LogFAQs > #979885154

LinkMarioSamus posted...

I'm curious if you specifically have a problem with an executive trying to draw in viewers with explicit content, since that doesn't sound at all irrational. At least by the standards of the time anyway. However I do know that one of the main gripes people have with that particular movie is the off-putting premise, which is also fairly standard with Cronenberg.

I've also only seen two of his movies, both of which I was impressed with, but they're The Fly and A History of Violence which are both adaptations.

I just think "scientist trying to make a groundbreaking invention" is much more of a straightforward and standard character than "asshole TV executive is trying to find the most violent and/or softcore porn programming possible to get ratings". The former makes for a much more rational and sensical storyline, whereas the latter has to jump through so many hoops to get from point A to B to C. It works in Scrooged because the plot is that this asshole is meant to become a better person over the course of the film. But here, Woods' character arc isn't him really changing so much as multiple people are using him as a conduit for their ideological battle.