Evelyn Barge
Assistant A&E Editor
Is Hollywood still the place where they make new movies?
I’m not so sure anymore. Every time I turn around the studios are RE-writing a comic book as a screenplay, RE-using the same plot line in a awful sequel, or attempting to RE-make an old classic.
There comes a point when a rational person must ask: just how many comic book movies do we need? The list is practically endless. There was “Hulk,” “Daredevil,” “The Punisher,” “Hellboy” and “X-Men.” If that’s not enough, look out for “Batman Begins” in 2005 and “Superman Returns” in 2006.
I love a popcorn movie as much as the next person, but just because “Spiderman” did well at the box office doesn’t mean we need to watch every single superhero fall short as a live action character on the big screen. The “Spiderman” phenomenon also brought about “Spiderman 2,” which will undoubtedly spawn a “Spiderman 3.” If that makes enough money, I’d be willing to bet “Spiderman 4” will be coming soon to a theatre near you.
It might be easier to handle all the comic book adaptations and Hollywood’s sequel fever if it weren’t for one hugely annoying habit the movie industry just can’t seem to kick: the dreaded movie remake.
Nothing gets under my skin more than watching Hollywood spoil a classic. “The Italian Job,” “The Manchurian Candidate” and “The Truth About Charlie” were all remakes of older movies, but the older films were the only ones worth watching.
Just because moviegoers are willing to shell out cash for these movies doesn’t mean they are production-worthy. Most of the time, there simply isn’t another option. When the average person goes to the movies and the theater is running “The Ring” and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” there is really not much of an option. By the way, both of those films wereå remakes.
Still, it’s easy to understand the logic behind remaking an older movie. Producers don’t have to waste their time reading screenplays by hordes of wannabe writers. So what if they might be brushing off a potential William Goldman or Paul Schrader? The future of screenwriting means little to those who are focused on making an easy buck.
Remakes, comic book adaptations and sequels are all Hollywood’s easy outs. They get to be cheap and unoriginal without scores of people telling them they’re cheap and unoriginal.
It’s time the big-budget movie industry stops vying for all the sure bets and takes a gamble on a film that’s worth watching. Sure there’s a chance that all the average American moviegoers won’t understand the movie and it might even flop at the box office. There’s still always hope in the overseas market where avant-garde films are more widely attended.
Studio execs should look to the independent film scene for inspiration. Creative indie films are gaining more and more respect in middle America. In recent weeks, a number of inspiring and controversial independent films have been garnering as much attention as full-scale productions. No one went to see “Catwoman,” but millions bought tickets for “Maria Full of Grace,” “Napoleon Dynamite,” “Open Water,” “Garden State,” and “Fahrenheit 9/11.”
Eventually, Hollywood is going to realize that moviegoers are ready for intelligent, thought-provoking films. Let’s hope it’s sooner rather than later.
09-09-2004