There is another point of view – face up to the reality of how bad it really is and don’t try to pretend otherwise, then plan your counterattack with the full import clear and everyone aware of it.

To me, that’s not pessimism.

I seem to recall a man named Chamberlain who wanted everything to be nice and the country wanted it so too. Then along came a man named Churchill who’d been saying it was far worse than most people thought. He spelled it out then offered blood, sweat and tears.

Pity we’ve not one of these about at the moment.

Once again, Master James leaves me confused. How often have you gloomily suggested these are “the end times…” or similar phrases? I have rarely met such pessimism as I find round at Higham’s place.

You shouldn’t criticise other people’s pessimism while you wander about with your virtual sandwich board on telling us the end is nigh James.

Or have I misunderstood?

It can happen.

As for the spate of films you mention, as far as I am concerned they represent a contimnuation of Hollywood’s usual tack.. churn out crap just like everyone else is and don’t worry about originality or intelligent scripts etc, just give them big bangs and lots of effects. The vat majority of films are just like that and have always been. Luckily time winkles out the worst of them so we can imagine that the cimea of old was somehow better.