If you're anything like me, you remember the good old days of the 50's, 60's, 70's and even the 80's. Before the onslaught of the digital age where just about everything can now be done using computers. I remember movies like The Graduate, Jaws, anything Hitchcock, John Hughes, Roman Polanski (personal life aside). Fifties sci-fi like "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and "Forbidden Planet" were great. Sure they didn't have the technical prowess of today's films, but in my opinion, that made them a whole lot better off. They had to RELY on great scripts and good acting. Today the dynamic has totally changed. They rely on the effects at the expense of the story. For example I just went to see Iron Man 2 the other night with my girlfriend. I was dizzy when I left the theater. All I saw was effects...I couldn't make heads or tails of the story...(or lack thereof). It was effects, explosions, ...effects, more explosions and so forth. I hated it. And the same pathetic formula is being used over and over and over. I don't mind comic book movies if they are well done. The ORIGINAL 70s Superman was great! Spiderman comes to mind as one of the FEW that actually has some kind of PLOT to it. But even that franchise is waning. The last installment was very ostensibly showing the cracks in the armor, and it will only get worse from there.
It seems Hollywood does only 4 things nowadays: comic book movies, reboots or remakes (sometimes referred to as retreads...or (Gag) re-imaginings), sequels, and big screen versions of old TV shows. Re-imaginings really is the worst. It's another pathetic way of Hollywood saying, "We don't want to take any chances. We want a sure fire audience! God help us if we should take a RISK!". I mean, if no one ever took a risk, where would all the great movies be today? Another thing, Hollywood....pst. Only REMAKE bad movies ...not Great ones like Psycho. That remake was so bad and so inept that it was literally painful to watch! Although I think what Hollywood does is make the remake, so that people will see how BAD it is and go back and buy or re-rent the original because they are so disappointed in the horrible remake.
So will Hollywood ever get its act together again and start making GOOD movies again? Well...why should they? When the effects laden garbage they churn out makes hundreds of millions. Everyone talks about how "great" Avatar is...uh... isn't it basically "Dances with Wolves" in space with effects. Cameron is famous for ripping off other peoples' work and disguising it as his own. He did the same thing with Terminator. It's basically a rip off of a couple of Outer Limits episodes written by Harlan Ellison. Ellison confirms this himself (search for it on Youtube). I think Ellison even sued for the infringement. I have a lot of respect for a guy like Harlan Ellison, because he sees what people are doing. He might be a little caustic and acerbic, but he tells it like it is. Something a lot of people in the entertainment business don't. Not that I know much about it. But hey...it's up there on the screen. If it's a lot of BS, it's obvious.
I would like to see a genuine return to QUALITY movie making. Something WORTH the exorbitant prices the theaters charge. In terms of horror, take a movie like Rosemary's Baby (and yeah they were thinking about remaking that one too). Sans the somewhat downbeat ending (I can't agree with an evil triumphs ending...even in a movie). But it's a damn creepy movie. Something Hollywood today couldn't produce on their best day! Polanski...all personal things aside...is a genius in the way he makes a movie and puts the horror in the daylight...in the regular circumstances...and lets it slowly creep in on you. There are no more Hitchcocks, Kubricks, Polanskis, or Spielbergs (who I wish would direct again). No more John Hugheses, John Fords, or Orson Wellses. It's sad. So think about this while you are waiting for Rocky 7 and Indiana Jones 5 to come out. If Hollywood would just visit a bookstore they'd see there are tons of possible ideas for them to explore. If they only had the guts (insert Norman Bates mother voice, "Well, boy! Have you got the GUTS!"
End of Rant! Have a pleasant day!
Nighthawk Short Fiction Headline Animator
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Awww, I loved Iron Man 2. Hmmm, maybe that was just because Robert Downey Jr. is HOT! LOL.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the sentiment about the terrible remakes over the last several years. This is why I vey rarely go to the theaters. I wait until movies come out on DVD and I get them through Netflix.
I can't stand the thought of wasting money on a terrible movie. Especially in this day and time when extra money can be scarce.
I'd love to see more movies made from unknown books.
So true. In many ways the quality does seem to have gone out of Hollywood, but in other ways - all the paranormal / supernatural / sci fiction movies must be good for your writing career! Don't give up! Keep writing!
ReplyDeleteWhile I think that CGI is one of the worst things to ever happen to movies, it can be good if used correctly, as in huge movies like JURASSIC PARK, LOTR, and the new STAR TREK. But as far as Hollywood and "original" ideas, you have to remember that even at the very beginning, going back to the '20s and '30s, producers were dying to adapt books and plays, to give their "art" some respectability. Virtually all of Hitchcock and Kubrick films are adaptations of novels or short stories. Just remember Sturgeon's Law: 90% of everything is crap. But that makes the remaining 10% so much sweeter!
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