I’ve complained about this before. Hollywood is out of ideas. And I’m not just talking about Avatar although that is a pretty blatant rip-off from movies that came before.
Actually, you know what? I’m just going to come out and say it. I AM just talking about Avatar. I mean really. You all went ga-ga over that movie with all it’s special effects and fancy computer rendered visual eye candy. You went and nominated it for best picture. Best picture??? Really?? I mean sure it looks pretty, but c’mon! That story is so tired! Honestly, how many times can we rehash it over and over again?! How many times can our protagonists reach across cultural differences to find that which was truly missing from his life?? How many times can we learn that despite our differences we’re all the same on the inside?!?! How many times can our protagonist decide to fight with the native Indian metaphor against the American military metaphor?!?!
And you all love it. You ALL love it. And now the sequels are coming. But you know what? I can already tell you they won’t be any good. You know how I know?
Because the Dances With Wolves sequel still hasn’t been produced, and both Pocahontas II
Heh, because Hollywood is politically correct, and it is getting difficult to make evil villain groups without getting called racist anymore! =^^=
Heh, I remember how they changed the villains in The Sum of all Fears from radiclal Muslims to Neo Nazis, because we all know that Neo Nazia are a seekrit orginizashun with millions upon millions of dollars to back them, have global influence and reach, and wouldn’t mind dying as long as it meant taking out a few non-Nazis…
I think it was after that film that Clancey vowed never to let Hollywood touch one of his books again. At least not without his input into the final script…
Hollywood has been out of ideas for years. Not just because they rerun the same old plots, but all too often they reshoot the exact same movie. The reason is simple: Hollywood is divided between the “safe profit” crowd and the “social statement” crowd (Avatar tried to be both, and had plot holes you could drive a truck through). The social statement crowd want to lecture to their audience. The safe profit crowd want to tell the audience exactly what they want to hear. No one is willing to take chances, because the loses would be in the multi millions.
Well, can you blame Hollywood? They’re motivated by profit, not looking for trouble. Sometimes they might make movies that are “different”, but those are often risky, and risks can fail as well as succeed big time. When economic times are bad, even Hollywood suffers, and they’re not motivated to make big gambles.
Not looking for trouble? Tell that to Michael Moore.
Oooooh. Preeeettyyyyy pictuuuuures. Yes please. ;)
Do people watch his movies though?