Part 9/14:
A somber tone emerges as they lament the decline of "good cinema." They frame modern Hollywood as being in a state of artistic decay, where the most memorable films over the last two decades are considered forgettable or poorly crafted. They reference Edge of Tomorrow, Pacific Rim, and Inception as some of the rare exceptions, but overall, they posit that blockbuster filmmaking has been plagued by superficial spectacle and corporate greed.
The panelists share their hope that the Lord of the Rings trilogy—an exemplar of cinematic artistry—could serve as a blueprint if remade with modern CGI and effort, implying that current offerings lack the depth and craftsmanship of the past.