The time has come for a new blog. I write, having recently finished two shows that were not given the much needed attention that they deserved. There have been many shows that were mistreated, however here I am only going to focus on two specific ones. Feel free to leave a comment with your favorites.
The first of the two that I am going to talk about is a show called "Life". It was on NBC for two seasons from Sept 2007 until April of 2009. Two seasons is very unfortunate for such a great show. The premise of the show was, a police officer is wrongfully accused of murder and spends 12 years in jail only to be exonerated when new evidence comes to light. He is let out with quite a hefty sum, as well as getting to be a detective once again. He becomes very philosophical, and he starts to unravel the mystery surrounding his wrongful imprisonment. He partners up with a young lady that is getting a chance to prove that her drug addiction is over and she can be a great detective.
I have to tell you first off that I watched the first couple of episodes when they first aired. Unfortunately life happened and I found myself not watching, or even thinking about this show again. Until a friend of mine reminded me about the show. Thanks to Hulu, I was able to watch all of the episodes, and I have to tell you, I am sorry I missed it. A show this good didn't deserve to be cancelled. It had fantastic cases, that were being solved. The main characters had a wonderful love hate relationship as he always annoyed her with his Zen attitude. It was that very thought process that helped him to be a great detective, as he would spout off things like " everything is connected".
My love for the main characters only helped drive my love for the show. However, the thing that kept me coming back show after show, was the way he pieced the puzzle together to figure out why he was framed. The whole process was so fun to watch, because each time it hit you with one more unexpected twist. It had me constantly guessing and routing for him, but it also left you wondering all the same questions that he would ask.
The show was easy for me to invest my time and energy into because the characters were so damn likable, the plot was so incredibly woven together, and each episode was its own little slice of fun. I can say that I miss this show and wish that it had a second chance.
The second show that was mistreated, by Showtime, was a show, which I talked about a couple of blogs ago, called Jeremiah. Thanks to the magic of Netflix, I was able to find this hidden gem. This show demanded to be treated better, but must have been completely mishandled. It aired on Showtime from March of 2002 until January of 2004. A post apocalyptic world that must rebuild from a disaster. I know what you are thinking here we go again, not quite. A different spin. Instead of just people surviving after a nuclear war, or something like that, it was about anybody being over the age of innocence dying, and leaving children to find the way for themselves.
Towns are run by gangsters, or thieves, or nobody in some cases. But who is going to rebuild? People are out for power for themselves, but can they work together to bring civilization back to what it used to be? Questions like these are what made the show tick. Heroes, and villains. Good versus evil. And through it all we follow two people lost, that form an unlikely bond, to help bring the world back as they knew it from when they were young. The show explores the dynamics of how people treat people, how power can corrupt some, but there are some that would do anything to help everybody.
The main characters, Jeremiah and Kurdy, played by Luke Perry and Malcolm-Jamal Warner, are heroes without wanting to be. Jeremiah is a man trying to find something from his past that may lead to finding his father that is most likely dead, but never giving up on the thought that he might be alive. He carries the weight of his brothers death on his shoulders, and has a hard time allowing anybody into his life. He wanders from town to town looking for information and nothing more. Kurdy is a man of mysterious past, and what looks to be a rough future. He too wanders from town to town, but more out of boredom then anything else. In his own way he too is searching for answers. He starts out as a very rough around the edges character, and that part always remains with him. When he and Jeremiah become friends, you start to see more to him than just the tough guy he seems to be. He has a love for history, and is an avid reader, as well as poetic. They form a relationship that transcends race, religion, ethnicity, but stands for one thing alone: a trust in each other. They learned that no matter what, they had each others back, even when people are dying all around them. They become ambassadors for the new world. They become more then just people looking for answers, but people that others start to look for to help them with their questions. They help to take the steps to rebuilding the world with many others and a man named Marcus.
He leads the people not through fear, but through unity. His plan is to gather the people together. To become a stronger nation then the one that was destroyed. He doesn't do it for the glory, he does it for the need. People want a better world, but they don't know how to get it. His leadership is what fuels the people to rebuild, better then before.
I found a love for this show, and I hope that others do as well. From the main characters to the supporting, including a new character played by Sean Astin. Through the premise and delivery, this show has become one that I am so grateful for finding. The story is great, and so are the characters. I only wish that there was more for me to watch.
