Talk:12 Monkeys

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Good article12 Monkeys has been listed as one of the Media and drama good articles under the good article criteria. If you can improve it further, please do so. If it no longer meets these criteria, you can reassess it.
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References to use

Please add to the list references that can be used for the film article.
  • Ahrens, Jörn (2009). "How to Save the Unsaved World? Transforming the Self in The Matrix, The Terminator, and 12 Monkeys". In Hart, Kylo-Patrick R.; Holba, Annette M. (eds.). Media and the Apocalypse. Peter Lang Publishing. pp. 53–66. ISBN 1433104199.
  • Devlin, William J. (2007). "Some Paradoxes of Time Travel in The Terminator and 12 Monkeys". In Sanders, Steven M (ed.). The Philosophy of Science Fiction Film. The Philosophy of Popular Culture. pp. 103–118. ISBN 0813124727.
  • Gilmore, Richard Allen (2005). "Oedipus Techs: Time Travel as Redemption in The Terminator and 12 Monkeys". Doing Philosophy At The Movies. State University of New York Press. pp. 33–56. ISBN 0791463915.
  • Herz, Marion (2006). "Prime Time Terror: The Case of La Jetée and 12 Monkeys". In Kavoori, Anandam P.; Fraley, Todd (eds.). Media, Terrorism, and Theory: A Reader. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 0742536300.
  • Laytham, Brent D. (2006). "Time for Hope: The Sixth Sense, American Beauty, Memento, and Twelve Monkeys". In Griesinger, Emily; Eaton, Mark (eds.). The Gift of Story: Narrating Hope in a Postmodern World. Baylor University Press. pp. 69–84. ISBN 1932792473.
  • McCabe, Bob (1999). "Twelve Monkeys". Dark Knights and Holy Fools: The Art and Films of Terry Gilliam. Universe. pp. 160–171. ISBN 0789302659.
  • Rascaroli, Laura (2004). "Time Travel and Spectatorship in 12 Monkeys and Strange Days". In Rickman, Gregg (ed.). The Science Fiction Film Reader. Limelight Editions. pp. 355–368. ISBN 0879109947.
  • Wood, Aylish (2002). "Resistance is futile?". Technoscience In Contemporary American Film: Beyond Science Fiction. Manchester University Press. ISBN 0719057736.

Brad Pitt: Star or not?

The Development section states that "Universal took longer than expected to approve 12 Monkeys, although Gilliam had two stars (Willis and Pitt)..." However, the Casting section states that "Pitt was cast for a comparatively small salary, as he was still relatively unknown at the time." These seem to be contradictory, and unfortunately the references for these are not available online (Christie's book and the DVD production notes). Could someone with access to both of these sources check them to see if this is a transcription error, or if the sources are contradictory? RobRoyDuncan (talk) 19:29, 25 October 2016 (UTC)

I don't have access to the sources but I don't see them as contradictory. If you look at Pitt's filmography, at the point of 12 Monkeys he didn't have many breakout roles (Seven being the first real one). He was known to the media (and to Gilliam) but he wasn't A-list material at that point. I do agree double checking the wording will help. --MASEM (t) 20:58, 25 October 2016 (UTC)
"Brad was begging to do it, and I wasn't so sure whether I wanted him. In the end, his enthusiasm sort of won me over. [...] Bruce is one of those guys who became a star very quickly. [...] Brad, on the other hand, was not yet 'the sexiest man in America' when we signed him on. The studio couldn't believe their luck!" Terry Gilliam, interview with Paul Wardle, 1995. Brad Pitt was right on the cusp of becoming a star when 12 Monkeys was in production, and by the time it was released, he was "the sexiest man in America". BrightRoundCircle (talk) 01:10, 27 October 2016 (UTC)

"doesn't need refs"

Most articles about fiction don't ref their plot section, but most articles' plot section contains WP:SYNTH and WP:OR. By using references we stem original research like this and differentiate between verifiable information and original research. MOS:PLOT encourages citing sources, even primary sources like the work of fiction itself. Bright☀ 12:45, 7 July 2017 (UTC)

