

      @@atomicdancerreal slow clapping here, especially with the rise of The Spiky Dinosaur who kidnaps the Kngdom's Monarch within the fandom

    • @punchline9111
      @punchline9111 5 місяців тому +2

      "Shroomed out jumping on turtles heads and collecting coins for a living... Any more questions-e princessa?"

  • @LanaAndJen
    @LanaAndJen 9 місяців тому +78

    That “ohhh wire” bit from Breaking Bad is one of my all-time favorite lines from the show 😂😂

  • @henrikaugustsson4041
    @henrikaugustsson4041 Рік тому +227

    Breaking Bad is one of my favourite shows. Never a dull moment, even when nothing’s happening, because there’s always the silence that keeps you wondering what the characters are thinking.

    • @TomFoolery350
      @TomFoolery350 Рік тому +15

      Yeah, I was about to write the same. The conversations are always good, sometimes there are jokes but they never kill the whole situation. Imagine someone being a funny smartass at Tuco or Gus and they just accept it.

    • @NYCTOSEE
      @NYCTOSEE Рік тому +8

      Absolutely love the show also because EVERYTHING comes back to bite these characters. The stakes are so so high even from the beginning (which makes it feel realistic) because you KNOW not a single thing is going to go unchecked. You just play the long game to see how long it takes until something comes back like a boomerang to the main characters. Can’t count how many times my mom & I said “That’s gonna come back and bite them in the ass…” and genuinely GOT ANGRY when a character screwed up because everything is set up to lead to something. So when nothing is happening, you think back to all the things they fuck up on and go… but how long until x thing comes back to bite? The stake were set up since episode 1 when they zoomed in on the gas mask and in episode 2 those two kids found it.

    • @henrikaugustsson4041
      @henrikaugustsson4041 Рік тому +9

      @@NYCTOSEE Yes, and it’s great when Crazy 8 has to die, but neither Walt nor Jessie are hardened enough to do it. Only when Walt understands that 8’s planning to murder him does he realise that he can never let him go, can’t let him live. The only way is to kill Crazy 8, and by doing THAT, he sets even more shit into motion, until everything spirals out of control.

    • @NYCTOSEE
      @NYCTOSEE Рік тому +2

      @@henrikaugustsson4041 Absolutely completely totally agree. Both Walter’s & Jesse’s grief felt very realistic. I was genuinely heartbroken when Crazy 8 died. Such a heart-wrenching scene. I think before that I had hope that Walter would be able to get out and live a happy life with an unexpected friend (though honestly even I didn’t believe that, I just had gotten attached to both by that point. I’m not THAT ignorant.) or they would part ways, but when he died… I knew there was no chance of Walter escaping. He was in it for life. I also believe that was the beginning of his mental spiral. After that, you could see how he changed and decided to process his grief.

  • @zugabdu1
    @zugabdu1 Рік тому +1569

    In the Troll 2 scene, you have to be able to dig through the bad acting to find the bad writing.

  • @nancydoerfler6686
    @nancydoerfler6686 Рік тому +7933

    Isn't the whole Marvel series an example of Bathos? They cannot go 5 seconds without making a joke in what are supposed to be intense battle scenes.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +1728

      Yep, the MCU is addicted to Bathos

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +633

      I actually covered Marvel's use of humor in a recent video on Lampshading: ua-cam.com/video/16Udx2D4NFY/v-deo.html

    • @IllyasArt
      @IllyasArt Рік тому +586

      I hate it when they do that. Like, they want me to care about a scene, but they add stupid jokes to it, so it all just ends up falling apart.

    • @YourLocalCopiumDealer
      @YourLocalCopiumDealer Рік тому +681

      Indeed. The mcu snarky comedy was started by Tony Stark, because it fit his personality.
      When others copy that it feels empty and uncharacteristic.

    • @cosmicspacething3474
      @cosmicspacething3474 Рік тому +487

      They saw how everyone liked the subversive joke about Hulk smashing Loki while he gave a serious speech, and they decided to do the same thing to every other serious moment ever until there were no serious moments left to even subvert.
      They have successfully beaten the dead horse into bones, those bones into paste, used the paste to build another horse, beat that horse into nothingness, and are now swinging at thin air.

  • @michaelkay7999
    @michaelkay7999 Рік тому +995

    The Last Jedi vs Top Gun Maveric heroic sacrifice comparison was brilliant.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +46

      Thank you!

    • @aliensoup2420
      @aliensoup2420 Рік тому +160

      Not only was The Last Jedi dialog in that scene inappropriate for the moment, it was just plain stupid and inappropriate for any moment.
      "Thats how we win. Not by fighting what we hate, but by saving what we love."
      What does that even mean? We win WW2 by preventing our sons, brothers, fathers, and husbands from fighting the enemy? It is ridiculous woke logic.

    • @je-nas
      @je-nas Рік тому +70

      ​@@aliensoup2420 Also she was herself fighting what she hated just a couple of hours earlier, tearing apart the “evil rich” in Canto Bight. Same for her sister at the start of the movie.

    • @mrbigglezworth42
      @mrbigglezworth42 Рік тому +29

      @@je-nas Rian Johnson was more interested in making flashy looking scenes and shots, then a competently written story that makes sense.

    • @D-ei1pc
      @D-ei1pc Рік тому +35

      @@aliensoup2420 You must not like the ending of Return of the Jedi. Instead of Luke killing Vader, as he lays there helplessly, he throws away his weapon and says he will never turn to the dark side. All this happens while the rebellion is fighting for their lives to blow up the death star.
      Instead of killing one of the worst bad guys in the galaxy, he takes a huge gamble in hoping that good prevails in the end. By your definition that is woke also. That scene in Return of the Jedi is better then The Last Jedi cause there is better writing and more of a moment where Luke stops and collects himself.
      Both scenes would be considered woke by the likes of you.

  • @notatranslationschannel8896
    @notatranslationschannel8896 Рік тому +130

    2:00 It's extremely subtle, but I also like how fast Walt's mood changes to genuine frustration and disappointment when Jesse doesn't deliver. That sort of impatience and intolerance is one of the things which later seriously spirals out of control.

  • @SpectorEuro4
    @SpectorEuro4 Рік тому +455

    Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul has got to have one of the most writing in TV-Movie history. The character building, especially in Better Call Saul, is an absolute delight to appreciate.

    • @diallo1347
      @diallo1347 Рік тому +24

      The Wire is also a master class in good writing.

    • @davidporter671
      @davidporter671 Рік тому +5

      BCS is way overrated. First seasons were good, then it was waaayyy too drawn out and alright in the end.

    • @diallo1347
      @diallo1347 Рік тому +56

      @@davidporter671 I just finished BCS a week ago and then immediately watched BB and El Camino. BCS is arguably the best of the three shows. Jimmy's character arc from is incredible, and the ending was beautiful. But it's subjective and to each their own

    • @benjaminroe311ify
      @benjaminroe311ify Рік тому +2

      Agreed. Throw Star Wars: Andor in that list as well. It's just as good as Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul or The Wire or The Sopranos which are all some of my faves.

    • @lucacolombo7603
      @lucacolombo7603 Рік тому +10

      ​@@benjaminroe311ifyyou kiddin right?

  • @chrisAclaes
    @chrisAclaes Рік тому +1366

    For me, the worst instance of forced comedy ever was the infamous “THEY FLY NOW?”

    • @UnboxerofWorlds
      @UnboxerofWorlds Рік тому +146

      That was supposed to be funny?

