Theatrical Adaptation

Historically Speaking

One of the main reasons why people go to the movies is for entertainment. We all go to see how many cars Jean Claude can blow up in a span of two hours, or how long it takes for the guy to realize that he really is in love with the girl and he has to go save her. Typical story lines. No one figures, however, that they are going to the movies to see a historically correct film.
Not many films today are even historically correct. Titanic, not true; Pocahontas, not true either. But who is to say that these films cannot be shown because they are not entirely true? No one can. The audience is the reason the shows make all their money, so their strategy is to get as many people to go see the show as humanly possible. But how will they do that, one might ask. Well, just look at the Titanic. Look who is in the movie. Leonardo Dicaprio. They’ve pulled in all the teenage girls who are “ga-ga” over him. And Kate Winslet? Here come the boys! Again, the entertainment factor has taken control due to the actors that have been cast in the movie. Not to mention the fact that there is a very steamy love connection that happens during the movie!
Yes, all the drooling teenagers have arrived to see the movie. But why this movie? Why make a movie about something that killed so many people? Entertainment and the chance to make people aware of the past. I know I wasn’t aware that a gigantic boat sank in the middle of the ocean forever and a year ago. It had never been brought to my attention until the movie came out. The story isn’t entirely true with the fact that there wasn’t a young woman named Rose, or a young man named Jack. In fact, I have heard that Rose was really a very young girl. But what do I know? I wasn’t there. Well, technically I wasn’t there. I was at the movie version, not the historical wreck itself.
In the end, the movie producers and directors, and even the studios themselves, have the right idea about movies from the past. “Based on a true Story.” That is shown at the beginning of every “true” story. But the word ‘based,’ what does that mean? A name, a town, a dog, a cat, anything that could draw it to the historical event. But no one really cares, as long as there are attractive stars on the screen becoming that character and just entertaining us!

posted by LilmissKS @ 8:53 AM