Many of my happiest childhood memories were formed in the comfort of a folding cinema seat - stuffing popcorn into my mouth, while simultaneously being transported to another world; it’s one of the rare times I was able to multitask.
Late 60’s to early 70’s movies celebrated the anti-hero and were a kind of reflection of the chaotic time. Late 70’s to mid-90’s movies were mostly higher quality propaganda that inspired people to do good things and be better. Now they are mostly culturally subversive and depressing propaganda pushed on the public to kill our souls.
Glad to see we are not alone in the sighing and the irritation when hollyweird wants to remake another classic for a more “inclusive” audience that ends up inspiring no one and turns people off more. Even when they try to remake long time classics it has blown up in their faces; when I went to see remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still it took everything I had to not walk out; I ended up appreciating the original film even more.
Original stories or true sequels that expand on what happened previously usually earn a lot more respect and more income; Blade Runner 2049 and Top Gun Maverick are great recent examples.
I think there are ways to add to and build on 80s movies and do it well. Probably the best example is what Cobra Kai did for the Karate Kid movies. Those movies had problems but Cobra Kai played into them while doing some brilliant things in a modern storytelling environment.
However, I do understand your frustration with 80s movies. My big issue with the “remake” of the classic 90s TV show Charmed was that they didn’t understand the original. The creator of reboot actually said that they were doing a “feminist reboot”. The original show was already a feminist TV show of the 90s. It just wasn’t feminist according to current “standards”.
It’s one of the biggest concerns many Buffy fans have about the constant talk of a “reboot” or “remake” of it.
I remember, (BACK IN THE DAY!)talking with mates that shared my love of films. Fantasy, horror sci-fri, thrillers, mysteries, comedy, romance..... We spoke of, in zealous wonderment, about how the movies will be in the future. It would make me so excited about the future. What an anticlimactical discovery that turn out to be! If I could go back and tell my younger self what a disappointment awaits her. I don't think I could have the heart to burst her bubble. However, Francis lot better things waited for me in the future than what movies could bring me. If people don't have a good movie to live vicariously through, then the boredom will encourage people to go out and live exciting, meaningful lives. Rather sitting safely at home or indoors engaged in an exciting films. The movie and entertainment industry has aided in the Pussification of our generation. You even said you were inspired not go out and be a hero of your own story by watching films, but you were more inspired to go to Hollywood and be paid to act like a hero in someone else's story. What rubbish. Just look at the reality of Hollywood and it's disfunctional actors and actresses. You really wanted that? You really think that was a good thing to inspire in the young hearts in our day? Francis you have become a real life hero fighting for freedom of speech. You are the real life Mel Gibson in Braveheart. Lifting up your kilt and showing the world your massive cock. Shouting out with snot and spittle hitting your enemies faces, "You can take away our lives but you will never take any our freedom to say 'Fuck Off'!!!!"
I tell you now, I am finding the same zealous wonderment in how the podcast matrix is all going to pan out, like I had for movies. I also know it will be massively disappointing, but just like I said, I would not go back and burst young Claudia's bubble. I don't want much older Claudia in the future coming to me now and bursting my bubble. All we have is the moment and we should live in it. Stop yearning for the past or trying to convince people and yourself it was so much better back then. How is that ever going to inspire people to live in the moment with hope and zeal. Woke happened , just get over it. There is a lot more things in life to look forward to. Stop being afraid of disappointment. It is all part of life and over coming the obstacles in life, like a true Indiana Jones. Love you 🤗
That's the reason why people start buying movies in 4k für their own private library. You can't be sure with streaming that the old movie will stay untouched.
I hear you! It's not just the 1980s it's often the same for the generally pathetic remakes of beloved films from earlier decades! Yes i am older than you :D BTW I remember meeting you in Maddens Bar last year in East Finchley during the early hours! Great you are writing on Substack now.
Yes! Hollywood can’t even make Rom-coms anymore either b/c they don’t fit the new sexual politics. It’s so sad.
That’s the only reason why anyone in our age group knows who Meg Ryan is.
Everyone knew the latest Tom Hanks - Meg Ryan film was gonna be funny and sweet and a bit corny. But they always were money makers.
I’m also on the hate ‘sequels, prequels, reboots’ bandwagon. Nobody wanted a reboot of the Fresh Prince. The Fresh Prince was always and is always going to be Will Smith.
I remember sitting in the theatre for the first Star Wars movie in 1977 and being transported to another time and another place. (I gave up with when JarJar showed up in the prequels.) What movies do that now? The only thing worth watching from the 21st century so far is the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Movies now are crass, woke, predictable with too much CGI and no memorable storytelling. And the remakes? Disney is hitting the bottom with a remake of Snow White! Leave the classics alone!
The film industry, yeah those f*****s in Hollywood have lost all sense of creating a film based around a real story. As RG said they are all making remakes and blah, blah, f*****g blah. One would better search for interesting stories among the minor film makers.
Agree wholeheartedly. Been saying something similar for quire some time now. I've been told lm a crotchety old hat......seems where are in a league of our own.
You are good at this, you should write a book...
Late 60’s to early 70’s movies celebrated the anti-hero and were a kind of reflection of the chaotic time. Late 70’s to mid-90’s movies were mostly higher quality propaganda that inspired people to do good things and be better. Now they are mostly culturally subversive and depressing propaganda pushed on the public to kill our souls.