    • @pilouuuu
      @pilouuuu Рік тому +182

      That seems like humor written by an A.I.
      In fact, I actually think that an A.I. could write funnier dialogue.

    • @Aaron-zt5ee
      @Aaron-zt5ee Рік тому +171

      Especially bad since jetpacks are nothing new so characters being surprised makes no sense.

    • @crucaderd
      @crucaderd Рік тому +15

      What movie was that line from?

    • @omengod1
      @omengod1 Рік тому +51

      @@crucaderd rise of skywalker i think.

  • @reptiliannoizezz.413
    @reptiliannoizezz.413 Рік тому +1150

    "Villains should never see themselves as evil."
    Big Jack Horner: *_Allow me to introduce myself._*

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +307

      Hahah I need to see Puss in Boots. Heard many great things

    • @tonycorona8501
      @tonycorona8501 Рік тому +204

      ​​@@WriterBrandonMcNulty if it helps, Jack is more of comic relief, as the Main antagonist is the wolf 😊
      There are three antagonists. One has develooment, the other causes develooment, and the third is comic relief and to have someone for the audience to root against

    • @gabrote42
      @gabrote42 Рік тому +110

      I love pure evil villains. I am so sad that they are so rare these days.

    • @minhkhangtran6948
      @minhkhangtran6948 Рік тому +50

      If you're older, Emperor Zod from the Buzz Lightyear cartoon is also a stellar example of a megalomaniacal evil villain that enjoy being such. Goddamn was he a trip and a half

    • @reptiliannoizezz.413
      @reptiliannoizezz.413 Рік тому +45

      @@minhkhangtran6948 Zurg*
      Zod is one of Superman's enemies

  • @LittleDude314
    @LittleDude314 Рік тому +386

    I’m not even a writer but these are so entertaining

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +28

      Thanks!

    • @IllusionSector
      @IllusionSector Рік тому +6

      @@WriterBrandonMcNulty
      Brandon, you seem to present these as hard and fast _donts_ of dialog writing. However, in the scenes you provided as examples, I don't think the issue lies inherently in *what* they do, but rather *how* they do it, which is very poorly.

    • @IllusionSector
      @IllusionSector Рік тому +7

      @@WriterBrandonMcNulty
      Here are a few of the countless examples of bathos done right (imo):
      *Casino Royale:* _Now the whole world gonna know that you died scratching my balls._
      *Roadhouse:* _A Polar Bear Fell On Me._
      *Red Dragon:* _Your hair is a train wreck._
      *American History X* (deleted scene): _I have a great idea for a musical comedy._
      - and many many more.

  • @mr_clean575
    @mr_clean575 10 місяців тому +85

    I think the Kylo Ren scene could've been much more impactful with a small change: Po's joke being made to a ranking officer instead of Kylo Ren, with him appearing shortly afterwards. Po would still showcase that larger-than-life cocky charisma, and the ranking officer would appear weak instead of Kylo Ren.
    Imagine if Kylo Ren comes in afterwards, and Po no longer feels comfortable being so flippant, or Kylo Ren silences the officer or Po in a way that displays power. If the character who is a smart-aleck shows fear or restraint in that moment, it gives an opportunity to express the weight the villain's presence carries.

    • @JeremyHoffman
      @JeremyHoffman 4 місяці тому +4

      The thing is, isn't Kylo Ren *supposed* to be weak? Trying and failing to follow in Darth Vader's footsteps? I loved his character motivation at the start of episode 8 when he smashes his poser Vader mask in frustration.

    • @harrisonsnellgrove8843
      @harrisonsnellgrove8843 4 місяці тому +5

      @@JeremyHoffmanyes but also no. The idea was that he was insecure in his power, not that he was actually weak.
      The issue is the writers didn’t know how to internalise that struggle and instead externalised it, creating an actually weak villain in practice while trying to tell us that he was a huge threat.
      This compounds when we’re shown a crazed Luke attempting to murder him in his sleep because of his perceived strength and the threat he poses.
      The entire thing hinges on US believing that Kylo ren COULD be such a massive threat that Luke skywalker would have no choice but to kill him in his sleep- but instead we get a pathetic inept man child failing to achieve any of his goals.
      This undercuts the entire trilogy and is the TRUE issue with the writing. There are lots of pitfalls, but this was in my opinion the nail in the coffin.
      If kylo were shown to be capable and powerful in his actions, and we were shown his internal struggle and fear of failure then we would still see him as weak and vulnerable just psychologically - a perfect route to the dark side and an understandable character arc.
      What we get instead makes no sense in the internal logic of the trilogy.

    • @JeremyHoffman
      @JeremyHoffman 3 місяці тому +1

      ​Excellent breakdown,​@@harrisonsnellgrove8843. The sequel trilogy sure was incoherent. For all its faults, the prequel trilogy was pretty coherent. I mean, Anakin kinda turned on a dime from light to dark to light to dark, but it felt like a single character arc.

  • @TheDeadCritic
    @TheDeadCritic Рік тому +1506

    I think Disney has done more to teach people about bad writing than anyone ever could. 🤣

    • @andywellsglobaldomination
      @andywellsglobaldomination Рік тому +9

      I sceond that!

    • @Ok-_-719
      @Ok-_-719 Рік тому +9

      Lol true

    • @bakasan0000
      @bakasan0000 Рік тому +30

      Game of Thrones Season 8 has entered the chat.

    • @TheDeadCritic
      @TheDeadCritic Рік тому +10

      @@bakasan0000 Shit man I didn't know you'd see this.. I apologize and take back what I said. You are the true destroyer. 👍

    • @bakasan0000
      @bakasan0000 Рік тому +6

      @@TheDeadCritic 🤴

  • @BlackSailPass_GuitarCovers
    @BlackSailPass_GuitarCovers Рік тому +678

    That Breaking Bad episode ('4 Days Out') has so many great lines. "You said it yourself... A robot?!". "You made poison out of beans, yo". "Ahh... wire". "You bought a meth lab to an airport?". The chemistry between Walt and Jessie in a pressure cooker situation made it one of the funniest in the whole series.

    • @Unus_Annus_
      @Unus_Annus_ Рік тому +14

      4 days out is probably my favorite episode of the entire series

    • @JonBeowulf
      @JonBeowulf Рік тому +44

      The 'chemistry' between them? I see what you did there.

    • @BlackSailPass_GuitarCovers
      @BlackSailPass_GuitarCovers Рік тому +37

      @@JonBeowulf They were clearly both in their element. You could say their interactions were reactive.

    • @notaulgoodman9732
      @notaulgoodman9732 Рік тому +5

      I can remember all of the scenes where these lines are from.

    • @BlackSailPass_GuitarCovers
      @BlackSailPass_GuitarCovers Рік тому +5

      @@notaulgoodman9732 "The buzzer didn't buzz!"

  • @paulpach
    @paulpach Рік тому +404

    Breaking Bad is full of subtext. It is delicious to watch more than once to catch it all.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +40

      Absolutely. Would love to rewatch the whole series sometime

    • @gabrote42
      @gabrote42 Рік тому +17

      ​@@WriterBrandonMcNulty Show it to family or close friends. I do that to rewatch my favourite media

    • @whereisthehook
      @whereisthehook Рік тому +2

      Gawd I'm on my 4th viewing. I can't get enough.

