Just read an article on the big movie slump this summer.  Made me think.

A)   I am trying to remember that last movie I was jazzed to see.  For that matter, I can't remember any recent movies that were original (i.e. not remakes or rehashs).  Is the quality really just poor these days?

B)  Politics.   I just won't see movies with certian actors, not because I am actively boycotting them, I just can't see them as a character anymore.  They are imprinted on my mind as a leftist, so they can't make me believe they are not.    I haven't heard as much from the hollywood left recently.  Maybe they are at least smart enough to shut up when their paychecks shrink?

C)  Home video.  Theaters are just not worth it.  Why put up with the hassle of everything in the theater when for the price of two tickets, I can just buy the movie.  Even if I don't like it, I can throw it away and come out ahead dollar-wise.

D)  Other?  There has to be other reasons I am not thinking of.

I'm a... or was a... real movie-phile.  I miss movies.  I just think for the most part nothing is being made that is worth watching.  It is really disappointing.
There are exceptions, of course.  I would have liked to see Mystic River, but with Tim Robbins and Sean Penn?  Come on...  Not gonna happen.

If it really, REALLY appears to be worth the $10 I'm going to shell out for the damned thing.

1.  Movie's made by a director or writer whose work I've always enjoyed

2.  Movie's an adaptation of some work I've enjoyed in another medium, like tv, comics, books, music or news.

3.  Involves zombies

4.  Movie's about a historical or biographical subject I have a lot of interest in

5.  Word of mouth.  This failed factor miserably with "Napoleon Dynamite".

If it looks great I'll wait for DVD and buy it.  If it looks less than great I will pass on the theatre and the DVD.  I will see it maybe if someone I know gets it or as a rental one day.

If it looks monumental I might go to the theatre but I will probably still wait for DVD.