There are some shows that go on and on and on. Some that I like, some that I don't care for. These two are missed greatly, and I never really watched them when they aired. I am thankful that I was able to find them and watch them fully. Although they didn't make it passed a second season, it goes to show you that, sometimes, it's better to have an unfair exit, then an overdue one.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
The Office
Once again, quite some time has passed since my last blog, but for no other reason then I have been busy watching old shows and new shows, as well as working on my own show (more about that in the future). My point is, I have been enjoying movies, and shows of all sorts, and instead of writing about them I have just been watching more and more. I am, once again, ready to write about some of the things I have been watching.
There is one show that I have been watching, but have found myself not ready to blog about yet. Until now. The Office. Quite possibly my favorite "sitcom" of all time. If not my number one, then in my top 3 (subject to change based on mood). It is quite simply one of the funniest, most well written, and creative shows, as well as having a stellar cast. From top to bottom, every character can have me laughing. However with that said, the leaving of one character may forever change the landscape of the show. I hope it helps the show to move in a new direction, and doesn't cause harm. I have confidence that the show will continue it's success without Michael Scott. The writers are still in place as is the rest of the cast, so they should now be able to find their own way without the leadership of Steve Carrell.
Michael Scott will be going down as one of our favorite characters of all time. With his quick dim-witted nature, his characters that cause more harm then help, and always quick with a "That's what she said". He has taken the time to make us fall in love with a character that at times is sexiest, or intolerant, or prejudice. The only thing is, he doesn't do it out of a hurtful place, it is in fact the opposite. All of his moments of pure bad behavior come from a place that is pure of heart, and with the best intentions. Except for when it comes to Toby. But I guess we all may have that one person that just rubs us the wrong way.
No matter which way you slice it, what Steve Carrell brought to us through Michael Scott was joy. He was the funny guy that wants so much out of life without the full understanding of how to reach it. He gave us all the joy of journeying with him as he grew into a person that we won't just miss because of his humor, but, more so, because of his heart.
There is one show that I have been watching, but have found myself not ready to blog about yet. Until now. The Office. Quite possibly my favorite "sitcom" of all time. If not my number one, then in my top 3 (subject to change based on mood). It is quite simply one of the funniest, most well written, and creative shows, as well as having a stellar cast. From top to bottom, every character can have me laughing. However with that said, the leaving of one character may forever change the landscape of the show. I hope it helps the show to move in a new direction, and doesn't cause harm. I have confidence that the show will continue it's success without Michael Scott. The writers are still in place as is the rest of the cast, so they should now be able to find their own way without the leadership of Steve Carrell.
Michael Scott will be going down as one of our favorite characters of all time. With his quick dim-witted nature, his characters that cause more harm then help, and always quick with a "That's what she said". He has taken the time to make us fall in love with a character that at times is sexiest, or intolerant, or prejudice. The only thing is, he doesn't do it out of a hurtful place, it is in fact the opposite. All of his moments of pure bad behavior come from a place that is pure of heart, and with the best intentions. Except for when it comes to Toby. But I guess we all may have that one person that just rubs us the wrong way.
No matter which way you slice it, what Steve Carrell brought to us through Michael Scott was joy. He was the funny guy that wants so much out of life without the full understanding of how to reach it. He gave us all the joy of journeying with him as he grew into a person that we won't just miss because of his humor, but, more so, because of his heart.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Been a While
I know it has been a while since I have last written a review or more like my opinion. So after taking some time for writing of another project, I am returning to write again. Hopefully I will be doing this at least once a week, and if I a really inspired then perhaps twice a week.
Over the course of my absence, I have been engrossed, with TV shows and movies. Ranging from Toy Story, to a show called Jeremiah. To catching up on The Event, to starting, The Chicago Code. It has been quite an array to watch. Some things have had me wanting more, while others have had me saying "what a waste of potential".
A show called Jeremiah, one that I had never heard of before stumbling upon it on Netflix, has been quite a surprise. A show that flew under the radar several years back, on Showtime. Set in the future world that has had "The Big Death" which killed anybody over the "age of innocence". Now with the children having grown up to rebuild our world, a world in which, all of our conviences are now a distant memory. Leaving these people to trade for resources from anything they can find. Batteries being such a hot comodity that people are willing to kill each other over them. A world in which a man with a doctor's bag, becomes the most important person, whether he is really capable of being a doctor or not.
