Old Man Rants, Vol I: Movies
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Welcome to Old Man Rants, Vol I: Movies
No more NBA... We're in the midst of the offseason... I thought I'd take a few minutes to rant about something that's really been grinding my gears as an old man. Shitty ass Hollywood movies.
You see, when I was a kid I used to love going to the theatre. Loved it. Couldn't get enough of it. Especially in the summer time. But over the past few years I've noticed something: Hollywood is continually getting worse and worse. I had my theories. My main theory was that I'm just getting older and crankier and harder to please. I think that's probably true. BUT...
Then I saw this list:
Yep. Hollywood is just getting shittier. Look at all these movies from 1997. Look at the diversity of genres. Look at the diversity of age groups served. Now look at 2019.
KID SHIT EVERYWHERE
So, what's going on? Is Hollywood just part of the overall campaign of dumbing us all down? Nothing's easier to rule than a population full of idiots. This is why I always say Idiocracy is a documentary (great movie btw, that is now 15 years old... see what I mean?)
Well some may think, oh well it's just changing demographics. There are more young people today and Hollywood is all about that money so what else should we expect?
Here's 1997:
Here's 2019:
Some observations...
In 1997, 28.9% of the U.S. population was age 0-19. In 2019... 25%
Overall, in 1997 there were more middle-aged people, but also more younger people. You know, the people who would watch Frozen 1, Frozen 2, Frozen 3, Frozen 4, and Frozen 5 - Melted: Shit's Not Frozen Anymore Because of Climate Change.
So what's going on here? What do I think?
Well, I think Hollywood is less risk averse than EVER. They want their paper. They don't want to take any risks. So instead of original plots and original characters. They spin out 10000 superhero movies and when they do take a chance on original IP, if it works they spin out 5 sequels.
But, I think there are some larger forces at play here:
Not only are we drowning in low quality information via social media, but our education system pushes rote memorization over critical thinking skills. Our mainstream media system works hand-in-glove with this sort of audience. Low quality entertainment for people with poor or no critical thinking skills who are used to low quality information.
Can't wait for 2029 when the Top 15 movies will be Frozen 6, Shrek 5, 8 Comicbook movies, and 5 more installments of Fast and Furious.
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I was thinking about this the other day when I watched fast and furious 9 for the first time and i felt like I had seen that exact movie 50 times
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This is why I have so much respect for guys like Nolan and Tarantino. Not afraid to be different and just do what they want to do. And they're damn good at it
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Nowadays all big movies are either reboots of old movies or sequels to movies, nothing original.
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The main difference between the two that I see is that movies now are made almost especially so companies can make merch and products and stuff based around the movie. If you look down that list, I’ve more merchandise and toys for Frozen than for any of the other movies on the ‘97 list.
That stupid Paw Patrol TV show is the worst, they script the show just so they can release new toys and stuff and 4 year olds will eat it up.
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I think it is about the money. Now, I still enjoy going to the theatres and watching something new, but it’s not as good. There is NO CHANCE that anyone releases a 3 hour, slow burning mafia movie like the Godfather in theatre’s nowadays, and it’s a shame
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@thebay1 that movie was so shit
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Joker was one of the greatest movies I’ve ever watched. I expected it to be a typical superhero movie, and it was far from it
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In regards to more commercial movies - we're definitely well entrenched within the 'sequel' or 'reboot' era, with production companies pumping out nostalgia flicks to generate box office sales
On one hand, I don't blame them, as they have to sell their product the most effective way they can, but it's so tiring and lame when you see multiple of these popping up every year
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@nd13 there is the occasional exception to the commercial reboot rule. Joker was one of those. Superb flick
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ngl I do enjoy turning my brain off, not thinking about all of the bullshit in the world or in life, and using movies like the comic book/fantasy genre as pure escapism.
but it's basically like eating a bag of cheetoes when you're hungry.
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It isn't just Hollywood either. Every 3 months there's like, 5 new Isekai anime that are just the same stupid derivative bullshit.
