brightpilot6 said:Well, damn. There’s a certain kind of art in it, and you have to accept that some people actually find it good. I’ll say it again: if you could just grasp why someone finds this appealing, you might actually learn something about them.
For me, the real issue is how they’ve been leaning so heavily on legends like King Arthur or—as I see they're prepping it now—Robin Hood. It’s all these Matrix-style gothic hybrids mixed with steampunk action, wrapped in set pieces and special effects straight out of Lord of the Rings. To the newer generations, these flashy reimaginings will be their version of King Arthur or Robin Hood, replacing the old-school folk ballads we grew up listening to. But what can you really do? Every era has its own flavor.
I've mentioned this before, but I'll say it again—the "Terror" series was honestly great just as it was. Then they went and added some random subplot about someone jumping around on a ship. I guess they only did it because they think that's what audiences are looking for these days.
I think you might have misread my point. I’m not surprised at all that Hollywood produces movies like they're on an assembly line—that part makes total sense to me because their business model isn't really about art. It’s more of an industry where film is just a vehicle to push products, kind of like how Coca-Cola pushes soda or Apple uses the App Store to move software. The business side of things seems pretty clear to me. What I don't quite get is why the masses follow these things so fanatically and argue about them as if they possess actual artistic value. I guess I just find it strange that people seem genuinely happy to head to the theater ten times a year to see essentially the same product over and over. Honestly, maybe it's fine that Hollywood scammers play people like that, since I suppose those who fall for it aren't doing much better. But when I see people on this forum—folks I know are way older than ten years old—treating these films like masterpieces, it makes me wonder if there are actually any adults left around me or if everyone is just a kid.
So, I guess Noah Roberts46 thinks Spielberg and Lucas aren't important. It’s pretty interesting to think the people who basically invented modern cinema don't matter. I probably shouldn't say more since it feels a bit pointless, but maybe just stick to watching something like "Rampage" with The Rock or the "Avengers" movies if you want to just switch your brain off and take a break from everything else going on.
I guess you might not fully see how the whole system works. It seems like other genres are really struggling specifically because of these massive superhero franchises. All the capital in Hollywood is being funneled into these big animated superhero flicks, so there just isn't much money or motivation left for anything else. I don't have an issue with them being made—I was young once too and loved them—but back then, maybe there was one every few years. Now, we get five or six a year with a combined budget hitting $3 billion, or even up to $6 billion when you count everything. Even Steven Spielberg mentioned that for "Lincoln," where Daniel Day-Lewis won his Oscar, he barely managed to get a theatrical release. It was almost a toss-up whether it would go straight to HBO. It feels like nobody wanted it in theaters because they think audiences aren't interested in history or drama unless you give Lincoln a jetpack or something. He ended up self-funding it, and it actually did pretty well, but I suppose that shows there’s just no room for risk in the business anymore. There's so little appetite for it that even legends like Spielberg or George Lucas face rejections, even with top-tier projects.
It’s not really that these movies are childish or inherently stupid. Sure, they might be pretty mindless, and I get why people want to just switch off their brains for a bit. But I don't think we should accept movie theaters becoming exclusive venues for just that kind of stuff. It feels like Hollywood only produces one thing now. And honestly, I'm not even sure I'd call them movies anymore. To me, it's more like an amusement park ride—all the thrills without any actual surprises, just minor tweaks here and there. Like, maybe the roller coaster tracks are green instead of red, or the turn goes right instead of left. Or instead of a werewolf in the tunnel, it's LeBron James. That seems to be the difference between Hulk, Spider-Man, or Black Panther movies. They all feel identical. It feels like there's nothing else in theaters lately, except for these massive, two-hour long commercials packaged together.