    • @ra6160
      @ra6160 Рік тому +2

      Rap lyrics also have this kind subtext called subliminal

    • @edwardmitchell6581
      @edwardmitchell6581 Рік тому +3

      @@gabrote42 I'm waiting until my boys are old enough.
      The youngest is only 18 months.

  • @neimnewasd2842
    @neimnewasd2842 Рік тому +162

    I noticed that a lot of these advice also apply to real life conversations. An awkward talk sounds like bad dialogue, but good conversations sound natural

    • @Andrew-Kerr
      @Andrew-Kerr Рік тому +36

      Ironically a well written awkward talk dialogue can sound very natural and relatable, because real people do have incredibly awkward conversations. Especially when some embarrassing secret is exposed.

  • @pommeNM
    @pommeNM Рік тому +314

    The Legolas and Gimli interactions during intense battles are a timeless example of how humor can be brought properly into heavy action scenes.
    Them having a kill count contest works because it still is about the battle and doesn’t take your attention away from it and its tragedy. They go with it and find a way to remain optimistic. It’s just a few seconds of delight in a seemingly hopeless situation before diving right back into it and it works well

    • @junglemoose2164
      @junglemoose2164 Рік тому +4

      I don't think the LotR films have any examples of good dialogue. Lame dialogue, yes.

    • @--Nyx-
      @--Nyx- Рік тому +3

      Completely agree

    • @Juan-zl3fy
      @Juan-zl3fy Рік тому +4

      Don't think so, it pisses me off how urgent everything there was while they were counting their score. It's beyond stupid.

    • @gooddeath3816
      @gooddeath3816 Рік тому +34

      @@Juan-zl3fy Some of people that I know are in the battle against Russia. They were literally counting blown up tanks and having "fun" on battlefield just like Legolas and Gimli. People actually do that very often in wars, because that's one way to cope with the tragedy that is going on.

    • @Juan-zl3fy
      @Juan-zl3fy Рік тому +2

      @@gooddeath3816 Good thing I've never watched their movie

  • @dougieman927
    @dougieman927 Рік тому +157

    I still haven't recovered from watching that Rose scene in the theater. They genuinely convinced me Finn was going to sacrifice himself and I'm all like "Damn, okay let's see how this goes", and then the next scene happened. I swear I audibly groaned when I saw those two ships crash. (Also, Rose saved him from crashing into a cannon by... crashing into his ship. Do I even-?... No. I don't need to say anything else.)

    • @benjaminroe311ify
      @benjaminroe311ify Рік тому +18

      Yep so dumb. There was a lot of dumb stuff in the sequels. But this is particularly dumb scene. I don't hate everything in those movies but they put so much unbelievable and lore manipulating stuff along with bad writing that I cringe watching them now.

    • @Nopeasaurus
      @Nopeasaurus Рік тому +25

      Finn wanted to sacrifice himself to save everyone and Rose took that opportunity away from him and risked everyone else's lives, including her own. I think that's what everyone hated the most. The cringe speech she gives him afterward only made things worse.

    • @narc440
      @narc440 Рік тому +10

      @@Nopeasaurus Yeah she very well could've killed finn and herself. Maybe she was supposed to be a double agent, who had undying loyalty to the first order or something. Would've been way cooler than the terrible shit we got

    • @Peter-hx3im
      @Peter-hx3im Рік тому +2

      ​@narc440 and they were totally exposed. The ATAT could have just shot them and then they would be dead for no reason.

    • @tbird81
      @tbird81 2 місяці тому +1

      Why did you guys even watch that crap? It was always obviously going to be ridiculous, but you give money to that pos franchise?

  • @romainpapelier9457
    @romainpapelier9457 Рік тому +203

    I remember Top Gun Maverick in theater, when rooster said "you told me not to think" the whole audience giggled because, well, yeah, Maverick told him that earlier. A small touch of humour in the middle of a serious scene but it did not feel odd.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +64

      Yep, and it works because the tension is cooling down at that point

    • @nodsib
      @nodsib 5 місяців тому +9

      @@WriterBrandonMcNultyand it works because it’s a believable defence in a shouting match, it just happens to also be funny

    • @Skatebetter
      @Skatebetter 3 місяці тому +3

      Not only that- but it’s also the epitome of what he’s been trying to teach them so when it blows up in his face the impact is huge.

  • @Lonnh
    @Lonnh Рік тому +341

    These are so fun to watch, it's impressive how you find scenes that are so similar in all kinds of ways, but with different execution

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +33

      Thank you! The Seinfeld one actually came to me AFTER I recorded the audio... I was struggling to come up with a fitting counterpoint to The Room, and Seinfeld didn't click till the last minute

  • @Lady_de_Lis
    @Lady_de_Lis Рік тому +268

    Info dumping dialogue has got to be one of the most common problems.
    Especially the "as you know" type dialogue. Or when certain characters describe other characters' personality traits directly to the audience rather than letting the audience see those traits for themselves.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +29

      Yeah, unfortunately it pops up a lot (especially in movies/TV) because it's the easiest way to get info across.

    • @leeharamis1935
      @leeharamis1935 Рік тому +27

      I recall a scene where one of the characters does an “as you know Bob” dump to another charcter in a pretty fast manner only to have the other character slam the brakes mid way through the dump. Their response was something like “no I don’t have any idea what you talking about”. Prompting the first character to awkwardly have to reexplain things but now unsure of what the other characters knew.
      I actually thought it was effective because it was a bit comedic and got the info across. But also gave us some insight into the first character as being presumptuous and being very uncomfortable when they are uncertain about the thoughts and intentions of those around them.
      I wish I could remember where I saw this, I think it was an old tv show, maybe British.

    • @grinder7311
      @grinder7311 Рік тому +12

      Marvels "the eternals" was 90% just exposition and info dumping. As soon as ey saw the epic wall of text that starts the movie I knew i was in for a nice "exposition ride". Nearly every conversation was just there to explain their backstory to the viewer.
      That movie sucked hard...

    • @rome8180
      @rome8180 Рік тому +6

      He actually covered the "as you know" dialogue in the first video he made in this series.

    • @rome8180
      @rome8180 Рік тому +10

      @@WriterBrandonMcNulty Even good TV shows suffer from it, especially in the pilots. I often struggle to get through pilot episodes of shows because they're so clunkily written.

  • @themadjock1977
    @themadjock1977 Рік тому +50

    You've managed to put into words so concisely and with examples what most people instinctively feel when it comes to good vs bad dialogue. Thanks for the analysis

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +4

      Thanks for watching!

    • @gd515051
      @gd515051 Рік тому

      This is exactly how I feel when I see bad dialog. I just cringe. It’s like, whyyyyyyyyyyyy!

  • @lanjieke
    @lanjieke Рік тому +25

    I'm very impressed with how seriously you analysed The Room.

  • @28starwarsfan
    @28starwarsfan Рік тому +716

    That Rose moment is also incredibly ironic. She's telling him they win by saving what they love, not destroying what they hate. Meanwhile she stopped him from saving these people and cause he's grown to care about and value more than his own life.

    • @Corn_Pone_Flicks
      @Corn_Pone_Flicks Рік тому +148

      And right after she says it, a huge explosion goes off in the background from the base that is now apparently doomed. I mean, that's a setup for a joke. Had it been a comedy, that would've worked, but it wasn't so didn't.

    • @RuneKatashima
      @RuneKatashima Рік тому +51

      Also, uh, how do they get away from that situation? They're literally right in front of the enemy.

