Hollywood needs to get beyond itself and make entertaining movies

Rating: 2/10 (5 July 2005)

My son and I saw the movie this last weekend and were disappointed in what we saw. I felt that there was a lack of human interconnection, devoid of normal reactions. It was as if the actors were on Thorazine. There did not seem to be any national pride accentuated by the "curious lack" of national leadership. The armed forces were disorganized, "didn't seem to have a plan", and were filled with apathy, especially the national guard units. It seemed as if the movie was an "on budget off budget movie", as if the special effects budget was reduced mid way through the movie. In past "War of the World" movies, one could feel the initial sense of bewilderment and hopelessness. However, as people came together to fight a common enemy, the best came out, not more of the same patterns of destruction and disconnect. There must be a hidden fear someplace within those who made this movie that if their movie transmitted to the audience a sense of pride in this nation and the world that they may be subject to criticism or ridicule by their peer groups. Hollywood has asked why they industry is in such a slump, could it be that moviegoers are tired of political viewpoints disguised as movies, or full of Hollywood's inability to deal with it's collective neuroses. Movies were there to give the viewer something beyond what they could create themselves; something entertaining; something to go home and talk about; not more of the same - death, destructive, divisiveness, and despondency. Hollywood can make great movies, but they have to get beyond themselves and leave their politics at home. If one takes away the special effects, what story line would be left? The special effects in movies today are the sizzle and not the steak. People get all excited with anticipation when they hear the sizzle, but the quality of meat is awful. The continuity of the storyline and acting to portray that storyline to the audience needs to be primary and special effects secondary. Otherwise, it becomes just another mindless plug and play scenario with some acting thrown in.