I’m so annoyed with this guy that I don’t know where to start…
Johnny Messner, who stars in the upcoming sequel Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, stated in a recent interview that viewers shouldn’t let facts get in the way of a good story. In the follow-up to 1997’s Anaconda (which I have never seen and have no intention of ever seeing), Messner stars as a hired gun who escorts a group of scientists through dangerous waters in Borneo in search of a life-extending orchid, only to come under siege from giant anacondas.
Even though there are no anacondas of any kind in Borneo.
|
|
Here’s the statement that really tripped my trigger:
“For me [emphasis added], it always matters,” Messner said in an interview. “[But] there are always those guys on the Internet, [writing] ‘This is bulls–t. Look at that guy. He had more scruff at the f–king beginning of the movie than he does now.’”
First of all: Nice mouth, Johnny. Second: So for you it matters, but for the rest of us simple movie viewers, we should should just roll with it? Do I have that right?
Messner (who has been in such recent gems as The Whole Ten YardsOperation Delta Force 4: Deep Fault ) added, “It’s not about the fact that snakes are in Borneo or China or America. If you’re still thinking about that, then you’re not involved in the movie. That’s my whole philosophy. If you’re thinking, ‘Hold on, there are no snakes in Borneo. ?’ I don’t care what snakes are f–king in Borneo [or if] there are any snakes in Borneo. Who cares? The point is, it says ‘Borneo’ in the movie. After that, it’s irrelevant.
I’m sorry Johnny, but it’s not irrelevant. Blatant errors like the fact that there are no Anacondas in Antarctica or that you start a movie with three days growth of beard and are clean shaven at the end when you had no razor are EXACTLY the types of things that take me OUT of a movie.
“That to me means nothing, because they’re trying to make a movie about this group of people that are trying to find the Fountain of Youth,” Messner said. “So it doesn’t matter where they go. So there are snakes here, snakes there, whatever. As soon as you start thinking about that, then the movie’s over. You know what I mean? That’s it, if you start pinpointing everything in the movie. This is not The English Patient, all right? That’s not what it’s about. What is it? Grab some popcorn, enjoy yourself. That’s all it is.”
Aargh! Of course it matters! Do you want to take the audience for a ride or do you want them to laugh at how stupid your movie is and make it a candidate for MST3K? No, it’s not The English Patient, but neither will it be Raiders of the Lost Ark which will be watched and enjoyed for decades. Complete ignorance of attention to detail is what causes movies to be gone from theaters within 4 weeks and rarely seen again.
Unfortunately, his opinion seems to be prevalent in the studio system and is the reason there is so much crap being unleashed upon the public. Sure, lot’s of bad movies make money, but there’s no accounting for the taste of a 14 year old. The movies that go on to make BIG bucks are the ones that do not follow “Johnny Messner’s Rules of Filmmaking”.
Source: Sci Fi Wire
If you are new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thank you for visiting and we look forward to reading your comments!
Want to ask us a question? Contact us directly.
Sign up for our Feed!
16 Comments
The guy talks like Colin Farrell, but he doesn’t have a career path to match. This movie will be lucky to turn a profit; I’m guessing it was made on a shoestring budget in anticipation of that. For whatever reason, it seems like every time actors open their mouths, they try to stick their feet in them.
I must agree on the concept of inconsistencies being a distraction. An extreme example of this would be Plan 9 from Outer Space. It’s not a great storyline in the first place, but I was so busy pointing out inconsistencies in the story and the camera work that I really couldn’t remember much about the plot after the movie was over. In contrast, Kubrick was held in very high regard because he was (among other things) a stickler for details and consistency.
Brian
“Seismic Charges” used in outer space in ‘Attack of the Clones’. The accompanying sound effect killed it for me.
Don’t forget the footprints on the Moon in Independence Day.
It is tough to take a movie serious that insults the intelligence of the viewer. But no snakes in Borneo? I really didn’t know that. But now that I do, it is kind of stupid. A movie like that will likely attract the snake-fans to the cinema, but inconsistencies will turn them away. Kind of like weather-nerds and ‘Twister’.
Ya know… I wasn’t aware of the Borneo thing either, it was the guy’s attitude that really torqued me. He basically stated that it could have been snakes on the moon, but so what? We should just accept it… not that he would go see a movie like that.
Vic
I LOVED the movie! Johnny Messner did such a great job in it! I don’t care wat all the big “movie criticts” say about the movie I liked it and so did all the other people I’ve talked to.
What the hell are you critacising about you have’nt seen the movie wet so shut up and before cretasising wach the movie first
Plus I’m a real fan of Johnny Messner what ever vrap you say about him I still think he is awsome acter
sorry about my english I’m french ok but that’s my opinion
Kassey, you are entitled to your opinion, just like I am entitled to mine. Notice how I leave your comment intact and do not tell you to “shut up”.
I don’t have to see the movie. The things that he so casually dismisses are important, at least to intelligent movie viewers.
Vic
I liked the movie Anaconda hunt for the blood orchid. It was better than the first. Johnny Messner played really good in it. I watched that movie so much I know it by heart. He played really good in that movie. I really don’t care if there really are no snakes in Borneo, it is just a f**king movie. DAMN. I personally don’t care what people think of the movie, I liked the movie and noone can say otherwise!!!!! HA.
Ya know what the guy is hott and a good actor I really don’t care about his opinion. Does it really matter? Seriously now? Like someone once said “who really wants to hear actors talk?”. We don’t care about their opinions we don’t pay to see their movies to hear their opinions about it afterward. See a movie, make your own judgement about it, and care less about what they think. Plus he usually is right, Vin diesel is a one-note actor.
Vic, don’t worry about Kassey. She has an excuse she is french.
LET JOHNNY HAVE IS OWN VIEW. I MEAN HE IS AN ACTOR AND MOST OF US WHO ARE COMMENTING ARE NOT. THE MAN HAS HIS RIGHT TO THINK THAT WAY. SO LET HIM DO IT.
I think Johnny did a great job in the movie. So what there are no snakes in Borneo. I didn’t know that. The movie wasn’t only about snakes. It was about greed, deceit, allegiance.
I guess no one stopped to think that maybe Johnny was defending the writer of this screenplay. He shouldn’t be penalized for taking on that role. He did a great job with what he was given to work with. Why is it that the actor always gets ripped apart and not the writer? And, not for anything, I know I’d defend the writer of the movie as long as I knew I was getting a paycheck.
So you’ve been to Borneo then have you and you know for certain there are absolutly no snakes? Don’t be stupid man…is a MOVIE..its make believe, fantasy, Johnny Messner is right, he’s not looking for an oscar or anything, its a fun movie, quit nip picking!
You have noticed the name of the site, right? Screen RANT?
Just wonderin’
Vic
Way to go Vic, keep ‘em coming.
Personally, I think Johnny Messner is a fantastic artist. I can see where the inconsistency is disturbing to some, but I am also looking at this from Johnny’s point of view. He is saying that you should not look at the fact that there are no snakes in Borneo, because it was not made to be a true story. It is fiction. One may also point out there is no fountain of youth in Borneo. Still, the movie goes on, and I for one enjoyed it. Yes, Vic, I have noticed the name of this website. I believe everyone else has, too. Hence the ranting in response to your rant.
Vic