Why have movie studios 'dumbed down' remakes of popular foreign classics

Because “Idiocracy” is a movie that is coming true. It was barely released in 2006. It didn’t fare well with critics and failed miserably in its limited box office release. It was written and directed by Mike Judge, who also brought us the brilliance of “Office Space”. “Idiocracy” stars Luke Wilson and Maya Rudolph as present-day people who are kept in hibernation and forgotten about for 500 years. When they wake up, our society has completely fallen apart. This movie was thought to be a silly comedy but it really is a dark comedic look at exactly where our dumbed down society is heading.

For example, during the NBA Finals, I have seen numerous commercials for a show called “Wipeout”. This is a take off of a Japanese “game show” in which contestants are put through various insane stunts. Of course, the average viewer is more interested in watching these people fall down and bust their face then anything else. In America, we want to stop and look at the car crash.

There are also numerous commercials these days for Vitamin Water and other so-called sports drinks. They feature athletes doing outrageous things like Shaq being a jockey or LeBron James as an attorney. Sure, the commercials are funny but pay attention next time. Most of these drinks all claim to have something that your body needs, like electrolytes. What are electrolytes? I looked it up and it turns out, you don’t really need them. Amazing right?

Yesterday, I learned from a co-worker that she has been forced to try and stop one of her teenage daughters from using “rofl” or “lol” in actual, daily speech. There is a guarantee that millions of people will watch “Wipeout”. Walk into any 7-11 and there are dozens of drinks claiming to have this substance you need or that substance for energy in them.

So what I am saying? Just drink water. Read a book or a newspaper. When you watch TV, try and watch something that could actually have some meaning, in addition to entertaining you. If you want to see where you or your kids could possibly end up mentally, watch “Idiocracy”. We need to tap the brakes or we will become a true Idiocracy.