18 replies to this topic

[Mantis914]

I hope this is the right forum for this little rant that I'm going to present.  I'm going to ask one little question and then give my opinion.  Is anyone else as tired as I am of Hollywood twisting every great movie toward its agenda?  I was watching The Grudge and The Ring today and honestly now, the story lines have been altered so terribly from the original that its to the point of being a different movie.  I heard the 2nd and 3rd were even worse so I didn't even bother.  Of course, they have to change it so as to make a female the star of the movie and present her as the strong woman type which I don't mind if it was in the original movie but it wasn't.  The Japanese versions emphasized on the mysterious aspects of what was going on, while the Hollywood version focused on the relationships of the characters more than the scare aspect... boring... no wonder I fell asleep a quarter of the way into the movie.  Oh and of course had to add sex into the mix which was in no way in the Japanese version.  But this isn't only about foreign films vs. Hollywood, all these remakes have gone way too far, in which they take an innocent cartoon or show, Three Stooges, for example, and have to add sex to it.   Get your head out Hollywood, geez, no wonder no one goes to see movies any more.

[Mikko-kun]

I guess this can happen with any format, but I think you're right. You can't watch too many of them in a row if you're not a real fan or not afraid of boredom. I like movies with originality and I think there's been those too with high-budget coming from US., like Transformers and whatnot (yeah not original storyline duh, and you could actually pack it to the sex + highbudget special effects, but still). If there's not sex there's always the HOOO YEAH ADRENALINE BABY!!!! action part... not that I mind action, but it's always the same. Watch Bang Rajan, I think it was a malaysian movie, great stuff action-wise even though it doesn't rely on kung-fu or adrenaline baby nor high budget.

[and then]

I read recently that the industries' own numbers prove that G or PG rated fare with family values outperform R and worse films financially.  Yet for the sake of "artistic" freedom they continue to produce trash.  That's stoooopid...

[Hilander]

If G and PG did better you would think that is what they would make the most of.

[Mantis914]

Mikko-kun, on 26 May 2012 - 08:05 PM, said:

I guess this can happen with any format, but I think you're right. You can't watch too many of them in a row if you're not a real fan or not afraid of boredom. I like movies with originality and I think there's been those too with high-budget coming from US., like Transformers and whatnot (yeah not original storyline duh, and you could actually pack it to the sex + highbudget special effects, but still). If there's not sex there's always the HOOO YEAH ADRENALINE BABY!!!! action part... not that I mind action, but it's always the same. Watch Bang Rajan, I think it was a malaysian movie, great stuff action-wise even though it doesn't rely on kung-fu or adrenaline baby nor high budget.

Panna Rittikrai achieved that also with absolutely low budget movies and having stars like Tony Jaa in his movies.  I always thought the CG on Transformers was overkill and highly ineffective, before one could transform, he'd have his butt kicked, not at all like the cartoon.  I just wish they would put the focus back on the story and the message they were trying to convey than just the visual gratification...

[Mikko-kun]

I agree Mantis. I think I'm gonna watch some Stanley Kubric the next time, his Cube was awesome if you dont mind the grotesque etc parts.

[rashore]

I"m bored with Hollywood too.. Got a good foreign film? Hollywood will remake it in sucktactular fashion. Got a good movie in general? Let's make 15 more of something just like that. Got a popular book? Hollywood will screw with that too. Got nothing? Let's take a movie that didn't need a remake, but lets add more graphics of various sorts- typically gore or sex. And if there is something that can be given a CG body and a voice- Disney/Pixar will happily scramble a story for your kids entertainment.
And then all the awards shows pick the same 10 movies for most awesome everything, no matter how many movies were released that year. Yawn.

[Colonel Rhuairidh]

I very much agree with the sentiments expressed here. it's what Capitalism is all about , of course; it's all about making more and more to make more and more money. Art, or genuine creativity, rarely come into it. it's all about Something or other part IV, when it could barely sustain one sequel, how they sign everyone up for three- or four-film contracts even before they start on the first. it's all about Quantity. And as CGI gets more sophisticated, of course , then the skill of the director and the Special Effects people become less and less relevant. Anyone can knock out effects that would knock anything from Star Wars (the original) into a cocked Hat, and that means that you don't have to worry about scripts or acting so much because everyone will be dazzled by the effects. (Indeed, see Star Wares Episodes I-III as a prime example). Really, the whole Biz sums ups Capitalism very neatly.

[Clyde the Glyde]

Plain and simple, Hollywood is running out of creative new ideas for movies. Storylines are all used up.  That's why there are so many remakes now.

[StarMountainKid]

I agree. It's the same in the music industry, all Corporate product designed by executives in committees. The Decline of American Culture. It's scarey to think that the paying public is actually the same as the product..

[Corp]

I never understood why Hollywood would decide that a story would make a great movie and then go and muck around with the story. Just leave it alone! And stop putting love stories in movies where they serve no purpose.

[King Taco]

... I'm just tired of all the remakes.. when does that stop? a remake of a remake of a remake..

[Matt121]

I'm not tired of Hollywood they still put out lots of awesome films every year

[Mantis914]

rashore, on 27 May 2012 - 03:18 PM, said:

I"m bored with Hollywood too.. Got a good foreign film? Hollywood will remake it in sucktactular fashion. Got a good movie in general? Let's make 15 more of something just like that. Got a popular book? Hollywood will screw with that too. Got nothing? Let's take a movie that didn't need a remake, but lets add more graphics of various sorts- typically gore or sex. And if there is something that can be given a CG body and a voice- Disney/Pixar will happily scramble a story for your kids entertainment.
And then all the awards shows pick the same 10 movies for most awesome everything, no matter how many movies were released that year. Yawn.

I'm really glad to hear that there's many others that share my point of view on this matter.  I don't know what's to blame but I'm sure there's writers out there that are not given chances that have interesting skits that would make great movies or shows.  TV is just as bad with the reality show era and I believe its about run its course now as I've heard people say that they are sick of reality shows.  Pixar movies are just as bad too as you said, with all the pop culture anthropomorphism its just ridiculous.  No wonder kids grow up thinking such animals as bears and lions are all cute and have smiles on them and are like big puffy stuffed animals with friendly dispositions.

[Mantis914]

Matt121, on 28 May 2012 - 09:12 PM, said:

I'm not tired of Hollywood they still put out lots of awesome films every year

I'll give them Act of Valor as one.  I haven't seen The Avengers yet but I hear its good too...