    • @JonathanGilmer
      @JonathanGilmer Рік тому +35

      Moral of the scene: Be selfish, don't be selfless!

    • @FurballGamer
      @FurballGamer Рік тому +55

      In the beginning of the movie a woman sacrifices herself to open the only remaining bomber's bay doors and manually releases the bombs. The woman is Rose's sister. But I guess f*** her sacrifice...

    • @mattjindrak
      @mattjindrak Рік тому +5

      ​@@FurballGamerit's a character arc because Rose didn't wanna lose another person she loves duuuhhhhhhh did you even watch the moooooooovie?

  • @gp4236
    @gp4236 Рік тому +36

    When you got to the subject change one I was thinking “please don’t use the room, please don’t use the room…he used the room”

  • @daemonikkateylarii9731
    @daemonikkateylarii9731 Рік тому +132

    That scene in Top Gun: Maverick was by far my favorite scene, especially for the lines of "What were you thinking?!" & "You told me NOT to think!" It was a very well written scene.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +25

      The last 30-40 minutes of that movie are incredible. I was never a big fan of the original Top Gun, but the sequel had me gripped

    • @sawanna508
      @sawanna508 Рік тому

      Sounds familiar.

    • @jasongcrow5313
      @jasongcrow5313 Рік тому +3

      Agreed. The whole movie was surprisingly good. That scene was perfect because it also brought to bear all the tension between the two up to that point.

  • @scevvin7788
    @scevvin7788 Рік тому +86

    I legitimately laughed out loud in the theater in the scene of Rose and Finn because the next scene is the door protecting their friends getting blown open and now risking them all dying. Comedic gold

    • @BradsGonnaPlay
      @BradsGonnaPlay Рік тому +5

      Genuinely an amazing moment for how funny it is. The CG artists must have done that on purpose.

  • @xcutionunknown9634
    @xcutionunknown9634 Рік тому +30

    I just became a published author with my first ever book... I wish that I founded your channel earlier. However, it's really encouraging to find that your positive points on dialogue coincides with the dialogue I've written. It reminds me that I'm on the right track, even if I'm a novice.
    Thanks.

  • @4shotpastas
    @4shotpastas Рік тому +67

    I like listening to these a day after writing some dialogue so I can reflect on what I wrote. I always find something that just feels off. I appreciate the effort you put into these.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +5

      You got it! Thanks for watching

    • @michaelagnew7493
      @michaelagnew7493 Рік тому +1

      I hear you for sure, the same thing happens to me. Here's a Hemingway quote: “The most essential gift for a good writer is a built-in, shock-proof, shit-detector.”

  • @tomgarden
    @tomgarden Рік тому +46

    Also what’s great about the Vader interrogation/choke dialog: he proves his intelligence by deducting that it can’t be a councellors ship because there’s no ambassitor. Also that he’s got some serious muscles

    • @thomasjames7568
      @thomasjames7568 11 місяців тому +2

      He’s more machine than man.

    • @timbradshaw5481
      @timbradshaw5481 4 місяці тому

      The scene is obviously worse though. Vader's voice is completely rediculous. And the music is so obviously cued to sync up with the dramatic moment of the death that it's just outdated.
      Of the two scenes, the 1st one is better. The out dated 50 year old star wars scene is just bad compared to nowadays standards.

    • @MikeJohnson-qy4wq
      @MikeJohnson-qy4wq 2 місяці тому

      @@timbradshaw5481😂😂😂

    • @timbradshaw5481
      @timbradshaw5481 2 місяці тому

      @@JB-cr9xc I agree with the point of the video, the dialogue in the first scene undercuts Kylo Ren. But the second scene has Darth Vader chocking a guy wearing a bicycle helmet while the voice is clearly added in post production and the voices in relation to the sound effects are too low. The music builds tension and breaks only after the man dies and not before. It is cheap and wouldn't hold up in the modern day.
      Which is all acceptable because the film is old and had much less to build off of compared to the new star wars which made an unforigivably bad film for it's time.
      The old star wars films are not good by todays standards. Although they are still good and tell a compelling story that does hold up.

  • @BelieveInImagination
    @BelieveInImagination Рік тому +33

    I never thought of that scene in Breaking Bad to be father & son, but the minute you said that it clicked. Thanks mate this channel is totally underrated.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому

      Thanks!

    • @jeremybean-hodges6397
      @jeremybean-hodges6397 Рік тому +2

      It's not just father and son IMO - it's father and the substitute son who he wouldn't have chosen for himself, instead of the family that he loves and cares for, but has pushed away.

    • @kenjohnson4853
      @kenjohnson4853 Рік тому +1

      I took it as Walt trying again to teach Jesse, to succeed in a teacher-student relationship where he had previously failed. It's humourous because the failure is reinforced, no redemption and obvious frustration on Walt's part. It's too early in the story for father-son undertones, neither character is there yet, not even subconsciously.

    • @andywellsglobaldomination
      @andywellsglobaldomination Рік тому +1

      I saw it more as teacher to student, which Pinkman had been, back in the day. It was probably a re-hash of a test he'd previously failed. So I'd say "White acting paternal" instead of "White wanting to father."

  • @CozyRogers
    @CozyRogers Рік тому +8

    This side-by-side comparison format is awesome. The practical examples are extremely useful, and are something that most do's/dont's videos lack. The extra effort you put into gathering those examples really pays off.

  • @howardgriffen7187
    @howardgriffen7187 Рік тому +23

    An even better juxtaposition of the Poe v. Ren scene would’ve been the reaction of Solo when he encountered Vader in Cloud City. Solo used humor similarly to Poe under general circumstances. But, when he encountered Vader - no dialogue, just Action.

    • @PA1RofRaggedClause
      @PA1RofRaggedClause 5 місяців тому +1

      Most of the time, Solo wasn’t being humorous with his enemies. He almost always joked around with his allies and friends. I think that’s an important difference. Witty enough to get a laugh even in an intense moment but wise enough to understand the gravity of situations and take them seriously. The one counterexample was his downfall: he didn’t take Jaba the Hut seriously as an enemy and it caught up to him.

  • @WilliamReginaldLucas
    @WilliamReginaldLucas Рік тому +28

    Breaking Bad is perfect full stop but I'm so glad you chose this clip, I love the relationship between Walt and Jesse and their individual "smarts" and this exchange for me sums it up to a tee. Keep this excellent content coming your channel is blowing up!

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +5

      Thank you! And I actually wanted to include the "I fucked Ted" scene for #4's good example, but it didn't sync up with The Room example as much as I wanted

    • @Csizzorhandz
      @Csizzorhandz Рік тому

      @@WriterBrandonMcNulty LOL!

    • @Csizzorhandz
      @Csizzorhandz Рік тому +1

      Yes. So many good things in this one small interaction alone. You see Walt’s elation at having a kind of fatherly, teacher-pupil moment immediately dashed. It also sets up how tragic Walt’s eventual abuse of Jesse is because of how their relationship could have been so much warmer if Walt wasn’t such a prick.

    • @WilliamReginaldLucas
      @WilliamReginaldLucas Рік тому

      ​@@Csizzorhandz Spot on, I also think that in a show with so much tension and drama they can pull off all this and still have an element of comedy in there. There are a few examples of this but the "Ah, wire!" and Walt's reaction are priceless, as is the moment later in the series where Mike and Walt are arguing and Jesse is just sat there saying "What about a magnet?"
      When Mike comes into the picture we really get to see that Jesse is valued beyond just street smarts, and it was actually Walt all along who was being abusive towards Jesse.

