Films Crossing Borders

With the population of the U.S becoming more and more diverse, Hollywood cinema seems to be following suit. Movies in Hollywood seem to be taking on more and more characteristics of foreign films. This may be so that the movies can appeal to the wide range of people that reside in the U.S. While Hollywood may be the current champion of all cinemas, there are still undoubtedly some people who would prefer more nationalistic cinemas. To appeal to this group of people, Hollywood cinema is adopting characteristics from national cinemas all over the globe. These characteristics, however small and minute, are most likely present in most if not all Hollywood movies. The days of the one-hundred percent Hollywood movie, (whatever that may be) are gone. There are many methods that Hollywood uses to “globalize” its cinema. One of these methods is to take characteristics from one type of cinema and use it in Hollywood movies. This style may be difficult to identify however because the characteristics of certain cinemas may be very broad and have a lot in common with another type of cinema. An example of this is with French cinema. When one thinks of French cinema, the love story comes to mind. Many other types of cinema also share a variation of this characteristic. Therefore it may not be the best or most visible characteristic of globalization in Hollywood cinema. Another method of using globalization in Hollywood cinema would be to remake foreign films. Movies such as The Grudge and Ringu (The Ring) which were both originally foreign movies have been remade into Hollywood versions. Occasionally, even the original producers of these movies are brought in so that the movie will still have the national characteristics after it have been transformed into a Hollywood movie. Yet another way to globalize Hollywood cinema is through the use of foreign actors and actresses. This is probably the most popular method of globalizing Hollywood cinema. We are all familiar with the foreign names such as Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Keira Knightley to name a few. The accents in foreign actors and actresses carry an automatic form of globalization. Just by adding actors and actresses from foreign countries, globalization is instantly achieved. Hearing a familiar voice or seeing a familiar face in a Hollywood production may be the inspiration that an American who came from another country needs to go and see a Hollywood movie. Yet another way that Hollywood cinema is globalized is through filming in other countries. This is also a popular method of globalization and has been used in successful movies such as the Rush Hour series. Movies taken in foreign countries capture the scenery and daily life of that country and that cinema and then bring it into Hollywood cinema. Globalization can occur using any one of the methods stated above or it can occur by using a combination of the methods mentioned above. The remainder of this paper will address the method concerning movies filmed in foreign countries and how they help to globalize Hollywood Cinema. The two movies, The Lord of the Rings, and Rush Hour, one of which was filmed in New Zealand while the other was filmed in various places, will be used to further demonstrate how filming movies in another country adds to the globalization of Hollywood cinema.

The The Lord of the Rings was a co-production between the U.S. and New Zealand and it was filmed in New Zealand. Because it was filmed in the country of New Zealand, The Lord of the Rings already shows some characteristics of foreign films and therefore adds to the globalization of Hollywood Cinema. While The Lord of the Rings was filmed in and co-produced by New Zealand, it is still considered a part of Hollywood Cinema. Still, characteristics of New Zealand cinema are present throughout the film. A staple of New Zealand cinema that is present in The Lord of the Rings is the constant presentation of the landscape and environment of the country. Most of the action in New Zealand films occurs outdoors as to capture the beauty of the land. By taking shots of the land, Hollywood cinema is incorporating the culture of another country and thereby globalizing its cinema. Another staple of New Zealand film is the use of science fiction or the imagination in its movies. The Chronicles of Narnia is another movie that shows this trait as does The Lord of the Rings. By adding this aspect of New Zealand cinema into The Lord of the Rings, Hollywood cinema is further globalized. The Lord of the Rings is essentially the best of both worlds because it appeals to New Zealand cinema as well as Hollywood Cinema. The Lord of the Rings is able to mix the New Zealand trait of fantasy and fiction with the Hollywood staple of violence. Although violence may not have been created by Hollywood cinema it is present in a lot of Hollywood films. A scene that shows the combination of these two cinemas is when the centaurs pull out their swords in support and say they will help fight. It is a well-known fact that centaurs are mythical creatures but mixing them with violence helps give the movie appeal to watchers of Hollywood film as well as watchers of other types of film. Another aspect that leads to globalization of Hollywood cinema through The Lord of the Rings is the use of foreign actors. Although there are not many, the presence of these actors does play to the senses of many people around the world from the country of the actors.

The Rush Hour series may be the perfect movie set to use to describe globalization in Hollywood cinema. The movies include many different cultures, characters, and scenery. Rush Hour 1 and 2 are set in Hong Kong and Los Angeles while Rush Hour 3 is set in Los Angeles, Paris, and in Hong Kong. Again, the traits from the location of the country and its characteristics have an effect on the movie. For example Rush Hour 3 which is partially set in France, has more of a love story than the other two movies in the set. The Rush Hour movies also contain many foreign actors such as the well known Jackie Chan which contribute to the globalization of Hollywood cinema. The movies also contribute to the globalization of Hollywood cinema through their use of familiar foreign cities such as Paris and Hong Kong as well as landmarks in these cities. The Eiffel Tower is seen in Rush Hour 3. The most obvious method of globalization in the Rush Hour series however, is the substance that is taken from Chinese culture and Chinese cinema. It is obvious that all of the Rush Hour movies are based on some sort of Chinese culture. They have the well-known Chinese actor, Jackie Chan; they show the scenery and environment of China, and most of all, the fighting styles can be considered Chinese. As is with Hollywood movies, Chinese movies usually involve a lot of fighting. The difference between the fighting between the two types of cinemas is usually the style. The Rush Hour movies show combined styles from both cinemas. The martial arts fighting style with hand to hand combat is visible in parts of the movie as well as the fighting with weapons such as guns. A scene that could also represent Chinese culture was one in Rush Hour 3 when Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker slid down on the wire near the end of the movie. This scene could somehow represent a staple of Chinese cinema because a scene just like it was also present in another film set in China, Mulan. By adding touches of Chinese culture and Chinese cinema, along with French culture and cinema to the Hollywood series, Rush Hour, Hollywood cinema becomes more and more globalized.

Movies taken in different places of the world are a good way to increase the globalization of Hollywood cinema. As was seen with The Lord of the Rings as well as the Rush hour series, just shooting a movie in another country can add multiple aspects of globalization. Not only is the overall landscape of the host country shown, but so are the lives of its people and the environment they live in. Through shooting movies in other countries, foreign cinema styles are also incorporated into the Hollywood movies. This is seen with the fantasy involved in The Lord of the Rings as well as the martial arts style of fighting involved in the Rush Hour films. Because some movies are shot in foreign countries, a pathway is created that is leading to the further globalization of Hollywood cinema.

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