Dearth of Choices

I went to the theater on Friday, as is my usual custom, and was a little deflated by the options. On the first four screens sat three releases — "Saw 3D," "Jackass 3D," and "Paranormal Activity 2." I couldn't help but think to myself, is this what it has come to.

This recent installment of the "Saw" franchise — they claim it's the final one but I somehow am not believing it — was the only major new release this weekend. The other two were the top grossing films in the country the last two weeks. I couldn't help but think about how sad a statement that is for our nation as film goers.

I wonder what D.W. Griffith, Frank Capra and Cecil B. DeMille would think of those as the top three choices at the theater. Is that really furthering the medium of film? And of the horror films, what would Alfred Hitchcock think of what's going on with the genre? Then I couldn't help but wonder how many people in the current filmgoing public would know who those four pioneers of film are? Probably not that many.

Unfortunately we live in a country, in a time where the seventh film in the "Saw" franchise earns $10.8 million on opening day. Seeing that total this morning, I couldn't help but weep a little on the inside. Until we start demanding better films by voting with our wallets, this is the selection we're going to get...

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