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June 23, 2005

This Guy's Supposed to be a Movie Expert?

Harry Knowles has a rather unique explanation for the downturn in box office receipts.

Hey folks, Harry here... I really truly believe we're living in the midst of a magical blessed year of film. Sure the box office is down, but frankly that's got more to do with increased security and aggravation when going to see a movie, gas prices sky-rocketing and the country pulling its belt a little tighter. Oh, and some badly put together marketing on way too many films.

Last year at this time we didn't have much of anything other than THE PASSION to scream about. This year - with gas up nearly $.80 a gallon, well it cuts into the repeat views. Unnecessary driving is being cut to a minimum.

Increased gas prices? I think Harry should maybe lay off the kool-aid for a bit. There have been a few standout movies this year, but little originality.

Look at the top of the box office right now:

Batman Begins - comic book story/not original material
Mr. & Mrs. Smith - original
Madagascar - original
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith - sequel
The Longest Yard - remake

Now look at what's coming up:

Herbie: Fully Loaded - sequel/remake
Land of the Dead - sequel
Bewitched - remake
Happy Endings - original
War of the Worlds - remake
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - remake
Fantastic Four - comic book/not original material

Out of 12 movies, there are three that are original. Four are remakes and the others draw from multiple sources. Now, there are good films in that bunch, but it's hardly a "magical blessed year of film" when Hollywood seems unable or unwilling to take a chance on something truly new and original.

This illustrates one of the major problems I have with AICN of late. The site has become all about the writers, and not about the movies. Harry, in particular, thinks nothing of writing 1000 words about his own life before actually getting around to reviewing a movie. I understand wanting to provide some background, but there's a difference between context and self-indulgence.

The guys have become shameless flacks for their favorite moviemakers instead of the independent voice of film fans they once were. I love Cameron Crowe's movies just as much as Harry seems to, and I'm really looking forward to Elizabethtown, but I think Crowe's video should be allowed to appear without Harry's ill-informed economic analysis of why the film industry is not doing well.

Hollywood is in a creative slump and it doesn't seem they will come out of it anytime soon. AICN should be advocating for better movies instead of inventing excuses for the film industry to continue the status quo.

Posted by slublog at June 23, 2005 12:00 PM

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