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The Forum > Article Comments > Why bad movies keep coming out and what to do about it > Comments

Why bad movies keep coming out and what to do about it : Comments

By John Pilger, published 18/10/2013

There is a cinema I go to that refunds your money if you're out the door within 20 minutes of the opening titles. The people there have knowing looks. My personal best is less than five minutes of the awful Moulin Rouge.

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He answered it, walk out, next question? We don't need some mad hand wringer angst fest.
Posted by McCackie, Friday, 18 October 2013 7:17:42 AM
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Pilger could only like films which are bout "the struggle" against capitalism and inequality. He would have stayed for the entire Battleship Potemkin, I'm sure, and happily goose stepped his way out of the cinema.
Posted by Atman, Friday, 18 October 2013 10:38:09 AM
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I would gladly pay twelve dollars to rid my establishment of John Pilger, and consider it money well spent. Perhaps we could ask him how much he would take to leave this website.
Posted by Jon J, Friday, 18 October 2013 10:57:19 AM
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I thought Benedict Cumberbatch was ok in the latest Star Trek movie, Into Darkness.

Cumberbatch, who has the best name in movies, was only an ok Sherlock, too weird and not suave enough. Robert Stephens is the best although Basil remains the template.

Actually Pilger has the physical appearance of a Holmes; maybe he should do a movie about Sherlock and the mystery of no evidence to support AGW.
Posted by cohenite, Friday, 18 October 2013 11:19:48 AM
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I'm seeing Blue Jasmine next week - heartened by Pilger's pilgerizing of it.
Posted by plantagenet, Friday, 18 October 2013 1:50:03 PM
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I stopped going to Woody Allen films a long time ago. (In fact, I stopped going to ANY movies a long time ago, as about 95% of them are by, for and about men – which inversely corresponds to the fact that only about 5% of all films are made by women.)

His plots are basically all the same: Narcissistic men marry narcissistic women, get older and more narcissistic, then dump their narcissistic wives to run off with narcissistic pre-schoolers. Or, conversely, a narcissistic pre-schooler (played by the current in-demand nubile starlet) is on the make for a narcissistic man who will inevitably dump her too. And these narcissistic characters all seem to be awfully urbane and talk a lot and give Oscar-nominating performances and seem to have lots of money to keep their narcissism well nourished.

My only query is: Why on earth is John Pilger bothering to go and see Allen's movies, even if he does leave after 5 minutes?
Posted by Killarney, Friday, 18 October 2013 4:50:35 PM
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Why on earth is John Pilger bothering to go and see Allen's movies, even if he does leave after 5 minutes?
Killarney,
Perhaps narcissistic movies don't cater for narcissitic moviegoers ?
Posted by individual, Friday, 18 October 2013 6:43:54 PM
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Interesting that most posts are personal observations about Pilger rather than the point he makes about film institutes and bad Hollywood movies. I look at cinema "what's on" lists and often cannot see anything worth watching. So on that point he is quite right. Most Hollywood product is crap.
Posted by Stevenroger, Friday, 18 October 2013 7:57:19 PM
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>>Why bad movies keep coming out<<

George Lucas appears to have gone senile in his old age.

>>and what to do about it<<

Kill George Lucas. And since he sold the rights for Star Wars to Disney, kill Disney as well.

I'd be doing the world a favour.

Cheers,

Tony
Posted by Tony Lavis, Friday, 18 October 2013 8:12:44 PM
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<< I would gladly pay twelve dollars to rid my establishment of John Pilger, and consider it money well spent. Perhaps we could ask him how much he would take to leave this website. >>

Why, Jon?

Is this just an opportunity for you to be obnoxious? Or is there a significant reason behind your comments?

.

<< Interesting that most posts are personal observations about Pilger rather than the point he makes about film institutes and bad Hollywood movies. >>

Yes, Stevenroger. Tis interesting.
Posted by Ludwig, Friday, 18 October 2013 8:38:57 PM
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In most of John Pilger's crapocumentaries there is at least a sub-theme about the evils of censorship.Therefore, one might have thought that
John would have been very much in favour of "Let(ing) a thousand flowers bloom" --even if some smelt like carrion flowers and only attracted flies.

