toward Earth: Mimi Leder's Deep Impact, and Michael Bay's Armageddon, both in 1998. At the close of the decade, three other major films appeared: George Lucas' computer-generated return to his epic saga with the first sci-fi space episode titled Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, in 1999; and writer-directors Andy and Larry Wachowski's ambitious virtual-reality flick The Matrix, also in 1999 - with computer-enhanced digital effects that won four Academy Awards, all in sound, editing, and visual effects technical categories.The US has the most powerful, diverse, and technologically advanced economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $31,500, the largest among major industrial nations. In the United States there are more than 1,500 (including nearly 1,000 stations affiliated with the five major networks-NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and PBS; in addition, there are about 9,000 cable TV systems) television broadcasting systems, and more than 550 movie studios. That was the rate in 1997. Now, those figures have gone up by about 56%. Americans like entertainment. That's what they spend their money on. Each year the movie industry earns more and more money. It's not just that movies are gaining larger audiences, and more movies are being produced, but it's the fact that movie prices are rising. Ticket prices are at a peak, selling in some places for as much as $10.50 a pop. Not to mention when movies come out for sale, most VHS start at a record breaking $24.99, and most DVDs start st $39.99. Why are the movie bosses charging this much? Simply because they can. People would probably pay even more if they had to, and in my opinion they'll soon have to. American has adopted movies into their family, and they don't want to stop watching them....
