Hollywood

[Janne]

Do you guys not have the feeling that the writers in Hollywood ate running out of ideas?
The last few years, we have seetn an increasing number of remakes, remakes of remakes.
We see movies where clearly the writers just try to invent a plot by mixing genres ( cowboys vs Aliens) etc.

What is going on? There are so many wonderful classic stories that can be interpreted and made into movies, but still they use sub standard plots and scripts?
Most movies Hollywood produces are of the "One Sleeing Braincell" variety.

Is Hollywood losing it?

What are your thoughts?

[Aphid]

Yes sadly, I think Hollywood has "jumped the shark". I was hoping, that as the young turks replaced the old guard we would see a fresh approach to new productions being greenlit but sadly, global box office considerations seem to trump artistic ones. The last rejuvenation of the studios was when the independent studios started releasing character driven lower budget movies in the 90`s that not only won fans but also Academy Awards. These indies were all bought up by larger studios to be co -opted into "artistic wing" production houses most of which have since languished into obscurity.

[Mr Rick]

Bring back the Western. Where is "The Duke" when you need him?

[dbakiva]

I don't think it's the writers who have lost it. I think it's the studios and those putting up the millions of dollars it takes to make a film who retreat to the remake, the formulaic, the copycat premise. When it takes $60 million to make a movie, they want bankable stars, bankable plots, and unfortunately it results in an attempt to re-make what has made money, originality be damned, and creativity is too often reduced to orgies of special effects and an ethos of bigger, louder, faster. That seems to make money, and that's the name of the game.

[Bolaberlim]

If I want quality films, I have a whole range of countries that do them. Of hollywood I expect big budget blockbusters. That's how I see it. It's been that way for a significant amount of time. And truth be told, once in a while, hollywood makes great movies that have a small distribution, the quality is there, but the visibility is not.

[watchma]

Do you guys not have the feeling that the writers in Hollywood are running out of ideas?

Yes

The last few decades, we have seen an increasing number of remakes, remakes of remakes.

fixed that for you

What is going on?

Losing the plot - quite literally

[Janne]

Yesterday we saw " fishing in Yemen". Simply suberb. Acting, directing, the story, everything.

I think that the Hollywood movies make big money because of the way they are shown. Many cinemas worldwide are forced to show them, the movies are hyped yp in a ridiculous way etc. Also, the Teaser bits before the feature film are also made by the same companies, so we are " brainwashed" into seeing them.
Take "The Hobbit".
First it as a two movie thing. Now it is a three movie movie. You have to watch all three movies. Nobody can say that you can ot make one wuality movie out of a thick book. You can. Just watch Gone with the Wind.

When Hollywood announced it would make a remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo I was flabbergasted.
why on earth make a remake instead of dubbing it, ( americans can not stand subtitles) and when making it, why make it a such crap remake?
it was so bad I did not finish it, I walked out. I do not mind wasting 9 dollars, but I am not wasting 2 hours of my precisious life.

[stndrdtime]

I seldom watch movies anymore. Storytelling has given way to high tech visuals - many movies are like watching video games. I guess the younger generations like that and young people drive movie sales. Don't get me wrong, I like action movies, but I like action created by the actors, not by a computer. And, how many different Spiderman movies must we endure?

[watchma]

Storytelling has given way to high tech visuals - many movies are like watching video games.

Simply pandering to and feeding the technology out there (and the technology manufacturers!), 3D etc , not sure what's gonna come after 3D personally LOL maybe a resurgence of analogue ?

And, how many different Spiderman movies must we endure?

Until it stops ringing the cash register, lets hope they don't go the whole 'police academy' route

[Janne]

Simply pandering to and feeding the technology out there (and the technology manufacturers!), 3D etc , not sure what's gonna come after 3D personally LOL maybe a resurgence of analogue ?

Black and white, mono sound. It will be called "Classic Tech" !
Just wait for the ads for that!

I sometimes meet with a Hollywood producer, through friends. He has 2 major cash cows under his belt. I discussed movies with him, about my disappointments and concerns.
He told me that frankly speaking he does not care how the movie is, if he ever should bag a prize, eyc. He wants a nice fat profit. The more profit, the more movies he will be given to produce.

He told me that most large stars are a p.i.t.a. to work with, but that they bring in more money than they cost, so they are useful.
He told me that the planning takes between 3 and 5 years, shooting maybe a month, post production a couple of months. He told me that most producers enjoy the pre production most, the restbis just boring.