82 réponses à ce sujet

[Seagloom]

It feels like Hollywood, or more accurately, mainstream movie studios, ran out of ideas year ago. As already noted, few ideas are original. That wouldn't be so bad. It's been the case for decades now that special effects advance while the stories themselves have remained formulaic to an extent. Now that we've reached a tech cap it's more obvious though. Gone are the days of movies such as Jurassic Park skating by on visuals as much, if not more than plot.



That said, mining books, comics, cartoons and television programs for ideas is nothing new. Mainstream studios have produced vastly more tripe than quality films for at least as long as I've been alive. I don't know how many in this thread grew up during the 80s, but there was a tidal wave of shlock then. The 90s brought shinier effects to said shlock, and the current decade improved upon that aspect further. Crap is crap and while it may come in wrapped in shiny new packaging, the end result is no better.



When I want to find original ideas or thought provoking takes on tried and true stories, I do not look to mainstream studios. Sure, they may surprise me every few years with a movie like Dark City, but by and large most of what they produce isn't worth time I could better spend doing something productive... like nothing.

[TallonRoe]

I find myself more and more interested in staying home and watching the older movies that I know I already like rather than spend my money on a new movie I probably won't care about. Maybe that's just because I'm getting older, or it could be that Hollywood just hasn't tickled me enough lately.



The good news is that Christopher Nolan and Pixar are still out there. I think The Prestige was the last really good movie-candy that I had, and I'm excited to see Inception, as Nolan mentioned both The Matrix and Dark City (some of my favorite movies) as inspiration. And while I understand The Prestige was based off the novel, I don't care if Mr. Nolan got it off of a fast food bag-- he made a great movie out of it. And as for Pixar, I hope they can keep their charm going. I haven't really been disappointed by Pixar yet, while animated movies are otherwise going quickly down the drain.



But those are my opinions. I do think Hollywood needs to take it easy on rehashes and sequels and start shopping around for some fresh talent.

[Dark Lilith]

plenty of Robert E Howard books never made into movies

[uberdowzen]

I Valente I wrote...

uberdowzen wrote...

 Avatar (just kidding, that sucked),

I'm seriously tired of people trying to be hardcore movie buffs by hating everything that it insanely popular. Sorry my friend, I can't believe anyone would honestly think Avatar was a bad movie....unless you are saying so because it's popular and the genericcrowd of MTV-watching, explosion-hungry neanderthals likes it, but sometimes us neanderthalls are right. To hate something out of spite of its popularity is just as bad as loving something because of it.

No, I went into Avatar wanting to like it and came out dissapointed and unimpressed. The first hour was good, while you were still being wowed by how amazing it looked and you were still in the plot setup. After that though I was expecting there to be some twist, but the plot went exactly how I was expecting it to go. When I went to see it in 3D I went in thinking "OK the plot isn't great but maybe I'm missing something because I saw it in 2D". I came out again with a worse view of the movie because a) the 3D added nothing and you have to be sitting right in the middle of the theatre for it to look right. In conclusion, would've been great if the plot had been up to the standard of District 9. By the way, I do like popular things, just not Avatar.

[Elastic Otter]

How many truly epic stories are there?

Perhaps the tales are limited with countless variations. I'd like to think that there are more stories waiting to happen...

In the meantime, Joseph Campbell is a master at outlining the themes we all love and recognize in every story.

[joey_mork84]

uberdowzen wrote...

I Valente I wrote...

uberdowzen wrote...

 Avatar (just kidding, that sucked),

I'm seriously tired of people trying to be hardcore movie buffs by hating everything that it insanely popular. Sorry my friend, I can't believe anyone would honestly think Avatar was a bad movie....unless you are saying so because it's popular and the genericcrowd of MTV-watching, explosion-hungry neanderthals likes it, but sometimes us neanderthalls are right. To hate something out of spite of its popularity is just as bad as loving something because of it.

No, I went into Avatar wanting to like it and came out dissapointed and unimpressed. The first hour was good, while you were still being wowed by how amazing it looked and you were still in the plot setup. After that though I was expecting there to be some twist, but the plot went exactly how I was expecting it to go. When I went to see it in 3D I went in thinking "OK the plot isn't great but maybe I'm missing something because I saw it in 2D". I came out again with a worse view of the movie because a) the 3D added nothing and you have to be sitting right in the middle of the theatre for it to look right. In conclusion, would've been great if the plot had been up to the standard of District 9. By the way, I do like popular things, just not Avatar.

I agree completely, uberdowzen. Avatar wasn't nearly what I expected, in 2D or 3D. It got really boring really quickly.

And District 9 was an awesome movie! Just thought I'd throw that in lol

[uberdowzen]

joey_mork84 wrote...

uberdowzen wrote...

I Valente I wrote...

uberdowzen wrote...

