Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)

[skinsguy]

Interesting post Mlmpetert.

I think that wiki entry hit the nail on the head. Of course the movie industry got its start on "borrowing" ideas from stories already established. Heck, that's why they moved to Hollywood - they were not subjected under copyright laws of the areas where these stories were lifted. But anyways, it seems now more than ever, the movie industry just seems to be running out of ideas. Most of the big blockbuster movies are from stories already written. The three biggest movies (or movie packages I guess I should say) of this last decade have been Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Twilight. All, I think, came from stories which were already books for years prior to the movies.

Seems like I can go back and remember big time movies from the 80's. Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop, National Lampoons Movies, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Gremlins, E.T., Alien, Star Wars (technically started in the 70's), Indiana Jones movies, etc... a lot of great American Pop culture from the 80's that were all pretty much original stories for the big screen (at least from what I assume.) And even the 90's had a lot of really cool movies that defined that decade as well. But, seems like now, we're getting into an era where those movies are either being remade, or added on to. If not big screen movies being remade, it's TV shows being sent to the silver screen. For instance, I'm hearing a lot about a Top Gun II, more Batman movies, we've had the A-Team in cinema, 21 Jump Street on the big screen, etc...

To me, just seems like the movies that are defining this generation are ideas that defined generations prior. Not a lot that this generation can hang its hat on. The music industry and the movie industry has stopped being creative and has focused on trying to hold on to the ways of the past, and this goes against the very nature of those industries. Maybe it's just me, but when I think about my childhood from the 80's, it was great. My family wasn't wealthy at all. Actually, we barely got by, but it was the things in pop culture that I still hold onto in high regards today.

Which is funny about mentioning the retro equipment. I cannot believe that walkman is going for over $70 so far! My fiancee purchased a turntable (record player) a few months ago for me. It was one I have been wanting for awhile now. Getting back into records seems to bring me back to that time in my life where I could sit back and listen to an album from cover to cover. And listening to it on vinyl gives me a new appreciation for the music itself. Sure, vinyl is not nearly as convenient as CDs and espcially MP3s, but when the record is nice and clean, and you have a good quality turntable with a good head and needle, you actually make it a point to sit back and just lose yourself in the music.

Maybe that's what these industries should work on. If they're worried so much about mp3s, put music back on vinyl to where it's at least difficult to go through the process of dubbing the music onto your computer. Oh, and make laser turntables affordable!