Just as an example, let's look at this question. I guess you could say Marvel created the "Avengers" by mixing together everything they’ve done so far. Essentially, the only thing tying all those stories together is that they come from comics published by Marvel. But why stop there? Take Universal Studios, for instance—they also produce huge blockbusters and even run their own theme parks. Here are some of their biggest hits:
1 Jurassic World Uni. $652,270,625 4,291 $208,806,270 4,274 6/12/15 2 The Secret Life of Pets Uni. $368,384,330 4,381 $104,352,905 4,370 7/8/16 3 Despicable Me 2 Uni. $368,061,265 4,003 $83,517,315 3,997 7/3/13 4 E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial Uni. $359,197,037 1,778 $11,835,389 1,103 6/11/82 5 Jurassic Park Uni. $357,067,947 2,566 $47,026,828 2,404 6/11/93 6 Furious 7 Uni. $353,007,020 4,022 $147,187,040 4,004 4/3/15 7 Minions Uni. $336,045,770 4,311 $115,718,405 4,301 7/10/15 8 Meet the Fockers Uni. $279,261,160 3,554 $46,120,980 3,518 12/22/04 9 Sing Uni. $270,395,425 4,029 $35,258,145 4,022 12/21/16 10 Despicable Me 3 Uni. $264,624,300 4,535 $72,434,025 4,529 6/30/17 11 How the Grinch Stole Christmas Uni. $260,044,825 3,256 $55,082,330 3,127 11/17/00 12 Jaws Uni. $260,000,000 675 $7,061,513 409 6/20/7
Maybe they could create a "Universal Cinematic Universe"? You could maybe tie dinosaur battles to a shark on vacation attacking the Fockers while kids play with Minions. Then, maybe Vin Diesel zooms in at 2,500 mph and runs over a T-Rex, only to freeze in shock when E.T. lands right in the middle of the road. From there, E.T. could probably steal Christmas from the Grinch, along with the sharks and the Fockers. Probably not Vin Diesel, though, since he's such a bald goofball.
Look, I think comics are mostly meant for kids and teens, and later on, they should probably just serve as a nice break from more serious topics, but I can definitely see them as a solid way to unwind. Like I mentioned before, I actually have some pretty massive collections at home, and not just of things like *Condor*. I know my way around a comic book. But I feel like a real comic needs to be cohesive—it should focus on a single theme or a set of characters that inhabit their own consistent world. For instance, you have someone like *The Phantom* and then a hundred episodes following that same journey. Or you take Batman, and then you watch the Batman movies. They build this stylized, fictional reality that is part of what makes a specific comic charming. Batman has his own logic and world where everything makes sense. Iron Man is similar. Those types of films stay relatively close to a grounded reality. But what they’re doing with the "Avengers" feels different to me. It seems like they just grab any random characters from various movies and cram them into one giant commercial where none of the established rules seem to apply. I guess it lacks actual plot or any real sense of direction. It feels more like a two-hour advertisement; I wonder why people don't see it that way?
ironpanther5 said:I’ve never really been able to get into those Marvel or DC movies; honestly, growing up, I was more the type to sit on a beach reading stuff like *The Sandman*, *Watchmen*, or *The Invisibles*, so those kinds of graphic novels actually hit the spot, whereas the big Hollywood blockbusters just don't. I actually picked up a collection of *Corto Maltese* comics recently, though I'm having a bit of an existential crisis over whether it even makes sense to dive back into reading after being away from comics for such a long stretch.
I've gotten so lost in the shuffle of all those superhero flicks that I can't even remember the last one I sat through. What I’m actually craving is a solid comedy or a series with that classic *Seinfeld* or *Friends* vibe—or better yet, some British sitcom style. Just something that leaves you feeling good, whether you just walked out of a theater or finally shut off the TV. There's no shortage of gritty crime thrillers out there, but finding something lighthearted like that is incredibly rare these days. I gave *Veep* a shot and it was alright, then I tried starting *Silicon Valley*, but it was full of some incredibly crude, low-brow humor that made me turn it off—even though I see it has great reviews.
Even the posters around my neighborhood are advertising that show "Terror" lately. A coworker mentioned he started watching it and thinks it's great so far. I caught about half an episode while flipping through channels, and the setup seemed really tense and interesting—a ship stuck in the ice, arguments breaking out, people defying the captain, etc. It’s that classic claustrophobic survival scenario. I liked it. But then, suddenly, this creature leaps onto the ship. It climbs the mast and flies through the air. A few scenes later, they reveal it's some kind of hybrid polar bear monster—this mysterious creature trying to kill everyone that seems to defy the laws of physics. So, I asked my friend the next day, "Why is that monster even in the show? The story works perfectly without it." And he just said, "I don't know, you're probably right, it doesn't make much sense." I guess audiences just can't handle a straightforward period drama anymore; they need fantasy thrown in too. It feels like a strange modern trend.
I guess I have about 250 copies of Alan Ford tucked away somewhere, including several of our original American editions from the 70s. I was absolutely obsessed with them when I was six, but honestly, I haven't read much since turning 20. Comics and stuff like that—especially those ridiculous American superhero movies—have their place, but I think that place is childhood. Maybe an adult who gets overly excited about twenty different superheroes in a CGI movie that's just mindless destruction instead of actual plot might be dealing with some issues. I know many people won't admit it, but it doesn't seem quite normal to me. Some call it escapism, but maybe it's more than that. It feels more like a refusal to engage with reality and real people living real lives. We laugh at people who believe the Earth is flat, so how are these movies any smarter than that? To me, these kinds of films are to cinema what the flat earth theory is to science. It’s basically just a compilation of various heroes from 15 different movies; it's essentially an advertisement for an advertisement. It's like a two-hour trailer designed to shop the audience for the next five years of "McMovies." And yet, I see folks on this forum seriously debating the merits and flaws of these films as if they were discussing "The Godfather" or "Citizen Kane."
