Sour Taste

I've just about had it with "Pop Culture" movies nowadays, honestly.

WARNING: this post exclusively talks about film, which is not the focus of my life's calling but indeed one of many  things I'm really passionate about. If you've interest in something about video games, I'd advise you to read another post--for those of you who feel the need to read this: beware, dear viewer, beware the spew of rantyness that is to follow!

It all started with a conversation I had not too long ago with some classmates. The topic was a frequent and popular one; the upcoming summer blockbusters. No matter how many times I tried to direct the discussion towards the newer intellectual properties, such as Epic or Now You See Me, it consistently returned to such well-worn franchises as Iron Man 3, Fast and Furious 6, The Hangover part 3, and Star Trek: Into Darkness. These classmates who were in the conversation with me were actually looking forward to seeing these movies more. It dawned upon me that this was what was considered interesting and worth watching. This was considered "cool". Is this the future that awaited me? People who were obsessed with seeing the same characters revived again and again?

Does this make me one of those hip-sters people talk about in hushed tones, never said aloud in polite conversation? I'm not upset that these things are mainstream, because I genuinely enjoy lots of the aforementioned franchises...and yet...I'm rather tired of seeing it again and again and again, as though it had never been thought of before. Some might argue that this exercise introduces new audiences to an intellectual property, but to that I simply say, so would just showing them the original. Things can be loved no matter how old you are, or how old it is, but for one to feel the need to drag a beloved franchise into the modern day so that they can continue to enjoy it is unsettling. Sick, even.

I'm dying for something fresh for folks to get passionate about. It can't be too hard to accomplish, can it? This trend perpetuates a future in which any creative mind out there will never be able to present her or his ideas without hiding behind the mask of a familiar face.

I'm probably--no, most certainly going to regret having ever posted this on the internet. I know, I know, how dare I feel upset about what people like! I'm not proud of the fact that this upsets me, but the more I think about it the more frightened I become. If people refuse to openly and passionately enjoy something new, I feel creators aren't going to bother investing in it, and and an unnerving cycle would be set in motion; a cycle motivated by pure fear of the fresh, the progressive, the original.

I'm making a promise to myself not to support any movie associated with an established franchise, not to give my money to any film which reboots or remakes, no sequel or prequel or rehash or rebrand or new look or new twist or update or downgrade or return or rebirth or anything like that. I've been consistently disappointed, and it won't stand any more.