re: The Cabin in the Woods. TulaneLSU's 2011-12 movie review thread

I think often, movie writers deliberately hit on gaseous and vague religious themes because such themes are universal. All art is religious and it is impossible to make a good movie without involving the themes of religion. Religion has been a part of the human makeup since we became conscious, so if a writer wants to move an audience, explicitly religious themes will usually work. Religion is often used by script writers and directors in the cheapest of ways, in ways that require no creativity or thought. Generally, I do not like such movies. Every now and then, however, a movie will become a new creation and deliver to the audience something of great beauty and creativity. The Tree of Life is such a movie (many thanks to Leauxgan for his recommendation). But like I said, such movies are a rare breed because such movies are made to be art, not made for profit. Hollywood is motivated by profit, and there are two things that will always sell: sex and religion. To engage an audience is either to appeal to their base emotions or their virtuous emotions, and often both. Hollywood manipulates our virtuous side, I admit, similarly to televangelists. Profit motivates both, and they will tell glib, unoriginal, and dramatic stories to manipulate and fleece the audience. I prefer my religious themes to move in the movie like a thief in the night. And movies that are explicitly made from a religious point of view almost never do that.

The Earl has returned