If the plot summary clearly had problems with original research (such as in this case, (mis)interpreting the "insurance" line from the very end of the film), that would need to be sourced or removed. However, this summary seems rather straightforward reporting only what the viewer sees and doesn't make leaps that aren't there. So refs aren't needed. If one can find an RS that fully describes the plot, then yes we could include that, but it's not required. --MASEM (t) 12:56, 7 July 2017 (UTC)
Agreed, Masem, thank you. The plot should say what happened, including quotes from characters, but does not need explanation. ---The Old JacobiteThe '45 13:46, 7 July 2017 (UTC)
"Not required" or "not needed" are not reasons to remove references, and not a reason to remove content at all. You should only remove content if it's detrimental to the article. Just because you know this is the correct plot summary, doesn't mean the reader should just trust Random Wikipedia Editor because They Say So. "Refs aren't needed" doesn't cut it. The refs improve the verifiability of the section, and they should stay. On top of that you removed information that has nothing to do with the refs. Bright☀ 19:39, 8 July 2017 (UTC)
MOS:
using brief quotation citations from the primary work can be helpful to source key or complex plot points.
You're pretty much making the article worse because "the other articles have bad plot sections, so this one needs to be bad too". Bright☀ 19:48, 8 July 2017 (UTC)
I explicitly said the quotes should be used, but not in the form of ersatz refs. And the plot should not include interpretation. ---The Old JacobiteThe '45 12:56, 9 July 2017 (UTC)
Then I am reinstating the references. Bright☀ 15:51, 10 July 2017 (UTC)
Are there any elements of the plot that are unclear to an average viewer on a single run through of the film? If not, even quotes from the film are not necessary. They should only be used if there's a plot point that races by that may be difficult to miss (for example, here, the scientist saying she's working in "insurance" might be something to quote but I don't think we need to mention that). --MASEM (t) 16:03, 10 July 2017 (UTC)
Are there any elements of the plot that are unclear to an average viewer on a single run through of the film? I don't see how that's a hurdle that needs to be passed in order to cite the plot to the primary source. MOS clearly states "key or complex plot points", there is no need to show that "the average viewer" is unclear on them. By default, a reference to a reliable source is better than no reference. WP:PRIMARY explicitly permits the use of primary sources to describe the plot of a work of fiction. There is no sense in removing these references because they're "ersatz" or because other articles ignore the importance of referencing "key or complex plot points". Bright☀ 16:22, 10 July 2017 (UTC)
Your reinstatement of your preferred version is not what was agreed to above. I am persuaded by Masem's argument that the quotes aren't necessary at all. Again, this is a question of interpretation of Cole's statement and whether time travel can alter the past – as such, it does not belong in the plot at all. ---The Old JacobiteThe '45 17:45, 10 July 2017 (UTC)
You're both going against WP:V and the quoted part of MOS. Stop removing valid references. Bright☀ 17:10, 16 July 2017 (UTC)
interpretation - there is no interpretation at all. The article states "Cole is interviewed by a panel of doctors, and he tries to explain that the virus outbreak has already happened, and nobody can change it." This is literally what happens on-screen, and the quote in the reference is verbatim. There is no interpretation. Bright☀ 17:27, 16 July 2017 (UTC)
Please stop. You have no consensus for your proposed changes. ---The Old JacobiteThe '45 00:02, 17 July 2017 (UTC)
You're acting against MOS and general WP:V policy about adding and removing citations. Locally the two of you may disagree, but MOS deems it helpful and WP:V favors adding citations to reliable sources over removing them. "This isn't necessary" is almost verbatim given as an example of a bad revert in Wikipedia policy, and that's the reason you've given, over and over. Bright☀ 13:16, 21 July 2017 (UTC)
But it is a fair question: are quotes from the movie that necessary to explain the plot of this film? The film, while based on time travel and having a few shifts of perceptive, is not overly complex. The quotes you are including are very obvious to the viewer and are not explaining any subtle detail essential to the plot. (eg the first quote you have "I just have to locate them because they have the virus in its pure form, before it mutates. When I locate them, they'll send a scientist back here; that scientist will study the virus, and then when he goes back to the present, he and the rest of the scientists will make a cure." is pretty straight-forward to understand, and unnecessary to support its paraphrasing. Remember that we implicitly assume that the work itself is a source, and unless we were talking a several hours-long film, that itself is sufficient to help the reader. --MASEM (t) 13:22, 21 July 2017 (UTC)
Once again, I agree with Masem. ---The Old JacobiteThe '45 13:23, 21 July 2017 (UTC)
Regardless of complexity (and again as I said before, this is not a hurdle the references need to pass) MOS says "key or complex plot points", and those are absolutely key plot points, as described by the sources in the article (Klosterman, 2009 which was removed I guess but it's a verifiable source, and James, 1996). So there are third-party sources that name these as key plot points, which satisfies MOS. And having references—properly-used reliable references to the primary source—is both supported by MOS and WP:V. And, since I'm already repeating myself, "it is not necessary" is not a reason to revert an edit. You should only remove the references and the information if it's in some way detrimental. Bright☀ 13:43, 21 July 2017 (UTC)
The references in question are not really references; they make up a more convoluted way of doing the same thing, to write a description of the plot using the film itself. When the MOS talks about references, it is talking about referencing an independent source that states what happens in the film that a layperson viewer may not understand. While editors could come to a consensus on the talk page about a particular key detail, the fact that a consensus had to be sought implies that it needs to be evidenced. An independent source can do that and essentially take it out of the hands of editors trying to convince each other through quoting film dialogue. The summary in print by a review or a book chapter establishes the key detail beyond question. Erik (talk | contrib) (ping me) 13:57, 21 July 2017 (UTC)
Actually MOS explicitly talks about quotes from the primary source to explain the plot... The appropriate section has been quoted verbatim earlier in this discussion... Bright☀ 14:01, 21 July 2017 (UTC)
Oh, see WP:FILMPLOT then, as more directly applicable. I do see that MOS:PLOT supports secondary sourcing too, though. Why not just do that? Erik (talk | contrib) (ping me) 14:25, 21 July 2017 (UTC)
