5 Reasons Streaming Has Cooled

During the early 2010s streaming services began to crop up as an alternative to cable led by the former dvd mail order company Netflix. By the late 2010's new streaming services were popping up seemed like every week and the streaming wars had begun. Completely turning network and cable TV on its head as more people tuned to streaming for media consumption.

Now in 2024 while streaming is still the primary method of consuming media today. It has cooled a bit for various reasons, a lot of in my opinion is the doing of media companies. So let's take a look at 5 reasons streaming had fizzled out. 

5. Too Many Too Fast

First it was Hulu and Netflix that started the streaming paragon. Then slowly more streaming services began cropping up. Many utilizing "plus" in the name. Crackle, HBO Max, ESPN plus, Disney plus, BET plus, discovery plus. The list went on and on with everyone wanting a piece of the precious subscription dollars. Until there's just too many options and too costly for people.

4. Price Increase

Just like everything else in the world. Every damn time you turn around, another service is raising the price. Some services were raising the prices and a full calendar year had not passed since the last increase. You have 3 or 4 services the price add up and the product isn't matching the price..some services get expendable.

3.  Hidden Gems Are Frequently Removed

Warner Bros. started this trend of removing films and series that were very good, just didn't have the audience typically original films. Which contradicted most fans idea of what a streaming service by a major studio would do. I'm still tight Charm City Kings was removed, and WB caused an uproar when they cancelled an upcoming HBO Max original that was already completed. You know Batgirl, which also included a Michael Keaton cameo as Batman/Bruce Wayne.

Then there are hidden gems that you just cannot find on streaming services. Such as the 1998 Disney Channel original film Under Wraps. If  I pay a monthly subscription, I want to watch my favorite programs and if studios just have to pay the royalty fees so be it. That's the cost of doing business and spinning up a streaming service.

2. Tubi 

While Tubi likely will never reach Netflix levels in the streaming world. It's a damn good alternative, licensing content from all the major studios. Tubi is the right price of free, supported by ads (which now all paid services have, albeit along with a higher non-ad tier). Tubi has classics, modern favorites, and hidden gems. So much that Amazon delivered Freevee, and other companies are trying to establish their own ad supported streaming service.

1.  Content is Very hit or miss

As the amount of streaming services offered increased, so did the amount of content available. Many studios and Netflix went all in on original content to build out their libraries. That quickly proved to be not the brightest business decision, it soon became apparent there was a quantity over quality mindset.

Disney CEO Bob Iger even admitted to that mindset during Disney Plus launch. In addition, the pandemic and then the Hollywood writers and actors strikes put alot of content creation on hold. Which once the dust settled resulted in either rushed products of poor quality, just plain bad content, or a significant delay in some content (Stranger Things looking at you).

We live in a very in the moment society. And at that moment when your looking to trim the fat, if prices are going on and the type of content you want isn't there. Well makes it easier for some stuff to get cut. Most services original content just has not been there lately and that's played a part in the dissatisfaction around streaming.

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Five Criminally Overlooked Adventure Movies

 

Following up on my recent blog about action adventure film's missing in Hollywood's slate these dates. I started thinking about the classics of that genre, as well as film's that are very good in their own right. However, for whatever reason it just did not connect with the audience, and have been lost in the realm of endless amounts of entertainment. So with that here are five overlooked action adventure film's that deserve more love.

5. The Phantom

The Phantom is a 1996 film starring Billy Zane, Kristy Swanson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Treat Williams. It's based on the pulp comic strip, following Billy Zane as the hero who has followed a 400 year family tradition to withhold justice as "The Phantom". He's racing against Treat Williams and crew for the macguffin, The Skulls of Touganda three skulls made of different raw material which provides it's holder with immense power.

The film has some corny dialogue and Zane may not have been the right man for the leading man role, but it's structure and concept are straight adventure films. It features shootouts, sword fights, fist fights, dangerous bridges and everything else you'd look for in a an adventure movie. While similar films like The Shadow have gained popularity over the years, it's sad The Phantom is still overlooked.

