Comparison of Hollywood and Bollywood - Essay Example

Comparison of Hollywood and Bollywood Agent 007. High-tech gadgets. Heavily armed automobiles. Chasing villains across the world. These and other memorable action scenes in a James Bond movie have introduced me to Hollywood. My fascination with Hollywood started when I was in fourth grade. My family and I were supposed to watch a blockbuster Hindi film, only to find out that the cinema ran out of tickets. Feeling thwarted after all the excited anticipation, we slowly walked out of the theatre. However, not wanting to disappoint us, my parents spotted an alternative movie – Gold Finger. On our way home after watching my first Hollywood film, I knew I was doomed. My lifetime affair with Hollywood had begun. At such an early age I had been exposed to different types of films. With my exposure to myriad movies both from Hollywood and Bollywood, modern-day Mumbai or Bombay that is the Hindi entertainment capital, I cannot help but compare. As I continue to analyze films produced in these entertainment havens, my comparison has led me to believe that Hollywood films are superior to their Bollywood counterparts. In this paper, I intend to discuss and argue how movies from Hollywood fared better than those produced in Bollywood relative to various cinematic elements including plot, acting style, set design and overall film quality. Plot Upon watching Hollywood chartbusters such as The Lord of the Rings, The Matrix Trilogy, The Godfather as well as other critically acclaimed films such as Malcolm X, and I am Sam, I marveled at the thought of how Hollywood film-makers have tackled a wide range of plots from historical masterpieces to mobster movies to socially relevant films. Unlike Bollywood movies, Hollywood films are not confined to a standard plot even if adhering to such plot proves to be commercially viable. In the case of Bollywood movies, plots commonly presented in a melodramatic manner and centered on romantic themes are often commercialized. Thus, the plots adopted are limited since films utilize formulaic ingredients such as ill-fated lovers caught between disapproving parents, love triangles, and dramatic reversals of fortunes among others. This is evidenced even by recently shown nationally-acclaimed Bollywood films such as Kal Ho Naa Ho, which focuses on love triangle and tragedy experienced by main characters. On the contrary, Hollywood films do not always conform to wholesome plot variant. Due to the more tolerant censorship, they are better able to take on varied plots that may be intriguing or controversial in nature. As the Bollywood industry sticks to making movies with plots that would appeal to the masses, Hollywood generally considers the profitability as well as the depth of plot, content and entertainment value of films for the targeted movie-going market. This means that films produced in Bollywood focus on a particular market-tested genre, while those created in Hollywood are more flexible such that film-makers are able to work with a wider variety of genres. Acting Style Another observation that fortifies the dominance of Hollywood movies is the acting kills of the film stars. Based on the movies, which I have recently seen, featuring Harrison Ford, Robert de Niro, Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron and other prominent Hollywood stars, I noticed the remarkable versatility of these actors and actresses. In contrast to Bollywood stars, who are often typecasted in romance and drama, most Hollywood stars could do action, drama or comedy and manage to take on roles convincingly. Like chameleons, they are able to quickly fit in a given movie role. Set Design and Special Effects The aspect of set design and special effects is probably the biggest advantage that Hollywood movies have over Bollywood films. As evidenced by movies such as The Matrix Trilogy, movies by Steven Spielberg and animated films by Walt Disney, it is apparent how the Hollywood film industry has mastered set designing and utilizing breathtaking special effects that hold audience in awe. These movies clearly show the technological advancements employed by film-makers in order to liven up the scenes and stimulate the more sophisticated imagination and taste of today’s moviegoers. The special effects used also render greater realism to the movie. For instance, The Star Wars Trilogy, sci-fi adventure by George Lucas, seemed so realistic that I felt as if I am actually in the midst of a galactic battle while watching. Rather than being a mere spectator, the special effects have created a virtual reality of which the audience is a part. On the other hand, Bollywood industry is not able to catch up with the advanced techniques of Hollywood. Bollywood films resort to lavish costumes, set design and picturesque locations in the United States and Switzerland to attract moviegoers. These often pale in comparison to those used in Hollywood movies. However, there are many in India who believe that Bollywood movies to be superior to Hollywood movies and the primary reason for that being the song-and-dance numbers. They say these make Bollywood movies more colorful than Hollywood movies. But I disagree. Instead of experimenting with various cinematic elements, Bollywood films focus in featured song-and-dance numbers that are unrelated to the main plot. These features somehow diminish the credibility and seriousness of the characters and plot content. For example, in the film Khakee, the main character, a police officer guarding a dreaded terrorist, is repeatedly seen singing and dancing with his favorite girl in exotic locations outside India. These scenes affect the audience perception toward his character and the logical flow of the story. Overall Film Quality All in all, quality of Hollywood films is relatively higher as compared to Bollywood movies. This means that should one desire to spend his money wisely, a Hollywood film is more likely to be bring about greater satisfaction. Albeit the taste of moviegoers varies, those who want to maximize their money’s worth generally opt for Hollywood movies instead of a generic Bollywood movie. The unrivaled quality of Hollywood films maybe attributed to the substantial budget allocation. Filmmakers are able to employ better cast, designers and writers to complete the movie if there is sufficient production budget. On the contrary, the Bollywood industry is still plagued with budget constraints. As such, some Bollywood films adopt the plot or concept similar to commercially successful Hollywood movies. Furthermore, the Bollywood industry is not able to expansively utilize digital enhancements, which could have improved the film quality. They also settle for tested, sometimes unoriginal, concepts to ensure the profitability of films. These factors somehow inhibit the growth of Bollywood industry in producing films that are at par with Hollywood standards. Conclusion In view of the above discussion, Hollywood films apparently overtake Bollywood movies given the various cinematic elements. Hollywood films are deemed more flexible in the utilization of a wider range of plots and genres. With less restriction, Hollywood filmmakers are freer to explore artistic elements. Hollywood stars, armed with their superb acting skills and versatility, also enhance the entertainment value of films. Moreover, Hollywood is far more technologically advance than any other film industry in the world. As if moved by invisible hands, these and other unexplainable factors draw us to continue to patronize Hollywood movies. The magic of Hollywood has held us, the movie fans, in sweet captivity to the enchanting silverscreen. Read More