A great column by Michael Hiltzik in The Los Angeles
Times:
Hiltzik observes:
“ …"Star
Wars" transformed Hollywood economically, by establishing
a blockbuster mentality--and especially a mentality based on blockbusters
made for teens. It wasn't the first film to do so; "Jaws," released
in 1975, was a pioneer. But "Star Wars" outdrew "Jaws,"
and the opportunities to exploit the product commercially were much
greater.
Ever since then,
blockbusters have dominated studio economics and big mainstream movies
have gotten stupider. "Titanic," "Avatar," and
"Prometheus" are professionally turned-out and entertaining enough
for the two to three hours that one sits in the theater watching them
and they mint money. But they don't have a coherent thought in their heads,
despite the intellectual veneer decorating some of them.”