4. Zathura: A Space Adventure

The 2005 film Zathura is based on the 2002 book of the same name, which is considered a "sequel" to the Jumanji book. Starring Tim Robbins, Dax Shephard, Josh Hutcherson, and Kristen Stewart in one of her earlier most famous roles. It follows the same premise as Jumanji instead of a board game based in the jungle, this one is based on space game. With all the action taking place in the main character's home, and it has been uprooted to space. 

The main characters fight off meteor showers, aliens, and other space related road blocks, they also learn about sibling relationships in the process. The film wasn't a box office success upon it's debut and has suffered the same fate going on 20 years later of being overlooked. Which is a shame as it's a rather imaginative movie featuring a lot of practical effects, and should be given a chance. 

3. Tomb Raider-2018

This updated take on the Tomb Raider film's from the early 2000's was released in 2018. Starring Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Daniel Wu, and Walter Goggins. This film is an origin story for Lara Croft as such it stands apart from the Angelina Jolie led film's. Lara is not a formidable fighter or tomb raider just yet, and has to learn as she goes along. While learning there is more to her father Lord Richard Croft and his company than she previously was aware of.

There's some good archery skills displayed in this film. Globe trotting, and of course the usual macguffin that causes the globe trotting. Alicia Vikander hold's her own as Lara, and really comes into her own as the film progresses. It is a more realistic and gritty approach to the tomb raider world and maybe that's why people shied away from it. Which is disappointing, as they truly missed out a newer gem in the action-adventure genre. 

2. Prince of Persia

Prince of Persia: The Sands Of Time was released in 2010 and stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Alfred Molina, Ben Kingsley, and Gemma Arterton. Based on the video game series of the same name, it was a deliberate attempt by Disney to follow the same model as Pirates Of The Caribbean and create a new film franchise. Unfortunately thing's did not go as planned, with one contributing factor likely being the whitewashing of the cast. Something Hollywood continues to struggle with to this day with films.

Outside of that, the movie had an entertaining plot, effects, and action sequences. Complete with sword fights and chases throughout the streets of Persia. The box office returns were ok, and critics even admitted it had a few flaws but was one of the better video game adaptations. Many can agree Gyllenhaal may not have been right for that role, and that became the main story of the film. Don't listen to the naysayers, if you've never seen it give it a shot.

1. Adventures of TinTin

Based on the French comic strip, 2011's Adventures of TinTin was intended to be the first film in a trilogy series. With each film in the trilogy directed by separate high profile directors, Steven Spielberg directed the first one, while Peter Jackson was slated for the second one. I don't remember who the third director was supposed to be. The film was all CGI and starred Jamie Bell as TinTin, Daniel Craig as Ivan Sakhraine, and Andy Serkis as Captain Haddock. Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, and Toby Jones are other well known actors who rounded out the cast.

The film starts off with a bang and only picks up from there, never truly slowing down even when advancing the plot. Since it is an animated film, the action stakes are a little higher and the characters travel around the world with more ease. Resulting in several exciting chases including an airplane chase. The movie did alright at the box office, was revered by critics and actually was nominated and won several awards. Unfortunately it did not connect with audiences, and as such did not receive the popularity that it should.

Make no mistake about it, if you like a good adventure film and have not yet seen this movie. make it an priority like today to watch it.

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"Roller Coaster" Adventure Movies Need A Comeback

 

Today is the 25th anniversary of  The Mummy starring Brendan Frasier and Rachel Weisz as the heroes, and Arnold Vosloo as the villain Imhotep. I watched the movie over the weekend in honor of its anniversary and it got me thinking. It's time there is a resurgence in Hollywood of the action adventure genre.

The type of films often described as a "roller coaster" adventure film. The Mummy and its two sequels along with Mask of Zorro and its sequel helped the genre experience a brief period of popularity in the late 90's-mid 2000's. New Line's 2002 film Lord Of The Rings: Fellowship Of The Ring and its sequels aided the adventure films.