  • @soundone1502
    @soundone1502 Рік тому +31

    Every time I think of good dialogue, I think of the first season of True Detective . That season was on point.

  • @tsamb3756
    @tsamb3756 Рік тому +81

    Great stuff! If there’s a part 4 planned, I’d love to see examples of bad dialogue from otherwise decent movies with good actors. Those are harder to detect!

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +16

      I'll keep that in mind for next time--thanks!

    • @nanorider426
      @nanorider426 Рік тому +4

      +1

    • @tgfitzgerald
      @tgfitzgerald Рік тому +2

      I immediately thought of Independence Day. Overall it's an excellent movie with a great cast and really good dialogue (I particularly love the conversations between Jeff Goldblum and his dad). But which also includes this gem and several more like it:
      "I'm a pilot. I belong in the air."

  • @connorblake7487
    @connorblake7487 Рік тому +21

    I would like to press you on one small nugget here; "villains should never see themselves as evil." I think 9/10 this is absolutely sound advice. But every now and then, it can delightful to see a villain who has self-awareness and truly just relishes in causing misery, not necessarily because they in themselves are compelling but what they force out of other characters in response is. I think a decent example of this (at times) is Angelus from the Buffy/Angel series. He's under no illusions of his place in the right/wrong balance. He's there to be cartoony evil and just fucking pull apart the heroes emotionally and devastate. And I think it works (again, at times)

    • @thehyperstar123
      @thehyperstar123 8 місяців тому +2

      Also, Megamind. Megamind acts evil because he feels it's the only thing society will let him do, until spending time and connecting with Roxanne helps him start to turn things around.

    • @powerofk
      @powerofk 3 місяці тому

      Evil characters seeing themselves as evil works for movies that are supposed to be cartoony (like, the cartoony part of the villain is part of the point--see the Austin Powers series where the villain is literally called Dr. Evil). But yeah, in most places where the story is supposed to be serious (and comedies can have serious stories), villains work best when they believe they are the heroes, or at least when they see their actions as justifiable.

  • @MyWorld-eb9oz
    @MyWorld-eb9oz Рік тому +13

    11:46 So THAT'S where that line is from! I honestly wish it was intentional to greet the guy so casually directly after he's talking about something serious, 'cause that's hilarious.

  • @ChristophelusPulps
    @ChristophelusPulps Рік тому +76

    I think there are situations where villains can see themselves as evil, but it's fairly rare and needs to be executed incredibly well to work (as anything other than comedy).

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +29

      Yeah, Dr. Evil from Austin Powers comes to mind, but that's comedy/satire

    • @kingetzel2755
      @kingetzel2755 Рік тому +16

      I think it generally only works in a relative sense - such as someone not understanding or believing in the concepts of objective morality, or "survival of the fittest" mentality that allows for any action provided you can accomplish it.
      Some people may even see themselves as a necessarily evil; where they realize they are purely evil but justify it as a function of nature or a higher power.
      The Joker is often considered to be a great antagonist, and he doesn't seem to have any motivations even he himself sees as noble - with it commonly being chaos for it's own sake.
      Beyond that it's more difficult to find great success as a purely evil villain - if you can't justify your cause you'll have a harder time gaining followers.

    • @ravioli_826
      @ravioli_826 Рік тому +9

      I think unlike heroes, villains need to be logical in their actions. Even if from the viewer’s or other characters’ perspectives the villain seems illogical, it has to make sense from the villain’s angle. A good guy can do something moral with the only justification being “it’s the right thing to do”. A bad guy needs some kind of purpose for their actions. They can fully recognize that their actions are immoral, and can even enjoy doing awful things, however a villain should be able to explain why they did these things in a more substantial way than just “cuz I wanted to” “it’s just the wrong thing to do”

    • @katherinehertel1360
      @katherinehertel1360 Рік тому +5

      The Lich from Adventure Time sees himself as evil and he works pretty well.

    • @kingetzel2755
      @kingetzel2755 Рік тому +9

      Come to think of it, most successful "self-aware villains" are in probably horror films. People/beings who are embodiments of evil and delight in causing harm.
      That and evil forces who oppose good specifically because they find evil a preferable side in the general fight between good/evil, light/dark, heaven/hell, etc.

  • @UPGRAYEDD-e6w
    @UPGRAYEDD-e6w Рік тому +43

    Love this series, Brandon! That Troll 2 dialogue is pretty funny. I interpreted it as intentionally bad since she turns away from him and breaks the fourth wall by spiking the camera pretty hard while delivering that last line.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +6

      Thanks! And yeah, Troll 2 is hilarious. Definitely watch it the next time you're in the mood for something charmingly bad

  • @bluecarpettiles
    @bluecarpettiles Рік тому +20

    Good examples of dialogue is littered throughout the Office. There is so much believable dialogue and great character attention which runs through the vast majority of that show. Bad dialogue, as someone else said, can be found in the vast majority of Marvel movies where it’s all quips and disposable CGI villains with no consequences. The best of those movies, in terms of tension for me, are the Winter Soldier and Zemo in Civil War who is fantastic.
    Great videos

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +1

      Thanks! And it's been a while since I watched Winter Solider, but I remember that one being more sincere than most MCU movies. Probably why I loved Winter Soldier so much.

    • @gwenivercall
      @gwenivercall Рік тому

      @@WriterBrandonMcNulty You should rewatch! I've watched it so many times - honestly, to me Alexander Pierce (played with consummate skill by Robert Redford) is scarier to me than any of their CGI villains, because he's so real. It's a shame they undercut it in Age of Ultron, where HYDRA became almost a joke, because that idea, of HYDRA being everywhere, hidden in plain sight, was the scariest of all.

    • @linkskywalker5417
      @linkskywalker5417 Рік тому

      ​@@WriterBrandonMcNulty I also remember Infinity War being more sincere than most MCU movies as well. Not nearly as much quipping given that the threat is much more serious. Should've aimed for the head.

  • @mjl1966y
    @mjl1966y Рік тому +2

    Your admonition of message over moment is spot on. For the message to be hear, the story must be told. You gotta' weave it in dramatically, not narratively.

  • @Mathhead2000
    @Mathhead2000 7 місяців тому +3

    Bro. That scene with Arnold and Uma is legendary, what are you talking about? They are literally playing cartoon super villains. They both today get their role here.

  • @thisisjcgreen9646
    @thisisjcgreen9646 Рік тому +60

    Taking a moment to appreciate Uma Thurman just having the time of her life in Batman & Robin. She's straight out of the 60s show and she carries the whole movie. Her delivery makes the dialogue 8x better.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +43

      "Batman DEACTIVATED her" cracks me up every time. It's hilarious how Uma and Arnold are having a blast while Clooney is screaming internally the whole time

    • @michaelagnew7493
      @michaelagnew7493 Рік тому +1

      I dunno, that sounds pretty revisionist. I mean, I dunno. Man that movie sucked.

    • @craigusselman546
      @craigusselman546 Рік тому +5

      Its funny because despite the puns Mr. Freeze was the only character I kind of felt for it shows what a trainwreck it is when Arnold Schwarzenegger is the best dramatic actor in it. Although I actually think Arnold is a better actor tham people give him credit foe being.

