Comments on: Lucky Number Slevin http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2008/01/26/lucky-number-slevin/ Utterly random, incoherent and disjointed rants and ramblings... Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:59:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Alphast http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2008/01/26/lucky-number-slevin/#comment-7887 Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:43:28 +0000 http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2008/01/26/lucky-number-slevin/#comment-7887 OK, you are right, it is something you will find in many cultures. Maybe it has to do with comercialisation of art. There has been a discussion on this around the WTO last rounds of negotiations. Some European and some representants of emerging markets were making the case that work of art can't be confused with other merchandise or services. Otherwise, the risk would be to see the actual production of subtle and sophisticated movies (or other art pieces) totally crushed by corporations. Not only Hollywood ones, but also the big Indian studios, the massive editors, etc. OK, you are right, it is something you will find in many cultures. Maybe it has to do with comercialisation of art.

There has been a discussion on this around the WTO last rounds of negotiations. Some European and some representants of emerging markets were making the case that work of art can’t be confused with other merchandise or services. Otherwise, the risk would be to see the actual production of subtle and sophisticated movies (or other art pieces) totally crushed by corporations. Not only Hollywood ones, but also the big Indian studios, the massive editors, etc.

]]> by: Luke Maciak http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2008/01/26/lucky-number-slevin/#comment-7886 Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:14:16 +0000 http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2008/01/26/lucky-number-slevin/#comment-7886 Yes and no. I can't deny that this is something that plagues Holywood. Smart, thought provoking movies are a dime a dozen these days, and most of the really profound stuff comes from indy studios working with incredibly tight budgets. But is this truly a unique American quality? I saw bunch of foreign movies (Polish films, some Russian stuff and also Japanese Anime) that fell squarely into the same category: nice execution, good acting, but the potential is wasted with a script so shallow it is bound to appeal to the lowest common denominator. I think this has a lot to do with the fact that big studios treat movies as consumer products rather than works of art. Thus they try to create simple, easily consumable pulp with lot's of explosions and fight scenes, or angsty chick flix that will be gobbled up by the masses. Making an artsy or experimental movie is a huge financial risk. Making a sequel to a successful production or an adaptation of a established and popular book/comic/video game is sure money. If tons of money is involved and there are investors to be appeased, you can be sure that the script quality will be sub par. There are exceptions, but they are rare. :( Yes and no. I can’t deny that this is something that plagues Holywood. Smart, thought provoking movies are a dime a dozen these days, and most of the really profound stuff comes from indy studios working with incredibly tight budgets.

But is this truly a unique American quality? I saw bunch of foreign movies (Polish films, some Russian stuff and also Japanese Anime) that fell squarely into the same category: nice execution, good acting, but the potential is wasted with a script so shallow it is bound to appeal to the lowest common denominator.

I think this has a lot to do with the fact that big studios treat movies as consumer products rather than works of art. Thus they try to create simple, easily consumable pulp with lot’s of explosions and fight scenes, or angsty chick flix that will be gobbled up by the masses.

Making an artsy or experimental movie is a huge financial risk. Making a sequel to a successful production or an adaptation of a established and popular book/comic/video game is sure money.

If tons of money is involved and there are investors to be appeased, you can be sure that the script quality will be sub par. There are exceptions, but they are rare. (

]]> by: Alphast http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2008/01/26/lucky-number-slevin/#comment-7883 Mon, 28 Jan 2008 10:09:45 +0000 http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/blog/2008/01/26/lucky-number-slevin/#comment-7883 Well, I don't want to sound arrogant or stupidly anti-American, which would miss the point. But I think American main-stream culture (i.e. Hollywood) is representing and reflecting the nation itself: great mastery of technique and of the means of producing it, but too often lack of subtlety. There is a very American attraction for efficiency, straightness and being to the point, I believe, that somehow, sometimes, ignores nuances and shades... It is too bad, because otherwise, America would probably be an ideal cultural paradise. ;-) Well, I don’t want to sound arrogant or stupidly anti-American, which would miss the point. But I think American main-stream culture (i.e. Hollywood) is representing and reflecting the nation itself: great mastery of technique and of the means of producing it, but too often lack of subtlety. There is a very American attraction for efficiency, straightness and being to the point, I believe, that somehow, sometimes, ignores nuances and shades… It is too bad, because otherwise, America would probably be an ideal cultural paradise. -)

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