Why We Can't Have Good Movies

Cinema is a business- movies are created to make money.


In the beginning films were created for the same reason as sculptures or symphonies- to express an original idea in an aesthetically pleasing and artistic manner. Now, however, all we seem to see in the theaters are sequels, reboots and adaptations. 

I, myself, subscribed to this philosophy until doing the research for this post. What I've found, instead, is that the vast majority financially successful movies have been based on some previous movie, book, play, TV show, etc., both recently and early on in the biz.







Consider the following list of top blockbusters from different decades 

     Based on a book/comic/play                Sequel                 Both


2013

1. Iron Man 3
2. Fast & Furious 6
3. The Croods
4. Man of Steel
5. Oz the Great and Powerful
6. Star Trek Into Darkness
7. G.I. Joe: Retaliation
8. The Hangover Part III
9. Monster University
10. The Great Gatsby



                                                        2003

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2. Finding Nemo
3. The Matrix Reloaded
4. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
5. Bruce Almighty
6. The Last Samurai
7. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
8. The Matrix Revolutions
9. X2
                                                         10. Bad Boys II

1993


1. Jurassic Park
2. Mrs. Doubtfire
3. The Fugitive
4. Schindler's List
5. The Firm
6. Indecent Proposal
7. Cliffhanger
8. Sleepless in Seattle
9. Philadelphia
10. The Pelican Brief


                                                                 1983                                      
                                         1. Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
2. Terms of Endearment
3. Flashdance
4. Trading Places
5. War Games
6. Octopussy
7. Sudden Impact
8. Staying Alive
9. Mr. Mom
10. Risky Business


1973

1. The Exorcist
2. The Sting
3. American Graffiti
4. Papillon
5. The Way We Were
6. Magnum Force
7. Last Tango in Paris
8. Live and Let Die
9. Robin Hood
10. Paper Moon


1963 

1. Cleopatra
2. It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
3. How the West Was Won 
4. The Birds
5. Dr. No
6. Tom Jones
7. The Sword in the Stone
8. Son of Flubber
9. Charade
10. The Great Escape

1953

1. Peter Pan
2. House of Wax
3. The Robe
4. From Here to Eternity
5. Shane
6. How to Marry a Millionaire
7. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
8. Mogambo
9. Salome
10. Roman Holiday








According to this, perhaps the Golden Era of original ideas in cinema was the late 70's to early 90's where we had such gems as Star Wars, Rocky, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, E.T., Willow and Groundhog Day.This was a time when producers showed great trust in capable writers and directors to create a world that viewers had never before experienced.





The pervading sentiment that Hollywood nowadays has ruined cinema by only allowing reboots, sequels, and best-selling books onto the big screen simply isn't true. I offer two arguments:

                      1. The movie industry has always relied on well-known stories as a basis for their writing, as can be seen by the blockbusters from 1953 and 1963. People love to see their favorite characters from books or plays presented in a visually captivating way and we should view this transfer of mediums as a service rather than a payday.

                      2. You aren't watching original movies. The people who so often criticize the gross commercialization of cinema are often the same ones who financially support Michael Bay by seeing the most recent installment of what they know will be a terrible sequel just for the sake of participating in the endless twnetysomething rite of passage of movie critiquing. In effect, we testify to movie producers that we want to watch terrible movies and then critique them rather than refusing to watch the newest blockbuster, even though the unthinkable will occur- we won't be able to talk about it with people.





Now, a concession- I am aware that producers are looking to get paid. I know that awesome movies like Inception almost didn't get made because the fat cats didn't trust that, without it being based on a book or comic, there would be enough public interest. But it is exactly for that reason that it is our solemn obligation to prove them wrong. If we hope to reprise the days of brand new characters being introduced on the silver screen and never-before-heard stories, then we must financially support such movies in the theaters.






Here are a few of my favorite somewhat recent original movies that you may or may not have seen. I highly recommend all of them if you have a couple of hours to give to wonderful characters and great stories:




Stranger Than Fiction: An IRS auditor suddenly finds himself the subject of narration only he can hear: narration that begins to affect his entire life, from his work to his love-interest, to his death

I was skeptical as I'm not a fan of typical Will Ferrell, but he is incredible in this funny, sincere, wonderful movie.








Get Low: A movie spun out of equal parts folk tale, fable and real-life legend about the mysterious, 1930's Tennessee hermit who famously threw his own rollicking funeral party... while he was still alive.


Robert Duvall and Bill Murray are excellent in this quirky period dramedy. 




Peaceful Warrior: A chance encounter with a stranger changes the life of a college gymnast.

Not Strictly "original," I know, but any chance I get to recommend this movie, I do. I'm not usually one for sports movies, but I love Peaceful Warrior because it is so much more- it taught me how to look around and be amazed at the life that surrounded me. And who doesn't want more Nick Nolte in their life?




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