I think there is generally a kind of inverted relationship between the economy and the need for some form of escapism. Clearly the Dark Knight is one of those fantasties that indulges one's sense of hope in a very dark and gloomy time. I have seen the The Dark Knight and will see it again - I think it is that good! But more than that, it is two and a half hours of hoping for a world that doesn't exist in my present reality. Altruism is alive and well and living in Gotham City. The Dark Knight shows us once more how to look at the world through escaping to the movies. God Bless Chris Nolan and his clever band of rebels! This is pure escapism at it's best.
On the other hand, Mamma Mia took a full 30 years to make into a movie and one that encouages the audience to escape once more to a time when love conquers all. If this past weekend's box office bonanza isn't enough proof of the inverted relationship between the economy and escapism, some folks just aren't taking the economy seriously enough. Long live the movies!!!
Considering the long lead times required to take a blockbuster film from concept to script to casting and production (and in many cases, post-production given special effects requirements), I think this is another case where correlation becomes confused with causation. I will say that the proliferation of big-budget escapist fare has less to do with the economy than the economics of the motion picture industry. The factors we have to examine here are threefold, in my opinion - the number of movies being made, the funding of those movies, and new cachet that comic book movies carry. Starting from the last point, comic book movies are not a new trend, but they have become significantly higher profile over the last two decades. As more important actors (Bale, Ledger, Maguire) and directors (Lee, Singer, Nolan) attach themselves to these films, they become more attractive to investors. Throw into this mix non-traditional investment sources such as private equity, and the sheer number of movies being made in a given year has exploded. The competition for the average movie goer's dollar is more cutthroat than ever, given competition from a large number of crossover indie film successes, and the availability of high-def content on-demand in the living rooms of many viewers. Given the exponential growth in motion picture budgets, coupled with a less than exponential growth in box office receipts, I've no doubt we'll continue to see blockbuster escapist flicks even after the economy rebounds.
Certain pieces of entertainment or art will thrive despite an economy that tanks. Dark Knight was an event and was successful because of the quality of the film. The same thing can be said about certain video games. People can't be frugal all the time. They sometimes need to give in to an impulse and splurge on something -- whether it is a night out or even a shiny new gadget.
Perhaps. Or perhaps our new heroes will be found elsewhere. In trying times people tend to grasp hold of saviors. We should pay careful attention to who - whether bad or good, immoral or just - is out there, awaiting for the masses to latch themselves onto something.
I think it has more to do with quality of the thing and not the thing itself. Dark Knight is an amazing movie that merits all the ticket numbers it is putting up.
Aren't all films escapist, to some extent? Maybe documentaries are the exception, but sure, I could see this happening. Or rather, as in the Depression, only Hollywood will keep its head above water while other industries flounder. I doubt films will do resoundingly well, though; just better than other industries.
Fast Company makes me think of the street-walkers in any large city. Perhaps the concepts are worthy, but seniors will never consider this site as legitimate. Sorry, but my parents told me to avoid all the individuals known as "Fast Company".
8 Total
July 22, 2008 at 9:18am by Jay Tatum
I think there is generally a kind of inverted relationship between the economy and the need for some form of escapism. Clearly the Dark Knight is one of those fantasties that indulges one's sense of hope in a very dark and gloomy time. I have seen the The Dark Knight and will see it again - I think it is that good! But more than that, it is two and a half hours of hoping for a world that doesn't exist in my present reality. Altruism is alive and well and living in Gotham City. The Dark Knight shows us once more how to look at the world through escaping to the movies. God Bless Chris Nolan and his clever band of rebels! This is pure escapism at it's best.
On the other hand, Mamma Mia took a full 30 years to make into a movie and one that encouages the audience to escape once more to a time when love conquers all. If this past weekend's box office bonanza isn't enough proof of the inverted relationship between the economy and escapism, some folks just aren't taking the economy seriously enough. Long live the movies!!!
July 22, 2008 at 9:50am by Brian Flores
Considering the long lead times required to take a blockbuster film from concept to script to casting and production (and in many cases, post-production given special effects requirements), I think this is another case where correlation becomes confused with causation. I will say that the proliferation of big-budget escapist fare has less to do with the economy than the economics of the motion picture industry. The factors we have to examine here are threefold, in my opinion - the number of movies being made, the funding of those movies, and new cachet that comic book movies carry. Starting from the last point, comic book movies are not a new trend, but they have become significantly higher profile over the last two decades. As more important actors (Bale, Ledger, Maguire) and directors (Lee, Singer, Nolan) attach themselves to these films, they become more attractive to investors. Throw into this mix non-traditional investment sources such as private equity, and the sheer number of movies being made in a given year has exploded. The competition for the average movie goer's dollar is more cutthroat than ever, given competition from a large number of crossover indie film successes, and the availability of high-def content on-demand in the living rooms of many viewers. Given the exponential growth in motion picture budgets, coupled with a less than exponential growth in box office receipts, I've no doubt we'll continue to see blockbuster escapist flicks even after the economy rebounds.
July 22, 2008 at 10:19am by Kevin Ohannessian
Certain pieces of entertainment or art will thrive despite an economy that tanks. Dark Knight was an event and was successful because of the quality of the film. The same thing can be said about certain video games. People can't be frugal all the time. They sometimes need to give in to an impulse and splurge on something -- whether it is a night out or even a shiny new gadget.
July 22, 2008 at 11:12am by Jeffrey Olchovy
Perhaps. Or perhaps our new heroes will be found elsewhere. In trying times people tend to grasp hold of saviors. We should pay careful attention to who - whether bad or good, immoral or just - is out there, awaiting for the masses to latch themselves onto something.
July 22, 2008 at 12:14pm by Douglas Paul
I think it has more to do with quality of the thing and not the thing itself. Dark Knight is an amazing movie that merits all the ticket numbers it is putting up.
July 22, 2008 at 2:24pm by Carel Two-Eagle
Probably - IF anyone has the money to go to the movies....
July 22, 2008 at 6:11pm by Chris Dannen
Aren't all films escapist, to some extent? Maybe documentaries are the exception, but sure, I could see this happening. Or rather, as in the Depression, only Hollywood will keep its head above water while other industries flounder. I doubt films will do resoundingly well, though; just better than other industries.
July 23, 2008 at 1:20am by John Sorensen
Fast Company makes me think of the street-walkers in any large city. Perhaps the concepts are worthy, but seniors will never consider this site as legitimate. Sorry, but my parents told me to avoid all the individuals known as "Fast Company".