The show stars Luke Perry and Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and has guests such as Jake Busey, Sean Astin, and Jason Priestly. With these as your range of stars, I understand why it was under the radar, but that doesn't take away from me enjoying the show. In fact it may help. It may have helped me to apperciate this show more then I would have, had there been big names attached. I don't think it is the best show, but for what it is I think they did a good job.
Which leads me into The Event. Star power, not top tear. Storyline, a roller coaster of information. HYPE, through the roof! I was hoping for a show that was more like Flash Forward, which in my opinion, had such potential, and was prematurely cancelled. Instead, what was given to us, is a show that lacks any urgency, as well as any feeding me too little of what I want and too much of everything else. I want to know more about what is happening to these characters, and I am all for allowing them to explore, but it is just taking to long for me to get engrossed. I feel that it is just missing the mark. It is right there, but then it takes me away from what I want to happen. I'm not even sure what I am looking for exactly with this show, but I can tell you that I am just not getting it. I will keep watching, not for anything other then my own anticipation that I will suddenly find what I am looking for.
So now that I am back writing my blog again, I will soon be writing about some of the movies I have watched recently, such as, The Kids Are All Right, Animal Kingdom, Toy Story, and Winter's Bone. As well as some of the shows that I have been watching such as, The Cape, The Chicago Code, Mr. Sunshine, and Traffic Light, and maybe if Breakout Kings lasts that too.
I hope the my return was as anticipated as the return of The Event. I can only hope that I can give to you not what The Event has given me, but more of what Jeremiah has given to me. And If not maybe I'll land somewhere in between.
Over the course of my absence, I have been engrossed, with TV shows and movies. Ranging from Toy Story, to a show called Jeremiah. To catching up on The Event, to starting, The Chicago Code. It has been quite an array to watch. Some things have had me wanting more, while others have had me saying "what a waste of potential".
A show called Jeremiah, one that I had never heard of before stumbling upon it on Netflix, has been quite a surprise. A show that flew under the radar several years back, on Showtime. Set in the future world that has had "The Big Death" which killed anybody over the "age of innocence". Now with the children having grown up to rebuild our world, a world in which, all of our conviences are now a distant memory. Leaving these people to trade for resources from anything they can find. Batteries being such a hot comodity that people are willing to kill each other over them. A world in which a man with a doctor's bag, becomes the most important person, whether he is really capable of being a doctor or not.
The show stars Luke Perry and Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and has guests such as Jake Busey, Sean Astin, and Jason Priestly. With these as your range of stars, I understand why it was under the radar, but that doesn't take away from me enjoying the show. In fact it may help. It may have helped me to apperciate this show more then I would have, had there been big names attached. I don't think it is the best show, but for what it is I think they did a good job.
Which leads me into The Event. Star power, not top tear. Storyline, a roller coaster of information. HYPE, through the roof! I was hoping for a show that was more like Flash Forward, which in my opinion, had such potential, and was prematurely cancelled. Instead, what was given to us, is a show that lacks any urgency, as well as any feeding me too little of what I want and too much of everything else. I want to know more about what is happening to these characters, and I am all for allowing them to explore, but it is just taking to long for me to get engrossed. I feel that it is just missing the mark. It is right there, but then it takes me away from what I want to happen. I'm not even sure what I am looking for exactly with this show, but I can tell you that I am just not getting it. I will keep watching, not for anything other then my own anticipation that I will suddenly find what I am looking for.
So now that I am back writing my blog again, I will soon be writing about some of the movies I have watched recently, such as, The Kids Are All Right, Animal Kingdom, Toy Story, and Winter's Bone. As well as some of the shows that I have been watching such as, The Cape, The Chicago Code, Mr. Sunshine, and Traffic Light, and maybe if Breakout Kings lasts that too.
