[NormsRevenge]

Al FRanken, waiting for a call to his show..

[Paul Atreides]

"The political part of it is, I'm sick and tired of the '9/11' type movies, the Bush-bashing type movies, the Jane Fondas, the bashing of the conservatives. So why should I spend my money so they can just run their mouths and run the country down?"

From what I've read, it doesn't have to be a particularly Michael Moore-type movie. It sounds as if they get their digs in on conservatives any way they can.

[God luvs America]

Disconnect discussion: In speculating about why moviegoing is down this summer insiders are starting to ask if there's a disconnect between the public and Hollywood over politics and social issues.

sshhh...don't tell them- they've done such a good job....for our side!!

Anytime someone asks me "have you seen this movie or that movie?" I always respond with "I have not been to the movies in five years as I do not and will not support hollywood!"

[ml1954]

I resolved a few years ago to stop putting my money into the pockets of liberal Hollywood types.

It takes a lot for me to pay to see a movie these days. I average one or two a year in theaters and maybe four or five DVD rentals a year.

This is down from what I used to do four or five years ago----probably 8-12 a year in theaters and a couple of dozen or more DVD rentals.

The fact that most of what Hollywood is producing is crap makes it even easier.

[pollyannaish]

One top Hollywood executive, who definitely wanted to be anonymous, said to me recently, 'I wonder if the Hollywood stars who are so out in front with their anti-Bush point of view have turned off Middle America?

Could someone break out those Captain Obvious graphics please. We need them on aisle Hollywood.

[TheBigB]

I still want to see FANTASTIC FOUR. : )

[TheGeezer]

I look forward to buying used DVDs of movies that have people in them that I do not want to profit from my money. Once sold, no more royalties make it back to the "star(s)" with a resale, and I get what I want for less and make an editorial comment in the "star(s)" pocketbooks...it's a win-win-win situation.

I love e-bay.

[afnamvet]

Studio executives have already cited weaker product, pre-show commercials, high ticket prices and DVD competition as contributing to the summer slide. What's even more troubling is the possibility that audiences are being turned off by their general perception of Hollywood's morality and politics. To some observers it seems that as more and more movie stars go public with their personal views on national and international issues, people across the country are starting to take offense.

A few movies are made for the BIG screen. The vast majority are not. I am new to NETFLIX and really like the convenience of movies at home.

[T Lady]

There were many excellent points made throughout the article, particularly about the cost of going to a movie, and the issue of big-mouthed celebrities ranting on and on about politics and how much they hate President Bush. ...Another point that isn't discussed in the article but is bought out by Ben Shapiro in his latest book Porn Generation: How Social Liberalism is Corrupting Our Future is the amount of gratuitous sex found in most of today's 'adult' films (or more specifically some of the PG-13, and R rated films), and the need for the Hollywood gatekeepers to instate an updated version of the old 1934 Hays Motion Picture Code. And it would also help for script writers to rely on some good old-fashioned intelligent adult dialog as opposed to diatribes laced with f- and s-bombs.

[Tacis]

Look very carefully at the Hollywood types. The are marginally talented and semi-good looking. If it weren't for endless PR crap, they would be working at Home Depot. For me, the celebrity magic wears off very quickly when one opens his/her mouth on some PR visit to a talk show and spews leftist blather. That they are stupid is obvious and that leads to noticing how little talent they have.

And, once you notice how unfunny a guy who is supposed to be funny is, a $10 ticket seems very high. Further, just because you are related to a celebrity, doesn't automatically make you a movie star, especially, if the older releative was commie scum, too.

I hate to say this, but , maybe, an American Idol type show is the way to pick tomorrows's movie stars. Let's select folks who are talented rather than just related to some one who is owed favors.

[Dane]

IMo, people are sick and tired of the liberal and homosexual agenda being shoved down their throats.

[TX Bluebonnet]

Overexposed celebrities are a turn off to seeing a movie. If I do go to a movie, it is usually in spite of who's in it, not because of who's in it.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

An aside: I just saw a commercial for a cosmetic product I would love to buy -- but Susan Sarandon was in the commercial. Too bad, Revlon.

[McGavin999]

It's not a question of what it costs to go to the movies. During the depression, people had far less disposable income than they do today, and they still went to the movies. Why? Because they were light and uplifting. The movies didn't cost a lot to make (compared to today) and the stars were sold as wholesome and all American.

Today, Hollywood is filled with hate America types and we're just not going to spend our money on them.

Also, the movies are unimaginative and dull. Lots of special effects, but they say nothing, there is no story.

