| |
Richard Botto, Editor in Chief / CEO of RAZOR Magazine, has created the definitive men's magazine which features the best in men's fashion, travel, sports, autos, celebrities, technology, humor, fiction, fitness and more.
|
|
 WRITINGS:
RICHARD BOTTO
Back to Writings Main Menu
June / July 2001
Writing My Publisher's Letter, Sipping a Bud
I read recently where the producers of the film Cast Away were upset that
the movie wasn't nominated for an Oscar in the Best Picture category.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe they give the best commercial of
the year a Mobius. I mean Tom Hanks, a two time Academy Award winner,
as a spokesperson for Fedex? Who would have thought? I left the movie
thinking three things: no more flying on small planes, scratch the idea
of growing a beard and call Airborne Express and get the corporate shipping
account changed.
Is it any wonder that movies have sucked lately? Bad enough Hollywood
has gone bankrupt on original ideas and that major studios will make
a full length motion picture out of anything that had a two month run
on TV (remind me, were Josie and her little kittens a must watch on
Saturday morning? Did we really need two Flintstone movies? I dare Hollywood
to make a live action Magilla Gorilla feature with Schwarzenegger in
the title role and Devito as Mr Peebles… I just dare ya), but today,
more effort and creativity is put into what the character drinks, drives
and eats than into the important stuff, say, oh, character development
and plot.
Now, there's only one person to blame for this. Steven Spielberg. Oh,
I know what you're thinking, Spielberg's a God. Jaws, Close Encounters,
Raiders of the Lost Ark…all classics… I'm with ya. But, ever
since he had that endearing little alien ambling through the forest
eating Reese's Pieces, the film industry has never been the same and
now greed is thy name. Today everything can be bought and it seems,
with a nudge, not a shove.
Nothing is sacred. James Bond has given up the class and dignity of
an Aston Martin for a BMW Z3? His female conquests shouldn't have names
like Pussy Galore or Holly Goodhead any longer, they should be named
something more like Buffy Weinstein. Enough with the classy tuxedo's
and the martinis. Give the man a cardigan and an Absolut and cranberry.
His nemesis shouldn't have steel teeth, he should just play a mean game
of squash.
Think about it, if Citizen Kane were being made today, the establishing
shot would be of Charles Foster Kane gasping, "Peeeeeeeeppppppppssssssssiiiiiiiii"
just before expiring. The reporter character would spend the whole movie
running down Kane's old acquaintances wondering why he cherished his beloved
soft drink so much.
Somewhere, somehow, Britney Spears would make an appearance.
Or how about the Wizard of Oz? Surely we would have a scene where Dorothy
visits Nine West in Topeka to purchase her ruby shoes just before the
twister. "There's no place like the Topeka Mills Mall, Toto."
I hear the people involved with the soon to be released Pearl Harbor
wanted to be as "historically accurate" as possible. But,
with a rumored $150 million budget, don't you get the nagging feeling
that a pivotal scene in the movie will take place at a Bennihanna hibachi
house?
Hell, I'll bet you in the next Friday the 13th movie, Jason will use
only Black & Decker power tools to dismember his victims.
What's next? Our finest actors reciting advertising tag lines? Instead
of "You talkin' to me?" are we going to be faced with De Niro
musing, "Wazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzup?"
Because that's where I'm drawing the line.
Enjoy the Issue,
Richard Botto,
Editor in Chief / CEO of RAZOR Magazine - The Definitive Men's Lifestyle Magazine
www.razormagazine.com
|
|
