Kenny Chang Grab your torches,
pitchforks and typewriters and let the revolution begin! E-mail
Chang at kchang@media.ucla.edu if
you care to partake. Click Here
for more articles by Kenny Chang
In today’s age of excess and abundance, we still
don’t have sufficient quantities of certain things. Sadly
enough, originality is one of these things. Today’s topic,
ladies and gentlemen: Hollywood, and the content of its
films.
My theory is that Hollywood is losing its creative drive. What
was once a mecca for resourcefulness and imagination is now based
mainly on a loose collective of novels and several other mediums of
ingenuity.
If it weren’t for sequels, prequels, comic books and
cartoons, there wouldn’t be much of a Hollywood left. Novels
are a substantial part of Hollywood and are thus untouchable.
Let’s take a look at a couple of this spring’s and
summer’s “big” films.
“Blade 2:” For some strange reason, the original
“Blade” had a ridiculous cult following. Maybe it was
the subject matter of vampires, maybe it was Wesley Snipes (HAHA),
or maybe it was the use of New Order’s song
“Confusion” in one scene, but the bigwigs at New Line
decided to capitalize on it and make a sequel. Dirty.
First off, “Blade” was based on a Marvel comic book.
Now, there’s going to be a sequel to a comic book rip-off?
All right, I’ll grant that parts of the
“Superman” and “Batman” franchises were
good, but everyone’s got to admit that going beyond two in
each series was far too much. Besides, I’m not saying that
there shouldn’t be comic book-based films, just that
Hollywood is overly dependent on them now. Worse yet, there’s
even consideration for a sequel to this second “Blade”
film. That’s right, “Blade 3!”
Speaking of Marvel Comics, look who it is ““ ah, our
friendly neighborhood Spiderman. It’s supposed to be a big
hit, and it has the likes of Tobey Maguire (of “Cider House
Rules” ““ yeah him, with the squeaky voice ““ yeah,
I know, he shouldn’t be Spiderman), and Kirsten Dunst. The
only thing that’s cool about it is that Willem Dafoe
(“Platoon,” “Shadow of the Vampire”) is
going to be in it ““ a creepy looking guy in a creepy role as
the Green Goblin.
It’s unavoidable, so I’m going to touch on it early.
These films were so big in their own right that it would be
impossible to not bring them up. “Star Wars Episode 2: The
Attack of the Clones,” and “The Matrix 2: The Matrix
Reloaded.” Sequels and prequels, or sequels to prequels,
these films are expected to be tremendous blockbusters. It would be
impossible to say anything about these flicks without stepping on a
few toes, but basically, Hollywood is reliant on these sorts of
ventures ““ movies with a mass appeal that are exploited by
Hollywood in its quest for capital.
Ah, “Scooby Doo.” Freddy Prinze Jr. and Sarah
Michelle Gellar are entering the oblivion of Fallen Stardom this
summer when the new “Scooby Doo” flick comes out. For
those who don’t know, Fallen Stardom is about 18 miles west
on the 10 freeway, where Kevin Costner and a few others live. John
Travolta is looking at property there, and Dan Aykroyd lives on the
outskirts.
As if Hollywood can’t manipulate the public enough and try
to feed off our sentimentality, they will now attempt to ruin any
fond memories that we had of our favorite mystery-solving folks and
their trusty van.
Live-action films should not be made from cartoons. Remember
“The Flintstones?” There are just some things in life
that should not be done ““ don’t run with scissors,
don’t wear a plaid shirt and striped pants, and DO NOT MAKE
LIVE-ACTION FILMS FROM CARTOONS.
But oh, what’s this? The jacking of our literature and the
recycling of ideas has now moved on and evolved. Enter the era of
making movies based on video games.
“Resident Evil” will be opening in March and is
based on the ever-so-popular “Resident Evil” video game
series. As if Hollywood had not reached a low enough low. One would
think that a lesson would have been learned from “Street
Fighter” and “Tomb Raider,” but they still have
the brazen audacity to attempt such films based on video games.
It is for reasons like this that we, the consumers, must take
action. There is no fate but what we make ““ let us rally and
not fall victim to these unoriginal, uninspired, lackluster
blockbusters.
It’s time to gather our various resources and create some
unique, innovative material. Then come forth, comrades, tally ho;
we shall overcome this tyrannical domination that is Hollywood and
throw back the material that is thrown at us. Let’s ““
oh, whatever, I just hope the future screenwriters of America can
provide better stories and not be so dependent on established
narratives.