Kevin Maher of The Times of London is shocked--shocked!--that Grindhouse, directed by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez is about to be cut into millions of Fender Heavy guitar picks:

How, pundits asked, can a moronic sword’n’sandals romp such as 300 make $400 million at the box office, while a smart cine-literate action parody such as Grindhouse completely dies? The New York Times suggested that this wasn’t the end for the Weinsteins, just a bump in the road. But Business Week announced that it should be a lesson for Hollywood, and that dumb audience-friendly movies such as 300 and Ghost Rider were the way of the future.

"Dumb"=Not dark and nihilistic. A film with easily recognized good guys and bad guys.

"Audience-friendly"=An escapist film designed to provide broad appeal to audiences, who will often in turn reward a film's makers with money and positive word of mouth--and sometimes even repeat business, all of which brings in more money.

"The way of the future"=The way that Hollywood has always worked, during times in which it's profitable. This just in: when Hollywood doesn't turn out "audience friendly" movies, the audience responds in kind, thus staying away, thus causing Hollywood to lose money.

And for more British cinematic cynicism, check out this line from the Times of London's review of the upcoming Spider-Man sequel:

Also disappointing is the inability of the director, Sam Raimi, to end the romp without a fleeting shot of the American flag. The Stars and Stripes just happens to be fluttering behind Spidey as he makes his triumphal return to honour, probity and good honest fist-fighting.

At least in most of America.