The Skeyword of Screenwriting Failures: A Critical Examination of '2012' and 'Fifty Shades Trilogy'

When it comes to assessing the quality of big budget blockbuster films, two names certainly stand out as cases of script failure: ldquo;2012rdquo; and the Fifty Shades trilogy. These films showcase scripts that are so poorly written, they are almost comical in their ineptitude.

The Devastating Script of ldquo;2012rdquo;: A Throwback to the Worst Moments in Film History

Released in 2012, Roland Emmerich's 2012 has become a notorious reference point for exceptionally poorly written screenplays. From the clunky dialogue to the cliched plot twists, this film is truly a spectacle of cinematic misfortune. As one critic aptly described it, it is ldquo;a throwback tribute to the shitty Irwin Allen all-star disaster epics of the 70s and 80s…that is somehow WORSE.rdquo; (CEGER, 2022).

The Characters: A Mixture of Apathy and Hyperbole

The characters in 2012 are a collection of superficially built individuals, each lacking depth and integrity. John Cusack, in a painstaking attempt to maintain a straight face, fails to find any genuine emotional resonance in his role as a middle-aged divorcee trying to save his family. Woody Harrelson, on the other hand, might be the only character who seems to enjoy the absurdity of the situation. The rest of the characters are just as hilariously one-dimensional, tumbling like earthquake victims into one ridiculous scenario after another.

The script itself is a chaotic mix of poor character development and plot contrivance. The story revolves around an elderly man having fun on a cruise, a young woman trying to maintain dignity, and a man in the woods who somehow senses the impending doom. Each character's arc is shallow and predictable, making the film a tedious watch for any discerning audience.

The Terrible Finale

The finale of 2012 stands out as an almost unintentional work of Art. It is soiled with such absurdity that it almost makes one want to watch the entire movie to see how it unfolds. The production values, however, cannot redeem the screenplay. The special effects are top-notch, but they cannot mask the shoddily constructed plot and characters. Overall, the film is a testament to the catastrophic consequences of a poorly written script.

The Notorious Fifty Shades Trilogy: Fan Fiction Gone Wrong

The Fifty Shades trilogy is another prime example of a script so poorly written, it should be examined in the annals of cinematic history. Based on E.L. James' fan fiction novel, the trilogy attempts to transplant the BDSM-based narrative into a blockbuster film format. However, the transposition fails miserably, and the trilogy is widely regarded as the epitome of bad screenwriting in recent memory.

The Lack of Subtlety in Execution

The book itself is notorious for being badly-written fan fiction. It is a fantasy of a woman being wooed by an attractive billionaire who is mentally broken, and she must fix him with occasional domination. The film and book's portrayal of BDSM is more of a glamorized affair that many of the fanbase find gross. The Fifty Shades trilogy suffers from a lack of subtlety, with characters acting in ways that feel inauthentic and forced.

The Trilogy: A Saga of Failure

Following the first film, which can be excused for poor writing due to it being the first of its kind in mainstream cinema, the subsequent films were a continuous descent into mediocrity. The second and third films are marked by a complete lack of effort in scriptwriting. It is as if the writers were laughing at the absurdity of the situation, with each line dripping with self-aware badness. The dialogue, in particular, is several levels worse than in the first film.

Notable Examples of Script Failure in the Trilogy

One of the most egregious examples is a conversation between Ana and Hannah:

Hannah: Maybe now would be a good time to go over what you expect of me.
Ana: I expect you to call me Ana. I dont expect you to fetch me coffee unless youre getting some for yourself. And the rest well just make up as we go.

Such exchanges are sprinkled throughout the films, serving as a testament to the poor writing and lack of authenticity. To experience the hilarity of this movie franchise, one must only watch the Everything Wrong With series on YouTube, which provides a detailed breakdown of the many failures of the screenplay.

In conclusion, both 2012 and the Fifty Shades trilogy serve as cautionary tales of the catastrophic consequences of poorly written scripts. These films stand out not only for their failure to engage the audience but also for the sheer audacity of attempting to remake fan fiction and fantasy into a blockbuster format. The lessons from these failures can perhaps serve as a beacon for future screenplay writers to avoid the pitfalls of superficial character development and contrived plotlines.