Cultural Vandalism. Alienating the old audience in the attempt to curry a new one, and losing both in the process.

"We want the brand but WE DON'T WANT the audience..." should really be a T-shirt made & sent to the majority of Hollywood / Disney execs - and then on the back it would read "we want ANOTHER audience that we've made up in our heads" 😂 well said sir, well said.

So here in London, they showed a screening of Bruce Lee's 'The Big Boss' (The Mandarin Cut) in celebration of 50 years after his passing. This was a 4K transfer by Arrow. Now, what was so good about this new presentation, not only did it contain all the original audio sound mix as it was released in 1971, but it included 11 minutes of never seen before since its premiere footage, scenes that had been talked about for many years as a rich Chinese collector who had the only copy left of this version decided now was the time to release it to the public. Although the way the film was transferred was using the best 35 mm print for the most part, every time it cut to the original footage, the colour was faded and it had its Cantonese and English subtitles burnt into the footage. Nowhere did Arrow try to make a new sound mix of 5.1 or 7.1 or what have you like some other Blu Ray transfers which tried to put in new sound effects, this was as close to respectful of the fans as you could get, and seeing scenes on the screen and watching it as close to as it was presented in 1971, I felt like I was right there in a room full of people like me and this restoration was made just for us. If only other companies would care this much, more people would invest into the cinema again and not just use it to pass the time. Before the follow up in 2 weeks with a 4K presentation of 'Fist of Fury' it will show 'Big Boss' two more times. I plan to go see this gem again as I have NEVER felt this kind of experience in all my years in the cinema, like this film was made just for me, a fun since I was 4 years old seeing this film with my dad on VHS back in 1985.

"Let the past die. Kill it if you have to!" - Kylo Ren I think all the studios took that line to heart.

Your unplugged segments like this were really interesting to watch but we all know that the Disney execs will never listen to the fans. They're too proud to admit their mistakes and they'll just blame the fans as to why their shows never succeeded.

“You forgot the first rule of mass media Elliot. Give the people what they want!” James Bond, Tomorrow Never dies.

"We want this brand, but we don't want the audience" The whole point of a brand IS the audience!

In the last couple James Bond movies, it felt like Bond was being punished for his sins.

It could be a good thing in the long run. The lack of talent in Hollywood, hiring on a non meritocratic basis and the constant chasing of ESG scores forced on these companies by Bkackrock etc will ultimately destroy the beast. This will hopefully give rise for the next generation of Lucas’, Ford Coppolas, Spielberg’s etc to rise up. This isn’t the first time Hollywood has looked doomed. In the mean time I am enjoying my physical media copies (which can’t be changed) of classics and will support indie films. Great video Michael 👍

I think you summed up the state of modern films pretty spot-on. Thank you, Michael!

Powerfully stated, Michael. Disney (and others) want to reap the rewards from these popular franchises while at the same time keeping what made them great at arm's length.

This is right on so many levels

Bravo Michael! This needed to be said out a loud. The entertainment landscape is certainly in a mess... greed and narcissism is at the heart, as always. Thanks for all your content.

The best example for me about this issue you raise would be new Star Trek, especially Discovery and some aspects of Picard S1-2 and Strange New Worlds. The new producers have repeatedly turned Star Trek on its head, throwing out the science in sci-fi with fantastical plot lines, trying to rewrite older characters instead of just creating new ones (Nurse Chappel on SNW for example) and moving to a serialized format without having a plan on what the story is going to be. Even when they do try something new by doing something “old” with Strange New Worlds (moving back to an episodic format), the writers very quickly kill off the new and interesting characters to bring us lame versions of Kirk and potentially Scotty and canonically inaccurate versions of aliens like the Gorn (again instead of doing something new). What’s funny is Paramount lucked into Terry Matalas running season 3 of Picard, a writer who worked on the show during the “legacy era” and actually understands what the hell Star Trek is, and low and behold, Paramount is getting its best streaming numbers they’ve ever had for Star Trek. Sadly I doubt they’ll learn their lesson, as they’ve green lit a Starfleet academy show nobody wants instead of handing the keys over to Matalas to produce the Legacy show.

