When you have guys like Michael Bay and Stephen Sommers making movies, it makes you wonder if there are any moviegoers today who even care about a good story. However, amidst all the crazy special effects and extreme emphasis on CGI, there are a few filmmakers today who demonstrate genuine imagination in there work. Three in particular stand out to me: Christopher Nolan, J.J. Abrams, and Peter Jackson.
From Batman Begins to Inception, there hasn't been a Nolan film that hasn't blown me away. What really stands out about him is how he is able to manipulate viewers in a powerful way. The first time I saw The Prestige, I was amazed at how he utilized the story to capture my attention, and used so many great tactics to invoke a deep level of emotion within the viewer's imagination. He does such a superb job of bringing these fictional worlds to reality and ensuring that every viewer believes his characters. Look at Inception. We never learn how dream-sharing was discovered or who developed the concepts of Extraction and Inception, but you become so captivated and entranced by the story and characters nevertheless. That is the mark of a good filmmaker. One who leaves you with unanswered questions, but you remain blown away by the presentation of the story. Even in The Dark Knight, which is heavily based on comics such as Batman: The Killing Joke and Batman: The Long Halloween, he still brought his original touch to keep it from being strictly an adaptation. As a director, producer, and screenwriter, Nolan is a pure genius.
Most notable for the Star Trek reboot and his recent work Super 8, J.J. Abrams is another favorite filmmaker of mine. Watching five minutes of any of his pictures, you can tell that he values story above anything else. My favorite moment in Super 8 is at the very end when Joe and all the main characters are watching Cooper return home. The build-up to it is remarkable combined with the incredible score. Not only does the cinematography in his films blow your mind, but the way in which he composes each scene demonstrates his brilliance. That wow factor in his movies really makes him the next Steven Spielberg (which is cool because Spielberg produced Super 8).
Last but not least, Peter Jackson is a superhero among nerds. I honestly don't think J.R.R. Tolkien ever expected his classic fantasy series to be made into one of the greatest movies of all time. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is a cinematic masterpiece which brings to life Tolkien's extraordinary tale. Jackson's visionary mind is demonstrated in every aspect of it. From costuming to visual effects to extraordinary screenwriting, the film is more than a favorite among nerds. The detail in Jackson's pictures combined with his use of every element of film makes him such an excellent storyteller.
Despite the typical American perception of film, and the average viewer's content with good effects and explosions, there are still those today who really care about a good story.
