MediaCollege.com describes “suspension of disbelief.”
- In the world of fiction you are often required to believe a premise which you would never accept in the real world. Especially in genres such as fantasy and science fiction, things happen in the story which you would not believe if they were presented in a newspaper as fact. Even in more real-world genres such as action movies, the action routinely goes beyond the boundaries of what you think could really happen.
In order to enjoy such stories, the audience engages in a phenomenon known as “suspension of disbelief”. This is a semi-conscious decision in which you put aside your disbelief and accept the premise as being real for the duration of the story.
Suspension of disbelief only works to a point. It is important that the story maintains its own form of believability and doesn’t push the limits too far.
Maybe it’s just that I’m twenty year older (and more critical) since Indy’s Last Crusade, but film four seemed to “push the limits too far” for me.
What did you think?
Tom Slaughter said:
Jim:
I have not seen the movie yet, but I probably will this week. As you I for sure feel much older than the 20 years since the last one, so I will probably be viewing it a little differnt this time. Will be interesting. Went to see Narnia II with my 8 year old granddaughter yesterday and we all liked it.