I seem to have reached a point where the films that are coming out at the moment just aren't interesting me in any way. That's not to say that all the films coming out at the moment are rubbish, far from it, infact there have been some blinding films over the last twelve months that have really caught my imagination, A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints & This Is England to mentioon just two, but on the whole, looking at the bigger picture, there hasn't been anything coming out of the main Hollywood system that has any substance.

Now, those that remember me well (Hi, my names SEENOEVIL and I find Kira from The Dark Crystal attractive) should know that I'm not one to go and rant about films I haven't seen or at least I try and find the best in everything (except 80s chick flicks and John Hughes films... bloody hate them) but with remake and sequel/threequel madness that has been 2007 thus far, my faith in the major motion pictures industry is starting to strain a little.

I am set to go and see The Bourne Ultimatum on Tuesday with Mrs SNE (her choice) and although I am looking forward to it I am trying to think of the last film I got really excited about, the last film that made me giddy with anticipation for its release? The Curse Of The Golden Flower was a pretty big flick for me, being the Zhang Yimmou sap that I am, and Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain was a pleasent supprise to say the least, but that is all that is coming to mind right now.

Ok, so I have spent most of this year rediscovering a hell of a lot of films, especially from the 70s, and as wonderful as these films are, it says a hell of a lot for the modern movie that I have fopund more pleasure in watching films like The French Connection and The Deer Hunter than anything that has been released this summer.

Perhaps its just me, perhaps I'm becoming a grumpy old man, but I have no interest in watching a film based on a toy franchise from my youth that has been directed by the hideous monster that is Michael Bay (even if Mrs SNE does rate The Rock).

Am I alone in this perception? Is this part of the reason for the continued interest in foreign cinema? Am I, as I have already stated, just a grumpy old man? Gah, who can say?

My love of mainstream hollywood movies diminished greatly when I turned 16 and my mom decided she would no longer pay for my constant trips to the theater.

But I agree, this has been for the most part a lackluster year for me. Spiderman 3 could have been the big movie of the year (or at least the summer) but was in fact very disappointing. Pirates was worth the $5 I spent to see it, but not much more. Fantastic four was half decent, and therefore a masterpiece compared to the original. And evan almighty helped me to burn out a gift card and got me some quality time with a lady, but otherwise not remarkable in anyway.

I have skipped a lot of movies, and I don't feel like I have missed much. I will see bourne as soon as my free time and loose cash find each other, and I will probably check out the simpsons movie eventually, but it's not exactly a high priority.

As far as I can recall, the best movie I have seen this year (on the big screen) was transformers. It wasn't great by any means, but it was fun and for the most part, satisfying. And it wasn't a sequel.

I suppose this is a result of hollywood getting more cautious with what they will make. More sequels to proven moneymakers, more standardized generic movies, and fewer risks on new, big, expensive, original ideas which will either fail miserably or turn into something amazing.

I don't think I've been disappointed with any of the movies I have seen at the theater this year. The one that wasn't the best was probably Ghost Rider, but I still liked it. Haven't been able to see Pirates 3, Spidey 3, or Transformers. In my opinion, it has been a good year in movies.

I don't think this year has been as particularly better or worse than the last five or so years. The last film I got really excited about was Superman Returns, which was OK.

I think the problem isn't so much that it has been a bad year, just not a great one. There have been many fun movies, but nothing exceptional. So while it has been a decent year overall, it's not been a very exciting one.

Ah, the age old problem of test screenings. Scurge of many a director.

Over the years I have been to a couple of test screenings, and one in particular that stands out is Scream. I remember seeing this way back when, being asked to fill in the questionaire and then being sent on my merry little way (no tea and biscuits? Oh, the horror!). A few months later I went to go and see it with the then Mrs SNE and to my suprise the film had been cut quite horribly (don't ask which bits, it was 10 years ago at least, plus I hated the film). This scarred me a little. I remember some of the people from the test screening, and, well, I wouldn't trust some of their opinions when it comes to toilet roll let alone a multi million dollar movie.

This, for me, is part of the reason why I'm just not getting excited by films, it has all become oh so predictable. I know what to expect if I were to go and see Transformers, I know what will happen in Spider-man 3, I don't care that Keeef Richards is in POTC 3. Perhaps this is partly down to media coverage and partly down to me being grumpy, but that for me is the biggest point here, I just don't care for these films.

With next year throwing at us Indy IV (meh), Iron Man (hmm, maybe, considering who's in it) and this big blockbuster from JJ Abrams (overhyped already and I don't know a damn thing about it, but I have seen Alias... enough said), perhaps its time to start giving some more fringe directors some money and perhaps, you never know, you might just get another Taxi Driver or Godfather.

FX have ruined cinema, give me characters any day of the week (for the moment at least).

One thing that pisses me off about movies lately is the sheer amount of movies based on comic books. In the past few years, here are just a few off the top of my shell:

Spiderman 1, 2 and 3
Fantastic 4
Fanastic 4: Silver Surfer
Catwoman
Batman Begins
Daredevil
Elektra
Iron Man
Hulk
Ghost Rider
Superman Returns
X-men 1, 2 and 3

Those were written in about a minute flat, just picked out of thin air. Come on, people!! Grr!!

Anyway, personal rant over. It seems that 90% of kids films are CG films about animals, 90% of teen movies are either based on comic books, or those annoying teen movies (that, when released, feature the characters against a white background with the title in bold red text as the title - seriously), and 90% of adult movies are remakes of old horror movies.

There have been some winners, though. Dawn of the Dead (remake horror) and 300 (graphic novel-based) were amazing, despite being both in the categories I ranted about.

Anyway, movies are okay, but the only ones I've been/am excited about are War of the Worlds, Evangelion and Dark Alice.

So, in conclusion, what was the question again? >_>;;


P.S. Oh, and SNE, I totally agree - SFX are cool and all, but they can't carry a film alone.