[Niuhuru]

That’s the problem really, a lack of interesting plots. If Hollywood made any sense, it would give awards to movies like “Apocalypto” and “Passion of the Christ” and with the budgets of those movies, the studios would be making hand over fist. Entertainers should be paid in a profit sharing method, not a fat salary like the ones they are getting now. If they got paid as much as the movies make, they would be putting in a better performance.

[NoGrayZone]

I own Passion of the Christ and have watched it several times. I cry and mute at each and every scene I cannot bear to watch or listen to (his whipping).

But I keep watching it. As much as it distresses me, it also uplifts me. It is one of my favorites.

Same as Independence Day.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

The top actors used to take a "piece of the profits" until Hollywood's accounting swindles made sure the hit movies never "showed" a profit. The actors demand "up-front" money because the studios screwed so many of them for so long.

The economic downturn has lowered salaries being paid top actors because there are a lot more of them waiting around for a role.

The writing is a key challenge. Great actors cannot save a poor script.

The screenplay becomes the centerpiece of argument. Every line and every scene draws a million opinions. Often the great original script that attracted everyone to the project is re-written so many times on the demands of no-talent executives, it becomes the pure shit you see on the screen.

I know that has happened in a number of movies.

Everyone in Hollywood "knows" how to fix the script (usually not broken to begin with) and they rip it to shreds until it is garbage and the final product is lame and makes no sense.

You never see a masterpiece oil painting that was painted by a committee of no-talent assholes.