CydM at 2013-06-17 16:50:19:

Good thing I've seen this movie and loved it because I found it a difficult read. Lots of talkie, talkie and difficulty keeping the characters straight. Great storytelling on Verbal's part, but I wasn't getting a clear definition of character through the written dialogue with the other characters. The final scene was a bit limp as well. In the film the character sketch has more tension and threat. I kept thinking it must've been one heck of a pitch. Or maybe I was looking for the theme this time around, which seemed to be the issue of will -- who has the will to do what others won't. That doesn't come through as clearly in the film, which centers on sympathy for the devil. Lots of talk about archetypes when discussing screenplays but not iconic images. Page 4 is the first one, those flashlights in the dark. That was the first big visual moment I remember from E.T. and thought it was so cool. Now it gets used to death. There's also the image of a single man walking away from a wall of fire, used often without ever losing its impact, and the row of people walking, changed up a bit here to just the feet and not head on. @BobByrne...I watched a video of Tim Ferris & Neil Strauss the other day that gave voice to what I've thought for a very long time -- thought memes. Think it, write it, own it because it's out there waiting to get caught. Many writers are superstitious about "talking out" their stories, and this could be why. I sure have that superstition, and I don't like to think about something too long before getting it in some form of IP that can be published. That's not to say some stories aren't consciously based on other stories and not properly credited, but it is amazing how much our brains capture without us realizing we've ever heard it, then -- whammo -- we're struck with a idea out of the blue...of the storage tank we've got upstairs. Another monologue? How about the opening of Slingblade? The audience will hang on for a good story if the character is interesting enough.