Then Disney's Pirates Of The Carribean film released in 2003 and helped continue that trend. Along with National Treasure starring Nicolas Cage, another Disney property that was released in 2004.

Tin the late 2000's and early 2010's. That genre lost popularity to films based on YA literature like Twilight, Hunger Games, Divergent and Maze Runner. Of course we can't forget the Harry Potter film series. That wasn't the only thing that clobbered action adventure films during that time. Superhero movies and the juggernaut that was the marvel cinematic universe sucked up any genre in its path.

In 2017 a legacy to 1995's Jumanji film was released. Which that film Welcome To The Jungle and it's sequel 2019's The Next Level bought some popularity to the genre, and while both films were highly successful they couldn't sustain the genre on its own. Last year's film Dunegons & Dragons: Honor Amongst Thieves was mildly successful in trying to revive those type of films.

With the MCU trying to stabilize itself after several blunders. Other comic book films waiting in the wings. Long standing franchises like the Fast & Furious series heading into the sunset. Indiana Jones not connecting with a new generation. Franchises like Masters of the Universe and Power Rangers having a hard time getting off the ground. While properties like G.I. Joe and to an extent Transformers not able to refresh themselves.

It's time someone steps in and brings back those swashbuckling, gunfights left and right, falls and screams and high stakes. With just enough plot and dialogue to keep the story until the next action piece. We are waiting to experience the whiplash of roller coaster adventure films.

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Roc Was A One Of A Kind Sitcom

 

Thanks to a page on IG called Baltimore History Channel, the page made a post of a few scenes from the early 90's sitcom Roc which sent me down a Roc rabbit hole. The sitcom debuted in 1991 on Fox during a time Black sitcoms were used to help the network gain footing against the big 3 networks. Looking back at clips and episodes it's clear Roc was a special sitcom and there has been nothing like it since.

The sitcom starred Baltimore native Charles Dutton as Roc Emerson, a Baltimore sanitation worker who lived in a traditional Baltimore rowhome with his family. His wife Eleanor (Ella Joyce) who was a nurse, his womanizing musician brother Joey (Rocky Carroll), and his retired widowed father Pops (Carl Gordon). Later on in the series Roc and family adopted a pre-teen girl named Sheila (Alexis Fields) and later the couple had a baby of their own. 

The series was catergorized as a sitcom, but truthfully it was dramedy that realized early it had a voice and a responsibility to bring awareness to various issues affecting the Black community. Subjects covered throughout the sitcoms run included sexual assault, HIV, hospital billing teen violence, gangs, and drug dealers contributing to the decline of the Black community. A drug dealer named Andre played by Clifton Powell was the focal point of several episodes, which is another reason Roc was Special. There were many story arcs in the series, covering multiple episodes. 

Bullying and teen violence was another hot topic the series covered. Which is my favorite episode of the series, Terrance Got His Gun guest starring Brandon Adams. Speaking of guest stars, along with Brandon Adams and Clifton Powell, Roc pulled in several prominent Black entertainers during the show's run. Names like Loretta Devine, Garrett Morris, Debbi Morgan, Richard Roundtree Jamie Foxx, Heavy D, Eddie Griffin, Kadeem Hardison, Tone Loc, En Vogue (who also did the intro for season 3). Samuel L. Jackson, Tisha Campbell, Kim Fields, Jennifer Lewis,Salli Richardson, Sinbad, James Avery by now you get the point.

Another component that made Roc stand out and special was that for season 2, thee entire season all 25 episodes were aired Live on Fox. The core cast all had backgrounds in theater and were up for the challenge and succeeded. Going back and watching the episodes you may notice a flub here and there but nothing that took you out of the series. 

Roc was a special series and it's a shame it only lasted 3 seasons, but in those short 3 seasons it provided audiences with something to think about. A masterpiece of television, it is still underrated 30 plus years later for not being a typical sitcom. However, it truly was a one of a kind special sitcom that was needed. 

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