Just a thought...

You know, I must admit, I really haven't been giving this whole Hollywood box office slump thing much thought. I've read a couple interesting articles about it, I haven't sat down and really given any thought until yesterday. I suppose it's rather like those Seurat paintings, if you're right up in it, you can't see the big picture. I may have figured out the main problem. Have you seen what they're calling movies these days? I mean really, the big "crowd pleasers" were the biggest pieces awful I have seen in a long time. Did you see the last Star Wars movie? It was terrible. Of course, it was one of the best Box Office draws this year. But these films create an atmosphere where people settle for a movie instead of being excited. Who would want to go to another movie after being let down (however much, sadly many were excited by revolting scenes like Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but still, I have seen very few people as excited as in recent times when, say Singer'sX-men premiered and people were cheering in their seats. We don't have that now. Who is surprised that the latest Russell Crowe movie flopped (considering the title) or that Bewitched did poorly. The the premise of a movie or the remaking of another makes you roll your eyes (like Bewitched, on both counts) why the hell would one be excited to go see it. Moreover, Hollywood is making the biggest mistake by playing this slump safe. Safe is what got us here in the first place. Too many Herbies and Dukes of Hazaards leave film-goers feeling gipped. And if they feel gipped, they aren't going to take risks on seeing movies they know little about. The trust has been broken. Hollywood should be taking bigger risks than making familiar mediocre movies. Make them cheer in aisles, don't disappoint them. Then your slump will be through.

But that's just my opinion.