I wanted to pick your brains on something since there are plenty of smart people here. I was reading that some "Avengers" movie pulled in $600 million in just two days, and honestly, I wouldn't go see it even if someone offered to pay for my ticket ten times over. I happened to catch Iron Man 3 a few years back when it was breaking records, and I just couldn't wrap my head around it. To me, it felt like two hours of nothing happening without any real logic—kind of like watching a mediocre soccer player try to dribble through a defense. Afterwards, I saw reviews where grown men with full beards were giving it perfect scores. It’s hard to even call it a movie; it felt like two endless, boring hours that left me with zero lasting impressions. I've seen hundreds of films, from absolute masterpieces to total garbage, but I just don't get this.
They seem more like cartoons for kids, so why do adults follow them so fanatically into theaters? What is actually interesting about them? I'm asking because I genuinely don't understand, almost as if I'm living on a different planet than the people who write about these things as if they are cinematic achievements.
Facebook is honestly wild; it’s incredible how Zuckerberg managed to build such an empire. I remember back in 2007 when things were really taking off here in the States, and that "poke" feature was easily the coolest thing around. 🙏 I guess if you showed some top-tier economist or business mogul from a century ago how easy it is to lose $58 billion in a single day nowadays, they might not even believe what planet we're living on.
Sandra Johnson58 said:I used to worry about the environment a bit, I guess, but then I had this realization... basically, who cares about ecology as long as things don't go totally south while I'm still breathing? After that, honestly, the planet can go straight to hell for all I care. Even if most people think differently—and hey, they probably wouldn't act the way they do if they didn't think that way—whatever. Our grandparents felt the same way, though I guess they were more eco-conscious since they’d occasionally give their bodies back to Mother Earth as much biological material as she needed. Anyway, you made a good point at the end, except even in Germany, they're breathing dirty air. They're arguably one of the biggest polluters in Europe and huge globally too. The only thing they're actually good at when it comes to the environment is talking big. Their plans to cut down emissions always seem to fall apart because they'll probably see an increase again this year. Plus, I don't really get what they'd achieve by cutting back if developing nations just make up for it tenfold. Developing countries aren't gonna slow down their growth just because they're worried about how much gas they're pumping into the atmosphere. It's just these pressures being pushed on them by developed nations that are massive polluters themselves. I've noticed that the biggest polluters are usually the biggest hypocrites, except maybe for the US under Trump, who just openly says what everyone else is thinking: he just doesn't give a crap. When I hear Chinese officials talking about how much they're investing in green tech, and there's all this debate over how much money is actually going into it and how much they "care" about the future, I just want to start screaming.🤣 They say they care, but they're planning to ramp up emissions through 2030. Honestly, it's kind of funny hearing these "green" types talk about how humans are going to save the planet. Such arrogance, right? Like the planet needs our help to survive. It's been through way worse than us, and if we try to lecture it, it'll just shake us off like a dog shakes off fleas. We "saving the planet"? If a massive asteroid heads our way, the only thing we could do is pray.
Unfortunately, I suppose things are exactly as you described them. It seems impossible for it to be any other way, since on one hand, everything feels geared toward increasing consumption, yet on the other, there's all this talk about conservation. They feel totally contradictory to me, and honestly, who cares about the rhinos.
Anthony Jackson2 said:Privatization isn't some magic bullet—it’s not penicillin, and it won't fix society overnight. Look at the private colleges here in the States—can you name one that actually holds its own against a major state university? Not a single one. They all just focus on making it easy to pass—leaking exam questions and lowering standards to turn a profit. But hey, as long as they're private, I guess it's a win. 🙏
I suppose what you're saying could also apply to public universities, so I'm not quite sure why it's an issue if someone wants to pay a premium for a certain degree. It's their money, so it's probably their choice. I guess it's better they spend it on education rather than drugs. Though, maybe they'll leave a little left over for a coke, but I suppose even drug dealers need to make a living too.
I guess I don't really see why everyone is making such a big deal out of this. Every society has its share of far-right activists, radical leftists, fringe theorists, old-school traditionalists, and even criminals. She isn't some uniquely American icon like Coca-Cola or Ford; she’s just a local figurehead pushing a conservative agenda. Maybe it's actually helpful to have someone applying pressure from the right to protect certain values, even if those ideas seem a bit outdated to some people. It seems like you need those conservative voices alongside more progressive or liberal perspectives to balance things out and introduce necessary freedoms.
