That may be true. Claude & Company have refined their tastes in film to an almost ridiculous degree.
But what I most often read on conservative boards is outrage for a film that hasn't even been released yet, calls for boycotts, and joyful predictions of Hollywood's demise.
####But what I most often read on conservative boards is outrage for a film that hasn't even been released yet, calls for boycotts, and joyful predictions of Hollywood's demise.####
It may surprise you, but I'm a HUGE movie fan and I have a quite sizable DVD collection. I have silent films, classic films from the golden age, lots of Asian films (including my favorite, Kurosawa), and a decent number of modern films. And yes, I have several Fellini and Bergman DVDs. I'm not in the least hostile to movies.
But that doesn't mean I can't criticize a film if I find it offensive. Criticism is a far cry from censorship, and is protected speech, just as much as the criticized film is protected speech. I find THE DA VINCI CODE to be an offensive film, and I have every right to say it's offensive. I don't have to see it to know what's in it. SNAKES ON A PLANE hasn't been released yet, but I know what it's about.
I'm not calling for a boycott of THE DA VINCI CODE. It's not worth going to that much trouble, plus it's pretty bad reviews thus far assure it won't have much of an audience beyond the cultish fans of the book. You're correct that boycotts can even sometimes be counter productive. But boycotts sometimes work (e.g., the Dixie Chicks) and are themselves an exercise in free speech.
As for Hollywood's demise, I don't really much care. There are a few decent movies per year nowadays. I enjoyed the LOTR Trilogy, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, and a few other films. I'm not totally down on today's product, but there's a lot of garbage being churned out, and unlike old-fashioned schlock, it's often offensive. If Hollywood insists on peddling stuff like BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, V FOR VENDETTA, and DA VINCI CODE it's their right, and my right to critique it.