Some movies and novels are richer than they initially appear. When the story starts in the middle and you're thrown in without any context and thirty characters are introduced all at once, and you have no idea what's happening, don't despair. There's a chance that the writer has grand ambitions and has got you absorbed in a complex multi-layered narrative (although it could just be a sign of bad writing). Hopefully, further into the story, you'll gradually piece together what's happening. And by the end, you'll think you've understood what's happened. But wait, there's a bonus for you. If you know watch the movies again, or read the book again, with knowing eyes, you'll pick up so many additional textures that you missed the first time round. I love it when this happens. It means I can read a book through twice for twice the fun, or I can watch the same film twice, and experience it differently each time. And I'll end up with a richer experience.
Here are some wonderful examples I've experienced in the last year:
Cabin in the Woods - the twist in this film changes your perception of everything you've seen up to that point
Oblivion - as above, the twist changes everything
Gardens of the Moon - 100 characters are introduced in a hurry and there are no obvious heroes or villains in this beautifully written first book in the series of ten by Steven Erikson.
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