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jmc_bksAck! I had an SBD thought (not so much a rant) all typed out and it disappeared. So here it is again, to the extent that I'm able to recreate it.
So, the Hollywood movie establishment and the romance publishing industry need to talk. 'Cause they both seem to be doing things that maybe the other ought to think about.
The romance industry? Totally gets the dark, brooding alpha hero. I watched Tristan and Isolde. All the way through, all I could think was "Kick that kid to the curb! Rufus Sewell? If I were Isolde, I would do him everyday of the week and twice on Sundays." The coveted 15-25 age bracket that Hollywood markets to may get off on boyish beauty, but the consensus of my circle of friends (who are older than 20 and have more disposable income than your average 20 year old): skip the boy sex and move to the man. The romance industry clearly gets this, otherwise tortured, honorable, dark heroes would not be all over Romancelandia.
The Hollywood movie industry? Seems to be getting the idea that the perfect HEA isn't absolutely necessary. Tristan and Isolde had what I would call a satisfactory ending -- not so "happy" but sort of appropriate given the myth. Same with Gladiator -- appropriate but not a HEA. The romance novel industry should get a clue. I know, the HEA is the mandatory for the romance genre and it's subversive to say that I'd rather not read one, but really, sometimes a couple moving toward something is better than a forced HEA with a stereotypical epilogue that includes 2.3 children and life in suburbia.
And that's that. I'm off to watch Deputy Chief Brenda on The Closer.
So, the Hollywood movie establishment and the romance publishing industry need to talk. 'Cause they both seem to be doing things that maybe the other ought to think about.
The romance industry? Totally gets the dark, brooding alpha hero. I watched Tristan and Isolde. All the way through, all I could think was "Kick that kid to the curb! Rufus Sewell? If I were Isolde, I would do him everyday of the week and twice on Sundays." The coveted 15-25 age bracket that Hollywood markets to may get off on boyish beauty, but the consensus of my circle of friends (who are older than 20 and have more disposable income than your average 20 year old): skip the boy sex and move to the man. The romance industry clearly gets this, otherwise tortured, honorable, dark heroes would not be all over Romancelandia.
The Hollywood movie industry? Seems to be getting the idea that the perfect HEA isn't absolutely necessary. Tristan and Isolde had what I would call a satisfactory ending -- not so "happy" but sort of appropriate given the myth. Same with Gladiator -- appropriate but not a HEA. The romance novel industry should get a clue. I know, the HEA is the mandatory for the romance genre and it's subversive to say that I'd rather not read one, but really, sometimes a couple moving toward something is better than a forced HEA with a stereotypical epilogue that includes 2.3 children and life in suburbia.
And that's that. I'm off to watch Deputy Chief Brenda on The Closer.
