John Rambo

[unclejack]

There probably are more movies being made today than ever before, but the quality is way down. Things like character development, drama, a believable premise and stable plot, and a story worth watchin are quickly becoming things of the past.

[Powderedwater]

Originally Posted by unclejack

There probably are more movies being made today than ever before, but the quality is way down. Things like character development, drama, a believable premise and stable plot, and a story worth watchin are quickly becoming things of the past.

Don't you feel that it's most likely a talent pool issue? I'll use a Baseball comparison many of the experts feel that MLB has expanded so much that it's screwing up the game talent wise, namely Starting Pitching, There's to many teams and not enough good starting pitching, hence the reason a lot of bad starters make a lot of money to be mediocre. What do think same issue maybe in movies?

[unclejack]

Well I'm not much of a sports fan so I can't really follow the anology but basically no, I don't think it has that much to do with talent. Maybe a little but I don't think that's the main problem. I think it has alot more to do with money. Hollywood knows that the biggest crowd to play to are the young teenagers and adults who go for big stunts, heavy actions and funny quirks. That same crowd is severly lacking in good taste in movies and don't care that much about character development and movies that are somewhat interpretive, etc. Those are things they don't have an appreciation for and aren't willing to rush out to see. Plus, there are thousands if not millions of people striving to make it in hollywood and if it means they have to be in a crappy movie that draws a big crowd they will. Hollywood has become all about compromise and sellin yourself out and that's almost a requrement in makin it big in Hollywood. Only the seasoned actors who have been doin it for twenty years or so are able to hold to somewhat valuable principles or at least have some guidelines for what kind of roles they will or will not take.
My thought on it is that Hollywood is being run more now by production companies who only care about money than it is by actors and directors. I find more quality in independent films and films made and directed by seasoned working actors than I do in most of the tripe that hits the box office by big production companies. It's all about what's gonna make money and people just don't care about taste or quality anymore.
I think a movie should be more than a momentary goosebump and should be a powerful experience that moves you and impacts you long after the movie is over.

[VolcomMartin]

Originally Posted by unclejack

Well I'm not much of a sports fan so I can't really follow the anology but basically no, I don't think it has that much to do with talent. Maybe a little but I don't think that's the main problem. I think it has alot more to do with money. Hollywood knows that the biggest crowd to play to are the young teenagers and adults who go for big stunts, heavy actions and funny quirks. That same crowd is severly lacking in good taste in movies and don't care that much about character development and movies that are somewhat interpretive, etc. Those are things they don't have an appreciation for and aren't willing to rush out to see. Plus, there are thousands if not millions of people striving to make it in hollywood and if it means they have to be in a crappy movie that draws a big crowd they will. Hollywood has become all about compromise and sellin yourself out and that's almost a requrement in makin it big in Hollywood. Only the seasoned actors who have been doin it for twenty years or so are able to hold to somewhat valuable principles or at least have some guidelines for what kind of roles they will or will not take.
My thought on it is that Hollywood is being run more now by production companies who only care about money than it is by actors and directors. I find more quality in independent films and films made and directed by seasoned working actors than I do in most of the tripe that hits the box office by big production companies. It's all about what's gonna make money and people just don't care about taste or quality anymore.
I think a movie should be more than a momentary goosebump and should be a powerful experience that moves you and impacts you long after the movie is over.

Yes, I agree with a lot of what u are saying here. I do think it's all about the money, not just in the film-industry, but everywhere really.. Pop-culture sucks Anyway. It's like two sides, or one side really against everyone else, and that's the big money - blockbuster film industry against everyone else.. IMO. The smaller productions don't have the funds to compete with the big production companies.. But then again that is also a good thing to keep them separate, so not all films look the same.. Uhm, but many people belive we are getting to that point very soon..

After debating the subject of big production companies, I also belive that the smaller and independent film-directors will survive against the big companies, making films that talk about different issues than "high speed car chases" and whatnot, yeh, u know.. I hope they do though.

[Powderedwater]

Originally Posted by unclejack

Well I'm not much of a sports fan so I can't really follow the anology but basically no, I don't think it has that much to do with talent. Maybe a little but I don't think that's the main problem. I think it has alot more to do with money. Hollywood knows that the biggest crowd to play to are the young teenagers and adults who go for big stunts, heavy actions and funny quirks. That same crowd is severly lacking in good taste in movies and don't care that much about character development and movies that are somewhat interpretive, etc. Those are things they don't have an appreciation for and aren't willing to rush out to see. Plus, there are thousands if not millions of people striving to make it in hollywood and if it means they have to be in a crappy movie that draws a big crowd they will. Hollywood has become all about compromise and sellin yourself out and that's almost a requrement in makin it big in Hollywood. Only the seasoned actors who have been doin it for twenty years or so are able to hold to somewhat valuable principles or at least have some guidelines for what kind of roles they will or will not take.
My thought on it is that Hollywood is being run more now by production companies who only care about money than it is by actors and directors. I find more quality in independent films and films made and directed by seasoned working actors than I do in most of the tripe that hits the box office by big production companies. It's all about what's gonna make money and people just don't care about taste or quality anymore.
I think a movie should be more than a momentary goosebump and should be a powerful experience that moves you and impacts you long after the movie is over.

