Movie Suey

B-MOVIES HAVE GONE UPHILL IN A BAD WAY

  Since the beginning of film there have always been bad movies. One individual’s masterpiece turned to sand due to low budget or maybe bad direction. Whatever the case for failure the movies were destined to be dubbed B-movies, enjoyed by cult following and forgotten to the majority in most cases. This decade has shown light on the genre bringing it to mainstream status but is that a good thing?

  Movies like “Plan 9 from outer space” or “Troll 2” have been deemed the worst films by many over the years and accepted to be quite genius in their own way (to those with good taste =p) usually by laughter at the terrible acting and cheesy effects that make for moments that could not be recreated. The B-movie of today doesn’t seem the same though it feels more like it’s trying to be a B-movie as opposed to being an attempt at a good film and falling in this category. In my opinion it’s a better experience to see a movie and its actors trying to make a great film and not do so well then to see something that already knows it’s destined to be bad.

  It seems the dreams of lower budget success caught the eyes of the money grubbers in Hollywood thanks to films like “The Blair Witch Project” which cost $22k to make and made $240.5 million. With the buzz on low budget and growing fame as unique gold, B-movies started to flood the market and pick up infamy as its own category. At first this wasn’t a bad thing with budget being less of an issue on people’s minds it gave the underdogs a chance and helped bring the age of independent films to reign.

  Maybe B-movies didn’t move up on any bar maybe the standards have gone down for movies in general in the last decade. Story takes backseat to CG and action scenes more and more these days even if it’s an already successful franchise that doesn’t need the extra help (Resident Evil for example). Box office records are smashed because a movie looks awesome in IMAX and People flock to movies for 3D being used to death. I fear the trend will never end and people will allow movies of all kinds to just be a recycled quick cash orgasm for the eyes as opposed to a joyous experience for the mind.