Home News
Reviews The List
NYTS Links
Ramblin' Man Gallery
'LOTR' is done in December, 'The Matrix' is a cultural icon. And even if 'Superman' as a movie is going nowhere, 'Smallville' is a critical smash and surving on the WB. So is the genre FINALLY coming to life and going beyond 'oh, it's THAT kind of story' mentality? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... could be. The Powers that Be in Hollywood are no longer just baby-boomers who's recollections of sci-fi are George Reeves and Adam West. Now, the power-brokers are also those who were raised on 'Superfriends' and 'Robotech.' We're not just talking about MONEY here. Check-out the top-grossing films of all time, and you'll see that past 'Titanic' and 'Forest Gump,' you have a LOT of action/sci-fi/fantasy pieces. The question is RESPECT.
Most likely, RESPECT is finally coming to the genre. Ok, ok, so 'Birds of Prey' and 'Roswelll' didn't last very long. Just the same, when they disappeared, OTHER shows came on to take their place; 'Twilight Zone' is back on UPN and 'The Dead Zone' is alive and well. So there. No, this isn't primo stuff like 'Quatum Leap,' but just to see networks trying to pu SOMETHING on TV besides another 'reality' TV show or another drama set in a legal firm is a good sign that someone, somewhere, thinks sci-fi is worth SPENDING MONEY on. Hey, if you wanna do that, it's a start.
But we were talking about respect, weren't we? Yes, Joss Whedon and 'Trek; TNG' always got dissed, but keep in mind 'The X-Files' won a Golden Globe, and Gillian Anderson did score an Emmy. Hey, as they said in 'Contact', baby steps. And notice 'LOTR; The Two Towers' was still nominated for 'Best Picture'.
Personally, the sign of respect for me is 'Gladiator.' Ok, where did that come from, you ask? Think about it, the movie is basically an action picture; cool dude has him family slaughtered, is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay pissed, and busts-out the industrial-sized can of whup-ass to exact his revenge. Seriously, that's the movie if you think about it. BUT, Russell and Co. took the standard storyline and gave it life... and the Academy and public responded.
This wasn't a period piece set in Victorian England or any other cliched pics that tend to win on Oscar night. This was an action-pic with a heart, and it WON. So, flash-forward to Peter Jackson's darling. In the end, LOTR is the story about a lone short dude who has no special talents but ONE; the belief that only HE can accomplish what no one else in his world has the courage to do. If THAT isn't what Oscar winning movies are made of, well 'Chariots of Fire' and 'A Beautiful Mind' among others shouldn't have one, either.
So, fans there HOPE... real hope, this genere of hours is beyond being simply 'fun' pics, and is seen for the great, powerful work that it is. We might finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, and instead of a train, that light at the end of the tunnel is a lightsaber.