The Coming Decline of Movies

[barbaro]

The decline of movies in theaters, that is.

Recently I´ve been reading about Goerge Lucas and others in the film business noting that films in theaters may very well come to an end and movies will go straight to HBO and such.

The recent films "Lincoln" was noted. Lincoln came very close to by-passing theaters and going to HBO.

Costs seem to be high, and there are more and more bombs released.

--
Box Office Report: 'Lone Ranger' Marks Third Big-Budget Bomb of Summer

8:31 AM PDT 7/6/2013 by Pamela McClintock


Disney Enterprises, Inc.
"The Lone Ranger"


Failing to fire off a silver bullet, Disney's The Lone Ranger posted a grim five-day debut of $48.9 million, far from enough to make up for the high cost of the Johnny Depp-Armie Hammer Western.

Box Office Report: 'Lone Ranger' Marks Third Big-Budget Bomb of Summer

[klong toey]

I had the bad luck of seeing a trailer for this film yesterday could not believe they had the nerve to call it the Lone Ranger.Used to enjoy the original when i was a kid but that bastardisation should be destroyed.

[barbaro]

I had the bad luck of seeing a trailer for this film yesterday could not believe they had the nerve to call it the Lone Ranger.Used to enjoy the original when i was a kid but that bastardisation should be destroyed.

Sounds awful.

Did you or anyone see "John Carter?"

When I hear a movie is a flop or bad, I often watch it.

[klong toey]

No not seen John Carter.
As for the Lone Ranger trailer i had no idea what film it was until the put the title up near the end.Gut reaction was that looks crap.

[wasabi]

This has been a problem for years in the Hollywood movie industry.Executives,who are just glorified accountants decide what is to be made,money number one,so they go for low risk,high returns,thus the remakes of old classics. Well like all things,eventually it will come back to haunt their decesions.
Did you know if "Citizen Kane" was a new script,it would never would have been made in this day and age,along with "Casablanca"

[Primo]

American movies are mostly the same formula,there are a few decent ones but they make up a very small percentage of the films actually churned out by Hollywood. I would watch a French film over an American one any day of the week,at least they have an interesting storyline.

[wasabi]

I enjoy French films as well,far more creative,this is because the French government partialy funds them,so the risk of being a commercial flop is reduced.

[nigelandjan]

Last film I went to see was The TT staring George Formby in black and white ,, that was about 50 years ago ,,,, it will be at least another 50 years before I expose myself to such a boring experience again

[nigelandjan]

Just thought of another thing worse than going to the pictures ,

Being dragged onto a poxy cruise ship for a week and going to the " onboard theatre "

Jesus wept ,,,,,,,, " Man overboard !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

[Latindancer]

John Carter was quite well done. And I've read the original books.

[Bung]

Surprising they are not blaming the illegal downloading, cheap large screen tv's and home theatres for the demise of movies and theatres.

I've noticed as well a lack of decent movies the last couple of years.

[The Big Fella]

I was eagerly awaiting the new Star Trek film but have to say I thought it was crap. The new Lone ranger looks nothing at all like the series especially tonto.
I'm hooked on Game of Thrones at the moment.

[crepitas]

I was eagerly awaiting the new Star Trek film but have to say I thought it was crap. The new Lone ranger looks nothing at all like the series especially tonto.
I'm hooked on Game of Thrones at the moment.

loads of movies churned out it seems ..lots of junk....some real good ones too....

Up to us consumers....it is a lucrative business ..who cares about Hollywood or whoever...only entertainment after all.....bread or sand for arena?

[Marmite the Dog]

It also seems that there are an increasing number of high budget/quality TV series being made which manage to convey a story better and in more detail than a 2 hour movie can.

[robuzo]

Oh, and here I thought 3D was going to save Hollywood (snark alert).

[Necron99]

I enjoy French films as well,far more creative,this is because the French government partialy funds them,so the risk of being a commercial flop is reduced.

Most decenthollywood films these days are remakes of,French or Japanese movies.

[VocalNeal]

Recently on France 24 there was a director lamenting that Hollywood doesn't make movies to be art any more, they make movies for 14-16 years old's in the US.

[harrybarracuda]

I don't believe any of that. There will always be big budget flops (1941, Waterworld), and if they serve up crap they'll get what they deserve.

There are still plenty of other decent films getting out there, if you look:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Picture#2010s

The big budget popcorn movies are the biggest gamble but they can also be the biggest earners - Iron Man three grossed $1.2 Billion worldwide, for example.

Another thing is that "White House Down" is just Disney's version of "Olympus Has Fallen", and I doubt people were going to watch two movies back to back with the same premise.

Nothing to panic about yet, but yes it's true that there is some awesome TV around at the moment, it's a golden age, and producers are seeing the value in 13 episode seasons with high quality scripts.

I don't know about you, but I got bored with Depp after the first "Pirates", and frankly this is just another attempt at starting a tired franchise. I'm glad it failed.

