Open Letter to Hollywood

Here is a great open letter to Hollywood by Jim Emerson that I wish I wrote. Presented as an intervention to a loved one who needs serious help and has been self-medicating for too long, Emerson tries to wake up an unfocused and risk-adverse industry. He captures the disappointment that many have been feeling when they look through the localc ineplex listings.

Here is Emerson's take on sequels:

You say there's nothing wrong, you're just fine, that it's always been kinda like this. But "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry," "Hostel Part II" -- these are cries for help, whether you realize it or not.

and on the ghastly trend of torture-porn:

... As increasingly deathlike gore and so-called "torture porn" get more extreme, and more mainstream, how far are you willing to push it before audiences just get sick of it? Sure, these films are targeted primarily at a younger audience -- including those who are supposedly too young to see R-rated movies without a "parent or guardian." But we, and they, know better than that.

I don't know if it will have the intended effect, but it nice to know others feel like I do.

[Link to Letter]