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ink_soul's review against another edition
5.0
The book that introduced me to the art of storytelling when I decided to pursue it as more than a hobby. A very detailed and complete look into the craft, and even if, after reading other authors and doing some experimentation with personal projects, I cannot say I agree with everything that Robert McKee says, I still hold him and his teachings as the most valuable professor I had in the field - hopefully, one day, I will attend one of his classes!
nico1000's review against another edition
4.0
I watched Chinatown.
The message is good, but the examples...
It's very TCM. And not that classics aren't classic for a reason, but I don't think you should tell people to aspire to be a TCM movie. Movies and screenwriting have come a long way, and sure there are some Transformers movies mixed in there, but we're also just entering a Golden Age of TV. This is the time of Dunkirk and Civil War, so all in all it comes off a bit like "Can someone stop Grandpa from arguing about how things were better in his day? He's getting angry again..."
The tone is off, but the core content is good, and he approaches that with such a wild glee, that his enthusiasm is contagious. It got me to watch Chinatown, after about two decades of passing it over. And I finished it. That's how hard he sold it.
I like gurus who drink there own kool-aid. It's not as instructive as [b:The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller|1383168|The Anatomy of Story 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller|John Truby|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1316636763s/1383168.jpg|1373171] but all he's really trying to do is get people to take a greater pride in what they do and stop half-assing it.
The message is good, but the examples...
It's very TCM. And not that classics aren't classic for a reason, but I don't think you should tell people to aspire to be a TCM movie. Movies and screenwriting have come a long way, and sure there are some Transformers movies mixed in there, but we're also just entering a Golden Age of TV. This is the time of Dunkirk and Civil War, so all in all it comes off a bit like "Can someone stop Grandpa from arguing about how things were better in his day? He's getting angry again..."
The tone is off, but the core content is good, and he approaches that with such a wild glee, that his enthusiasm is contagious. It got me to watch Chinatown, after about two decades of passing it over. And I finished it. That's how hard he sold it.
I like gurus who drink there own kool-aid. It's not as instructive as [b:The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller|1383168|The Anatomy of Story 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller|John Truby|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1316636763s/1383168.jpg|1373171] but all he's really trying to do is get people to take a greater pride in what they do and stop half-assing it.
vertellerpaul's review against another edition
3.0
This is a solid book about storytelling in general and screenwriting in particular. It is versatile and extensive. It stems from a great practical knowledge of writing and film making. That is also its flaw: a little more theoretical and narratological background would have knitted the work together in a more systematic whole. As it is different terms seem to mean almost the same thing, while others overlap and yet others leave gaps in the theory unexplored.
Even though McKee claims not to give a recipe for a good story, he states time and time again what, in his opinion, is a good story and how to achieve one. He does so in very generalized, sweeping statements. The fact that this is his opinion and an audience's taste might differ from his own, is never mentioned. Some things are said so often that it is more like an old man's frustrated nagging than solid advice. He lost me completely in the sections on comedy. He doesn't understand comedy. Also his statements about Classical Greek tragedy (most of which are, according to McKee, "mercifully lost", because any and all of them use the Deus ex Machina as an ending; this is not true) are appalling to me as a classicist. Read the Oedipous Rex, McKee!
Still, this is a good book for any writer. Just don't use it as your only guide and compare it with other works on stories. Keep thinking and don't blindly follow McKee. He has experience, knows how to write it well (he should!) and gives a whole lot of solid advice.
Even though McKee claims not to give a recipe for a good story, he states time and time again what, in his opinion, is a good story and how to achieve one. He does so in very generalized, sweeping statements. The fact that this is his opinion and an audience's taste might differ from his own, is never mentioned. Some things are said so often that it is more like an old man's frustrated nagging than solid advice. He lost me completely in the sections on comedy. He doesn't understand comedy. Also his statements about Classical Greek tragedy (most of which are, according to McKee, "mercifully lost", because any and all of them use the Deus ex Machina as an ending; this is not true) are appalling to me as a classicist. Read the Oedipous Rex, McKee!
Still, this is a good book for any writer. Just don't use it as your only guide and compare it with other works on stories. Keep thinking and don't blindly follow McKee. He has experience, knows how to write it well (he should!) and gives a whole lot of solid advice.
carodonahue's review against another edition
4.0
as a newbie (and a scared newbie at that_ screenwriter, i thought i would give this a go before diving into script frenzy. i am very excited to approach this new challenge. the rules he presents you with are very reasuring to those of us who have little experience, but long-term writers may find them restrictive. either way, there is sure to be something thought-provoking in this book for the writer of any sort. at the very least i have to love someone who comes out and takes a stand in favor of story over silly effects for no good reason. that puts me on his side right away. i'll have to see if it translates into any kind of coherent script next month...
maatersi's review against another edition
5.0
A really good book for the understanding of the structure of storytelling. It's more directed to a screenplay, but I found it useful for other media.
anillak's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't have the intention to remember all of the cool things from this book, so I didn't make notes, I listened to the audio book while on the beach. In this setting I really liked it. I recommend it to people who like cinema and are interested in screenwriting at least a little bit.
karenrubio's review against another edition
5.0
This book is absolutely fantastic. For those that want to be great writers should read this. This book will make you a better writer, a better reader and a better critic.
salman_israr's review against another edition
5.0
Best book I have read on storytelling yet!
Must read for all storytellers out there who are into long format of storytelling (documentary films, feature films, novels, and other types of story books)
Must read for all storytellers out there who are into long format of storytelling (documentary films, feature films, novels, and other types of story books)