After the great Princess Bride conversations that have been flying around the Internet, we re-watched it again tonight for the umpteenth time. It was just as awesome this time as the first.

On the “Making Of” documentary, the actors talk about what it’s like having been part of a modern and enduring classic, our generation’s Wizard of Oz. Indeed, this film will stand the test of time better than most because its humor, romance, action and fabulous writing are timeless.

I asked my 15 year old, Zach, whether he’d show it to his kids (if he should ever have kids) and he fairly enthusiastically agreed that he would.

Then he shared with me his list of classics he’ll pass on to the next generation:

The Princess Bride
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
History of the World Part I
Spaceballs
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Airplane
Star Wars I – VI
Lord of the Rings I, II, III
Men in Black
Titan AE

It’s a pretty good list! No Godfather or Field of Dreams, but, well, he’s 15.

As you can see from my prior post, I really like movies. I like talking about them, quoting them, and critiquing them. Hollywood, however, hasn’t made it very easy to be a movie lover anymore.

Now, I recognize that blaming “Hollywood” for ills is not a new thing; it’s a game that gets played for a lot of different reasons, a lot of different ways. Further, moviemaking has become a lot more diverse than just what’s made in that Los Angeles suburb. So, when I say ‘Hollywood”, I’m not just talking about the movie manufacturers there, I’m talking about the whole industry. Broad brush. Maybe that’s not fair, but the issue of the way movies are given the green light, made, sold and distributed is killing me.

First off, the experience of going to a theater is a ridiculously expensive grind. $9-$10 to get in. $10 for popcorn and a soda. Noisy people. Dirty theaters. Many times (I’ll admit not always) uncomfortable seating. Inadequately lit screens. Most of all, God help us, commercials. Result: Jeri and I rarely go anymore. It just isn’t worth the better viewing experience of the big screen and good sound; indeed, the only reason to go is something that is very good that we know will play best on a big screen with good sound. Our recently purchased plasma TV even kills some of that, though.

Second: Can we occasionally make something other than a sequel, please? Look, there are sequels I enjoy; there’s even one on my movie favorites list. But Hollywood is sucking the life out of stories and characters. Example: Shrek I, cute. Shrek II, still cute, but only because new characters were added and it still felt a little worn. Shrek III, pretty stale. Shrek IV: coming in 2010, whether you want it or not. Another example: Pirates of the Caribbean. Same sort of pattern, though in my opinion, both the second and the third movies were waaaaaaay over long. Apparently that franchise isn’t done either; next up, I understand, is Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of Johnny Depp Discovering Making Money is OK. Mind you, there’s a difference between a sequel and a series: Harry Potter is series, based on a book series. James Bond renews itself with new Bonds, and is also based (albeit very loosely) on a book series.

Third: Take your useless, grotesque, pornographic horror movies and dispose of them in the proper receptacle…the one that flushes. Why are those entertainment? What’s the draw to seeing someone tortured to death? I suppose they sell, but (and this is a big question that someone probably has or should write a book on) doesn’t an artist have some moral responsibility to create art that isn’t just, well, sicko?

Finally, I think that if you are selective, TV is doing better stuff. We’ve gotten a ton more enjoyment out of Lost, Battlestar Galactica, Heroes, and Big Love, than movies. Others I know were very into The Sopranos, and 24. They are more complex and better written. They have more time to tell their stories, true, but that doesn’t excuse that TV may be outmaneuvering traditional Hollywood.

So Hollywood, get off your duffs and do a better job!