Summer Movie Slump

I saw a mere three movies this summer. One was the last in the Star Wars saga, and the other two were movies I saw only because my book club read the books and wanted a girls night out. Those two were The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants and Must Love Dogs. Sisterhood was cute and fun, but one you could wait to see on video. Must Love Dogs was horrible and I wouldn't even waste a free movie coupon on it.

Reports are out on how the movie business did this past summer, and the results aren't good. From TVGuide Online:

POST MORTEM: Hollywood has crunched the final summer box-office numbers, and the stats be scary. This summer's releases grossed a total $3.15 billion, down an alarming nine percent from Summer 2004. And when you compare the number of actual tickets sold compared to last summer, the deficit balloons to 13 percent. I blame the $17 Sno-Caps.

I am really hoping that movie execs wake up and realize the problem. Yes, it is way, way, way, WAY too expensive to see a movie at the theater, but there bigger problem; it is way, way, way, WAY too expensive to see a BAD movie at the theater. Hollywood, make better movies! Please! No more junk and recycled ideas. No more poor writing and bad acting. Or rather, no more use of good actors in bad parts just becuase they think one hefty paycheck will tide them over through their string of high quality indie films.

How many truly good movies were at the theaters this year? From what I can tell, Batman Begins was pretty much it, at least from what I hear. Anyone else see any good, full-price-theater-ticket-worthy movies this summer? Cuz if this summer's picks were the best it gets this year, then the Netflix classics section will be loving me for the remainder of 2005.