In Dave's situation, I would agree, that if integral to the story, there's absolutely nothing wrong with dream sequences.

My point is much more general and involves a gluttony of horror movies using throwaway dream sequences that do nothing other than pad the run time, give cheap scares, and many times, show more "entertainment" than the whole of the "real" scenes in the flick.

The same can be said for Flashbacks, V.O., whatever - if it works within the story, great, but be weary of using such things in general, as most writers do a poor job at best when trying to employ these.

Also, keep in mind that dreams and flashbacks come across much differently in a script than they do in an actual film.  In a script, they are (or should be) pointed out and clear that the scene is either a dream or a flashback, whereas in a film, you often don't know until the scene is over.

Quoted from CJ Walley And this is the problem. The fact you, and I'm sure many others, feel uncomfortable about using them compromises writer's creativity and motivation with insecurity and second guessing. If we took every element of script writing that's used badly we'd be left with nothing.

Just to clarify, I don't feel uncomfortable for the sake that dream sequences are taboo; I believe they are genuinely difficult to execute effectively, and I take an extra measure of scrutiny when writing and conceptualizing them to retain the integrity of the script, especially since I've had instances where they haven't worked out in the past. That doesn't mean I rule them out entirely. I've also done many other things in my writing that I've caught a lot of flack for that I didn't feel uncomfortable about at all, so the writing culture isn't a factor for me so much as it is my own feelings and reservations.

Additionally, outside of writing, I've always sorta held this notion that film can't accurately depict dreams anyway, even approximately. The dream world is just too far removed in its logic from reality and emotions feel big in a way that they don't when awake just by virtue of being conscious and thinking. Even just staging a dream, it conforms to our world's rules. The vast majority of dream sequences I've seen in films have always felt like they were missing something. David Lynch has probably come closest to capturing that "something," but then you as a viewer are still detached from it because you know you're watching a film and not having a dream. This issue is unique to dreams; I don't think film falls anywhere near as short trying to capture anything else.

That said, I've come to embrace surrealism and fantasy a lot more than when I first started writing. It opens up so many doors in terms of storytelling and just being creative in general. But I sort of view those things more as elements of artifice than approaching dreams. Still, I think it's a more effective approach to capturing that feel than it is to actually depict dreams characters are having.

Quoted from CJ Walley Funny you should write that as I was going to make the exact same comparison. Although I have seen writers on forums telling other writers that car chases are bad, or that they dislike scripts that use them. I also know at least one well known screenwriting book author who protests against them.

I am now compelled to write a story involving a car chase in a dream- perhaps I'll make it a  flashback

Quoted from Dreamscale In Dave's situation, I would agree, that if integral to the story, there's absolutely nothing wrong with dream sequences. My point is much more general and involves a gluttony of horror movies using throwaway dream sequences that do nothing other than pad the run time, give cheap scares, and many times, show more "entertainment" than the whole of the "real" scenes in the flick. The same can be said for Flashbacks, V.O., whatever - if it works within the story, great, but be weary of using such things in general, as most writers do a poor job at best when trying to employ these.

So, we're agreed I think. Use dream sequences/flashbacks etc. when appropriate for the story you're telling and write them well.

Quoted from CJ Walley Only as long as you title it FASTBACK FLASHBACK.

A wheely good suggestion - Done

Quoted from eldave1 So, we're agreed I think. Use dream sequences/flashbacks etc. when appropriate for the story you're telling and write them well.

Wite them weally, weally well!!!!  

Dream Sequences are sometimes excuses to film something fun.

Use to love this as a kid:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPh64MGfcBM