Full disclosure here: I am a gay, bleeding-heart, do-gooder liberal. I am not here to make fun of anyone's views, but I do think you will find my comments relevent to the discussion.
Hollywood has (almost) always pushed the envelope on social issues, but the reality is that movies are made to make money. Although I am sure they considered it a gamble, the producers would not have made Brokeback Mountain if they did not think people would want to see it. Judging by their less than $20 million budget they did not think it would have broad appeal.
Brokeback Mountain has now made $50 million in the US and $60 million total worldwide. My source is www.boxofficemojo.com. No, it is not as much as Chronicles of Narnia or King Kong. It is not a fair comparison. Those were big budget movies with huge marketing budgets.
It is not just gays going to see this movie. There just are not that many of us! It is showing in my hometown of Manhattan, Kansas. This Manhattan is not a hotbed of liberalism. I have been told, and I admit this is just anecdotal, that it is doing very well there. It is called the free market economy.
Rather than blame Hollywood, I have two other targets for your anger.
First, blame MTV. Sixteen years ago they premiered Real World. For the first time millions of teenagers met a real gay person and felt like they got to know him. Since then the Real World and other MTV shows have included gays and lesbians as part of the cast.
Was it an attempt to promote the "Homosexual Agenda?" I tend to think not. I bet they were just trying to appeal to teenagers and the teenage need to rebel against authority. The teens and 20-somethings who started watching the Real World 15 years ago are now 20 to 30 somethings.
Second, go ahead and blame me. When I was a teen I did not know anyone who was gay or lesbian. I was only aware of the swishy stereotype seen occasionally on TV. I have 11 nieces and nephews. They know me as their uncle who happens to be gay. I am the uncle who took them to Disney movies when they were little, played football with them at Thanksgiving and now talks to them about their jobs and families. They are just 11 of the millions of young people today who have a gay or lesbian uncle, aunt, brother, sister or good friend. They know us for who we are, not for a stereotype.
That is why Brokeback Mountain is being seen by more than just the gay and lesbian community.
Fair enough. In the interest of full disclosure, I could care less what someone does in their bedroom as long as everyone in there is of age and 'consents'.
On a personal level, I find the lifestyle disgusting. That DOESN'T however, give me the right to treat anyone in a less than civil manner. Provided I'm treated the same, of course. :)
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Hollywood has (almost) always pushed the envelope on social issues, but the reality is that movies are made to make money.
True, as is the rest of your assessment.
My statement was to the fact that, overall, movie revenues are down. I've been to the theater once in the last 20 years simply because there has been anything worth seeing. I don't see anything worthwhile in this movie either.
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Rather than blame Hollywood, I have two other targets for your anger.
I haven't 'blamed' anyone, nor am I 'angry'.
I don't even 'blame' Hollywood. It became painfully obvious years ago that the Oscars had become nothing more than yet another platform for the MSM.
I could care less what people waste their money on. Perhaps you've confused me with another poster?
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First, blame MTV.
Sorry, I don't blame inanimate objects for the actions of people. To be honest, we don't have cable or even watch that much TV.
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Second, go ahead and blame me.
Why in the world would I do that?
Like I said before, your preferences don't negate your humanity. My only problem with the whole gay agenda thing is that they bring their sexuality into the public area, yet don't want to hear anyone else's opinion about it....particularly if it counters theirs. I also don't think the GLB (or whatever it is) should be allowed to stand up in front of my children's school and tell my children homosexuality is a 'normal' lifestyle, because the fact is, it's not.
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They are just 11 of the millions of young people today who have a gay or lesbian uncle, aunt, brother, sister or good friend. They know us for who we are, not for a stereotype.
Which is fine. I'm happy for you and your family.
I appreciate your response, and respect your opinion.
To me, that's what it means to be a *conservative*. :)