Been in the business over 25 years... worked for Lucasfilm, Diz, Amblin, etc... I've seen the change in this industry and when you say "cinematic wreckage"-- man, have I seen that. Have I pitched them the RIGHT things-- across the board. Ya know, someone AT Disney actually sent me the link to this video and wants to meet this weekend to "discuss it". Discuss WHAT? What's there to discuss??? This gentleman has just laid it all out for you eloquently, honestly and passionately. As a matter of fact, this guy just got himself a new subscriber. I don't know him, I've never seen his content, but MY GOD, does he really have a handle on the corporate infiltration of some of the most beloved and wonderful juggernauts EVER created. Yes sir-- they DO continue to narrow our options. However, I am still here and will continue to present everyone with new options-- different options. Because lemme tell you something mate-- Diz IS burning more than you think, because A LOT of this garbage they're making-- ISN'T making money-- and you know what? The STOCKHOLDERS are NOT gonna put up with that much longer. Cheers to YOU good sir. It's really refreshing to see someone wear their heart on their sleeve in creating content as I wear mine on my own sleeve when I create monsters and movies. Keep doing what you're doing sir. I'll be watching...

Yes Michael, yes! Good storytelling and likable characters was the gold standard of past cinema and television. Currently Hollywood lacks both creatively, and it’s utterly killing the entertainment industry. I’ve learned to vote with my wallet, just like I do with my purchases of nostalgic toy lines I loved as a kid, and I know it doesn’t make a difference in the long run, but at least I can rest easy knowing, that at least in that regard I have an option. The sad state of affairs is that not taking part in something financially is the only option left, and that doesn’t seem to be very good option for anyone involved.

Oh wow, this must your best video yet, sir. So glad to have found this channel.

I love the unplugged videos. So well done.

Preach on brother. I couldn't have said it better. Here to support the truth. When will the BS end. So many companies destroying franchises.

What a brilliant and reasoned take on the current climate. You have articulated in a calm and clear way what many are feeling. We aren't all lunatics, we are just sad about what has happened to an industry we love.

Well said. I think Lucas said: they want to make movies as a committee and movies are art. You cant make art with a committee.

Another spot on video Yeah it's definitely weird times 😢

*standing ovation* I couldn’t have put this better myself. * imagines this video suddenly playing on every monitor and TV in Hollywood movie studios , with executives frantically trying to turn it off but failing and screaming.. fade out. *

I Absolutely love ❤️ when you do these types of videos.

You cannot judge the past with present sensibilities. Context matters. I am happy I have the ability to properly contextualize media. This has allowed me to enjoy books, music, old time radio and films from the past century. Not everything in this media is good, but it is our history and we should not forget it.

"we are living in a time where corporations don't see the value in giving customers options, and they don't also see the value in maintaining the existing audience while reaching for those newcomers." Well put, and just brilliant Michael. It feels this extends wayyy past the humble hobby of pop culture watching and toy collecting and into everything from grocery bills to the current price of housing. Everything in the last 6-7 years (especially the last 3 yrs) has felt so damn oppressive, expensive, and not at all resembling the versions of those things most people want, and you captured the exact reason for it here.

As always a cogent thoughtful analysis

More than anything, I just wish big companies like Disney would focus on making a good, enjoyable product, first and foremost.

This is why I'm such a huge fan of Japanese media. Video games, TV, Movies, and anime. They make what they want, it's made by REAL people, and most importantly, they are able to tell a story that talks about important issues that need to be talked about while at the same time speaking universally to everyone. It's not made to hate on groups of people, it's made to tell an amazing story, with iconic characters, while not being up in your face about political issues unlike American media.

"Let's take the Wayback Machine to 1995." Oh yes let's!

Michael, I love that I have NO IDEA what your political leanings are. Good creativity there! One of the reasons I really enjoy your channel!!!

Spot on, old friend! I couldn't have said it better myself. And I've tried; believe me, I've tried.

I agree about the cognitive dissonance you discussed here, and I've always believed that it comes down to professional jealousy. These people that are put in charge of existing franchises secretly resent the creative minds that came up with these amazing stories. They know they can't make anything like it on their own (which is why they are there in the first place). So they try to reinvent it, but as Russell T. Davies recently said, they don't understand the medium, so they can't create anything.

