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Summer Fading, Hollywood Sees Fizzle
The New York Times ^ | August 24, 2005 | SHARON WAXMAN

Posted on 08/23/2005 10:40:31 PM PDT by Plutarch

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 23 - With the last of the summer blockbusters fading from the multiplex, Hollywood's box office slump has hardened into a reality that is setting the movie industry on edge.

Multiples theories for the decline abound: ...But many movie executives and industry experts are beginning to conclude that something more fundamental is at work: Too many Hollywood movies these days, they say, just are not good enough.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: boxoffice; hollywood
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To: Plutarch

Avoid almost anything with a star in it. Skip past the 'big new movie' review and dig through the smaller movies and you can still be delighted. Or go on Netflix and order up the best movies of the last 70 or so years. It's a set up for another thread, but unless you're Roger Ebert or Quentin Tarantino there are dozens, if not hundreds, of great old movies you haven't seen.

A friend came over this weekend and I introduced him to SCARFACE [the de Palma remake] and THE LAST SEDUCTION [great twisty thriller, almost unseen on release]. Somehow EUROPEAN GIGALO did not appeal. We had a blast.


21 posted on 08/24/2005 1:06:51 AM PDT by cambridge (Yes...a recent Freeper, but I lurked.)
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To: Plutarch
The simple fact that multi-mega-million dollar blockbusters-by-design with all their special effects, leftist claptrap, and liberal nitwit superstars (who don't know when to shut the hell up) have been unable to compete with 90 minutes of penguin footage shows just how much trouble hollywierd is in.
22 posted on 08/24/2005 1:16:22 AM PDT by pillbox_girl
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To: Neanderthal
I agree that she keeps getting better looking.

Yup!

I fell in lust with Diane Lane when I first saw her in that silly rock-fable "Streets of Fire" many moons ago.

I even bothered to watch some diridiculous movie she was in last night on cable (I don't even remember what it was called, but she played a cop running around in a nice Eyetie tank top).

I drew the line tonight however, she was in a movie with Richard (liberal homo) Gere.

Tuned it out. I can't stand that liberal freak Gere.

Seams like a great lady, good mom, but never did the whole Hollyweird stardom thing. Good for her!

Unfortunately for Neanderthals, judging from her character's pick in "Under the Tuscan Sun" I'm not sure she'd go for the thick browed, bowlegged, hairy type, LOL

Fortunately for me, one can always dream, I have a light brow and am almost hairless (except for the fun parts) LOL.

Ain't REAL movie stars and REAL movies great? They let us escape.

That should be it for me on FR tonight, the Admin Mods might start to bleep me.

I think I'll pop in "Under the Tuscan Sun" and fall asleep.

23 posted on 08/24/2005 2:02:43 AM PDT by benjaminjjones
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To: oolatec
I was thinking about waiting until the DaVinci Code came out. Not much else to see.
24 posted on 08/24/2005 2:10:15 AM PDT by carumba
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To: benjaminjjones

Sadly beautiful Diane Lane is hooked up with the son of James Brolin and therefore in the Streisand orbit somewhere out beyond Pluto.


25 posted on 08/24/2005 2:13:45 AM PDT by xp38
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To: Plutarch
Well I rarely see movies in the theatre but on a whim, my wife and I went to see Wedding Crashers because it had the buzz of being the best comedy of the summer. The movie ended up being mostly unfunny and full of gratuitious nudity scenes that added nothing at all to the movie. One gets the impression that Hollywood robotically sticks in obligatory nude shots to draw the coveted "R" rating. As a comedy the movie often fell flat. Certain scenes that apparently were supposed to be funny, you could hear a pin drop in the theater.
26 posted on 08/24/2005 2:18:51 AM PDT by SamAdams76 (Mid-life crisis in progress...)
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To: radiohead

My movie fix in one word-NetFlix!


27 posted on 08/24/2005 2:22:46 AM PDT by jslade ("If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.")
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To: xp38
RE: Diane Lane

Stop!

I prefer to be oblivious.

They're just actors after all. It's an escape.

I'm sure many of us have earned life-saving oscars acting our way out of some bad situations in the past, so I'm not all that impressed by acting. Anybody can do it.