The next big-budget attempt is Pacific Rim, which comes out this week. Sounds like a cross between Transformers and Real Steel, I think I'll pass, but it's got $200 million to earn back or something. I suppose it's the right time of year for giant robot flicks.

[barbaro]

This has been a problem for years in the Hollywood movie industry.Executives,who are just glorified accountants decide what is to be made,money number one,so they go for low risk,high returns,thus the remakes of old classics.

Yes, a lot of remakes. many, many, movies are remakes. The script is basically already written. There is name familiarity.

It´s about the $$$.

Same with sequels. Name recognition. Get some expensive actors and actresses. And sequels are often very disappointing. But the first couple of weeks earn the earnings.

Well like all things,eventually it will come back to haunt their decesions.
Did you know if "Citizen Kane" was a new script,it would never would have been made in this day and age,along with "Casablanca"

Details please for the bold above.

Were the scripts for these 2 movies, just too much story and dialogue for today?

[crepitas]

I don't believe any of that. There will always be big budget flops (1941, Waterworld), and if they serve up crap they'll get what they deserve.

There are still plenty of other decent films getting out there, if you look:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Picture#2010s

The big budget popcorn movies are the biggest gamble but they can also be the biggest earners - Iron Man three grossed $1.2 Billion worldwide, for example.

Another thing is that "White House Down" is just Disney's version of "Olympus Has Fallen", and I doubt people were going to watch two movies back to back with the same premise.

Nothing to panic about yet, but yes it's true that there is some awesome TV around at the moment, it's a golden age, and producers are seeing the value in 13 episode seasons with high quality scripts.

I don't know about you, but I got bored with Depp after the first "Pirates", and frankly this is just another attempt at starting a tired franchise. I'm glad it failed.

The next big-budget attempt is Pacific Rim, which comes out this week. Sounds like a cross between Transformers and Real Steel, I think I'll pass, but it's got $200 million to earn back or something. I suppose it's the right time of year for giant robot flicks.

Hmmm we have a choice..lots of Shoot'em up & FX movies out there but also some good ones too....most sci fi's are targeted at those who don't want to have to listen to dialogue or need a reasonable story line.. methinks.
Just watched Hannibal Rising..better the others methinks..God Father II better than 1, .....also watched Brothers Grimm ..sadly a movie with Matt Damon trying to be a pathetic Pirates Johnny Depp .......pays ya money and takes ya choice yes??? ...Glad it was only 39baht!
Seems a lot of otherwise excellent actors are in second rate movies these days...$$$$$?.

[wasabi]

This has been a problem for years in the Hollywood movie industry.Executives,who are just glorified accountants decide what is to be made,money number one,so they go for low risk,high returns,thus the remakes of old classics.

Yes, a lot of remakes. many, many, movies are remakes. The script is basically already written. There is name familiarity.

It´s about the $$$.

Same with sequels. Name recognition. Get some expensive actors and actresses. And sequels are often very disappointing. But the first couple of weeks earn the earnings.

Well like all things,eventually it will come back to haunt their decesions.
Did you know if "Citizen Kane" was a new script,it would never would have been made in this day and age,along with "Casablanca"

Details please for the bold above.

Were the scripts for these 2 movies, just too much story and dialogue for today?

I listen to a lot of radio at work,and this I heard a while back on BBC Radio 4, I cannot recall who made this statement,but You are right,he used these two classics as examples of too much dialogue.New movies have to be easily formated into other languages,hence the fast action movie with little dialogue. Asian market especially,needs simple English dialogue.

[Balance]

Surprising they are not blaming the illegal downloading, cheap large screen tv's and home theatres for the demise of movies and theatres.

If all the illegal stuff were removed Hollywood would be making triple. Illegal probably does have a lot to do with it but other markets including those in a lot of developing countries now have all the tech to make their own language movies. The Thai I know are mostly into Thai movies. It's pretty much just the city people who have foreign tastes.

We are also in a time of serious moral decay in the west. I'd bet a lot of people find it hard to believe that there are heroes anymore. There's lots of disgusting people running the world and in positions of power. There aren't enough dramas that touch on this real sickness that our world faces. Hollywood is just a brainwasher for the corporations and haves these days.

[Rural Surin]

I enjoy French films as well,far more creative,this is because the French government partialy funds them,so the risk of being a commercial flop is reduced.

Most decenthollywood films these days are remakes of,French or Japanese movies.

Originality and quality content is the deathstar.

Nothing but homogeny throughout [in particular] the American film world.

[Balance]

You could add people living much longer and having access to the issue of Hollywoods downfall. People just see a lot more movies in their lifetime due to the length of their lives and to the access to media from all periods. In the past, people couldn't watch a movie over and over again at will or without money. Plus all the movies ever created are there for people to access. Everything was new in the past when it came to movies. Now, the critics have analysed and critiqued movies against numerous others from the past century before the public even knows the movie is going to be released.

[harrybarracuda]

Having said that, look at the numbers in this list:

Gross! The Most Lucrative U.S. Movies of All Time: Batman? It's Commissioner Gordon. All the Real People Have Vanished. - Bloomberg