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  • #16
    One thing that JMS has with his dialogue, that sometimes can be annoying, is that he reuses it a lot. For example, how many times have we heard the phrase "He didn't listen. He never listens."

    Mostly however, that was used with great dramatic effect. For example, it was great to sees Londo's token phrase, so to speak, (which is responding a why-question with "Because your my friend, because of your loyalty to your country, and because I'll fuck you up if you don't do it") used against him by Morden.

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    • #17
      One thing that JMS has with his dialogue, that sometimes can be annoying, is that he reuses it a lot. For example, how many times have we heard the phrase "He didn't listen. He never listens."
      That isn't being lazy, or uncreative: it's what's known as a "leitmotif." Like in an opera, when one character has a recurring theme that helps you to recognize it's their scene, or moment, or song. In this case, rather than it being used to identify a particular character, it's more to stress certain recurring ideas in the series. There are some lines that you hear over and over through the series, to great effect, IMHO. The one you quote is one such. Another is Delenn's bit about "there are beings in the universe, billions of years older than our races..." I think that we hear characters say something about not wanting to live forever more than once, too.

      Any others? Anyone? Jan?

      Bueller?

      Amy (the artist formerly known as Aisling)

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      • #18
        Well, there is Garibaldi's "Ah, nuts!" This shows the recurring theme of his testicular obsession. The form is known as nadsmotif.
        Recently, there was a reckoning. It occurred on November 4, 2014 across the United States. Voters, recognizing the failures of the current leadership and fearing their unchecked abuses of power, elected another party as the new majority. This is a first step toward preventing more damage and undoing some of the damage already done. Hopefully, this is as much as will be required.

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        • #19
          Most of the people I've heard (or read) complaining about JMS dialogues seemed to be suffering from Short Attention Span Disorder.

          They couldn't seem to comprehend any sentence that ran over 5 words.
          Or any word with more than 3 syllables.

          SoundByte Itis.

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          • #20
            Well, there is Garibaldi's "Ah, nuts!" This shows the recurring theme of his testicular obsession. The form is known as nadsmotif.
            You forgot to code that properly. You're missing the <rimshot> tag.

            Hee.

            Amy (the artist formerly known as Aisling)

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            • #21
              "We will met again, in a place where the shadows do not fall" was also used beautifully in several episodes. In some ways, the leitmotif of the show.
              I believe that when we leave a place, part of it goes with us and part of us remains. Go anywhere in the station, when it is quiet, and just listen. After a while, you will hear the echoes of all our conversations, every thought and word we've exchanged. Long after we are gone .. our voices will linger in these walls for as long as this place remains. But I will admit .. that the part of me that is going .. will very much miss the part of you that is staying.

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              • #22
                The best dialogue in the whole five years, though, was probably Delenn's briefing of G'Kar as to what the Army of Light was about, and why they had to let Narn be destroyed, in Episode of... er, Ship of Tears, ending in

                "Someday, I hope you will forgive me."

                "Perhaps," is G'kar's honest answer, "but not today."
                I believe that when we leave a place, part of it goes with us and part of us remains. Go anywhere in the station, when it is quiet, and just listen. After a while, you will hear the echoes of all our conversations, every thought and word we've exchanged. Long after we are gone .. our voices will linger in these walls for as long as this place remains. But I will admit .. that the part of me that is going .. will very much miss the part of you that is staying.

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                • #23
                  Originally posted by Amy
                  That isn't being lazy, or uncreative: it's what's known as a "leitmotif." Like in an opera, when one character has a recurring theme that helps you to recognize it's their scene, or moment, or song. In this case, rather than it being used to identify a particular character, it's more to stress certain recurring ideas in the series. There are some lines that you hear over and over through the series, to great effect, IMHO. The one you quote is one such. Another is Delenn's bit about "there are beings in the universe, billions of years older than our races..." I think that we hear characters say something about not wanting to live forever more than once, too.

                  Any others? Anyone? Jan?
                  Variations on sayings about power and choices.

                  Several times it's remarked that actions and choices have consequences.

                  Don't forget that there's often a 'terrible price' to some things.

                  All life is precious.

                  Many others, I'm sure.

                  Jan
                  "As empathy spreads, civilization spreads. As empathy contracts, civilization contracts...as we're seeing now.

