Nektonic
Veteran
Well, I don't think you can blame Lucas and Spielberg, like they had some diabolical plan or cinematic domination.
It is anyone's right to say they didn't like Star Wars or Indiana Jones or any of the successful Lucas or Spielberg films of the late 70's and early 80's. The thing is that these films were not the same thing as the majority of the soulless popcorn explosion-fests that we get today.
I dare anyone to say that Star Wars or Raiders or Close Encounters were all made with only money and fame in mind. Look at those films. You can see the blood, sweat, tears, love, and passion put into brining these stories and characters to life. Yes, revolutionary for their time effects are in these films. There was a lot of blood sweat and tears put into them too. These films and their effects still hold up and thrill audiences today. That is not due to just luck and business savvy.
Say what you will about the Star Wars prequels and Indy 4, but Lucas and Spielberg loved those original films. They would not be the classics they are without that kind of dedication and commitment to the craft. That is why Indy 4 was such a disappointment, because of what the old films represent and what it could've been but ended up so far from achieving.
It is true that the successes of Jaws, Star Wars, Close Encounters, and Raiders did change the mindset of executives in Hollywood. But to actually blame Lucas and Spielberg is for ruining cinema is pretty far off in my eyes. The truth is that there were already changes occurring at the studios and the blockbuster film was a part of it. Also, Lucas and Spielberg didn't know that their films would be successful. Lucas thought Star Wars had a chance of maybe doing decently, but not anything close to what it actually became.
And we still have great big budget films come out these days that are made by real filmmakers with real passion for their craft. Look at the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Peter Jackson and company put tremendous effort and tons of love into all three of those films and it is evident on the screen, even to a blind man. What about Aronofsky's The Fountain? He got that thing made come hell or high water. Do you think all that James Cameron thought about when he made T2 or Titanic was $$$$$$$$$$$$$$? I don't because look at those films. It is evident that they cared about these stories. How about Batman Begins and The Dark Knight? Did Christopher Nolan do it for the money? I can't really see that being the case.
Sure the studios and the executives may not care about the quality of films, but there are tons of filmmakers, technicians, FX artists, etc. that care deeply for their craft and the quality of the films they put so many months and possibly years into.
Don't automatically blame the writers and directors for the demise of cinema's artistic integrity. Blame those that make the decisions to remake crappy cartoons and sitcoms from the 70's as big budget summer tentpole blockbusters. Blame those that hire ten writers to rewrite a script so that it becomes a four quadrant film.
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