Sandra Johnson58 said:Maybe economics is even less than a fifth of social life, but... I don't know, without a solid economy, all those other topics kind of become irrelevant. It's only because we live in these economically prosperous societies that we can even afford to debate these things as major issues instead of just passing comments. Besides, the kind of perfect society you're dreaming of doesn't exist anywhere.☕ Even in places like Scandinavia, there are people who aren't fans of gay folks or who look at abortion or, you know, "freaks" with total disgust. Sure, the percentage is lower, but I think I read recently that in Sweden, like, a quarter of the population thinks abortion is immoral—they wouldn't ban it, obviously, but they clearly don't view it positively. And honestly, I doubt anyone's gonna stare at a woman after an abortion mostly because, let's be real, hardly any woman is gonna brag about something that’s probably pretty traumatic. Personally, I think women who have abortions are being stupid—not because of the act itself, but because they let themselves get into a situation where they have to risk their health with such an aggressive process that leaves lasting effects. And for those who do go through it, I'd almost say they shouldn't reproduce so they don't pollute the gene pool with their stupidity. I mean, imagine being in the 21st century in a Western country having multiple abortions when you have access to every single type of birth control out there. As for everything else... most people don't give a damn, but there will always be those little groups of people who judge you and throw shade, so I guess my advice is just to get used to it. People used to give me crap because I'm tall, stocky, and have red hair, but I just laugh it off and move on. Like that old saying goes: it doesn't matter what's said, it matters who's saying it. My sister actually lives and works in Germany, and she has this coworker there who constantly asks her when she's getting married since she has a boyfriend. Just to be clear, the coworker is German.
Nowadays, shifts in worldview happen incredibly fast, and I don't think our society is particularly backward or primitive. In fact, in some respects, we are quite civilized and advanced. For example, here, even after the war when everyone had weapons, we have very little gun crime today, and people voluntarily handed over rifles to the police whenever they could. Despite the horrific bloodshed in the North America during the 90s, there is almost no terrorism between the warring factions here now, which is nearly a phenomenon. Terrorism has occurred in the UK, Spain, Russia, and Germany, even though they had far fewer political problems and conflicts compared to the former America. But here, there is none after the war. Americans are actually a very peaceful people, perhaps too laid back and overly self-critical, maybe too afraid to clear out things that aren't working. Even demonstrations like the ones in Greece aren't really possible here because the people aren't violent. On the other hand, in America, where most modern fads start, the right to carry a weapon is as much a right as going to a bakery is for us. Slavery was abolished here back in the 12th century.
I feel like everything should be privatized. I guess there isn't a single part of the economy that wouldn't benefit from it, including things like healthcare. Maybe even the education system would see some improvements if we had more private alternatives available.
ruggedjackal46 said:Did I really say they were doing a "stellar" job? My mistake. Let’s be honest—they manage our money about as well as a toddler manages a glass vase. But before you start shouting about dismantling the entire federal government and handing every cent over to some visionary Silicon Valley entrepreneur, can we slow down just a second?
I suppose that might be the way to go—just privatizing everything that can possibly be privatized.
ruggedjackal46 said:Look, you actually need some actual expertise for this stuff. You can't just expect someone with nothing more than a high school diploma to run a major Silicon Valley tech firm or start flipping Bitcoin like a pro. It’s the same logic as expecting someone from a tiny rural town in the Midwest to suddenly be out there renting out luxury mansions in Beverly Hills. We really can't just look at everything through our own narrow little lens, can we?
I mean, honestly, everything seems perfectly fine on paper, doesn't it? You can find a job with a decent paycheck anywhere if you look hard enough, and let’s be real—there’s always that reliable option of picking up some under-the-table cash if you want to stay off the radar. So, I have to wonder: why is anyone even bothering to leave America?
So, everything is great, anyone can find a job with good pay, and there's always that reliable option of working under the table. Why would anyone even leave the US? Haha, so I guess these people aren't Americans, they're aliens? https://www.hostelsvetirok.com/ Apparently, this was started by a woman under 30.
I guess at least working for foreign companies gives you options without all the red tape. Anyone with a car can drive for Uber, for instance. Or you could find work for thousands of different clients through sites like Upwork. Even in the hospitality industry, there are basically endless job openings. I suppose it really just comes down to how much someone is aiming for in terms of salary or what kind of lifestyle they want; everyone has their own preferences.