  • @MiketheMadness
    @MiketheMadness Рік тому +7

    As soon as you said 'sudden change of tone or unnatural change of subject' I knew you were going to show that scene from The Room haha

  • @captainphoenix
    @captainphoenix Рік тому +233

    Seriously, you need to do an entire episode of bad dialogue on The Last Jedi.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +53

      Haha it's a gold mine for sure

    • @psitsnate954
      @psitsnate954 Рік тому +15

      I think it’s dialogue is particularly bad because it doesn’t fit in the established universe of Star Wars and the rules we have come to expect it to operate in. In Knives out and Glass Onion, Rian Johnson uses similar writing techniques but it is much more successful in those films.

    • @thelocalcrusader9522
      @thelocalcrusader9522 Рік тому +4

      @TrainingBot113 like he said at the beginning its got to fit the character
      guy whos basically an older teenager being awkward to their crush is extremely fitting
      (specifically talking about the prequel series)

    • @oliverford5367
      @oliverford5367 Рік тому +6

      ​@@psitsnate954He's not a bad filmmaker, but totally wrong for Star Wars. He sees himself as an auteur too smart for a franchise, so wrecked it on purpose.

    • @weltraumvogel2
      @weltraumvogel2 11 місяців тому +1

      @@WriterBrandonMcNulty And after that, one episode (or more, a series of episodes) about all the plot holes in TLJ and Rise of Palpatine.

  • @robertlopez918
    @robertlopez918 Рік тому +43

    My mentor once said, "Film is a visual media. The best dialogue is no dialogue."

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +14

      Yep, sometimes silence is better than words. Especially when the words suck

    • @AnotherDuck
      @AnotherDuck Рік тому +3

      I think the best example of that is Hayden Christensen's Anakin. He's a good actor, don't get me wrong, but he (understandably) struggles with some of the dialogue tossed his way. And then you compare that to the scenes where he doesn't have to talk. So much better.

    • @TippedScale
      @TippedScale Рік тому +4

      ​@@AnotherDuckhayden is a good actor tbh he just struggled a little bit with the dialogue, he was really good in the silent moments

    • @blueflare3848
      @blueflare3848 9 місяців тому +2

      Sometimes silence says more than words ever could.

    • @tbirdparis
      @tbirdparis 5 місяців тому

      So according to this mentor, silent movies are the epitome of film?

  • @oliverford5367
    @oliverford5367 Рік тому +6

    Other good examples of "evil" dialogue:
    Gus' "a man provides" speech to Walt in Breaking Bad.
    Lady Macbeth's "then you were a man" speech in Macbeth, which possibly influenced Gus' speech.
    Palpantine's "Darth Plageuis" story to Anakin from Revenge of the Sith, which is just about the only dialogue with subtext in the prequels.

  • @AryaCyrus
    @AryaCyrus Рік тому +15

    Thank you Brandon! Most stories have either bad dialogue or not bad dialogue. Good dialogue is a rarity. The examples that you list as good just don't have any of the errors of the bad ones. But they have nothing beyond that. An example of good is Collateral, where dialogue isn't just error-free, but adds a lot to the story. To see this, change Collateral’s dialogue with any other action story’s that has “not bad” dialogue. Most of the appeal of the story will be lost. Another example is Game of Thrones, e.g. Varys and Baelish.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +7

      Yeah, when I think of "Good Dialogue" I think of effective dialogue. GREAT dialogue is another subject entirely.
      And I need to rewatch Collateral. It's been too long.

    • @werecam56
      @werecam56 Рік тому

      Collateral is great

  • @karltanner3953
    @karltanner3953 Рік тому +9

    Thank you for this video! I was in a small pickle with a dialogue scene in a novel I'm writing, and the part about giving emotions time to develop clicked something for me. Appreciate the help, bud

  • @hazelmaylebrun6243
    @hazelmaylebrun6243 Рік тому +34

    Sometimes the same dialogue can be made good or bad in the hands of whichever actor has it. For example, Jaws. Anybody else with that long of a monologue describing the Indianapolis would have lost the audience. Instead, Robert Shaw pulled us all in to a whole shark attack that wasn't even shown on screen. It was like we got a bonus macabre shark attack scene. When I was 10, it riveted me to the point where I had to go and find a non fiction book on the USS Indianapolis, which I read and realized that Shaw used that account to inform his performance, right down to the friend bobbing in the water, bitten in half. If you ever want to find out just how masterful Shaw was (and he tweaked that dialogue with his own writing skill too because Gottlieb says they were having all kinds of problems with it), read the real account of the Indianapolis.
    Robert Shaw makes you feel like you were right there with him, and you suddenly understand this crazy, Captain Ahab character and that the shark is his Moby Dick. If that monologue had been in the hands of a lesser actor, it would not have worked... but every time I see that scene, I still come away feeling very satisfied.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +13

      Great point. And Quint's monologue is incredible because of the details he provides and the actor's touch

    • @stephdeferie5662
      @stephdeferie5662 Рік тому

      robert shaw wrote that monologue himself the night before they shot it!

    • @Corn_Pone_Flicks
      @Corn_Pone_Flicks Рік тому +3

      Part of why it works so well is that it's not story information, or at least not obviously. We understand later when Quint smashes the radio just how personal the conflict is to him, but he's not gushing some story that will later be key in defeating the shark. Another great thing about that scene that I've never heard discussed is that when Quint and Hooper are bonding over their scars, we see Brody lift his shirt to reveal what looks to be a scar from a gunshot, which he then decides not to talk about, and we then understand why he left New York for a place like Amity.

    • @craigusselman546
      @craigusselman546 Рік тому +2

      Jaws is a very special film and while its mostly thought of as a horror/thriller it touches all sorts of genres and does them well family drama, action, historical flashback and is very very funny its kind of a perfect movie.

    • @siukong
      @siukong Рік тому +1

      Definitely. Great dialogue is most often a synthesis of great writing and great acting.

  • @goncaloalmeida7029
    @goncaloalmeida7029 Рік тому +51

    For the "good" forced comedy we also have Spiderman's 1 liners during his fights. That's completely believable because anyone that knows who Spiderman is will recognize that style of humor immediately.

  • @onionface5835
    @onionface5835 Рік тому +3

    Team America has some of the best dialogue I've ever heard, highly recomended. not only does it work well as its own story, but they manage to lampoon so many writing and movie tropes at the same time, it becomes self aware. One of my favs is when they start having a heart to heart during the final battle.

  • @NateTheUnGreatful
    @NateTheUnGreatful Рік тому +48

    Your Good Vs Bad videos are your best ones!

  • @Shindai
    @Shindai Рік тому +8

    When you mentioned jarring change of topic, I too thought of the Room, but the part I thought of was when Lisa is talking to her mother about Johnny, and her mother shrugs it off and then launches into "anyway, I definitely have breast cancer" which also works with inappropriate emotion since she says it so conversationally, like oh well, my favourite team lost at sportsball this weekend, guess I owe someone a buck. Truly that movie is a masterclass in what not to do lol

  • @n20games52
    @n20games52 Рік тому +9

    All three of these videos are great. They take me back to when I was first learning to write screenplays and yet here I am, still learning, thanks for content creators like you! I look forward to round 4 if you ever decide to do it.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +3

      Thanks! Not sure if/when I'll do a #4, but I want to explore other story elements in the Bad/Good format first. Hoping to do Bad/Good Endings soon

  • @matomei4110
    @matomei4110 Рік тому +4

    The "I did not hit here" scene has great dialogue for a comedy.🤣

  • @planckj
    @planckj Рік тому +1

    This video is great. So many times I see shows or movies (like the recent star wars movies) that just seem like crap and I can't really put my finger on why. This really breaks it down well in a logical way.

