Hollywood Blockbusters

As I had mentioned before in this blog, I am a movie buff. I enjoy movies of all types and time frames. I as susceptible as anyone to take in a blockbuster movie showing at the theater. But this week's topic will focus on the merit and quality of media turned out by today's Hollywood. And I have to say that it is severely lacking in a number of areas.

I see a increasing trend of movies appealing to a much more basic premise of entertainment, particularly dumbing down on the message and content. Just think about all the movies being made from comic book heroes today - The Incredible Hulk, The Dark Knight (Batman, 4th movie), Ironman, Spiderman I, II, & III, Superman (4 movies), and the list goes on and on. What about movies made from action figures - Transformers and G. I. Joe? Is this what our society should define itself as - comic book junkies?

Now, I'm not saying that these movies are not entertaining, they usually are well done because top A-list actors, directors, producers, editors, composers, etc. are used. But what ever happened to movies that make us think? What ever happened to movies that had morals and principles in its message? What ever happened to movies that moved us rather than just entertained us?

How is it that Jim Carrey, Will Farrell, Adam Sandler, and other screwball actors are the top draws now? I'm not taking anything away from these actors. Obviously, they have the ability to make us laugh, but they all got their start doing screwball antics and are still doing it. Tom Hanks did as well (Bachelor Party), but developed into a very serious and versatile actor, but Carrey and others have done little to break out of their comedic mode.

The point I'm making is that it seems that Hollywood is specifically focusing on only making us laugh and going out of their way not to make us think. Is it that our lives are too hectic and complex to think - that we just need to let loose and relax? There is certainly merit to this point. However, I believe that there is intention to take our minds out of the picture (pardon the pun). They want us dumbed down. They want us mindless. There is too much at stake with what is happening in the world around us that they don't want us to ask questions, to demand answers. Simple misdirection and mindless entertainment. It's working! We are not paying attention to what is going on in the world around us. Just entertain us for a few hours and let us go back to our weekly drudgery.

The movies today often focus on our needs to gratify our more basic instincts of aggression, revenge, violence, greed, and of course sex; while the complexity of plot or character or perspective is lacking unless it is clearly obvious.

Ask yourself this - why does Hollywood want us dumbed down and a reduced thinking capacity? What are their motives besides money? There are motives. Do we want to accept that reality or are we to be just mindlessly entertained?

As always, the choice is yours.

There will be more on the effects of Hollywood this week. Stay tuned ...

How long will you simple ones love your simple ways?
How long will mockers delight in mockery
and fools hate knowledge? Proverbs 1:22 (NIV)

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Email: DeltaInspire@panama-vo.com