And when I went looking for the url in 'properties', I got this message.

Forbidden
You don't have permission to access /Windows-Live-Writer/Overnight-Open-_FA45/hollywood_Loss-of-Originality-STATS8_2.gif on this server.

Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.

But you're right. Lack of originality is a big problem in Hollywood, not so much among the artistic and technical people, but with the studio management and executive types. They are afraid to attempt anything that doesn't already have an existing profitable precedent.

Successful films made overseas are now being routinely done in American versions, when the original would be just as profitable dubbed into English. America practically invented the movie industry, now we just copy successful formulas developed elsewhere, or even our own masterpieces from a few years ago. The mess they made of "Manchurian Candidate", "The Odyssey", "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and "Moby Dick" are a case in point.

This was really brought to my mind when they put together an American remake of the excellent UK "House of Cards", a series of TV movies which filled me with intense admiration for its cast, crew and producers. I refused to watch the US ripoff. I don't doubt our version has plenty of talent involved in it, American film makers and actors are second to none in the world. But wouldn't it have been so much better if all that artistic talent, technical skill and money had been directed at a totally new project, something original? Frankly, I've had it with superhero movies, too.

American creativity and US workers deserve an opportunity to show their stuff. When backed by management with some balls, they can take on any competition. Where's all that innovation, creativity, and risk-taking the suits are always whining about? Is it all just talk, or are we as a nation losing that entrepreneurial spirit? The movie biz isn't the only industry where we are pissing away our leadership.