  • @NakkiNyan
    @NakkiNyan Рік тому +25

    I watched Maverick for the third time yesterday. I think Rooster's shrug after saying "you told me not to think, remember" to lower tension naturally helps the scene too.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +5

      Yeah, it's a great progression from heated to peaceful

    • @whereisthehook
      @whereisthehook Рік тому

      You poor soul, you forced yourself to watch that garbage 3 times?

    • @michaelagnew7493
      @michaelagnew7493 Рік тому +1

      I just can't for the life of me give a shit about the new one

  • @courtneypaquette3475
    @courtneypaquette3475 Рік тому +4

    Discovered your channel just a few days ago through these good vs. bad dialogue videos, and I'm loving it. Super helpful and insightful since basically all I wrote is dialogue (comics).
    I would love to hear you talk a bit about monologues. When are they appropriate (if ever) and what makes a good monologue feel genuine. I try to avoid them whenever possible because they just don't seem natural, but there are definitely good examples out there. (And if you've already covered this, I apologize. I'll come across it as I go through your catalogue I'm sure!)
    I'm having a blast going through your older videos and I can't wait for more! Thank you!

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +1

      I've been getting a lot of requests for a monologue video, so expect to see something in the near future. Thanks for the kind words btw!

    • @courtneypaquette3475
      @courtneypaquette3475 Рік тому

      @@WriterBrandonMcNulty That's amazing! Can't wait to see it, thank you! ⭐

  • @_monolithic_
    @_monolithic_ Рік тому +7

    The moment you described what Bathos was, I immediately hit cmd+F and searched the comments for "Marvel." Glad I wasn't the only one thinking it.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +2

      Yeah, Marvel is the low-hanging fruit when it comes to Bathos examples

  • @Freesliterature
    @Freesliterature Рік тому +1

    As someone who is pretty new to writing, it’s kind of nice to see I naturally avoided a lot of dialogue mistakes

  • @snakey934Snakeybakey
    @snakey934Snakeybakey Рік тому +1

    I thought that scene in top gun Maverick was the *perfect* example of doing that kind of dialogue correctly. So glad to see you use it.

  • @Bingo_the_Pug
    @Bingo_the_Pug Рік тому +13

    That scene in Last Jedi when Luke keeps asking Rey “why are you here?” That discussion goes on for like 5 minutes. 5 minutes of Luke asking the same question over & over

  • @raven_glass
    @raven_glass Рік тому +23

    Another great video! It would be helpful to see more rewritten versions of bad scenes.

  • @Jakil007
    @Jakil007 Рік тому +6

    Dig this series. I could watch these all day. You would make a great professor.

  • @haVocHWC3
    @haVocHWC3 Рік тому +1

    Lots of great information in this video. Most people can tell when dialog in a film is off but cant articulate exactly why. You did a great job and the examples were perfect.

  • @MegaLol232
    @MegaLol232 Рік тому +18

    Did no one notice at the second clip in the first seconds of the video when Brandon says "tear apart" he shows the scene from The Room where Johnny says "you are tearing me apart Lisa"? It was genius!
    Edit: IT KINDA HAPPENED AT 11:32 TOO hahahaha I love this channel!

  • @drErakidos
    @drErakidos Рік тому +10

    Glad I've stumbled upon your channel. I was hyped after seeing part 1&2, to get to see yet another one. Keep up the good work. Love the reference between old and new SW. Kylo had such a potential but they end up making him really blant. And if "somehow Palatine returned" is not an example of bad writing, I dont know what is.

  • @ichuck7
    @ichuck7 Рік тому +6

    I love how you give similar examples, like Batman and Robin and then the Dark knight. It drives your point home. I think the point would have been lost or muddied if you had given an example from 50 First Dates and then followed up with an example from Lord of the Rings. I hope you make more of these.

  • @TjStorm97
    @TjStorm97 Рік тому +11

    That scene in Top Gun Maverick was easily my favourite scene in the movie because of the dialogue alone... It was a perfect fit for the situation and both characters explained their actions in a believable and impactful way.

    • @idawizard
      @idawizard Рік тому +1

      …and it was set up so perfectly in the earlier scene (“ if you think up there, you’re dead!)

  • @beigefedora9716
    @beigefedora9716 Рік тому +4

    I would argue that there are examples of villains being very over-the-top and blatantly evil that work well,
    the one that came to mind for me is Doofenshmirtz,
    obviously its a children's show, but i still think it's a fair example of a character displaying these traits that still works well for the story and the character.

  • @DanCummins
    @DanCummins 7 місяців тому +1

    I love all of these bad vs good videos inevitably include examples from the SW sequel trilogy in the 'bad' column.

  • @TinCanToNA
    @TinCanToNA Рік тому +16

    Great examples to illustrate your points

  • @durendalarcas8209
    @durendalarcas8209 Рік тому +8

    Love these vs videos Brandon. I have found them incredibly educational and useful. I have been binging them lol. the dialogue videos made me go back and rewrite some dialogue that I had been unhappy with for a long time and your vids had the right medicine. Keep them coming! I also wishlisted your books i'll get to them soon once I finish the series I am currently reading.

  • @cosmicspacething3474
    @cosmicspacething3474 Рік тому +17

    9:17 That’s not always the case though. People are pointing a lot to Jack Horner from Puss in boots 2 for a great example of a cartoonishly evil villain. (Mainly because he’s been the only exceptional one people have known about for the past few decades.)
    He doesn’t see himself as the hero when he says all these cartoonishly evil things. In fact he doesn’t see himself as the villain either. He just simply doesn’t care because he’s purely selfish.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +11

      I need to see Puss in Boots. Heard a lot of great things

    • @gabrote42
      @gabrote42 Рік тому +1

      ​@@WriterBrandonMcNulty It's almost as great as Shrek 2, and only by bare margins. Amazing

  • @grinningtaverngaming395
    @grinningtaverngaming395 Рік тому

    Man, you just explained why I have so much trouble communicating with my family. It’s not that I want great dialogue every time, it’s simply that I’m looking for a natural progression in our conversations.
    Thank you.

  • @nerdock4747
    @nerdock4747 Рік тому +6

    I think a great example of good info-dumping is Cap2: Winter Soldier. The Arnim Zola info dump is informative, interesting, interactive and purposeful. He's stalling to kill them, he's not interested in entertaining them - but the audience remains entertained nonetheless.

  • @billfrankfurt5133
    @billfrankfurt5133 Рік тому +72

    I love watching your videos. The Kylo/Poe scene bothered me and I wasn’t sure why. You nailed it! Kylo should have killed or tortured him for the disrespect to stay in character.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +4

      Thanks!

    • @heatherknopp3723
      @heatherknopp3723 Рік тому +12

      And yet, it speaks to Kylo's insecurities. He SHOULD have punished Poe, but he's still not sure of himself as a "bad guy". As we find out later, he was raised by the King and the Queen of the Rebellion, so that baggage made him uncertain of his own identity. He didn't even know what to say to Poe at first - hence the awkward silence that Poe, in his adrenaline-infused state, reverted to his comic attempt to diffuse. Kylo spends the entire 3 movies trying to figure himself out (yawn) and either fully embrace the dark side or ditch his youthful Goth phase and move back toward the light.

