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PuxyYunm · 05-13-2011, 06:36 PM

Formula plots can be sneered at and despised, but they have been successful enough to survive, both in good literature and in real crap.

The one that pops into my mind first is the classic:

1. Boy meets girl

2a. They fall in love or
2b. They can't stand each other, then they fall in love

3. Something goes wrong in the relationship

4. One or both become enlightened and they live happily ever after, or at least until the sequel.

I've gotten into trouble, perhaps correctly, by looking at the elapsed time on a DVD and commenting, "Well, everything's about to go to hell for them", just before it does.

"If you've seen the movie, you should keep your yap shut!" is the usual rejoinder, often delivered at high volume.

"I haven't. It's just that time in the formula."

OK, I should have kept quiet, but I'd bet a stack of copyright-free (hey, that's NOT the topic) e-books that this group can make a heck of a good list of classic formulae (or "formulas" if you must).

One more, from my favorite Chinese martial arts movies:

1. Evil martial arts master destroys young boy's (or girl's!) family or training school, killing everyone but our hero-to-be.

2. Hero(ine) finds another martial arts master to train with. This usually includes a training montage anywhere from funny to interesting to appalling.

3. Hero(ine) finds and pounds evil master from step 1.

How about some more?

05-13-2011, 06:36 PM	#1
PuxyYunm Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Sony 650	Formula Plots Formula plots can be sneered at and despised, but they have been successful enough to survive, both in good literature and in real crap. The one that pops into my mind first is the classic: 1. Boy meets girl 2a. They fall in love or 2b. They can't stand each other, then they fall in love 3. Something goes wrong in the relationship 4. One or both become enlightened and they live happily ever after, or at least until the sequel. I've gotten into trouble, perhaps correctly, by looking at the elapsed time on a DVD and commenting, "Well, everything's about to go to hell for them", just before it does. "If you've seen the movie, you should keep your yap shut!" is the usual rejoinder, often delivered at high volume. "I haven't. It's just that time in the formula." OK, I should have kept quiet, but I'd bet a stack of copyright-free (hey, that's NOT the topic) e-books that this group can make a heck of a good list of classic formulae (or "formulas" if you must). One more, from my favorite Chinese martial arts movies: 1. Evil martial arts master destroys young boy's (or girl's!) family or training school, killing everyone but our hero-to-be. 2. Hero(ine) finds another martial arts master to train with. This usually includes a training montage anywhere from funny to interesting to appalling. 3. Hero(ine) finds and pounds evil master from step 1. How about some more?