Is the audience “in” the movie from beginning to end? Do we drift out of the story unintentionally? Do we have to wait until an undo amount of time until we are taken into the story? How quickly do we develop any expectations? Do we accept the logic of the characters’ actions? All of these are questions pertaining to whether a story is well told.

Equally of importance is whether the story itself is what one might call a good story. Are we fascinated but what is portrayed on the screen? Does it move us emotionally? Excite us? But what really makes for a good story? Is it simply conflict or an intriguing character? Exotic locales, romance, adventure, laughs, and tears? It is a harder question to answer although people have tried for centuries. We do know it when we see it, just as we know as well when we have witnessed it’s opposite.