I'm also sure I'll never be as good looking on film. Catch me in the shadows on black-and-white film in a smoky bar, just don't ever put a spotlight on me, LOL. I'm no Quasimodo, but some people just photograph better than others.

As long as they don't pretend to be anything other than actors, or shoot their liberal mouths off to the MSM (ala Gere, Baldwin, Beaty, etc), then I can still admire the characters they play, and in Diane Lane's case, her beauty.

28 posted on 08/24/2005 2:36:11 AM PDT by benjaminjjones
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To: oolatec

Ditto: It was the only one I saw this summer.


29 posted on 08/24/2005 2:56:18 AM PDT by PeteB570
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To: benjaminjjones

Apologies...I agree with you...btw you missed Diane Lane in some nude love scenes in that Gere flick (not with Gere btw).


30 posted on 08/24/2005 3:04:26 AM PDT by xp38
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To: Plutarch
The only movie I'll be seeing in the theaters this year is "Serenity".
31 posted on 08/24/2005 3:05:22 AM PDT by 10mm
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To: Plutarch

32 posted on 08/24/2005 3:06:34 AM PDT by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink.)
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To: benjaminjjones
"the thick browed, bowlegged, hairy type, LOL"

You say that like it's a bad thing.

33 posted on 08/24/2005 3:13:12 AM PDT by Neanderthal
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To: Alien Gunfighter
These are the movies I have seen - at the theater - in recent years -

Madagascar - pretty funny, especially the penquins. Took my grandsons. The other day, while playing cards with one of them, Sheppard Smith had a story about a penquin and then the penquin tried to walk away, but was caught. I turned to my grandson and said "We've been ratted out, boy!" He caught the joke.

Batman Begins - great movie. Got the character right.

Fantastic Four - okay but I wish it was better.

Passion of The Christ - awesome.

The Incredibles - possibly one of the best movies I have ever seen. The message was - to say the least - incredible!

We Were Soldiers - great movie.

The Patriot - good movie.

Black Hawk Down - great movie.

The Hulk - I liked it but it could have been better.

Spiderman II - good movie.

X-Men II - good movie.

That is just about it. I use to go to the movies one-two times a week. Not anymore.

34 posted on 08/24/2005 3:38:25 AM PDT by 7thson (I've got a seat at the big conference table! I'm gonna paint my logo on it!)
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To: benjaminjjones
I'm sure many of us have earned life-saving oscars acting our way out of some bad situations in the past, so I'm not all that impressed by acting. Anybody can do it.

I liked that. Reminds me of some escapades I had while serving in the Navy. Most of the trouble I got into was because of my big mouth. I figured if I talked my way into it, I can talk my way out of it. Most times I did.

35 posted on 08/24/2005 3:44:57 AM PDT by 7thson (I've got a seat at the big conference table! I'm gonna paint my logo on it!)
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To: Plutarch

I started to go see War of the Worlds, but then I read that the script writer was anti-American and I changed my mind. It really is that simple. That is why I don't buy MSM papers or watch MSM news channels.


36 posted on 08/24/2005 3:54:02 AM PDT by twntaipan (EU: The Eurabian Union?)
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To: Plutarch
Too many Hollywood movies these days, they say, just are not good enough.

Well, well, well. They finally are starting to consider the movie consumer.

37 posted on 08/24/2005 3:56:46 AM PDT by wouldntbprudent ("Tell the truth. The Pajama People are watching you.")
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To: kenth

I haven't been to a movie since opening night of We Were Soldiers in early 2002.


38 posted on 08/24/2005 4:01:19 AM PDT by x1stcav (Hooahh!)
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To: x1stcav

I watched a DVD the other day called "Saints and Soldiers" Great WWII flick made on a small budget. Definitely not PC.
With a subtle pro Christian massage.


39 posted on 08/24/2005 5:29:58 AM PDT by 1911a1freep
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To: radiohead

Much of TV is a dead zone as well as far as quality programming is concerned. A few exceptions. Notice the apparent emphasis on TV shows with an 'occult' theme?
I have a lot of good books...


40 posted on 08/24/2005 9:58:59 AM PDT by ArmyTeach (Not on my watch!)
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