But funnily enough, having seemingly secured (all too frequent) airing of his own --through various publicly funded outlets-- John wants to talk about controlling what others can produce and see, through user pays networks--amazing...but soooo predictable!
Posted by SPQR, Saturday, 19 October 2013 7:24:37 AM
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Because, Ludwig, I would be concerned that just about anything and everything about my moderately successful, independent, self-funded small business operation would offend Pilger's finely-honed attack dog sensibilities, and the longer he was to remain the more chance there would be of finding myself and my operation crucified and hung out to dry in an article in some leftist publication. This is Pilger's vocation, after all -- finding things he personally doesn't like and convincing other people to rally round and destroy them.
Posted by Jon J, Saturday, 19 October 2013 8:01:31 AM
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Why aren't you people focussing on the atrocious TV programming here in Australia ? It's ten times worse than what Hollywood dishes up. Australians really need to stop blaming everyone & evertyhing else & stop physhing for excuses when they lose at sport etc. Our own TV content is now so bad that it drives up the membership of discovery & Sky Channel to new heights. Just look at the insane, yes utterly insane repeditiveness of commercials & promos on each station. Many times I have observed he same promo played twice in a row. We now have about ten channels in FNQ & when you flick from channel to channel you get at least 5 channels playing either paid presentations with that screaming moron & his knife sharpeners or japanese cartoons. Then you have multiples of cooking shows, multiples of everything on Tv literally. Is it any wonder at all that many people go bananas watching so much idiocy ? The quality of autralian TV would rate as one of the lowest were there a survey. That Hollywood rubbish you talk about is gobbled by whom for cheap, soul destroying Tv ?
Don't rubbish the rubbish if you're buying the rubbish to make profit at the expense of ruining the mentality of our young & bombard them with nothing but rubbish.
Posted by individual, Saturday, 19 October 2013 8:24:33 AM
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Agree with Jon J!
As for the bad movies, to quote the perpetually bewildered, sentimental bloke? You plonks your money down and you takes your chances!
Or Forest Gump. Life is like a box of chocolates, you just don't know what you're going to get.
Even the best actors and actresses have their names added to this or that dog of a movie.
Perhaps Moulan Rouge would become an overnight box office smash, if it followed the example of Hair, and was produced as a nudie?
Rhrosty.
Posted by Rhrosty, Saturday, 19 October 2013 11:53:22 AM
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The last movie I went to see was "The Man from Snowy River", (my wife liked it) far too many Kirk Douglases, one is more than enough--anyone old enough to remember the movie?

The behaviour of the average suburban bogan moviegoer was bad that long ago, it's probably even worse these days. Pilger has a point in regard to the "Emperor effect", I joined a film society in the 1970s and endured many hours of tedious, pretentious Euro-crap before the truth was revealed.

Seen five movies seen them all. Movies were once a unique experience only available in a theatre, that era is over.
Posted by mac, Saturday, 19 October 2013 3:03:47 PM
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Three of my favourite movies are 'Citizen X", "The Dish", and a never-released-on-DVD Australian telemovie, "Riddle of the Stinson."

Citizen X is based on a true story, the hunt by Soviet police for a Soviet serial killer in Rostov, USSR, during the pre glasnost era. It is produced by HBO and it is a real gem.

The Dish, I really loved for its characterisations and its look at life in a small country town in the 70's

"Riddle of the Stinson" starring jack Thompson is, in my opinion, the best Australian movie ever made. Pilger would hate it because it presents white Australians as good people. It won an award in the USA for being the best family movie in the year it was judged. No sex, violence, car chases, or explosions, just a very interesting story full of decent people relating positively to each other in a time of stress. It can be bought through Ebay.

What movies do OLO readers like?
Posted by LEGO, Sunday, 20 October 2013 7:16:50 AM
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The following have stuck in my mind for a long time, but perhaps I saw them at an impressionable age. Ridley Scott’s ‘The Duellists’, based on a Joseph Conrad story. Stephen Speilberg’s first feature film, ’The Duel’. ‘Providence’ with John Gielgud, Dirk Bogarde and Ellen Burstyn. ‘A Dream of Passion’ – Melina Mercouri in a modern retelling of Medea.
Posted by Candide, Sunday, 20 October 2013 7:36:11 AM
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One that comes to mind:

