Posted on 06/16/2005 8:45:32 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Poll: Most Americans Say Movie Stars Poor Role Models; Half Say Movies Are Getting Worse By Will Lester Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Most Americans think movie stars are poor role models and almost half say they think movies generally are getting worse these days, an AP-AOL poll found.
Australian star Russell Crowe's recent phone-tossing at a hotel employee is the latest in a long line of movie stars in less-than-flattering circumstances. Christian Slater faces charges he grabbed a woman's buttocks in a New York City grocery; Winona Ryder was convicted in 2002 after a shoplifting spree; and Hugh Grant was caught in a car with a prostitute in the mid-1990s.
Those concerns, combined with most Americans' preference for watching movies at home, suggest the industry faces challenges reversing a recent drop in attendance at movie theaters.
Movie stars just don't set a good example, said Earl Ledbetter, a movie fan who lives in Ventura, Calif.
"They just don't have the morals," he said. "They marry and divorce, sleep around a lot."
(Excerpt) Read more at ap.tbo.com ...
Filed under: The Obvious.
Two words - Mel Gibson
I hope they don't stop campaigning for the newly founded 'Values Party'. Hehehehe....
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
This is in the 'Well, Duh!' catagory.... Maybe it's surprising that people are actually recognizing these sleazebags for what they are....
Only 1/2 say movies are getting worse??? Most recent movies have been based on 60/70's tv shows. There hasn't been a original, non-preachy show out of Hollyweird in a long time.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith was entertaining. The premise of "husband and wife trying to kill each other - literally!" was pretty good, and original.
Other than that, I would agree; movies lately have been a bunch of lame remakes or poor attempts at historical and epic films.
I think the Incredibles are decent role models. I wana be buff & virtuous like the dad.

And this is just now making news???
I haven't seen it, but it does look kind of cute. Although War of the Roses had that killing the spouse storyline.
BTW, Mr. and Mrs. Smith is a remake of a 40's(?) movie with that same title. I'd like to see more Westerns.
Personally, I like Tom Selleck and Morgan Freeman.
yes- but they are still qualified to tell us how America should be run (sarcasm).
The first Batman wasnt bad enough they are making another one, and How many times has Zorro been copied. Re-releasing old movies seems to be about the best they can do.
I can't imagine why anyone would go see a movie like "Bewitched", but yet, people do. I understand that overseas video sales now account for a huge portion of a movie's returns, so maybe that explains why even the most banal movies still make money.
Me too. But how many of todays' marquee names could convincingly portray a cowboy?
Afflack ? Sandler? Stiller? Bwahahahaha
"Hollywood has been in a downward slide since the early 1970s."
I have to disagree slightly. The years 1967-1977 saw some interesting, innovative films like GRADUATE, MASH, PATTON, GODFATHER, FIVE EASY PIECES, etc. The 70s, though lousy in everything else, had a burst of creativity (though, granted, these films in retrospect were way too liberal).
I would pinpoint the early 80s as a time Hollywood really began its relentless slide. I not only saw, but felt, the decrease in quality. By then, sequel-mania & blockbuster fever had taken over.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.