Home Theatre Software: Insulting?

The sad reality is that, for a substantial portion of the American public, crap is now the acceptable norm. One of my favorite entertainers was Steve Allen, a true Renaissance guy, who some years ago wrote a book about the "dumbing down" of America. What is happening in the American movie industry is but the unfortunate reflection of a poorly educated (in the full sense of the term) and relatively uncultured American population. The barbarians are no longer at the gate -- they now represent a significant influence in the U.S. population. Is it any wonder that the Islamic countries worry about cultural decay due to American influences?

Funny, I was probably one of the few people who thought that "Private Ryan" SUCKED!!! (Please, don't take this as an insult to the men who sacrificed more than we will EVER be able to comprehend!) Typical Hollywood schlock, predictable scene climaxes, tugging of heart strings in a manipulative way (no style or panache), and the MAJOR problem...TOO LONG!!! (Hey, have you heard what the latest Tom Hank's movie is about...it's about 3 hours long!) What does Tom Hanks have for a contract, a minimum movie length of 3 hours? Especially since the last 2 hours of "Private Ryan" was filler when compared with the first hour! And sorry, I don't think that 1 hour of beach landing scenes shot in 8 or 16 mm. "jerky cam" is art...it's just a boring excess! The strongest, yet subtlest, scene is the one where the G.I.'s were playing "dog-tag poker" with the column of battered and disillusioned troops marching by while staring on with disgust. Sorry to go on, but I HATE a bad movie masquerading as a good one, due to a heroic theme. Considering that many movies use market research testing for endings or character development, is it any wonder that many are commercial pieces of fluff? Let's not forget about the megabuck advertising campaigns, either. Does anyone REALLY believe that "Titanic" was the best picture of the year?

LOL, I was only, tongue in cheek, trying to think of a boom boom recent movie on the fly that was a slight cut above Rambo. Dumbing down and fatting out (a national crisis to the Human Services Secretary) seem to go hand in hand. What you do not use you loose. Simple as that.

If Hollywood and its government proxy has its way the only thing we will be developing is a dangerous approach to handling problems here and abroad. In fact, somebody high in government used sayings like "Make my day" (1980s) and "Wanted Dead or Alive" (2001) citing Hollywood lines when discussing foreign policy issues. It is no surprise that lines like this were used since: 1.) The highest government official saying them knew the American public pays more attention to and internalizes Hollywood "Grade School Speak" 2.)The sayings seem to "say it all" while saying nothing at all (constructive)

I can not imagine rationalizing a $30,000-$60,000 video projector to subject yourself to a paid process of brain dulling where the only brain stimulus is when the synapses fire when a bomb virtually goes off in your living room. If you are like me I have had enough bombs and talk about them as a solution in the last 6-months (when does slugging another person in the mouth with a bomb or ENRON type raping of a country make them say "hey I like you and I have no reason to hate you"). Something about Hollywoods message seems incredibly dangerous let alone a waste of time.

I want more thinking in this country before we have to deal with real bombs. Music is the universal language and allows for reflection, relaxation, expression, and fun. I rather live a life than watch a Hollywood Drama Majors version of one