Rio de Janeiro: 27 degrees, hottish, sunny, overcast and unstable.
It is the last Sunday before I go to England. The countdown is only three days away, and I have two days to do my online check-in.
I took Perola for a walk in the morning. It had rained at night, but the streets and the park were already dry in the morning due to the warm weather. I did some exercise in the park, but nothing strenuous. I think I’m already in travel mode, so I’m a little slow and lazy, and maybe my mind is not in Rio and my daily routine, but more in England.
After returning home, I spent time on the computer and rested for the rest of the day. Nalva prepared a late lunch, and we all watched some old films on cable television. Nalva and Yasmin enjoy cable TV and don’t mind watching the same movies repeatedly, but I dislike it. It has to be an exceptionally good film for me to watch again and again on cable. However, what interests me is seeing how old the film is and comparing the actors or actresses from then to now.
For example, “Pretty Woman,” featuring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, is a modern-day Cinderella story. “Love Actually”, an English production that is still popular even though it’s more than 20 years old, is also a modern classic. Not forgetting “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” which is even older, features Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell.
I regard these films as modern classics; in some ways, they will never go out of fashion. Everyone likes them or respects them for what they are and stand for. Moreover, they are entertaining and carry a meaningful message. I am also intrigued by the year the film was produced, the youth of the actors at that time, and how they are now if they are still alive.
What is also interesting about the film industry, or Hollywood in general, is its various trends. Twenty years ago, a wave of films centred on global destruction was released, and in the early 90s, there was a plethora of excellent romantic comedies that were far superior and more entertaining than those of today. Additionally, directors like Tarantino, Villeneuve, Hitchcock, and many others are responsible for a distinct array of styles or types of films.
What is clear to me is that the film industry is cutthroat, with actors, directors, and even franchises being cut, chopped, and changed at the stroke of a pen. Over the last 20 years or so, we have experienced an avalanche of superhero films, which I initially found at least interesting and entertaining.
These films have matured from fantasy and surreal, outlandish productions into more plausible creations, striving to incorporate a touch of reality and justification while enhancing the story’s credibility.
Even so, I have reached the point where I genuinely dislike superhero films. I find them incredibly boring, repetitive, and predictable. I honestly don’t understand what they are trying to convey or offer to entertain the viewer and the public.
I watched an interview with a renowned director who asserts that, due to superhero films, the Hollywood industry and filmmaking have significantly declined in quality. Without being too radical, I believe this is true.
When I was a child, I immensely enjoyed science fiction. I believe this was because, as children, our minds are fuelled by fantasy and the possibilities of what could be created. I read books by authors such as Isaac Asimov, one of the foremost science fiction writers in the world at that time, and Frank Herbert for “Dune,” which I consider one of the most remarkable science fiction stories of all time, not to mention “Alien,” which is a classic.
As I grow older, I enjoy dramas, intelligent romantic comedies, and occasionally police or crime films. I am particularly fond of the new wave of films portraying vigilante individuals seeking justice for the wrongs committed against them, such as “Taken” with Liam Neeson and “The Equaliser” featuring Denzel Washington. I thoroughly enjoyed the latest instalment of “The Equaliser,” the third film set in Italy; for me, it is as good as the first film and better than the second.
My favourite films at the moment are the semi-classic “Field of Dreams” with Kevin Costner, which I appreciate for personal reasons tied to my relationship with my father; Frank Herbert’s “Dune”, which resonates with my youth; and “Blade Runner 2049” for its engaging plot and brilliant production quality.
What are your favourite films and why? And what do you think about the film industry in general?
In bed by 11.00 p.m.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Richard