The 90s and 2000s were also a golden age. Hollywood destroyed Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Make America Fun Again! https://yuribezmenov.substack.com/p/make-america-fun-again-tech-culture-golden-age
Glad to see we are not alone in the sighing and the irritation when hollyweird wants to remake another classic for a more “inclusive” audience that ends up inspiring no one and turns people off more. Even when they try to remake long time classics it has blown up in their faces; when I went to see remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still it took everything I had to not walk out; I ended up appreciating the original film even more.
Original stories or true sequels that expand on what happened previously usually earn a lot more respect and more income; Blade Runner 2049 and Top Gun Maverick are great recent examples.
I think there are ways to add to and build on 80s movies and do it well. Probably the best example is what Cobra Kai did for the Karate Kid movies. Those movies had problems but Cobra Kai played into them while doing some brilliant things in a modern storytelling environment.
However, I do understand your frustration with 80s movies. My big issue with the “remake” of the classic 90s TV show Charmed was that they didn’t understand the original. The creator of reboot actually said that they were doing a “feminist reboot”. The original show was already a feminist TV show of the 90s. It just wasn’t feminist according to current “standards”.
It’s one of the biggest concerns many Buffy fans have about the constant talk of a “reboot” or “remake” of it.
I remember, (BACK IN THE DAY!)talking with mates that shared my love of films. Fantasy, horror sci-fri, thrillers, mysteries, comedy, romance..... We spoke of, in zealous wonderment, about how the movies will be in the future. It would make me so excited about the future. What an anticlimactical discovery that turn out to be! If I could go back and tell my younger self what a disappointment awaits her. I don't think I could have the heart to burst her bubble. However, Francis lot better things waited for me in the future than what movies could bring me. If people don't have a good movie to live vicariously through, then the boredom will encourage people to go out and live exciting, meaningful lives. Rather sitting safely at home or indoors engaged in an exciting films. The movie and entertainment industry has aided in the Pussification of our generation. You even said you were inspired not go out and be a hero of your own story by watching films, but you were more inspired to go to Hollywood and be paid to act like a hero in someone else's story. What rubbish. Just look at the reality of Hollywood and it's disfunctional actors and actresses. You really wanted that? You really think that was a good thing to inspire in the young hearts in our day? Francis you have become a real life hero fighting for freedom of speech. You are the real life Mel Gibson in Braveheart. Lifting up your kilt and showing the world your massive cock. Shouting out with snot and spittle hitting your enemies faces, "You can take away our lives but you will never take any our freedom to say 'Fuck Off'!!!!"
I tell you now, I am finding the same zealous wonderment in how the podcast matrix is all going to pan out, like I had for movies. I also know it will be massively disappointing, but just like I said, I would not go back and burst young Claudia's bubble. I don't want much older Claudia in the future coming to me now and bursting my bubble. All we have is the moment and we should live in it. Stop yearning for the past or trying to convince people and yourself it was so much better back then. How is that ever going to inspire people to live in the moment with hope and zeal. Woke happened , just get over it. There is a lot more things in life to look forward to. Stop being afraid of disappointment. It is all part of life and over coming the obstacles in life, like a true Indiana Jones. Love you 🤗
That's the reason why people start buying movies in 4k für their own private library. You can't be sure with streaming that the old movie will stay untouched.
I hear you! It's not just the 1980s it's often the same for the generally pathetic remakes of beloved films from earlier decades! Yes i am older than you :D BTW I remember meeting you in Maddens Bar last year in East Finchley during the early hours! Great you are writing on Substack now.
Yes! Hollywood can’t even make Rom-coms anymore either b/c they don’t fit the new sexual politics. It’s so sad.
That’s the only reason why anyone in our age group knows who Meg Ryan is.
Everyone knew the latest Tom Hanks - Meg Ryan film was gonna be funny and sweet and a bit corny. But they always were money makers.
I’m also on the hate ‘sequels, prequels, reboots’ bandwagon. Nobody wanted a reboot of the Fresh Prince. The Fresh Prince was always and is always going to be Will Smith.
I remember sitting in the theatre for the first Star Wars movie in 1977 and being transported to another time and another place. (I gave up with when JarJar showed up in the prequels.) What movies do that now? The only thing worth watching from the 21st century so far is the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Movies now are crass, woke, predictable with too much CGI and no memorable storytelling. And the remakes? Disney is hitting the bottom with a remake of Snow White! Leave the classics alone!
Too bloody right, Francis. Once again a most enjoyable, and thought provoking piece.
My most hated of any of the modern takes on a classic story has to be the abysmal Hobbit trilogy.
The extent of this post-literate society in which we now live is depressing.
Francis I am on to you 🫵 You write a Substack threatening Hollywood, and then hours later California is on fire 🤷♀️
The film industry, yeah those f*****s in Hollywood have lost all sense of creating a film based around a real story. As RG said they are all making remakes and blah, blah, f*****g blah. One would better search for interesting stories among the minor film makers.
And.......ld like to add, music is the same. It's become dull and drear.....
Think of Meatloafs Bat Out Of Hell, Fleetwood Ma, so so so many.....people still singing them now.
Agree wholeheartedly. Been saying something similar for quire some time now. I've been told lm a crotchety old hat......seems where are in a league of our own.
More good stuff on which I couldn’t agree more - from one of your oldest fans- in both senses !!