 Avatar (just kidding, that sucked),

I'm seriously tired of people trying to be hardcore movie buffs by hating everything that it insanely popular. Sorry my friend, I can't believe anyone would honestly think Avatar was a bad movie....unless you are saying so because it's popular and the genericcrowd of MTV-watching, explosion-hungry neanderthals likes it, but sometimes us neanderthalls are right. To hate something out of spite of its popularity is just as bad as loving something because of it.

No, I went into Avatar wanting to like it and came out dissapointed and unimpressed. The first hour was good, while you were still being wowed by how amazing it looked and you were still in the plot setup. After that though I was expecting there to be some twist, but the plot went exactly how I was expecting it to go. When I went to see it in 3D I went in thinking "OK the plot isn't great but maybe I'm missing something because I saw it in 2D". I came out again with a worse view of the movie because a) the 3D added nothing and you have to be sitting right in the middle of the theatre for it to look right. In conclusion, would've been great if the plot had been up to the standard of District 9. By the way, I do like popular things, just not Avatar.

I agree completely, uberdowzen. Avatar wasn't nearly what I expected, in 2D or 3D. It got really boring really quickly.

And District 9 was an awesome movie! Just thought I'd throw that in lol

Yeah, that was my main problem with Avatar, it was too long. By about 2 and a half hours (kidding). But seriously it should've been at least and hour shorter.

[Special_Agent_Goodwrench]

We don't see triple-bladed sword launchers anymore, thet's what's wrong with Holywood.

[Swordfishtrombone]

Symbol117 wrote...

Personally i think we've hit a creativity cap. There aren't any original ideas left that aren't spin offs. About the last original concept I can remember is the Matrix (the first one). Other than that everything else has been done, remixed, revamped, etc. Don't expect it to get any better either.

Hmm... don't think that's quite true, though the original ideas are few.

After Matrix, released in 2000, I think "Memento" was pretty original. Around the same time the film that some images were posted from earlier in this thread, "Oh, Brother Where Art Though?" came out. The idea of remaking "The Odyssey" in the deep American south in the 1930's was pretty original, if you ask me. Another good one - and it seems that's also from 2000 - was "Quills". Certainly not your standard Hollywood fare.

I'm sure there's SOMETHING original after that too, but right now, of the top of my head, I can only think of a non-hollywood title "Pan's Labyritnth" from 2006.

But it's probably true that we're out of truly original plotlines, and some have said that all the basic plotlines were exhausted in ancient Greece. I mean there are only so many basic elements of human interaction that make for movies that humans find interesting. 

[uberdowzen]

I don't think we've hit a creativity cap (I mean there's so many possible combinations of characters, settings and situations that it'd be hard to run out of stories) but I think Hollywood is too unwilling to be out there with there plots. Big studios aren't willing to make movies which are too off the wall, unless someone like Tim Burton can prove themselves by making several popular movies. Take Juno, it bends some of the rules and had to be made independantly until Fox realised that it was actually really good (I may have got that story wrong, please post lots of posts insulting my intelligence if I did).

[eucatastrophe]

It's all about $$$.
Which is not so strange given the times we are living in. People would rather have full stomachs than a sense of creative accomplishment.

[uberdowzen]

I think creative movies can appeal to the masses though.

[Darthbill52]

I find myself watching/reading critics more these days, as someone noted "I'm seriously tired of people trying to be hardcore movie buffs by hating everything that it insanely popular. Sorry my friend, I can't believe anyone would honestly think Avatar was a bad movie....unless you are saying so because it's popular and the genericcrowd of MTV-watching, explosion-hungry neanderthals likes it, but sometimes us neanderthalls are right. To hate something out of spite of its popularity is just as bad as loving something because of it."



For the main reason I will go into a movie with an open mind and 90% of the time i go its a sunday afternoon with nothing going on, if it sucessfully kills two + hours and i get a few laughs, trills in the process its a good thing. Going to the movies, is just as risky as eating hot wings ..... initially it sounds great ...but the end result could lead to hours of sheer distress ...while other times it does, simple as that ...i dont blame movie makers..well some (yes i am talking to you george lucas ...indy 4....really) but i think its the overcritical/overblown of self importance people have these days ...not everything is going to win palm'dor a cannes ..sometimes it is what it is ..Cheese. People have a too much sense of overimportance to like goofy stuff ...but sometimes ..it just feels good to laugh

[joey_mork84]

Darthbill, I agree on basically every point you made.. Only thing I disagree on is the Indy 4 comment.. Don't get me wrong, though.. It was not nearly his best movie by any means.. However, the idea behind it and the story were absolutely great.. Seriously.. That's all I had to say lol.. Just wanted to throw an extra thought out there

[Tirigon]

Most movies suck anyways.



Quentin Tarantino movies, Tim Burton´s works and Matrix are honorable exceptions.

