For me, a good movie keeps you guessing.  It encapsulates something about our existence and masterfully portrays it.  A good movie will encourage its audience to evaluate their perceptions of not just of their surroundings, but possibly of themselves as well.   Also, a good movie’s effects on its viewers never wane, even after the film has been viewed countless times.  Unfortunately, for over the past decade, only a handful of movies have met my expectations.  I attribute this disappointment to a lack of creativity in movies; they have become too formulaic.

I have the notion that the film industry has replaced ingenuity with the latest recommendations from various calculated analyses.  I would not be surprised to learn that Hollywood utilizes a computer program that determines the relationship between different factors seen in movies and box office turnout.  Then, the program outputs a combination of factors that if incorporated in a movie will likely increase its box office success.  A film crew is then brought together to work with the recommendations supplied by the program.

I have considered the possibility that I have almost watched all there is to see and that leaves everything “new” to be rehashed material.  I am sure I would have greatly enjoyed Avatar (2009) if I had never seen Pocahontas (1995).  On another note, I recognize the risks of venturing off the beaten path of cinema.  Producing a movie for theaters costs millions of dollars.  Sometimes, a film crew has to borrow the money.  With such a grand amount of money on the line, it is hard to turn down reliable methods for generating a profit.

For now, I am content with going to the theater just to watch something cool.  Although, I still look forward to encountering a new movie that will meet my expectations.  A movie with something new to share.