TDKR cinematographer, Wally Pfister Says, 'The Avengers' Is "Appalling"
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TDKR cinematographer, Wally Pfister Says, 'The Avengers' Is "Appalling"
There are certain corners of the internet (or IMDB message boards) -- ones we usually dare not venture to -- where nerds battle it out over which comic book movie this summer was better: Joss Whedon's record breaking "The Avengers" or Christopher Nolan's epic finale "The Dark Knight Rises." And now, Nolan's regular director of photography, Wally Pfister, has thrown another provocative statement into the ring with his own unbridled assessment of the smash-hit Marvel movie.
Sitting down the Sarasota Herald Tribune, he was asked about what the most important element was when shooting a movie. "What’s really important is storytelling. None of it matters if it doesn’t support the story," he said. "I thought 'The Avengers' was an appalling film. They’d shoot from some odd angle and I’d think, why is the camera there? Oh, I see, because they spent half a million on the set and they have to show it off. It took me completely out of the movie. I was driven bonkers by that illogical form of storytelling."
Oh, burn. We suppose Seamus McGarvey ("We Need To Talk About Kevin," "Anna Karenina"), the very accomplished, Oscar-nominated cinematographer on "The Avengers," won't be exchanging holiday greetings with Pfister. But when he wasn't taking down the biggest movie of the year, Pfister teased what we might expect from his directorial debut. The hush-hush movie is being produced by his buddy Nolan and his wife Emma Thomas, and of course, details have been kept strictly under wraps. "It’s a present-day science fiction film, a fairly big concept. It’s bigger budget — not as big as 'Batman,' but not independent," he offered about the untitled film that will shoot early next year.
Finally, what's the movie that was his favorite to shoot? "I think probably the most artistically fulfilling was 'The Prestige.' It was fun to shoot a period piece, to create a world," he said. "But I also enjoyed the scope of 'Inception.' I was able to capture things the way I saw them in my head and I felt like I’d matured as a cinematographer. Of the Batman films I liked my work best in the last one, of course, because anything I felt I’d done wrong on each one, I’d right on the next one."
Sitting down the Sarasota Herald Tribune, he was asked about what the most important element was when shooting a movie. "What’s really important is storytelling. None of it matters if it doesn’t support the story," he said. "I thought 'The Avengers' was an appalling film. They’d shoot from some odd angle and I’d think, why is the camera there? Oh, I see, because they spent half a million on the set and they have to show it off. It took me completely out of the movie. I was driven bonkers by that illogical form of storytelling."
Oh, burn. We suppose Seamus McGarvey ("We Need To Talk About Kevin," "Anna Karenina"), the very accomplished, Oscar-nominated cinematographer on "The Avengers," won't be exchanging holiday greetings with Pfister. But when he wasn't taking down the biggest movie of the year, Pfister teased what we might expect from his directorial debut. The hush-hush movie is being produced by his buddy Nolan and his wife Emma Thomas, and of course, details have been kept strictly under wraps. "It’s a present-day science fiction film, a fairly big concept. It’s bigger budget — not as big as 'Batman,' but not independent," he offered about the untitled film that will shoot early next year.
Finally, what's the movie that was his favorite to shoot? "I think probably the most artistically fulfilling was 'The Prestige.' It was fun to shoot a period piece, to create a world," he said. "But I also enjoyed the scope of 'Inception.' I was able to capture things the way I saw them in my head and I felt like I’d matured as a cinematographer. Of the Batman films I liked my work best in the last one, of course, because anything I felt I’d done wrong on each one, I’d right on the next one."
#3
Re: The Dark Knight Rises cinematohrapher, Wally Pfister Says, 'The Avengers' Is "App
Read about this earlier. They're both in the ASC, so this might lead to some awkward times in the clubhouse.
#5
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Re: The Dark Knight Rises cinematohrapher, Wally Pfister Says, 'The Avengers' Is "App
I wouldn't call the photography of The Avengers appalling. Bland, yes, but not appalling.
But it really doesn't matter since, even though Whedon still needs to grow as a visualist (directors can adversly affect the work of the DP), The Avengers was far more entertaining than The Dark Knight Rises. And I say that as a huge Batman fan.
But it really doesn't matter since, even though Whedon still needs to grow as a visualist (directors can adversly affect the work of the DP), The Avengers was far more entertaining than The Dark Knight Rises. And I say that as a huge Batman fan.
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Re: The Dark Knight Rises cinematohrapher, Wally Pfister Says, 'The Avengers' Is "App
I would say that TDKR was much better shot than The Avengers. Easily. He's right on that.
But Avengers was a better movie. By a scratch.
But Avengers was a better movie. By a scratch.
