“It’s out with the old and in with the new.” A phrase usually meant to describe a good change. But, not when the change turns a beloved form of entertainment into a complete snooze fest. In the past, avid moviegoers experience a sense of magic at the movies. Teenage heartthrobs like Leonardo Dicaprio and Brad Pitt, making teen girls swoon. Megan Fox steals the show during her performance in the beloved 2007 “Transformers” movie. Modern movies don’t imitate that sense of magic anymore.
There should be no reason for movies with high-quality VFX (visual effects) to have a story without a plot. In the past, older sci-fi and action films had to make up for the fact that they didn’t have the lasted and greatest technology by creating storylines that would keep the audiences engaged whether the technology was advanced or not. Sure, the explosions might resemble a toddler’s art project, but the scripts were crafted to ensure those movies never go out of style.
It’s not just the scripts that fall short of entertainment these days, today’s actors aren’t bringing their characters to life like icons that came before them. As someone who loves romantic movies, I can’t but wonder if Hollywood has forgotten how to make us believe in love. From the way I see it, classic romance movies like “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” or “10 Things I Hate About You,” make me believe the characters would do anything to be with the other person. But today’s stories, oppose this idea. If the two starring actors don’t get along, today’s acting isn’t convincing enough to hide it. After leaving the theater I wonder if the two characters truly loved each other. To me, past legends didn’t just read from their scripts but made magic through their performances while today’s stars seem just to be reading from the page.
In both writing and acting a common theme is seen. Film projects today lack the passion that otherwise would have created unforgettable movies. I believe that big-shot movie producers and directors are making films not because they are in love with the storyline but to make as much money as they possibly can from the box office. Being afraid to take chances, I feel like this is one of the many reasons why modern films seem so repetitive and predictable. Choosing creativity can be the difference between a good movie and a great one.
Ultimately, films were created for entertainment or a quick escape from reality for a couple of hours. As new and upcoming movies start to roll out, hopefully, a new era of film will take place that will bring back the comfort and nostalgia that old movies brought to us from the past.
