How important is the script of a movie to you?

I can overlook a poor script if it’s a light fluff movie, but if it’s anything deeper than that a poor script ruins the movie for me.

The script is important to me to be sure, but I’ve seen movies that were entertaining in other ways. Prime example would be Tron: Legacy. While I really liked the movie, I felt the script was a little lacking, but it was still an enjoyable watch because it had likeable characters, good action, good special effects, and had a great soundtrack. However, if a movie is based on a deeper concept, having a bad script will generally kill it for me.

It’s like having sex without the groaning & dirty talk. Still worthwhile & satisfying, but there’s something not quite right. Not enough bang for your buck so to speak.

How important is the script? It’s the most important thing. Everything else—casting, direction, cinematography, scoring, editing, everything—flows from the script.

I saw “Transformers” just the other day, the second one. The effects were top shelf but the script was too corny and pretty much ignored it. I knew beforehand this movie was probably aimed at 12 year olds but the scrip really sucked, even for that genre.

@Austinlad Not entirely true, although I do take your point. Some classic ad libs from movie history include De Niro’s Taxi Driver “You talkin to me”? From Jack Nicholson in The Shining “Here’s Johnnnnny!” Then there’s Joe Pesci in Goodfellas the entire “Funny how, like a clown” scene was totally improvised by the little guy. Not forgetting Bogart’s immortal “Here’s lookin at you kid” again not scripted.

I’m with @Austinlad on this one. The script is the core from which everything else flows. For example, I hated the movie Avatar, because it had a lousy script that a child could have written. I knew from the opening scenes everything that was going to happen in the entire movie, and I actually got up and walked out. In discussing the plot with a friend, I later learned that my assumptions had been correct

The script is important, because it’s what the director bases his vision on. It’s what the actors look to for grounding their characters. It informs the cameramen about the shots that are going to draw out the subtleties of the themes. And it does so much more.

The script is more than dialog. It is the center of a great enterprise ultimately becoming a movie.

A script IMO is the movie. From the script everything else is born. No script, no movie. A lousy script with good direction, great actors and cinematography is all kinda a shame but you can still get an OK movie from that. Take the recent True Grit. Pretty predictable familiar western script….most of us know what is going to happen. But the new remake is visually a whole new fresh darn good movie. IMO very well put together by the Coen Brothers.

The story has to make sense and not just go “nowhere” or just simply end with no explanation or resolution, although it can be ok sometimes to have an ending where you’re not exactly sure of what happened (or what will happen). And I need the dialogue to be believable. So I’m guessing that those 2 things are part of the script. So yes, I need the script to be good.

Bad acting (like Keanu Reeves) can’t save good dialogue. And bad dialogue can’t save anything (example: Star Wars II Attack of the Clones).

Nope. Then again, I write screenplays, so I’m sensitive to screenplay suckitude. TO paraphrase Madonna, OK, you’ve got all this attention, now what are your trying to say? Even a comedy (actually, especially a comedy) should have something to say, a point to make, even if it’s not out front and center. I want to see a clear point of view and a coherent story and well-written characters.

I cannot stand movies that are all show and no substance. I married the guy who is happy to just see something blow up so I have seen an insane number of those. I’m done.

I love movies that tell a story that is gripping, engaging, thoughtful and, hopefully, surprising.

Script is everything.

@ucme, I certainly don’t disagree that some of moviedom’s most memorable lines were improvised. I know that from my TV commercial days. But there must first be a solid script to riff upon. It’s like in music—some of the world’s best rock and jazz musicians got their training in traditional and classical music.

What’s sad is that a good script matters next to nothing to a lot of people, so long as there’s a cool fight every now and then. That’s not to knock action movies, but I can’t stand cheesy lines unless they’re done on intention >.<

@Austinlad We don’t disagree.

no for me the script plays a very important role as the movie revolves around the script and it has to be interesting