Hollywood's creativity problem and a (ranty) stroll through endless remakes...

[Art Waring]

I've had Jack of Shadows on my to-read list for years.

Yep. Not sure that Valis or Ubik would make a great film, though .

On a side note, if I'm honest, I find Bladerunner a bit overrated...I see it most successful as a mood piece, and thus very impactful aesthetically. But from a purely movie-watching point of view, I actually liked the sequel more, even if it goes against the grain of what I said in the OP.

Well that's cool too. I liked some parts of the film (mostly the landscapes and visuals), but I found the opposite to be the case for me. Its likely that I have a preference for analog films, as I find new films are often lacking in elements which I appreciate. I actually like grit, grime, and scratches on film, and other imperfections that are often overlooked today.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

Unfortunately it boils down to risk and returns on investment. They are in the business of making money as the first priority, so they will take the safe bet every time (remakes ect) rather than take a risk on an unknown quantity.

I would add to that that even if a studio executive is feeling up to taking some risk, the conglomerate that owns the studio doesn't want to tell their shareholders that they are dropping big budgets on something that does not have an established name or franchise attached but that, trust us, is very creative.

I think if there has actually been a shift to less creative or original filmmaking it is almost certainly mostly a function of the decades long process of all studios becoming subsidiaries of massive conglomerates reaching its full fruition.

 

[Mercurius]

Well that's cool too. I liked some parts of the film (mostly the landscapes and visuals), but I found the opposite to be the case for me. Its likely that I have a preference for analog films, as I find new films are often lacking in elements which I appreciate. I actually like grit, grime, and scratches on film, and other imperfections that are often overlooked today.

Definitely me too - it is analogous to the "vinyl effect" in music.

In a similar sense, my all-time favorite on-screen dragon is the one from Dragonslayer...it just feels more organic than CGI ones.

 

[Art Waring]

I would add to that that even if a studio executive is feeling up to taking some risk, the conglomerate that owns the studio doesn't want to tell their shareholders that they are dropping big budgets on something that does not have an established name or franchise attached but that, trust us, is very creative.

I think if there has actually been a shift to less creative or original filmmaking it is almost certainly mostly a function of the decades long process of all studios becoming subsidiaries of massive conglomerates reaching its full fruition.

Its raining, in corporate heaven. All the coffers are-a-singin...

 

[aco175]

I recently seen a movie star talking about this and saying the main problem has been streaming services becoming mainstream. A movie used to be able to count on aftermarket sales of DVD to boost the ticket sales 6 months after the movie came out. There is none of that now and studios are taking a more cautious take on making things.

On the other side, streaming services are making things that are filling these gaps. Willow would have never been made into a part 2 movie, but can be made as a series.

 

[trappedslider]

While sci-fi hasn't been filled with "originality" the Romcom genre has been putting out some original stuff on the big screen both hits and misses.

 

[MGibster]

Star Wars was an original work of unqualified genius.

I kept hearing how Lucas ripped off Kurosawa's Hidden Fortress so often I actually believed it. Then I actually saw Hidden Fortress and realized such criticism was overblown. Okay, there are some similarities, you can make a valid case that Kurosawa influenced Lucas, but Star Wars wasn't a rip off.

 

[Mallus]

As a child I watched the Abbott and Costello movies. All 36 of them…

 

[Tonguez]

As a child I watched the Abbott and Costello movies. All 36 of them…

Damn, you old

 

[Mallus]

Damn, you old

I meant on TV. In the 70s. Damn, that still makes me old, doesn’t it?

 

[Ryujin]

I meant on TV. In the 70s. Damn, that still makes me old, doesn’t it?

Naw, you're a kid. I watched the original runs of both "Wild, Wild West" and ST:TOS on TV

 

[Umbran]

But I see original -- at least in terms of art -- as having more to do with the idea of origins...the origins of consciousness, of myth and archetypes - the well of inspiration.

That is a very particular and peculiar definition of the term.

You can't really expect Hollywood to address your desires when they are highly idiosyncratic, you know.

"Make it original!"
"No, not like that!"

 

[Mercurius]

That is a very particular and peculiar definition of the term.

You can't really expect Hollywood to address your desires when they are highly idiosyncratic, you know.

"Make it original!"
"No, not like that!"

OK

 

[Undrave]

Nice outline of some of the deeper elements. For me the key phrase is "expecting magic to ignite again." That's related to my beef...trying to copy the magic of other films. True "movie magic" is rarely contrive...it just happens, when you focus on making a good, and generally original, story.

I feel like Hollywood doesn't GET the appeal of its own franchises and tend to tunnel in on specific names or even actors.

You gotta have an Enterprise in Star Trek, you gotta have Bill Murray in Ghostbusters, you gotta have a Skywalker in Star Wars, Bumblebee is the main character in Transformers, Dumbledore hijacks the Fantastic Beasts franchise etc... They never try to dig to the core elements that hooked audience that could work again if they dared to explore the world of a franchise beyond their tunnel.

 

[payn]

I feel like Hollywood doesn't GET the appeal of its own franchises and tend to tunnel in on specific names or even actors.

Im with you...

You gotta have an Enterprise in Star Trek, you gotta have Bill Murray in Ghostbusters, you gotta have a Skywalker in Star Wars, Bumblebee is the main character in Transformers, Dumbledore hijacks the Fantastic Beasts franchise etc... They never try to dig to the core elements that hooked audience that could work again if they dared to explore the world of a franchise beyond their tunnel.

Until this. I loved me some Deep Space Nine, Afterlife was fine, Rogue One was great, Dinobot wars was a fantastic cartoon. You got me on the Dumbledore stuff I dont know what that is (im ok with that too).

I dont think a singular element and/or character is key to these. There is more than a iconic figure to the best franchises, IMO. I get what you are saying though about getting the appeal. The above items, minus the iconic must haves, still hit the mark.

 

[Undrave]

Until this. I loved me some Deep Space Nine, Afterlife was fine, Rogue One was great, Dinobot wars was a fantastic cartoon. You got me on the Dumbledore stuff I dont know what that is (im ok with that too).

I dont think a singular element and/or character is key to these. There is more than a iconic figure to the best franchises, IMO. I get what you are saying though about getting the appeal. The above items, minus the iconic must haves, still hit the mark.

Hmm? I was naming examples of things Hollywood tunnel on.

Deep Space Nine would never have been made if Star Trek was only movies. And while people seem to like the new Star Trek shows, they decided to go to the Kirk (-ish) era for their new shows?

 

[payn]

Hmm? I was naming examples of things Hollywood tunnel on.

Deep Space Nine would never have been made if Star Trek was only movies. And while people seem to like the new Star Trek shows, they decided to go to the Kirk (-ish) era for their new shows?

Oh, my bad I thought you were saying those iconic things are required to get the material.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Oh, my bad I thought you were saying those iconic things are required to get the material.

The only thing that is required for a good movie is, of course, Nic Cage.

 

[payn]

The only thing that is required for a good movie is, of course, Nic Cage.

 

[Ryujin]

I told you to put the bunny down.