And as a note if you can use independent, secondary sources, they should cover the entire plot, not just setup (for example, most movie reviews do not cover the plot of the entire film, so it would be silly to use these to source the front end and have no similar sourcing on the back. But if you have works that can cover most of the entire plot, then let's add those). --MASEM (t) 14:31, 21 July 2017 (UTC)
The plot section does not need inline citations. I don't understand why BrightR is insisting that MOS:PLOT supports the unnecessary inline citations BrightR has included. MOS:PLOT#Sourcing and quotations clearly states, "The plot summary for a work, on a page about that work, does not need to be sourced with in-line citations, as it is generally assumed that the work itself is the primary source for the plot summary. However, editors are encouraged to add sourcing if possible." It encourages editors to add sourcing; it does not state that sourcing must be included, except for the case of a direct quote. So regarding this revert that BrightR made, no, TheOldJacobite's edit was not "against policy and guideline." No policy nor guideline states that those two inline citations need to be there. And MOS:FILM, which is clear that inline citations are not needed in a case like this, is also a guideline. Looks like we need more WP:FILM editors weighing in on this dispute. Flyer22 Reborn (talk) 21:04, 21 July 2017 (UTC)
Do I have to repeat everything again for every new person who joins the discussion? "Not needed" is not a reason to remove sources. Just because you don't need refs for the plot, doesn't mean refs are detrimental to the plot section. In fact too many articles have unref'd plots that are simply inaccurate and take vast liberties. In this case, key plot points were referenced to a primary source, per MOS, exactly in order to keep the plot section accurate, by using verbatim quotes. Reverting this change because "it's not needed" is against policy, which specifically cautions against reverting something just because it's "not needed" or "unnecessary". Bright☀ 16:13, 22 July 2017 (UTC)
I agree with the others. The reference are not needed. The specifics mentioned are too detailed for a summary. As to what exists in other article plot sections their relevance is minimal to this discussion per WP:OTHERSTUFF. WP:FILMPLOT exists for a reason. For the record you do not need to repeat everything again. File an official WP:RFC if you wish but the current WP:CONSENSUS seems clear. MarnetteD|Talk 02:46, 23 July 2017 (UTC)
Well, even if you disgree about the "not needed" reasoning, can you please take into account that five editors plus myself now six are arguing against them? Thank you. Hoverfish Talk 03:12, 23 July 2017 (UTC)
Summoned, I appear... Agree with the others...without even looking at the article (but having seen the film multiple times) I anticipate no issues with writing a plot summary for it that relies only on the material directly seen in the film. There's nothing in this film that's so intricate that we should need to rely on a secondary source to elaborate upon it, and we have no need to cite the film itself as a source, because that's the presumption by dint of it being a plot summary to begin with. If editors continue to disagree with this despite what reads to me as a fairly clear consensus, I would recommend that they pursue dispute resolution. DonIago (talk) 04:57, 23 July 2017 (UTC)
See, this type of thinking can be problematic. Yes, we allow the implicit use of the work itself as a primary source, that's fine, but thinking "There's nothing in this film that's so intricate that we should need to rely on a secondary source to elaborate upon it" is actually not really in line with WP:V. We should be trying to source to secondary sources if we can do it for the bulk of the plot to show that we're not making up the plot as WP editors; the allowance for the primary work to handle that should be seen more as Plan B rather than our primary resort against sourcing. If we have to take this plan B, then we should ask if we need to quote directly from the film to help with that. But we should not be ignoring secondary source sourcing if we have that available, that strengths the quality of the article in regards to WP:V and NOR. --MASEM (t) 12:46, 23 July 2017 (UTC)
Can you provide examples of film articles where this has been put into practice? The vast majority of film articles I've read here have no sourcing. Thank you. DonIago (talk) 13:03, 24 July 2017 (UTC)
It hasn't been in practice, that's the problem that I have seen expressed from editors that do not work in film or other entertainment media. Straddling both, I know the more experienced editors in this area know where and when the "work itself is the source" logic is best applied relative to WP:V as well as WP:NOR, but newer editors tend to be unaware of the subtlies of this and just assume that we can write volumes of info from the primary source (ending up with lists of character articles excessively long with no sources but the work itself). It's a change of thinking that grandfathers in all existing content but sets a higher bar going forward. --MASEM (t) 13:18, 24 July 2017 (UTC)
  • Comment - Per comment request on my talk page. In general practice, based on my years of Wikipedia editing, a primary source like the film itself, is sufficient for non-contentious and non-interpretive content like plot or cast lists that you'd normally find printed/fixed in a film. Cyphoidbomb (talk) 06:44, 23 July 2017 (UTC)
  • If making bold claims they need sourcing if it isn't explicitly stated in the source material. That said, if you want to build a QUALITY article, the plot should include sources. I used sources in the plot for Dishonored, Batman: Arkham Origins, Batman: Arkham Knight, Batman: Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Asylum, and Vampire: The Masquerade – Redemption, using a mix of web sources where possible (not hard at all for Films or TV shows with reviews) and direct quotes. It's not hard to reference them and it should be a standard. Darkwarriorblake / SEXY ACTION TALK PAGE! 08:07, 23 July 2017 (UTC)
    That's exactly what I've been saying. Instead of dragging the quality down, removing sources, and reverting cleanup, let the article improve. So what if other articles are bad and don't source their information? This one doesn't have to be dragged down because others aren't as good. Bright☀ 16:17, 28 July 2017 (UTC)
    Including citations to the work with quotes to source plot elements that seem otherwise obvious to the viewer is not necessarily an improvement, that could be seen as "over-citation", given that the work itself is presumed implicitly cited. I could argue (in a slippery slope manner) that each sentence of the plot should be cited in the same way, which of course is silly. The point being that there's nothing buried in the film's plot that a viewer watching the movie for the first time won't be able to understand, so deciding which few areas need primary source citation seems of questionable value. It would be different if we had third-party sources to cite the plot to, and only to fill in a few gaps to use a few primary source citations. Mind you, there is a resistance to use third-party sources which I don't agree with - if we have them we should absolutely use them. But lacking those and just using the primary source for a film like this is not really that helpful. --MASEM (t) 16:35, 28 July 2017 (UTC)

