Movie's/TV Shows: Does shows with a narrator make it better?

I've sort of always liked narration.

I also like the Blade Runner narration version better.

But I know there are film historians that hate it and say that narration is a cheap way of telling a story because you don't have to tell it through pictures.

But all those pictures you listed, I like the narration. I honestly think A Christmas Story could've worked without it but I don't think Fight Club could've and sometimes movies from novels need narration that's just the nature of the beast.

Apocalypse Now. LINK

Sheen's narration is essential to the story and almost a character of its own.

There's the Cpt. Willard who all the sailors and soldiers see, and then there's the real Willard who is slowly becoming another Kurtz and being consumed by the jungle.

The narration is so good, it became a movie cliche. .

Apparently the voiceover sessions were so intense, Sheen was given a gun to hold during his time behind the mic to bring out more primal feelings.

Narration is a bit of a writers crutch usually.

Obviously plenty of great movies have been made using narration but there’s been a lot more than have a narrator simply because the writer/director has no clue how to convey story/background info/etc.


In general I find TV shows without narration more rewarding and interesting, because we aren’t shown everyone’s cards at all times. It’s much more interesting to try to guess what the characters are thinking instead of just having someone’s POV just drawn out

Movies it’s easier to pull off since there’s a limited time frame anyway, you may be better off cutting right to the chase and leaving no doubt