Princess Leia: I am NOT a committee! Disney: WE ARE *THE* COMMITTEE

Honestly, these are your best videos. I know, you put a ton of effort into everything you produce and I love those videos as well! But I really enjoy just having a video of yours I can put on and listen to as paint my Battletech minis. Really enjoy your stuff Michael! Always wishing you the best!

One of the problems I have with the live action remakes of their animated films, is that they bring nothing new or groundbreaking to the table in terms of cinema. As an experiment of, what would these animated features look as live action, it is a failed experiment, specially if they are changing the characters so that they dont look like their animated counterparts. Storywise it brings very little that is new and what it does bring that is new, is generally just padding and uninteresting or something which actually goes entirely against the film itself, with only some few exceptions in which the change does contribute to enhancing the story, but such cases are so few that they barely matter at all. But mostly the problem with the live action remakes, is that its Disney undermining the value of their own animated features, by basically making the statement that theyre not adult enough, undermining their value as an artistic form, even when many of these features have won awards and have been hailed and praised by critics.

Well said Michael, as always! I think all of this comes from the same vein as people who instantly argue with you if you disagree with them. It seems we now only have conversations and arguments. There is no in between. What you said about Eastwood was spot on. They need to focus on the story. Stories are universal. That’s why Shakespeare can be applied so easily to modern film.

I had a writing teacher a long time ago that said movies are not green lit by creative people anymore, they are green lit by “lawyers and accountants”. People that look at a spreadsheet and see “X” IP made money so they put out more of that. They don’t really care about the story etc just put out something with the “name” on it. And if it fails it’s the IP’s fault or the fans not any decisions the studio made. That said I HOPE Indy 5 is good. But I won’t be a shocked if it isn’t.

It's simple. Entertainment shifted from entertainment to social propaganda. Instead of writing a story that might hit on subjects, to stories writing to push a subject.

I love this. You all at RetroBlasting may not see this a "return to form," but I do. What brought me to this channel (beyond its appreciation for nostalgia) was its thoughtful and considered commentary and humor. Everyone has the right to vent, but I feel like the channel had gone down that particular path so much of late that I stopped watching the channel's videos and commenting. I missed the old, erudite Michael. I had always found his fun and reflective jabs at pop culture in the midst of its celebration ti be refreshing. I most likely would have never known about Robotech or its fuzzy history of anime and toys if not for this channel. I sincerely hope that this becomes another turning point for RetroBlasting and the content shifts back to what I loved about this channel in the first place. Thanks for a great video. To paraphrase the late, great Stan Lee: you keep making them, I'll keep watching them.

They're really taking the Disney out of Disney

Did you hear about Disney (as new owner of 20th Century Fox) possibly being responsible for a censorship edit to The French Connection movie? Not just on Disney Streaming, but elsewhere, including (apparently) on new blu ray printings. That kind of stuff really boils my blood. Even worse than the "sensitivity reviews" famous books have been going through lately. If this keeps up, even physical media won't be safe 😠

Very interesting video. I agree with a fair amount of what he says. A great deal of this can be applied to life in general in America, circa 2023. Who knows, maybe by 2026 things will have changed enough that we can all hold our heads high for our 250th birthday.

This is precisely why Seth MacFarlane's _The Orville_ is such an important series. It is giving fans of _genuine_ Star Trek an option to watch a utopian, science fiction show about exploration. An option that Paramount and Alex Kurtzman tried to take away forever

The options are being taken away with the hopes that consumers would just fall in line due to the scarcity of parity in pop culture. Massive failure to say the least

This may be the most even articulation of a difficult (political) issue I have ever heard. It really does step into multiples "side's" shoes. While I enjoy the toy discussions, these videos are why I really enjoy your channel. Thank you. Edit: and to be clear - I don't necessarily 100% agree, but the insight into what everyone may be thinking and having a dialogue about it is far more important (to me) than completely agreeing on the points. We are all people with sifferent thoughts and ideas. :)

I've heard and read plenty of arguments on this matter. Yours was the most eloquent, thoughtful and precise. Thank you.

Clearly Captain Obvious is needed desperately in the high offices of Hollywood to name a few places. Brilliant video. 😊❤

Very insightful. Good work.

