Heroes now can't just be muscles out heroes.
I know what you mean about the "it" though.
Yoda once called me "The go-to guy for fun, schlocky pulpy action films"... and I totally get what
it is.
The problem is politicised Hollywood and the power of social media.
You can't have new Arnies or new Stallones, new Seagals or even superheroes that are simply muscles out actioners anymore.
Not really.
Not when action movies need to be catered to a new audience... and current modern audiences as a majority, they like their protagonists ("heroes") to be floppy-haired, in their teens, and have modern existential problems like sexuality, race, and gender.
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John Wick I think is the closest we have from modern cinema to 80s movies.
I mean, a man wronged, and goes on an relentless march of neverending victory.
John Wick could almost be Commando and/or anything made by Steven Seagal.
The reason I think John Wick has gone down with audiences so well, is because it's a throwback to the movies and action stars of old.. and Keanu Reeves is still able to carry the genre so well.
John Wick is a breath of fresh air amongst the "Loki is now bi-sexual" bilge that Hollywood seems intent on throwing into the mix when it comes to action stars and the stories their characters are embroiled in.
Studios need to keep things fresh, and if making Doctor WHO a woman, or making Loki bi will sell tickets, they'll do it.
There's just no place really for Steven Seagal relentlessly kicking relentless ass relentlessly, repeatedly, without any motivation other than "it looks cool on camera", in modern cinema.
I've been avoiding the term Woke, but, then again, I've just said it in this sentence.
It's not "Woke society"... it's just society has moved on from the muscles out invincible hero... and actors today, are, well, better cast than they used to be.
Society wants heroes with contemporary problems... and contemporary actors are able to portray that. In the 1980s, Arnie, Seagal and Stallone, were, well, Arnie, Seagal and Stallone. Not much acting talent, but looked good smashing heads together relentlessly.
Societal changes have an effect, and they affect, the actual characters we see in the movies of that time.
Brainless, muscles-out action films and stars will probably come around again. Maybe in the mid 2020s.
Hollywood goes through motions.
I mean, 3D movies were around in the late 1890s. Then vanished. Then came around in the 1920s. Vanished. Then the 1940s. Then vanished. Then the 60s. Then the 80s. Then vanished. Then appeared again in the late 2000s with Avatar.
Now 3D has vanished again. Give it till around 2035, and they'll appear again.
Action meat-heads will appear again soon.
I'll put money on it