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                  • #24
                    They did the "moments are all we have" thing at least twice.
                    Recently, there was a reckoning. It occurred on November 4, 2014 across the United States. Voters, recognizing the failures of the current leadership and fearing their unchecked abuses of power, elected another party as the new majority. This is a first step toward preventing more damage and undoing some of the damage already done. Hopefully, this is as much as will be required.

                    Comment

                    • #25
                      Originally posted by grumbler
                      The best dialogue in the whole five years, though, was probably Delenn's briefing of G'Kar as to what the Army of Light was about, and why they had to let Narn be destroyed, in Episode of... er, Ship of Tears, ending in

                      "Someday, I hope you will forgive me."

                      "Perhaps," is G'kar's honest answer, "but not today."
                      Too true! Also, because of having just watched again recently, was the closing piece between Elric the Technomage and Londo (has that already been mentioned? Oops, hope not!). Such a simple word game on Joe's part for Londo to be all built up with expectation, only to be torn down by the final four words...

                      "...My followers?"

                      "Your victims!"

                      Simple but brilliant,
                      http://www.lddb.com/collection.php?a...er=dgtwoodward
                      Yes, I still collect Laserdiscs!!
                      47" Phillips 1080p 46" Samsung 1080p Toshiba HD-30E (2 both Multi Region) PS3-80G 120G BR Multi-Region Maidstone MD-BR-2102 Sky-HD Freesat-HD Pioneer DVL-909 CLD-D925 CLD-2950 (AC3) CLD-D515 CLD S315 Yamaha ADP-1 Meridian 519 Pioneer 609 (DD/DTS) x 2 Speakers & subs Jammo M/S Pioneer Technics Sony Eltax Akai Aiwa

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                      • #26
                        Originally posted by Jan
                        Variations on sayings about power and choices.

                        Several times it's remarked that actions and choices have consequences.

                        Don't forget that there's often a 'terrible price' to some things.

                        All life is precious.

                        Many others, I'm sure.

                        Jan
                        It may be true that these appear an awful lot but then I don't really have a problem with them. As a person who has some (little) experience of speaking in public I can understand why JSM does it. From this writing/speaking experience I (as many others can, I know) recognise that these are the main themes of the the show. As such, there should not be too many of them so as to not confuse, and they should reappear throughout the piece to act as a symbolic 'thread', stitching all the individual pieces together. He does it very well too.

                        http://www.lddb.com/collection.php?a...er=dgtwoodward
                        Yes, I still collect Laserdiscs!!
                        47" Phillips 1080p 46" Samsung 1080p Toshiba HD-30E (2 both Multi Region) PS3-80G 120G BR Multi-Region Maidstone MD-BR-2102 Sky-HD Freesat-HD Pioneer DVL-909 CLD-D925 CLD-2950 (AC3) CLD-D515 CLD S315 Yamaha ADP-1 Meridian 519 Pioneer 609 (DD/DTS) x 2 Speakers & subs Jammo M/S Pioneer Technics Sony Eltax Akai Aiwa

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                        • #27
                          And how many people do you know who actually use specific phrases and words again and again in real life? I think we all do that so it's logical to write dialogue like that. Of course this doesn't apply to different persons saying the same thing, although there are always sayings and words that are in fashion at a given moment.

                          It really doesn't bother me one bit...
                          "En wat als tijd de helft van echtheid was, was alles dan dubbelsnel verbaal?"

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                          • #28
                            Originally posted by AislingGrey
                            That isn't being lazy, or uncreative:
                            Have I suggested that?

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                            • #29
                              Alas, my Lady Ivanova has the best line.

                              "Who am I? I'm Susan Ivanova, Commander, daughter of Andrei and Sofie Ivanov. I am the right hand of vengeance, and the boot that is gonna kick your sorry ass all the way back to Earth, sweetheart. I'm death incarnate and the last living thing that you're ever going to see. God sent me."
                              -- Ivanova in "Between the Darkness and the Light"


                              I fell in love with her all over again with that one.
                              "Ivanova is God!"

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                              • #30
                                The best dialogue in the whole five years, though, was probably Delenn's briefing of G'Kar as to what the Army of Light was about, and why they had to let Narn be destroyed, in Episode of... er, Ship of Tears,
                                Yeah, that's one of my favorite moments in the whole series.

                                Amy (the artist formerly known as Aisling)

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