I just watched a video on WDW’s first few years and that nostalgia factor was pretty high. That is the Disney I grew up with- Tron, 20,000 Leagues, heck even Darby O’Gill and the Little People. Disney is just alien to me now. I first went to WDW around 2000 when I was in my 20’s and it was closer to the early days of Disney than today’s Disney.

I am not sure if I sat down with Michael we would agree on everything. But the frequency he is able to put out videos like this, that very eloquently puts words to how I feel is impressive. Well done.

Excellent arguments but there is one thing missing. Those of us who have been watching the Disney drama playout. Have been scratching our heads over one thing. It's the one thing we hoped would turn things around over there. That is the profit motive, Disney hasn't had a hit movie in years. They keep spending money on everything, but it's not coming back. Even the theme parks are seeing a drop. They seem to be acting more like a government than a corporation, they are only concerned about their image, but nothing else. Everything they are doing looks to be driving them into the ground. Some are expecting a huge selloff of Disney IP's, because Disney has to make a payment that it doesn't have cash for. But that's a subject for others to cover. Disney is in very bad shape, at least other companies in Hollywood are working to earn our dollar. At least Universal is acting like they understand profit motive. But Disney, their leadership is putting on the best show in Hollywood.

The E.S.G. kickbacks and credits are also heavily influencing the financial and creative decisions. (Either that, or there is the most un-natural 100% overlap with a certain party's politics more than ive ever seen. one that is very difficult to simply dismiss as coincidence.)

Best passing of the torch for me, was the first episode of ST: TNG. The way "Bones" McCoy and Data played off each other of the past and present...

These unplugged videos are excellent Michael. Thank U for bringing some semblance of Sanity to the World.

This was one of the most well spoken videos I have seen on this topic. I had not thought of it in terms of not having choices. Yet I agree it’s there. I didn’t think of it as being painted into a corner and being the enemy because I liked a franchise that had not been deemed sinful. I also appreciate that you noted this without using hyperbolic language and aggressive voice tones.

My beef with Disney is vastly general but focused! I want to see a company especially when it comes to its bread and butter, animation go back to finding new stories to tackle and break new boundaries in artistry and technology like when Walt ran the studio. Do I have hope of it happening? I don’t, and damn it, that sucks to write that conclusion out.

I agree with most of these opinions but… hooooo boyyyy, that take on the Craig films is wild, i don’t think the franchise would have survived without that shift in tone. Coming from a younger gen that has seen all of the classics, the cornball approach from many earlier entries is something I don’t think many modern audiences would like

Wild times indeed! Glad there’s cool content on KZfaq like this channel! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

Your ideas are intriguing to me, and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter. 🤔 Seriously though, fantastic video.

It’s burning the past as they go and expecting people to be happy about it

It's been a while since I've heard such a heartfelt and yet precise and analytical take on this issue. Thanks!

"A fatal lack of creativity..." That sounds cool. I like it😎

22:23 a great man said this once “ everyone from the janitor to the store manager can be fired just by the customer shopping someplace else” Sam Walton

And this is a pattern not just found in movies and television but in other media as well.

It feels like Cobrai Kai learned this early on. If only everyone else would.

Great segment. You explained the problems very well.

This is Larry Fink's "forcing behaviors" via ESG scores becoming more and more obvious. Once you understand that, even just a little, much of the mystery of what weird decisions all these companies are making lately, make sense. We are noticing the "forcing" more and more and people are starting to open up about it.

I keep getting Backlash and Whiplash mixed up. I hope Disney doesn’t screw up this movie too! J/K. Another great Unplugged, Michael! PS: I have that Astin Martin too. Nice toy.

The bigger issue is that the new stuff isn't good. People forget how difficult it was to find a successful superhero movie. Until RDJ came around, outside of a few Batman and X-Men films, it wasn't working. You can't just substitute random heros and actors into a superhero franchise and expect them to be good. You have to pay your dues.

