How in the world did I miss hearing about the Harvey Weinstein boycott until just now?

Long story short, Weinstein, who once upon a time helped bankroll some of the best and most important films of the of the last two decades but who has lately been successfully making a series of increasingly idiotic film spoofs (okay, I haven’t personally seen more than five minutes of any of them…but five minutes is more than enough) aimed at less than discerning teens, has apparently lost all respect for his audience. Having picked up the comedy Fanboys, about some Star Wars fans who break into Skywalker Ranch to see The Phantom Menace so their cancer-afflicted friend can see the film before he dies, he’s decided the movie will play better to teenage fans without….the motivation. I.e., no depressing cancer. Teens can’t relate to pain or death, apparently. So, he hired other filmmakers of no particular known skill to recut the film and reshoot some scenes.

I haven’t seen Fanboys, which apparently received an absolutely rapturous reception in a rough cut screening at a Star Wars fan convention, so I can’t quite compare this case to RKO’s destruction of The Magnificent Ambersons, but the removal of a crucial plot point which apparently provides the entire motivation for the film’s story based on the deeply cynical belief that young people are as stupid and shallow as most Hollywood product makes me blow a gasket. Thanks to pressure, the “real” Fanboys will be made available at least on DVD, so at least the film has something resembling a fair shot at life. Good for these guys. May the movie gods smile on them. [UPDATE: Star Wars fanatic Cybergosh at UGO who was at the screening doesn’t care for the movie, but as I think both he and I agree, that’s not really the point. It’s not just about “artistic integrity,” it’s about common sense and respecting your audience, at least a little bit.]

As it happens, this morning I attended a protest on behalf of Nick Columbo, a 17 year-old cancer victim who had been denied a potentially lifesaving treatment by Pacificare. (The good news is that Pacificare caved on the case, which attracted considerable attention from local television.) I’m not sure what the connection is and I wouldn’t really compare the situations, but there were plenty of Columbo’s teen friends there, and they seemed more than mature enough to deal with the concept of cancer.

In any case, I implore you, do not go see Superhero Movie this Friday. Not because of the boycott. Just don’t see it.