imperialscum said:
I make these observations:
1. If majority liked story-driven and character-driven films, the Hollywood would surely make them. The studios probe the audience and when they get a feedback on what people dig the most they start making just that.
2. They surely aren't making CGI action driven films because that would be cheaper compared to making a story/character driven films, as so many falsely assume around here. Making all the fancy CGI scenes costs lightyears more than just picking a story/character-focused screenplay, or adopt one of the countless great books out there. Many young writers are producing countless of screenplays every year. The studios pick what people like and what sells best in the end.
3. If Lucas/PT is guilty of anything, it is merely discovering what majority of people currently like the most.
1.I doubt it.
2.The reason why we get these brand fixated painted by numbers movies is because business managers are risk adverse.
If studios are going to make an expensive film about AI run amok (for one example) it's easier to stick the words Terminator or Galactica on the poster than take a risk with something new (risks can be taken but they tend to be lower budget). With those brands comes a level of audience expectation. When the plot to kill John Conner and replace him with a sympathetic cyborg was leaked before the release of Terminator Salvation, the resulting fandemonium made the studio flinch and rework the film to death.
Potentially astonishing sequels like Alien 3 were screwed up by studio anxiety about a pricey brand with a history of success. That also led to a screwy prequel or three.
3.I concede that generally speaking audiences are a bit like patrons at a restaurant. Some people know their way around the menu, some people are willing to take a stab at something new but most people will settle for something they know. And in this respect the marketing bots are probably on the right track.