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Re: The Dark Knight Rises cinematohrapher, Wally Pfister Says, 'The Avengers' Is "App
In response, Seamus McGarvey said the The Dark Knight Rises was horrib
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Re: The Dark Knight Rises cinematohrapher, Wally Pfister Says, 'The Avengers' Is "App
The Avengers was pretty poorly shot for such a high profile movie, so he has a point, but it sort of went with the movie's bubblegum aesthetic. I will say it didn't look as bad as the trailers made it look, though.
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Re: The Dark Knight Rises cinematohrapher, Wally Pfister Says, 'The Avengers' Is "App
The shots look like it was composed as a made for TV production. I believe we had a long discussion about this when the trailers first came out.
#12
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Re: The Dark Knight Rises cinematohrapher, Wally Pfister Says, 'The Avengers' Is "App
he obviously missed the worst shot movie of the year Step Up Revolution - that had dozens of "wtf?" camera angles/shots.
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Re: The Dark Knight Rises cinematohrapher, Wally Pfister Says, 'The Avengers' Is "App
That movie was so frustrating. You have a beautifully choreographed dance number and instead you show me dozens of shots of people watching the dancing?
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Re: The Dark Knight Rises cinematohrapher, Wally Pfister Says, 'The Avengers' Is "App
Talk about peer criticism at its finest. When I was watching Avengers and TDKR, I never wondered why the angle was set a certain way. I didn't care, though I will say I do think TDKR had better cinematography. Avengers was appropriate for the fast paced action-flick it was.
EDIT: On the other hand, the one for Avengers knew to make sure ScarJo's ass was front and center whenever possible, can't say the same for TDKR and Hathaway's.
EDIT: On the other hand, the one for Avengers knew to make sure ScarJo's ass was front and center whenever possible, can't say the same for TDKR and Hathaway's.
Last edited by Dr. DVD; 10-18-12 at 10:06 AM.
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Re: The Dark Knight Rises cinematohrapher, Wally Pfister Says, 'The Avengers' Is "App
This is the kind of stuff I don't necessarily notice because I'm not an Oscar-winning cinematographer. I'm sure any other professional in the industry would nitpick niggling details the majority of us gloss right over.
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Re: The Dark Knight Rises cinematohrapher, Wally Pfister Says, 'The Avengers' Is "App
....I read about this eariler as well. I don't get it. The Avengers is shot fine. TDKR's is superior though. But....I don't see any weird ass camera angles for no reason. Everything made sense. It was simpler but it was fine. Now if they fix that color palette a bit and I guess go more cinematic w/ their shots..sure..it'd be better but it wasn't appalling.
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Re: The Dark Knight Rises cinematohrapher, Wally Pfister Says, 'The Avengers' Is "App
I don't know about that especially the first part where The Avengers stole the summer but whatever. That really has nothing to do with sour grapes as far as Pfister comments. His comments were about the way the movie was shot not about which movie was the event of the summer.
#20
Re: The Dark Knight Rises cinematohrapher, Wally Pfister Says, 'The Avengers' Is "App
How about competing super hero franchises?
Or the new boy has arrived on the playground?
Or, simply that one movie is slanted more for Obama's America and the other is slanted toward Romney's vision? Yes. That is what they're really bickering about.
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Re: The Dark Knight Rises cinematohrapher, Wally Pfister Says, 'The Avengers' Is "App
....I read about this eariler as well. I don't get it. The Avengers is shot fine. TDKR's is superior though. But....I don't see any weird ass camera angles for no reason. Everything made sense. It was simpler but it was fine. Now if they fix that color palette a bit and I guess go more cinematic w/ their shots..sure..it'd be better but it wasn't appalling.
Those are the only three instances that come to mind. Everything else was bland rather than horrible. Competently shot but bland nonetheless.
#22
Re: The Dark Knight Rises cinematohrapher, Wally Pfister Says, 'The Avengers' Is "App
I don't know about that especially the first part where The Avengers stole the summer but whatever. That really has nothing to do with sour grapes as far as Pfister comments. His comments were about the way the movie was shot not about which movie was the event of the summer.
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Re: The Dark Knight Rises cinematohrapher, Wally Pfister Says, 'The Avengers' Is "App
At least it wasn't shot as bad as the fight scenes in Batman Begins?
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Re: The Dark Knight Rises cinematohrapher, Wally Pfister Says, 'The Avengers' Is "App
#25
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Re: The Dark Knight Rises cinematohrapher, Wally Pfister Says, 'The Avengers' Is "App
Talk about peer criticism at its finest. When I was watching Avengers and TDKR, I never wondered why the angle was set a certain way. I didn't care, though I will say I do think TDKR had better cinematography. Avengers was appropriate for the fast paced action-flick it was.
EDIT: On the other hand, the one for Avengers knew to make sure ScarJo's ass was front and center whenever possible, can't say the same for TDKR and Hathaway's.
EDIT: On the other hand, the one for Avengers knew to make sure ScarJo's ass was front and center whenever possible, can't say the same for TDKR and Hathaway's.