Wow!!! A great video!! It is basically the conversations I have with myself about the industry! ( the peters around me don’t have my training in film and story and basically flap their fins and consume product….. very frustrating)

It ends with us not supporting anything they do. I've not seen the latest Indy, Predator (x2), Bond, gave up on Dr Who & Star Trek circa 2016, gave up on the MCU early in Phase 4, gave up on DC after Man of Steel, watch the Star Wars shows but for the most part hated them. I was going to less and less movies in the cinema and haven't been to the cinema in a cpuple of years. Barely seen any modern movies beyond Ghostbusters Afterlife, No Way Home, Bill & Ted 3. Only modern TV show watched in 2023 was Tulsa King.

Well said and well thought out.

it's about time the backlash came. i've been waiting for this for years now.

This a good time to create a new Hollywood. New studio’s. New IPs.

Removing choice and the availability of old movies was a bad start. Diversification of casts is only a good thing imo! Not only is it socially a good thing, there are some fantastic actors/actresses who otherwise wouldn't get a look in 30 years ago. -The big problem is Hollywood doesn't seem to be able to empower any one group without kicking down at another. They can't big someone up without tearing someone else down because, as you said in your excellent video, they're utterly devoid of creativity enough to do so.

Removing the options is the strategy

Well articulated and thought out opinions. Thank you.

Nobody has said it in such a polite and powerful way. I tip my hat off to you sir!

Apparently, there's a social credit system in place for corporations called ESG that forces these corporations to push and favor wokeness over the quality of their product. In other words, Disney/Lucasfilm cares more about their ESG score than they care about the consumers. Both the channels New Discourses and Midnights Edge have made videos covering this.

The fans who grew up with these franchises are now adults, and their tastes have evolved. Studios are trying to appeal to a younger audience, which can lead to a disconnect with older fans. We have to be open to try new things, e.g, foreign and independent films and TV shows

Looking forward to see the Benevolence vs Payback video, but once again you're spot on.

Very well said Michael, you put your points across extremely well 👍

I love these one on ones. You are unique because you have eyes that see through the BS corporations feed the masses. I am not immersed in the pop culture per say but I noticed the magic was taken out in these new releases. I see the performances are even walking on egg shells. How can we compete against corps that owns stories and ideas who are slowly killing our favorite characters and story structures? We are the masses who can all work towards the same goal but we are divided so the big corps will continue strip down and raid.

They have an ideology which trumps profits. With Walt Disney having so many odd connections to Jack Parsons and vin Braun et al, it’s easy just to assume that Disney was created to entertain. It has always had an ideological agenda.

So true what you said Michael

It's a matter of ESG. The companies get better interest rates and returns from Blackrock and Vanguard. If a movie, show etc flops they just mark it as a tax write off and get reimbursed on the backend. There is no losing for them.

That's a good way of putting it!

Brilliant!

Cant wait to see benevolence vs payback thanks for this quick Disney update otherwise I would be out the loop 🔥🔥

Kudos on the oil change analogy.....spot on!

Good impassioned video Michael, your point about corporations kicking out the already established audience to be replaced by a “phantom” demographic is a good one. I’m less inclined to agree with why No Time to Die was a let down. I think the reason being that Daniel Craig was put before the James Bond character and allowed to “kill off Bond”. Just so he could avoid the inevitable “are you going to play Bond again” questions in chat shows… I was at the Royal Premiere in London and there was tumbleweed at the end of the movie, many of main Bond series characters killed off and this after Covid. The last thing many of us wanted to see in “escapist” entertainment.

Spot on Michael! 👍

If I were in chrage at Disney: I would retire everything effective immediately. Star Wars would go on hiatus for at least the space of one presidential term. I would have all the classic Disney films, unaltered and unedited released onto Disney+. I would, simultaneously, re-release all those classics on Blu-ray and 4K in a new "Disney Classics" run. I would revitalize Disney World from the ground up. Restart the Star Wars franchise under the direct tuteledge of George Lucas. I would open a special division at Disney, fill it with new creative talent to come up with new properties and ideas for film, and series. Original, new content, with a time frame of about ten years to develop and release that content.

A lot of us that have been starved for options have turned to anime and manga. Series like Jujutsu Kaisen are easily my favorite right now.

Well said, Michael.

Choices are vanishing because 80% of our pop culture is owned by two conglomerates.

I cannot wait to meet you this weekend. Thanks for speaking truth.

