Opinion: Please Hollywood, enough of these terrible reboots

OPINION: I still remember the sheer joy and terror of witnessing Jurassic Park for the first time as a kid in the 90s. 

The 1993 Steven Spielberg flick is a timeless five-star classic that stands out today on a number of levels, from its screenplay to visual effects - the furious T-Rex still makes my skin crawl. 

Despite my endless praise for Jurassic Park, I have no real interest in seeing Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, the latest addition to the film's franchise. 

I also had zero desire to see the Jumanji reboot, haven't seen a Terminator film since the third one was released in 2003, and was pretty disappointed by some of the writing in The Last Jedi.

Don't get the wrong idea, I love plenty of modern cinema, but when are we going to see some more fresh narratives coming out of Hollywood? 

1993's Jurassic Park (left) vs 2018's Jurassic World.
1993's Jurassic Park (left) vs 2018's Jurassic World. Photo credit: Universal Pictures

I'm very aware that the film industry, like just about everything else, is driven by profits. After all, we live in a capitalist society, a system which the art of cinema isn't disconnected from. 

The big budget film studios know that anything with Marvel or Jurassic Park behind it is going to make the big bucks and who could blame them? But it's left me feeling frustrated. 

Back in the early 1970s, Star Wars creator George Lucas began writing what would become the biggest movie franchise ever, not that anyone one knew it at the time. 

In fact, Lucas was rejected by two studios when seeking funding for A New Hope. Universal told him the concept was too strange and that he should stick to the style of his first film, American Graffiti

The original Star Wars script was rejected by two major Hollywood studios.
The original Star Wars script was rejected by two major Hollywood studios. Photo credit: File

Ironically, Disney also rejected the project, not wanting to take any chances on a science-fiction film. They later went on to buy Star Wars for $4 billion in 2012. 

This is not an uncommon theme in cinema history. 

It's a miracle our very own Lord of the Rings trilogy is even a thing. Peter Jackson's original scripts were rejected by a number of major Hollywood studios who didn't have any interest in supporting big budget fantasy. 

Steven Spielberg didn't fare much better - E.T, Back to the Future and Raiders of the Lost Ark were all initially rejected. 

With this kind of history I have to ask, when is Tinseltown going to start taking risks on original ideas again?

When is the next George Lucas going to come along and present the new Star Wars that kids of this generation will fall in love with?

When is the next Steven Spielberg going to be given a chance on a fresh and original franchise? 

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom's reviews have not been pretty. Peter Bradshaw of the Guardian wrote that the whole concept felt "tired and contrived". 

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom has received scathing reviews.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom has received scathing reviews. Photo credit: Universal Pictures

Lindsey Bahr of the Associated Press said the franchise's desperation was starting to show. 

"It's time to evolve or go extinct." 

As a film fan, I desperately want to see new cinematic worlds and film franchise-building, but sadly, cinema executives don't appear remotely interested in the next Luke Skywalker. 

We can only live in hope that the success of new franchises like Stranger Things on the small screen can provide a bit of inspiration. 

Hugh Collins is a reporter for Newshub.