"I got hit by a bus and reincarnated as some hero with a harem of waifus"
Even video games suffered from this in a way. I can't tell you that last COD or assassin's Creed I played because the whole annual release thing is just so bleh.
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@jdealla said in Old Man Rants, Vol I: Movies:
ngl I do enjoy turning my brain off, not thinking about all of the bullshit in the world or in life, and using movies like the comic book/fantasy genre as pure escapism.
but it's basically like eating a bag of cheetoes when you're hungry.
I'm actually a comicbook nerd of sorts. I enjoy them. I don't mind most of the movies. I'm with you.
I just think it's a shame that this seems to be all that Hollywood is willing to offer and promote. There's no diversity at all anymore.
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@rsande64 said in Old Man Rants, Vol I: Movies:
It isn't just Hollywood either. Every 3 months there's like, 5 new Isekai anime that are just the same stupid derivative bullshit.
"I got hit by a bus and reincarnated as some hero with a harem of waifus"
Even video games suffered from this in a way. I can't tell you that last COD or assassin's Creed I played because the whole annual release thing is just so bleh.
Oh I could write a long ass Old Man Rants: Anime post... I'm sure you could too. I'm so sick of this damn isekai obsession... and you're totally right about video games too.
And don't even get me started about Magic the Gathering...
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I used to be a huge comic book nerd in my early 20's and younger. Mostly Marvel.
But the barrage of these movies in the 2010's completely sapped my interest in that.
Just like 2K, the industry likes to see what it can get away with as far as product quality, and when people spend as much (if not more) on poor content, what's the incentive to make it better again?
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@nd13 I can’t lie I think Joker was mid. Can’t say the same about Pheonix’s performance though. Groundbreaking. He carried an average script
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Ahhh yes how much for you and Rod to write my biopic
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All these hero movies suck imo endgame was some mid
Movies, before Marvel and Disney started to monopolize the market, were an EVENT. Niggas used to camp at premieres
And I can’t agree more. These agencies/corporations are now only doing sequels to characters that are loved by all. Characters we already know and have been there done that with
Nobody wants to be original at this point in time, and why would they? The kids are eating this shit up. The pandemic fucked the movie industry because why the fuck am I gonna pay $15 for a ticket + $30+ on snacks when I could pay $10-$15 for HBO Max and have my own fucking snacks? Plus I can get my dick sucked at my own home
Matt Damon even said movies as we know it are going to be nonexistent to our kids. A lot of people are finding no reason to return to theaters and shits sad it’s one of my favorite things to do. Nothing like some good cinema
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@ogxsuave said in Old Man Rants, Vol I: Movies:
Ahhh yes how much for you and Rod to write my biopic
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@errolzzz said in Old Man Rants, Vol I: Movies:
@ogxsuave said in Old Man Rants, Vol I: Movies:
Ahhh yes how much for you and Rod to write my biopic
Lmao Peter with the Vlone
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Wish I could upvote this twice.
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@rodsquad said in Old Man Rants, Vol I: Movies:
no reason to return to theaters and shits sad it’s one of my favorite things to do. Nothing like some good cinema
I agree. we used to do the AMC Stubs pass before COVID and movie date night was an event. we haven't gone back to the theater since they reopened bc there just hasn't been shit to see.
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The super hero genre really only took off in the past 15years. Movies like the Incredible Hulk and The Punisher from early 2000s would've done far better today. I just think nostalgia is so profitable today with millennials having disposable income which is why you see all these reboots that should've never been made and comic book movies. A Home Alone reboot is probably next.
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The problem is that 2 hours is too way short of a time for anything original to be made.
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That's why it's Indies and foreigns for the win! I catch gems looking through those all the time. I'll get to sprinkle a nice major release in there from time to time, but for the most part I'm digging thru every streaming app I have finding gems. The major movie industry is just so hit or miss today.
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@12th this is facts I’m actually glad you brought that up
I been meaning to stop searching for AAA only movies
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Same thing happened to WWE. WWE takes no risks and there's been a slow steady decline in quality. Worst of all, these movies are the same old shit over and over, especially these animated movies.