Hi Michael. Excellent video, Sir. I am normally somewhat of a lurker but I watch, like and enjoy your KZfaq videos. This video provides the viewer with a reasonable, thoughtful and objective view of the modern state of the entertainment franchises that I would like to consume. I am a big fan of the franchises that you spoke about, particularly Star Wars and James Bond. The example that you gave of the Roger Moore films of the 70s certainly resonated with me as I have been a great believer that Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson have veered away from the mission statement (no pun intended) of James Bond - that it is purely a film franchise to entertain the viewer and to provide a sense of escapism. My view on modern filmmaking and television is that the majority of these franchises are now ego-driven rather than doing what is best to maximise enjoyment, reach a wider audience, and hence provide a universally enjoyable (and profitable) product. Rian Johnson’s treatment of the Star Wars franchise would be one such example, where an ego-driven project and personal political values served to ruin the continuity of a great franchise. The Roger Moore films of the 1970s were not developed in a cultural bubble. The producers sought to understand what the filmgoers of the 70s were interested in - what were the cultural norms of the time and what topical issues could be included that would excite and interest the audience, without taking a political stance of any kind. You will note that the Soviets were rarely painted as being villains in the Bond franchise - it was more SPECTRE or other megalomaniacal villains and henchmen that were the antagonists - and this was a rational strategy on the part of the producers to ensure that the films could be enjoyed by the widest possible audience, potentially even a Communist audience. Moreover, if one reviews the Moore films of the 70s as an example of topical filmmaking without political prejudice, one can trace the external factors that impacted upon choices made by the producers. Live and Let Die was heavily influenced by the Blaxploitation film movement, The Man with the Golden Gun was influenced by the energy crisis, The Spy Who Loved Me was a soft reboot after Harry Saltzman left the franchise and borrowed heavily from story beats of You Only Live Twice, and Moonraker was inspired by the success of Star Wars. In each case, the films are inspired by topical events but no polarising political message can be inferred which would alienate any members of the audience. The films have certainly aged and certain cultural elements are now deemed unacceptable in modern society but they are ‘of their time’ and should be celebrated as the cultural time capsules that they are. Broccoli and Wilson have lost their way with the ‘Craigverse’, a ridiculous label in its own right. Casino Royale was a strong start but then ego-driven filmmaking has led to the deconstruction of James Bond as a modern heroic character - Broccoli and Craig’s esoteric desire to produce something of artistic value over entertainment value has provided us with a muddled, confusing, unenjoyable series of films. These films have alienated the typical audience (families) and have upset many of the classic James Bond fans. The films have lost the elements that made them great in the first place and it is clear from SPECTRE that the filmmakers have forgotten how to include these elements, even if they wished to do so. No Time To Die alienated core fans by killing off no fewer than three core characters, one off-screen, and the misuse of ‘We Have All the Time in the World’, a beautiful song that resonates with Bond fans in emotional ways that the filmmakers clearly cannot comprehend, was met with apathy at best and outright anger at worst. The ending left audiences upset and confused, and wondering if this was the final ever James Bond film. So confused in fact, that I have had friends and family asking me if Madeleine and/or Nomi will now be taking over from James Bond as ‘007’ in future Bond films. You are quite right in your assessment of these filmmakers and their treatment of the core fans that have supported these franchises (I use the term franchise for want of a better word) over the years, especially though the dark times. Most worryingly of all as a Bond fan, we have recently seen the review and editing of the original Ian Fleming works by ‘sensitivity readers’ which is an abhorrent insult to literary works that are ‘of their time’ and meets with your assessment of the situation where new audiences are being sought at the detriment of existing, core audiences. The thought that a reader of a novel over 60 years old would be so distressed by reading words written by a man whose cultural norms and values would have been modelled on upper-class British values from the 1940s is ridiculous, and probably an affront to the intelligence of the reader. We certainly live in interesting times but I feel that political elements of social justice and ‘cancel culture’ are strongly influencing entertainment that should serve to offer us escapism from these modern trials and tribulations. We can but hope that these times eventually abate and we can return to some good old-fashioned fun!

the many talented directors actors story writers are all being hamstrung by the so called coorporate types who are only intrested in the profits and next quarterly report to shareholders. Its not just in the entertainment industry, the entire way of doing business in any indsutry is fundementaly messed up in America. I am looking forward to IJ5 hopeing for the best.