Classic Hollywood epics demonstrate superior filmmaking that modern cinema cannot match
Source: https://www.facebook.com/americanspectator/. "When Hollywood Made Great Epic Films | The American Spectator | USA News and Politics." February 23, 2026. spectator.org
The Gist
The author argues that old Hollywood movies like Ben-Hur and Lawrence of Arabia were much better than today's films because they had real craftsmanship, clear moral messages, and spectacular scenes that actually mattered to the story. Modern Hollywood can't make films this good anymore because it's too focused on political correctness instead of genuine artistry.
Conclusion
Classic Hollywood epic films from the mid-20th century represent a superior form of filmmaking that modern Hollywood can no longer produce, characterized by genuine craftsmanship, moral clarity, and meaningful spectacle
Premises
- Recent Best Picture winners are mostly obscure or marginal successes, while classic films remain memorable and enduring
- Classic epics achieved spectacular visual effects through practical craftsmanship and human effort rather than modern technology
- In classic films, spectacle serves the story and conveys human truth, unlike modern films where it's merely superficial entertainment
- Classic films contained clear moral messages and celebrated individual freedom over collectivism
- Modern Hollywood is constrained by 'woke' ideology that prevents creating films with the artistic vision and moral clarity of classics
- Current Oscar nominees demonstrate Hollywood's decline, being mostly niche films except for one mainstream success
Assumptions
- Box office success and cultural longevity are reliable measures of film quality
- Practical effects are inherently superior to digital technology in filmmaking
- Films should convey clear moral messages and universal human truths
- Political ideology significantly constrains artistic creativity in modern Hollywood
- The author's personal viewing preferences reflect objective artistic standards