"Double Jeopardy"
Intriguing plot.
Bruce Greenwood plays a good slime ball.
Tommy Lee Jones always puts in a good performance.
And, Ashley Judd, WOW, what can I say ...enchanting.
Posted by SPQR, Sunday, 20 October 2013 8:14:32 AM
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Pilger's observation re the generally poor quality of Hollywood movies is correct, with regard to movies for both children and grown-ups. There was nothing on last school holidays for me to take my teenager to. My favourite movies are Dersu Uzala by the incomparable Japanese director Akira Kurosawa and Snow falling on Cedars. However I saw Gravity last week and that is definitely better than the usual Hollywood stuff - worth going to see. As for TV, go to IMdb for top list of TV series eg The Wire, Rome etc and buy some of them - that will get you through those times there is nothing on the box to watch. Hint: put the subtitling on for The Wire, the Baltimore accents and slang can otherwise be hard to follow. I am not into crime shows but was so into The Wire as it is so much more than a police procedural.
Posted by Johnj, Sunday, 20 October 2013 1:45:50 PM
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SPQR,

Yes, anything with Ashley Judd, or Mary-Louise Parker. The final series of "Weeds" will be required summer viewing and Series 2 of "Game of Thrones", also the French series "Spiral"

Jonhj,

Agreed, good quality TV series are usually far more engaging than movies. "Rome" is a great series, even though somewhat truncated.

LEGO,

Most very,very, old but still more entertaining than most modern films, some are better remembered than revisited, of course.

"The Searchers", "The Forbidden Planet" (scariest monster ever) "Seven Samurai", "Gallipoli" and "The Life of Brian".
Posted by mac, Sunday, 20 October 2013 2:29:57 PM
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"The Island" would be the most appropriate movie to watch for some do-gooder posters.
Posted by individual, Sunday, 20 October 2013 4:38:46 PM
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Individual, what film/s would you recommend for the do-bad posters?
Posted by Candide, Sunday, 20 October 2013 5:35:37 PM
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Whether films are good or bad, old or new, they exist mainly to keep preaching the same old political sermons:

- Good violence always wins over bad violence.

- The wealthy are beautiful, glamorous, powerful and lead amazing lives that cheer up our humdrum existence.

- The poor are pitiful losers and criminals and they become poor because they make bad choices and have lousy impulse control.

- Men are much better at everything and much more interesting than women are (except at being naked) and they keep women and children safe from serial killers, rapists and pedophiles.

- There must be at least one movie released per month about the Holocaust, WWII and/or evil Muslims (or current enemy du jour) and they must always be part of the line-up for Oscar nominations.

Some films and TV series are much better than others at preaching these sermons – depends on the budget and the creative team’s talents.

For what it's worth, my favourite films would be Sunset Boulevarde, I Walked with a Zombie and Clueless. Favourite TV series of the last few years – Dance Academy, Game of Thrones, Miss Fisher Mysteries and Cold Case.
Posted by Killarney, Sunday, 20 October 2013 6:45:05 PM
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Individual, what film/s would you recommend for the do-bad posters?
Candide,
The same because those who go about doing good are the ones doing so much damage.
Posted by individual, Sunday, 20 October 2013 7:10:00 PM
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Movies are so very subjective.
I haven't seen the latest Woody Allen - simply
because the man creeps me out. But that's just
me. The movies I have seen relatively recently
I have enjoyed - "The Hobbit" comes to mind.
Prior to that, "The King's Speech." Prior to that
"The Saphhires," and of course all of the "Harry Potter,"
series. I'm looking forward to seeing "Diana," (despite
the awful reviews). I like to make up my own mind. I enjoyed
the special effects of "Avatar." And sat there mesmerized
in the film with Jeremy Irons (can't remember the name)
that dealt with corporate finances, collapse and manipulation (edge
of the seat stuff). I can't ever remember walking out on a
film - so perhaps I've been lucky in my choices. I'm sure
that Mr Pilger's standards are very high as far as entertainment
goes. I usually find at least something worthwhile in what's
on the screen even in "Moulin Rouge," the costumes and settings
were impressive, and Nicole Kidman as always - quite beautiful.
Posted by Foxy, Monday, 21 October 2013 6:45:33 AM
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cont'd ...

I've just remembered the film starring Jeremy Irons -
it was, "Margin Call." A tense Wall Street thriller
tracing a high-powered brokerage firm 24 hours before
the stock market crash of 2008. Kevin Spacey and Demi Moore
were also part of the great cast. Great viewing.
Posted by Foxy, Monday, 21 October 2013 9:29:50 AM
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