‘Avatar” doesn’t need any help at this point … especially not from a modest movie blog like WWTW.
But imagine what liberal director James Cameron could have created had he put his ideology on the back shelf while crafting his space epic?
His new film is breaking all sorts of box office marks, but its political broad sides deaden the story and take us repeatedly out of an otherwise remarkable film experience.
A blockbuster might have become a film classic for the ages.
Instead, it’s a money making machine that will be remembered more for its impact on the 3-D revolution than anything else. And that’s a waste.
For an example of ideology hijacking a great premise from the right, consider the recent comedy “An American Carol.”
Director David Zucker, who helped create “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun” trilogy, sought to mock Michael Moore and the Left in toto. Talk about a ripe, untested target.
Instead, he clumsily told his story, relying on conservatives to nod in agreement rather than howl with laughter.
It’s a safe bet ideology sunk more than a few anti-Iraq war movies in recent years. Why would a gifted actor/director like Robert Redford crank out a clunker like “Lions for Lambs” if not for being blinded by partisan finger pointing.
It’s one reason film fans should be happy a Democrat is in office … filmmakers who traditionally lean left can concentrate on storytelling, not score settling, when they hit the next film set.
UPDATE: Sonny Bunch offers some complementary thoughts.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Agreed, Toto.
Just think if they all tried to tell good stories. I remember hearing Vince Flynn on an interview about why they haven’t made any movies about his books. He states several producers all wanted to, but they had to wait until Bush was out of office! Unreal!
Mark … do you have links to those items re: Flynn’s books and the Bush comments? Will post them here if you do… thanks!
He states several producers all wanted to, but they had to wait until Bush was out of office!
I haven’t heard of anything like a right wing oriented movie coming down the production gut. As near as I can tell “Atlas Shrugged” is still stalled in production with no end in sight.
It strikes me that it’s quite possible that the Hollywood left may prefer being in total control of the greatest propaganda machine the world has ever seen. The success of AVATAR implies that you don’t need to make movies that conservatives would go to, because Hollywood now makes more of it’s money overseas than at home and anti-Americanism makes more money there than Mom and apple pie does here.
Add to that the problems with Obamism and the possible resurgence of the Republicans, and there must be a terrific temptation to keep the Hollywood ministry of truth’s novel writing machines working round the clock.
Here are the Flynn comments:
The Flynn Comments was a short-lived spin-off of The Rockford Files…
Growth and evolution of film technology is itself a thrilling thing but in the end the story is what counts. This has become more and more clear to me now that a good home theater (with a large projection screen) makes it possible to really view what I want when I want.
Thus “Pearl Harbor” sits on the shelf despite fantastic CGI while “From Here to Eternity” gets repeated viewings. Indeed, I find I turning more and more to the old, all done in the studio, moderate budget, b/w classics despite their monaural soundtracks and obvious rear-screen projections and glass shots.
Avatar’s box office success certainly justifies its making to the business people involved, but I personally will likely hold back form seeing the “new” 3D technology until something that is more than eye candy becomes available.
And not supporting a film with a nasty anti-west, phony-baloney eco theme, seconds that decision in my mind.