Cinematic Bones

Odd subject line for a post, true, but as I'm suffering from insomnia again and the gf is sleeping quietly in the next room, I took the opportunity to rewatch one of my favorite episodes of season four, Girl in the Mask, and I was struck by the cinematic aspects of this episode. The overall tone is darker and more sophisticated than other episodes, and in fact more so than most other procedurals, but what really stands out is the way both music and cinematography come into play in the story.

The music was Asian influenced, but subdued, composed of reed flutes and strings for the most part, very traditional sounding. It tended to engender a sense of solemnity in scenes involving Nakamura and Booth or Nakamura and Brennan. Also the use of the voice over narrative with slow motion camera shots and leading angles made the end scene where Vogler was taken into custody particularly compelling. This show stands out, in my mind, as one of the best of the series to date despite the seemingly incongruous and even distasteful antics of Angela and company with regard to Dr Tanaka.

There are always episodes we'd like to see stretched into two parters because they have so much potential for further development, but this one stands out in my mind as being one of the few episodes of any TV show ever that I thought was good enough to be made into a feature film. I'm serious, this had all the elements of a good suspense/thriller film and would have done well on the big screen if stretched to say 100 - 110 minutes.

I've been a harsh critic of Hart's in the past but I'll give him his due on this one, now what I'd like to know is are there any episodes out there of Bones that you all think would make a decent movie? Or am I alone in this?


RM

See, this is the problem with insomnia - too much time to think.

that was my least favorite episode. Not sure that'd the episode I'd pick to see stretched out into a mini-movie.

Haha, yeah, I didn't really care for that one, either. Go figure. Though me being me, I'd love to see Hero in the Hold...plenty of action, and lots more you could do with that. But I know, I'm in the minority...everyone seemed to have 'issues' with Teddy.

Can I just be in the middle? I liked Girl In The Mask, but it wasn't my favorite. I do think the angles and lighting were played really well, and despite any antics, it worked.

Hero in The Hold probably would have been better had it been made into a two parter, or a two hour episode at the least. I know people had issues with that episode, but it all felt a little rushed to me. I think that had they made it two hours, we could have seen more depth and focused on the larger issues rather than hurrying to a finish. Also, had it been two hours or the like, that reunion scene in the copter would have been longer and probably could have been accompanied by an actual song playing in the background.

MoonlightGardenias wrote:Hero in The Hold probably would have been better had it been made into a two parter, or a two hour episode at the least. I know people had issues with that episode, but it all felt a little rushed to me. I think that had they made it two hours, we could have seen more depth and focused on the larger issues rather than hurrying to a finish. Also, had it been two hours or the like, that reunion scene in the copter would have been longer and probably could have been accompanied by an actual song playing in the background.

I agree. I was actually thinking of this episode before I read her post.

They could have developed a few things better with more time, like the Hodgins thing, played with the concept of an accomplice, Vega's death (and where the heck was Janine? ), and so on. Personally I had no problem with Teddy; a trifle deus ex machina, maybe, but there have been hints of the supernatural in S1 & 2--voodoo and ghosts. And what I find fairly important--though maybe if they're having the trial this season it might be explained--a little more motivation on Taffett's part would have been nice. Discussion for another thread: the perpetrator's motivations, or explanations thereof, were sorely lacking in S4.

dawnsfire wrote:

MoonlightGardenias wrote:Hero in The Hold probably would have been better had it been made into a two parter, or a two hour episode at the least. I know people had issues with that episode, but it all felt a little rushed to me. I think that had they made it two hours, we could have seen more depth and focused on the larger issues rather than hurrying to a finish. Also, had it been two hours or the like, that reunion scene in the copter would have been longer and probably could have been accompanied by an actual song playing in the background.

I agree. I was actually thinking of this episode before I read her post.

They could have developed a few things better with more time, like the Hodgins thing, played with the concept of an accomplice, Vega's death (and where the heck was Janine? ), and so on. Personally I had no problem with Teddy; a trifle deus ex machina, maybe, but there have been hints of the supernatural in S1 & 2--voodoo and ghosts. And what I find fairly important--though maybe if they're having the trial this season it might be explained--a little more motivation on Taffett's part would have been nice. Discussion for another thread: the perpetrator's motivations, or explanations thereof, were sorely lacking in S4.

I had no problems with Teddy, either. And as I tried to point out, I believe it was totally something Booth would believe in, even if the viewer, or Bones, didn't. But that's here nor there...I did have issues with the points you mentioned...and that's why I would have loved to have the episode longer...or as a movie. More time for better development and explanations.