    • @SainayaMoon
      @SainayaMoon Рік тому +6

      He couldn't kill him; Poe had information he needed. He took him aboard his ship where he was going to Force torture information out of him, after which he'd probably be executed. It's not much different than Leia, who disrespected Vader, but instead of killing her, he captured her to be interrogated and eventually executed. The only thing she had that Poe didn't was status, which the villains clearly stated they didn't care about via an info dump about the Senate becoming useless.

    • @Sconi71
      @Sconi71 Рік тому +2

      @@heatherknopp3723 Would have been better if he didn’t have insecurities in this scene

    • @seragx99
      @seragx99 Рік тому

      ​@@heatherknopp3723while what your say is true it's a storyteller's job to choose how to reveal info so that the reveal serves the story, otherwise it's classical message over storytelling.

  • @Phelly2
    @Phelly2 Рік тому +4

    Part one of this series was my first exposure to your channel. Been learning from you ever since. You’re the best on UA-cam IMO, not to knock any of the others.
    Your content is a lot less needlessly verbose and easier to digest than the other channels. I also like how you break down your points visually (bullet points and such)
    So thanks for your help. I’ll have to buy one of your books at when I’m ready for a new read.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому

      Thank you so much for the kind words. Hope you enjoy Bad Parts or Entry Wounds!

  • @JDHutchison
    @JDHutchison Рік тому +6

    I love watching your videos on dialogue.
    I’d love to see a deeper dive into movies known for their good dialogue, like Pulp Fiction, or GlenGary GlenRoss.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +2

      Thank you! And I'll have to think about a "Good Dialogue vs Great Dialogue" type of video

    • @derekwood7329
      @derekwood7329 Рік тому

      @@WriterBrandonMcNulty pulp fiction is an interesting one because it's such a narratively unconventional movie. Like someone took a hacky writing seminar, took a look at the list of "things not to write in a good script," and then intentionally did every one of them.
      The good guy in one scene is the villain in another. chronologically out of order in a seemingly completely random way. disconnected plot threads that are left totally unresolved for no real reason. numerous story shifts mid-movie that totally interrupt the flow of the story. No real plot arc or character resolution of any kind.
      And yet... somehow it just works. In my opinion it is an action movie that is carried exclusively by dialogue (and, frequently, monologues). Its a weird and wild masterpiece that lives 6 inches away from being a boring forgettable flop.

  • @SouthoftheHill
    @SouthoftheHill 5 місяців тому

    This is my greatest challenge so far into my journey of writing my novel. Trying to maintain consistency of dialogue with a specific personality has proven itself to be quite a challenge. Thank you for this video, by the way!

  • @deckardcanine
    @deckardcanine Рік тому +10

    The Penguin and Catwoman in "Batman Returns" also had good villain dialog going.

  • @capnstewy55
    @capnstewy55 Рік тому +15

    As a Mark I disagree. "Oh Hi Mark" is cinema gold.

  • @davidbeveridgejr7089
    @davidbeveridgejr7089 Рік тому +5

    Characters that yell "NO!"

  • @onzo6820
    @onzo6820 Рік тому +5

    These videos are extremely interesting and informative! Never thought there'd be a moment in my life where I'd feel inspired to start writing a scene :D

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +2

      That's awesome! Hope you give it a shot. If you're serious about writing scenes, here's a video I did on scene structure: ua-cam.com/video/012OMrKp85M/v-deo.html

    • @onzo6820
      @onzo6820 Рік тому

      Thank you!

  • @storybookstone7318
    @storybookstone7318 Рік тому +2

    Ik it's about dialogue but that scene with the joker having the gun to his head is so well done, not only for the dialogue, but also the fact that the joker was holding the hammer on the pistol so that even if Harvey decided to pull the trigger, he'd be able to stop it from firing, giving him the illusion of free will

  • @domonkosalmasi2533
    @domonkosalmasi2533 5 місяців тому

    Unnfortunately youtube and the internet is full of bad or just broad advice for writers and directors, but this video is absolutely a must watch for people who want to get better in either. Very well structured, with great examples and clear explonation.

  • @churchofmarcus
    @churchofmarcus Рік тому +7

    I actually liked Rose's line from Th Last Jedi, but you're right. She should have yelled it. We all would have in the same situation.

    • @origamikiddo2625
      @origamikiddo2625 Рік тому +1

      That's the thought I had, her telling it back at him would have been great.. Maybe she could have gotten quiet when she said saving what we love like whoops I basically just confessed my feelings!

    • @mathiasrryba
      @mathiasrryba Рік тому +1

      I would completely change what she says. She should've been hysterical and crying about how she can't lose Finn the same way she lost her sister. Implicitly confess her feelings and show them.

    • @benjaminroe311ify
      @benjaminroe311ify Рік тому

      @@mathiasrryba YEP....

  • @ihavespoken9871
    @ihavespoken9871 Рік тому +24

    I think a good example of using “humor” in an intense situation would be Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie. Leonardo, the protagonist, often jokes around in intense situations, but those “jokes” are just him trying to hide his anxieties. He jokes because he wants to look confident and capable to his brothers, when deep down inside he feels insecure and worthless. You can see that whenever Leo is in a battle by himself, where he’s more sincere, compared to when he’s not alone and feels the need to prove himself. So yeah, most of those jokes lighten the tone, but they have a deeper meaning that feels natural for that character.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +9

      Haven't seen that one, but it kinda reminds me of how John McClane talks to himself during intense situations during the Die Hard movies

  • @itaintEZbeingCHEEZY
    @itaintEZbeingCHEEZY Рік тому +5

    I think sometimes bad dialogue works. Like the the example of Batman forever. That whole movie is kinda cheezy lol and that's why it works to me. But, I love your video. I am currenlty working on my novel and I am putting alot of effort into my dialogue to make it real, and impactful. :) Thank you for you video!

  • @TheShmekler
    @TheShmekler Рік тому +1

    Everything I know is explained eloquently, and the things I don't are easily ingested. I love your videos! Thank you so much.

  • @wolfyplaysmc8933
    @wolfyplaysmc8933 Рік тому +1

    Sold entry wounds with just that synopsis. Glad to have found your channel, keep on keepin on 🤝

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +1

      Awesome, thank you for checking out Entry Wounds! Please leave an Amazon review when you finish--those help a ton

  • @iggtastic
    @iggtastic Рік тому +7

    One of my favorite "jarring change of subject" scenes played for comedic effect is in season 8 of Friends. In the episode The Rumor, with Brad Pitt guest starring, Brad's character makes a self-deprecating comment about how he and Ross were so lame back in high school, how into dinosaurs they were. Ross awkwardly laughs. Then Brad asks Ross (Ross the paleontologist who is still super into dinosaurs) what he's doing for work these days and Ross replies cheerfully, "so how long are you in town?"

  • @adamcrnkovich1041
    @adamcrnkovich1041 Рік тому +8

    Not a dialogue thing, at least per se, but a good vs. bad for plot twists being earned/properly in line with character/story should be explored if it hasn’t already.

    • @WriterBrandonMcNulty
      @WriterBrandonMcNulty  Рік тому +1

      Good idea. I'll add it to my request list. Hoping to do more Good/Bad in the future

  • @_.etherealcloudzz._
    @_.etherealcloudzz._ Рік тому +6

    I’m so grateful that you are helping everyone!Thank you for your wonderful advice!

  • @kaveiros75
    @kaveiros75 6 місяців тому

    The fact that you analyze "The Room" (even as a "bad example") surpasses me.