Assuming this issue isn't settled (four days without discussion, so maybe?), might I suggest that those concerned that sourcing should be provided give us specifics that we can discuss? As the concerns expressed here seem to revolve around whether we're regurgitating plot or adding interpretation or otherwise enhancing it (for lack of a better term), it would at least be helpful to me to have specific examples to analyze. DonIago (talk) 20:34, 1 August 2017 (UTC)

The specific examples are these two references. For the sake of everybody, I'll repeat the reasons for my edit. MOS: using brief quotation citations from the primary work can be helpful to source key or complex plot points. The plot points referenced are perhaps the two biggest key plot points in the story: nobody can change the past, and Cole has traveled to the past to gather information. Each of these plot points is repeated around three times throughout the movie.
The first argument against this was "plot does not need refs"; it doesn't need to be referenced, but that doesn't mean the references aren't an improvement, as specified by MOS. Combined with policy that says that "not needed" is not a reason to revert a change, then removing them was against MOS and policy.
After repeating this argument several times, the argument shifted to citing third-party sources instead of the primary source. For deciding which plot points are "key", I've provided third-party sources above. The two key plot points I've quoted are singled out as key plot points in those sources. Bright☀ 11:28, 2 August 2017 (UTC)
Thank you. Personally I don't see how the refs add anything in these particular instances. Unless someone is disputing these plot points (or saying they're unclear or such...), the quotations appear to be being added via referencing merely as a way of indirectly adding quotations to the plot summary. They also appear somewhat redundant in this case as they cite the film...but the film is already assumed to be the primary source for Plot. If I wanted to assume extremely bad faith, I might conclude that someone's trying to indirectly bloat the plot summary by adding "entertaining" or "interesting" quotations but hiding behind citations to do so. DonIago (talk) 13:56, 2 August 2017 (UTC)

Ambiguous ending

Requested move 13 March 2025

The current timeline being 2035.

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