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January 7, 2010

Benji Tunnell: Support only good movies

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Thu Jan 07, 2010, 06:53 PM CST

Just a few years back I wrote about the box office slump of 2005. It was a stumbling block for Hollywood, a down year where even the ever-increasing admission prices couldn’t offset the declining attendance.

I had hoped then that the movie studios might take a step back and assess the quality of the films they were producing, focusing on improving the product rather than throwing more and more at the wall to see what would stick. However, this slump was short-lived, as the current economic downturn drove more and more people to seek distraction from their declining 401(k)s and their increasingly tenuous job status.

2009 was a record year, capped off by the trifecta of “Sherlock Holmes,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakel” and “Avatar.” Each has been a monumental box office success, but this trio is reflective of the past year at the theaters: For every quality film we get, we have to sit through two that are mediocre, at best. We have shown that we, as an audience, are perfectly willing to accept pretty much whatever we are offered so long as it gives at least a 90-minute respite from our real world troubles.

That’s not to say that we didn’t get our share of gems this past year.

We were given “Up,” possibly the finest Pixar film made, and certainly the best kids’ film to grace the screen in a decade. This was preceded by “Coraline,” the vastly underrated, not-quite-kids’ movie that kicked the year off right.

We got a “Star Trek” film that appealed to even non-fans, the triumphant return of Quentin Tarantino in “Inglorious Basterds” and the crown jewel of the suddenly ubiquitous zombie genre in “Zombieland.”

However, we didn’t embrace just the good, and that is our failing. How is Hollywood supposed to learn if we shell out equal amounts of money for a unique and original film such as “District 9” and mindless junk like “Paul Blart: Mall Cop?”

The current box office champ (until “Avatar” surpasses it this weekend) is “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” a film so banal and mindless it is the equivalent of watching “Twilight” while reading “Twilight” while wearing your “Team Edward” T-shirt.

If we continue to give positive reinforcement to this kind of garbage, we have no one to blame but ourselves when that is all that is offered to us.

So, this year, let’s think before we give our money to more drivel. Wait until a good film comes along before you trek back to the theaters. There are so many alternatives for your entertainment dollar — there is no excuse to continue to give it to unworthy movies.

Hit the Redbox and catch up on some of the good stuff you may have missed. Netflix some classic films. Go see a local play.

In addition, make the time to visit other theaters. I’ve made many trips to Rogers, Ark., to watch films in a clean, pleasant and comfortable environment. There’s The Moxie in Springfield. Miami, Okla., also offers a digital 3-D experience. If you can wait, catch the film on the second or third weekend in Webb City, or do a double feature during the summer at the 66 Drive-In in Carthage.

Or, just continue maintaining the status quo and look forward to “Transformers 3: The Rise of My Lunch,” with complimentary lobotomy to improve the overall experience.

Address correspondence to Benji Tunnell, c/o The Joplin Globe,

P.O. Box 7, Joplin, MO 64802 or benjitunnell@gmail.com.

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