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MacGuffins are ubiquitous in Hollywood blockbusters, and are often the root cause of overly simplistic storytelling. In this episode, I take a look at the pitfalls of using this narrative device, as well as 5 ways to make this trope more interesting, unique and effective.
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“Enjoy” Music by Joakim Karud
“Electric Mantis – Daybreak | Majestic Color”
Lol bringing up "Rosebud" in a conversation about MacGuffins is ridiculously off-base
Sometimes i worry about how good of a movie Infinity War can be? There is an obvious mcguffin in place. I also worry that Thanos is too familiar of a character to have the mystery that a good villian often needs. Not to mention that the movie makers have to juggle so many characters. I want it to be great but i feel like it will be a challenge.
That definition of MacGuffin is very different from the one I'd heard. According to TV Tropes, a MacGuffin is distinguishable from other plot devices primarily for the fact that the only reason it's important is because it's desired, and you can exchange it for literally any other object and the plot would remain the same.
So the One Ring isn't a MacGuffin, because it's important because it has a direct effect on the plot, totally outside of the fact that it's desired. It's not just an object that happens to be desired by a lot of people – it's an object that does something directly that affects the plot… specifically, it has a corrupting influence on the people who hold it. That makes it an Artifact of Doom, not a MacGuffin. The Tesseract is the same. In fact, most of your examples are not, strictly speaking, MacGuffins, because they're not interchangeable. The Philosopher's Stone was wanted (by Voldemort) for a specific reason (to reincarnate himself), for example, so you can't just exchange it with a magic snowflake or something and have the plot still work.
The Leftovers is amazing.
Holy shit. Private Ryan is an anti-MacGuffin
can i watch 1 fucking video where people don't bitch needlessly about the dceu?
This is reminding me of This is the End, where James Franco and Seth Rogen (playing themselves) are discussing possible ideas of making a sequel to their movie Pineapple Express. When slightly stoned Franco suggests his Pineapple Express character gets eaten, it seemed like a weird suggestion. But then, after the events in This is the End comes to pass, a situation presents itself where James Franco gets, well, eaten.
I love the jab at Rogue One despite the fact that it's the best of the new Star Wars movies. I guess I will take a MacGuffin over poor direction and storytelling.
Do these tips apply to narratives in games or will they differ slightly?
Will you review The Last Jedi? I'm really interested in what you thought of it (whether you liked it, loved it, or hated it)
Does the airplane in Spider-Man homecoming count as a macguffin
Great video. I really enjoyed Justice League, but you make good points.
Justice League was great, a 10 out of 10.
Gah! Watched the entire video waiting for your insightful commentary on the One Ring. In my opinion, it both follows and defies the MacGuffin formula because it IS just a super weapon that needs to be destroyed, but it also has influence over the characters' actions.
The monoliths in 2001: A Space Odyssey and the planet Solaris in Solaris are also two great examples of MacGuffins
If I had to give an example of a good MacGuffin, I'd have to say the $100k in cash in Psycho–totally forgotten by both characters and audience in the second act
The "Chicago Holiday" episode of Due South had a whole lot of fun with the McGuffin concept.
I'm sorry but Marvel has mcguffin syndrome. their whole franchise is based on the maguffin, Antman. Dr Strange. THE INFINITY STONES. But i guess it's easier to criticize DC
So this is essentially why the fifth element is such a great movie? The MacGuffin is both shrouded in mystery and a character which is relatable and likeable.
my favorite MacGuffin is the rug that really tied the room together, man!
I'm glad you mentioned the Pulp Fiction briefcase because that's the first example that came to mind for me.
While the MacGuffin of "Justice League" was a tad overplayed, it did make sense. Hell, it was an almost-mandatory continuation of the "Who Watches the Watchmen" theme started in "Dawn of Justice".
I mean, the core crux of the film is the retrieval of the three "Mother Boxes". They connect three different characters (Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Cyborg) to the plot. They are the items the villain requires for his conquest of the world. But their power, their energy, can be used to restore and enable life (seen in Superman's "frankenstein"-like revival) and better mankind (as seen with Cyborg's technological capabilities and ensured survival). They are tools, not unlike fire or electricity. And as with tools, while people can destroy with them others can just as easily create with them.
And this also carries with the heroes' powers: they could easily be villains, as Superman's momentary post-resurrection fight with the heroes shows. But instead they use their abilities to help others, and this makes them heroes. They are given chances to leave, to stop fighting, to give up. But when the threat shows itself they stand and fight for what is right, to what is noble. They dedicate their league to the pursuit of justice. Their powers are their tools, and they choose to use said tools to create hope.
And the posters show Superman being alive, so I don't think that actually counts as a "spoiler".
Very nice point
To summarize, there are three types of movies:
1) plot is "get the MacGuffin"
2) MacGuffin drives character development
3) don't use a MacGuffin
There is no better McGuffin than The One Ring. The way it influences characters, bringing out the worst in them, is unique.
Are you Canadian?
Rogue One was not boring…and much better than force awakens and last jedi
Its all about the rug dude!
I liked the video but if I may offer some feedback…it something felt a little off compared to your other videos. The editing was strange in some parts and you don't sound as enthusiastic. But anyway, still a good video and great explanation!
I always thought MacGuffin only applied to unexplained plot devices. The first one that always comes to mind is the Rabbit’s Foot in Mission Impossible 3. We know it’s big and serious but have no clue what it does. So I never thought of the One Ring in LotR as a MacGuffin. We know it turns the user invisible and corrupts those near it.