The Death Of Hollywood

I recently finished reading a book, called "Blockbuster".

If you are at all like me, and have a fascination with movies and box office records, this book is for you.

But after reading it, I am now more convinced than ever, that Hollywood is dead. I don't mean dead in the sense that it's over, and doesn't exist anymore. I mean dead in the sense that someone needs to breathe new life into it.

What annoys me, is that in the late 70's and early 80's, the movies which made the big money and were successful were the good, original movies. Jaws, E.T, Star Wars, Back To the Future.

These movies made lots of money, were original, and were good.

But these days. The the money making films are all sequels, or re-makes, or based on books. (Spider-man 3, Pirates 2 and 3, Harry Potter, LOTR).

I have not seen, a brilliant, BIG, original movie in a long time. The original Pirates may be the last I can think of.

And why are films like 'Garden State' or 'Stranger Than Fiction', beautiful and original films, somewhat ignored by Hollywood.

Money.

At the end of the day, if 20th Century fox spend $200m making a film, but worldwide it makes $800m, its an easy choice.

Did you know films these days make up to 70% of their total gross in the first week of release now? That's massive. Sometime like Titanic or E.T made less than 5%.

This shows, and I am guilty of it, that people now go out to see films when they open regardless of whether they are good or not.

Bit of advertising, and media push, and there you have it.

Get the people in the doors on opening weekend, then you don't have to worry about bad publicity.

I really hope that soon, something original, something new, something big and something good will be coming to a cinema near us sometime soon.

But something tells me it's wishful thinking.

Jim.

P.s Sorry for the lack of posting. New Job, and been busy. Hopefully have a couple more in me over the next week.