And I agree with you... I just wish it was only Hollywood that we could blame money for screwing up you know? So what's your opinion on someone like Redford, who I believe agrees with you and not only started his own Indy empire but but also has a ton of money I'm sure. Is he the devil we know or just a guy that's really trying to help the smaller film makers. Personally I want the latter to be true, I think it is just because I've watched his career and I believe he's a good person, director, producer, etc. I think with people like him around at least there is a much better chance of lesser known movies being made, and hopefully there is a good chance that they will be good.

[VolcomMartin]

Originally Posted by Powderedwater

And I agree with you... I just wish it was only Hollywood that we could blame money for screwing up you know? So what's your opinion on someone like Redford, who I believe agrees with you and not only started his own Indy empire but but also has a ton of money I'm sure. Is he the devil we know or just a guy that's really trying to help the smaller film makers. Personally I want the latter to be true, I think it is just because I've watched his career and I believe he's a good person, director, producer, etc. I think with people like him around at least there is a much better chance of lesser known movies being made, and hopefully there is a good chance that they will be good.

I personally don't think Redford do it for the money, obvious, but rather because of his interest in indie-film production and such.. I don't think he would be so commited like he is in the indie-film 'industry', if it was for the money, entirely for the money.. Well, IMO..

[Ford]

Wow, who knew a discussion on Rambo would get so deep?!

But yeah, the big studios pander to the lowest common denominator. They find something that works, and then they copy it about twenty times until it stops being profitable. There's probably a handful of good super-hero movies left, horror is on it's way out, and monster movies are coming back. But occasionally some good, original movies do get made because it's a personal project of a director or the studio just wants to brag about the awards it can win.

[unclejack]

I think I should also clarify that there are some good movies that come out made by those big production companies so I don't think Hollywood is totally corrupt, at least not yet anyway. But I think Hollywood is severely lacking when it comes to certain genres. Science Fiction is my favorite genre but I rarely look to Hollywood for it anymore. I find more good sci fi in alot of foreign movies, particularly asian films. There are also some good dramas that still come out from time to time but then there are also some really bad ones. I just rented a couple of dramas that I haven't watched yet that I think will be good, but then like I said, some of the movies that come out that Hollywood and the critics rave about I watch and find to be the worst movies ever. Here's a couple of examples...The Family Stone, Home for the Hollidays, Sideways, Little Miss Sunshine, (Sorry but I just didn't like it, it was wrong on so many levels). No offense if you liked those movies but I thought they were terrible and yet the critics raved and presented them as being the best movies ever. (By the way, I didn't think Little Miss Sunshine was all that bad I just found certain parts of it offensive)
I think the genre that is lacking the most is comedy. It really is pathetic the brand of comedy their comin out with lately. The list of crappy comedies is way too long to list so I won't even try.
Action has an occasional occurance of good moviemaking but mostly they just regurgitate the same old premises in new packages. "Next" is a perfect example of that. The whole clairevoyance thing has been done to death, move on to somethin else. I have no desire whatsoever to see that movie.
Anyway, you don't have to agree with my perspective on every movie I listed to agree with the general premis of what I'm trin to say.

[unclejack]

I'll add one more thought to all that. I think that Hollywood has become extremely political in the movies that they produce. They aren't satisfied to just make a movie anymore they have to try to influence someone in a particular direction. A big part of the problem I have with some of the movies I listed above is that they seem to be very pro-gay. (Whatever your views are that's your business, I'm just talkin about the intent to influence in a particular direction) I don't think movies should be used as political weapons. They should just be entertaining. But that is becoming less the case here lately.

[MaxMarklund]

Originally Posted by VolcomMartin

On that count, I have to 'put my foot down'.. I think it would be weird seeing somebody else in the role of John Rambo, even if Sylvester Stallone is like 85 years old.. Any thoughts about this? Would Vin Diesel do a great job as John Rambo, yea, probably, but he wouldn't be like the John Rambo, u know?

I agree completely with you man!

Damn, looks like it's much bloodier and more gore! Cool!