[Faraday]

Cinderella Man was a good movie this year. What struck me most while watching it was that it was about (and was clearly made by) people who were heterosexual. The men loved women. The women loved men. And they both loved their children. The adults were willing to sacrifice for each other and their youngsters. Other than The Incredibles, I can't remember another recent film about which this could be said.

[fish hawk]

I suppose there are a lot of people like me out there who will not go see anything no matter how much hyped, with Babs, Alec Baldwin, Penn, Susan or Tim, and especially Redford, etc. etc. Not counting the queer Alexander crap. That really limits my movie going.

[Ciexyz]

I'd like to see "Hidalgo" but because the lead star, the Lord of the Rings guy that played Stryker, was shooting off his mouth against Bush and the Iraq War....no way. I haven't even rented the thing. It was on sale for $2.50 in the video bargain bin and I didn't buy it. If I see it free on the library DVD shelf, I'll check it out for free.

[Captain Peter Blood]

Last week I watched Travolta's movie "Be Cool", the sequel to "Get Shorty" and it was terrible. The jokes were lame and plot even lamer. I don't know how Elmore Leonard wrote the book but the movie stunk.
On top of that early in the movie Travolta's car, a Cadillac" got shot up. So what does he end up driving, a very small hybrid car with the implied message of global warming and conservation. I don't need to hear or see that crap in the movies, I see it every day in print or on TV. I then watched "Son of the Mask" which I knew was probably bad and that idiotic Bill Murray movie which I could not even go on with after 30 minutes, "The Life Aquatic of Steve Zissou", it really stunk. And Hollywood wonders why people aren't going to the movies.

[Mad Dawgg]

"Studio executives have already cited weaker product, pre-show commercials, high ticket prices and DVD competition as contributing to the summer slide."

OK Regal Cinema in Lancaster OHIO. I went there this very evening to watch War of the Worlds. When we arrived at the Mall we went directly into the theater to check start times.

The young lady at the counter said the current showing in the Dolby Digital theater had started, we asked if the movie had started or just the previews and commercials. She shrugged and walked away. We tried to get someones else's attention to maybe check for us. No dice, apparently there was something very funny going on in the back room near the ticket counter cause we could hear several young employees giggling and talking. There were three people at the snack bar trying to get some popcorn.

We decided to go do some shopping and come back for the 7:20 showing in the Dolby Digital theater. (I refuse to go to the movies and listen to crappy surround sound.) We shop and go eat and arrive back at the ticket booth at 6:45 just in case there is a line. There wasn't. In fact I have seen graveyards with more action in them.

My wife decides to check out a store near to the theater since we still have over 30 mintues to wait for the movie to start. I stirke up a conversation with the very bored looking manager who was barely of legal drinking age. He informed me in the last two months the ONLY show to sell out is The Longest Yard. Starwars, Batman, nor War of the Worlds had sold out at this theater.

I asked the manager how the sound was for War of the Worlds, he shrugged and said OK I guess. (Spielberg is known for excellent soundtracks and audio effects.)

Finally we enter the theater and not there are only 12 people including us. Most of the "sweet spot" seats are sticky, broken or missing entirely. We set down front and notice right away the sound on the previews is very thin and reedy with no bottom whatsoever and the side and back speakers are not on.

I wait until the movie starts to check the sound again, no change. I go to the ticket counter to complain and the girl at the counter doesn't understand what I mean by "side and back speakers not working." I tell her she needs to fix it quick, and I hurry back. I see another girl usher enter the theater walk down to the front and go behind the screen. She then comes out sticks her head close to one of the side speakers then she leaves.

Then someone turns the front speakers up so loud it is near painful to listen to and distorted as well.

Someone in the back gets up and leaves and then comes back and soon the sound is turned back down,(I figure he complained about the volume) after which it is still distorted. At no time do the subwoofers or side and back speakers ever work during the show.

You want to know why some people don't go to the movies any more? Well, it might have to do with incompetent nitwits left in charge and not having a clue how to run a theater.

I got a "feedback" card an am going to fill it with excruciating detail on exactly how bad that theater is run!

Oh and me and the wife have made a pact. We have sworn off movie theaters. Our system at home is much more entertaining.

Oh and don't get me started on the obvious idiotic plotting and dialog of War of the Worlds. That discussion deserves its own thread.

[Blind Eye Jones]

There are probably some unspoken rules in Hollywood:

1) pander to the lowest denominator
2) the eyes will always tell you what is attractive or crass about the lowest denominator.
3) marry someone who is well connected and well meaning about liberal causes... like teaching dolphins to sing properly.
4) drive a big gas guzzling car to all environmental meetings.
5) never wear houseplants as a fashion statement
6) thinking is for idiots