[A Killing Sound]

I don't even go to the movies anymore. The theatrical experience is no longer fun for me. Growing up, I remember seeing tons of great movies in theatres such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Terminator 2, Jurrassic Park, Goldeneye, etc. etc. etc. Nowadays, movies are way overhyped beyond belief, and prices are way too expensive (hmm, get one movie ticket for $10 or wait for dvd, have 3 friends pitch in $1.50 and rent it.) I also think there are way too many movies either being remade, or based on comics and such (and I really dislike most comics). Seriously, where are the great historical movies these days!? They are few and far between. Where are awesome westerns!? Aside from Unforgiven, I can't think of a recent western that was good.  Don't get me started on "Oscar winning films" these days.  The award isn't worth anything when stuff like Avatar, Gladiator, Tarintino films, and such nonsense even get nominated, let alone winning awards.  These awards used to mean something.

Modifié par A Killing Sound, 03 mai 2010 - 10:30 .

[7th_Phoenix]

Movie-making is a business like any other, and sadly, in these times... it's without any good creativity.



I tend to find myself watching old films and have never had any interest going to the movies. It's not worth it anymore. While there a few good movies... most just suck.

[Rubbish Hero]

Tirigon wrote...

Most movies suck anyways.

Quentin Tarantino movies, Tim Burton´s works and Matrix are honorable exceptions.

I disagree, especially regarding Quentin Taantino

and Tim Burton. The only decent Quentin Tarantino movies  were Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown, his latest movies nowadays, suck. Kill Bill especially, terrible movie. Tim Burtons re-hashing the same  whimsical Gothic fairy tale over and over again with the same actors, rather than being something cool and well done (The Segeo Leone films)
it's rather redundant. Both of these fellows are like something in fashion, going out of date. There are plenty of good movies out there, lots of foreign ones shown late at night I have never heard of being surprisingly good.

Modifié par Rubbish Hero, 03 mai 2010 - 10:36 .

[Darthbill52]

joey_mork84 wrote...

Darthbill, I agree on basically every point you made.. Only thing I disagree on is the Indy 4 comment.. Don't get me wrong, though.. It was not nearly his best movie by any means.. However, the idea behind it and the story were absolutely great.. Seriously.. That's all I had to say lol.. Just wanted to throw an extra thought out there

Thing is my indy 4 rage i think stems from less the movie and more THE GOOFY KID of the Hot sister in the disney show even stevens(friends were addicted,long story) is indy's son.  I am like wharttttttttt ..i know he did transformers ...i couldnt watch it, he was so fake in the roll ...i have seen better acting in a  certain movie on cinnamax
.  I think my rage on that topic tanited the movie for me....i watched it again and your right its not bad and the overall story was good and to be honest it was great for the man in the fedora to ride on the silver screen again

[Darthbill52]

Rubbish Hero wrote...

Tirigon wrote...

Most movies suck anyways.

Quentin Tarantino movies, Tim Burton´s works and Matrix are honorable exceptions.

I disagree, especially regarding Quentin Taantino

and Tim Burton. The only decent Quentin Tarantino movies  were Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown, his latest movies nowadays, suck. Kill Bill especially, terrible movie. Tim Burtons re-hashing the same  whimsical Gothic fairy tale over and over again with the same actors, rather than being something cool and well done (The Segeo Leone films)
it's rather redundant. Both of these fellows are like something in fashion, going out of date. There are plenty of good movies out there, lots of foreign ones shown late at night I have never heard of being surprisingly good.

I loved inglorous bastards ....it was a bit violent but a good movie.

[joey_mork84]

Darthbill52 wrote...

Rubbish Hero wrote...

Tirigon wrote...

Most movies suck anyways.

Quentin Tarantino movies, Tim Burton´s works and Matrix are honorable exceptions.

I disagree, especially regarding Quentin Taantino

and Tim Burton. The only decent Quentin Tarantino movies  were Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown, his latest movies nowadays, suck. Kill Bill especially, terrible movie. Tim Burtons re-hashing the same  whimsical Gothic fairy tale over and over again with the same actors, rather than being something cool and well done (The Segeo Leone films)
it's rather redundant. Both of these fellows are like something in fashion, going out of date. There are plenty of good movies out there, lots of foreign ones shown late at night I have never heard of being surprisingly good.

I loved inglorous bastards ....it was a bit violent but a good movie.

Yes.. Inglorious Basterds was one of the best movies I've seen in a loooooong time! lol.. And I have to agree with Tirigon, as well.. Most movies today do suck.. But Quentin Tarantino is a GENIOUS! All of his movies are fantastic! Even the not-so-good ones, like Kill Bill.. The only Tim Burton movie I've ever liked, though, was Beetlejuice.. Some of the others were passable, but just barely.

[Elastic Otter]

DJ: Yea, Beetlejuice. It's a good movie AND a good star! A LOT of people say that about Burton (same format...). However, he's REALLY good at making sure no emotion is every isolated. You'll never feel purely "happy" or "sad." Each emotion is always a little tainted with something else, imho.

Modifié par Elastic Otter, 04 mai 2010 - 02:05 .