I hope the my return was as anticipated as the return of The Event. I can only hope that I can give to you not what The Event has given me, but more of what Jeremiah has given to me. And If not maybe I'll land somewhere in between.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
F/X
I am realizing more and more these days that the smaller networks are really putting out some of the best work. I did a whole blog about AMC, which I am new to, but have somehow surpassed an old channel that I have been watching for several years. F/X. Plain and simple, what then hell was I thinking?! I have been enjoying quality programming on this channel since my wife first introduced me to Rescue Me (she was introduced by her sis). I am sorry to say this but I had just plain forgotten about this channel as I have been enamored with AMC, mostly, but with the whole fall lineup.
Since the end of Rescue Me's last season, I have been not tuning in to see what's next. Until recently it had just fallen off of my radar. Then suddenly I see a preview for a new show called Lights Out. A show about a boxer that has to retire, was all I new about it, as I only slightly paid attention to the commercials for it. I figured, boxing is interesting, so a show about boxing could have potential. I didn't watch it when it first aired, but thanks to my DVR, I was able to tune in on my time. I was not disappointed. It turned out to be a really good show. Now I have only seen one episode so I'm not going to give this show the Championship belt, but I will continue to tune in. The show is interesting, thus far, and the characters are very real. The main character is a very loving father and husband, and will do anything for his family. Leaves lots of room for plot points. He is struggling with his life, past, present, and future. He really wants things to work out, but at the moment he is stuck in neutral. I look forward to seeing him try to get his life back together.
Another show that I have enjoyed is Justified. Timpthy Olyphant brings Raylan Givens to life with a soft, yet powerful voice. He may tread quietly, but he never hesitates to take care of the bad guy. A lawman that is always looking to do the right thing but often getting mixed into something he shouldn't. Not breaking the law just losing his footing for a moment. Walton Googins brings an evil, yet surprisingly compassionate bad guy, not to mention former good buddy of Raylen, to a boil then lets him quietly simmer away, as he raises hell. To me there is something greatly rewarding watching the bad guy be dealt with in maybe not quite the proper manner, but always having it justified.
I cannot say that I have had the pleasure of watching some of the other shows that have aired on this network, such as The Shield, or Nip Tuck, but it is just a matter of time until I sink down into my couch and pull an all nighter on one or both of these shows. There is also Damages, which has earned nothing but rave reviews, for the most part. I intend to eventually catch up with this as well.
I have had the pleasure of watching It Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but not The League. I will continue to watch Rescue Me until it ends this coming year, and I will continue to follow Justified and Lights Out. I look forward to what F/X has in store for the future, even without knowing what it will be. This channel has definitely become one that I will continue to tune into. I think there is something special about F/X.
Since the end of Rescue Me's last season, I have been not tuning in to see what's next. Until recently it had just fallen off of my radar. Then suddenly I see a preview for a new show called Lights Out. A show about a boxer that has to retire, was all I new about it, as I only slightly paid attention to the commercials for it. I figured, boxing is interesting, so a show about boxing could have potential. I didn't watch it when it first aired, but thanks to my DVR, I was able to tune in on my time. I was not disappointed. It turned out to be a really good show. Now I have only seen one episode so I'm not going to give this show the Championship belt, but I will continue to tune in. The show is interesting, thus far, and the characters are very real. The main character is a very loving father and husband, and will do anything for his family. Leaves lots of room for plot points. He is struggling with his life, past, present, and future. He really wants things to work out, but at the moment he is stuck in neutral. I look forward to seeing him try to get his life back together.
Another show that I have enjoyed is Justified. Timpthy Olyphant brings Raylan Givens to life with a soft, yet powerful voice. He may tread quietly, but he never hesitates to take care of the bad guy. A lawman that is always looking to do the right thing but often getting mixed into something he shouldn't. Not breaking the law just losing his footing for a moment. Walton Googins brings an evil, yet surprisingly compassionate bad guy, not to mention former good buddy of Raylen, to a boil then lets him quietly simmer away, as he raises hell. To me there is something greatly rewarding watching the bad guy be dealt with in maybe not quite the proper manner, but always having it justified.
I cannot say that I have had the pleasure of watching some of the other shows that have aired on this network, such as The Shield, or Nip Tuck, but it is just a matter of time until I sink down into my couch and pull an all nighter on one or both of these shows. There is also Damages, which has earned nothing but rave reviews, for the most part. I intend to eventually catch up with this as well.
I have had the pleasure of watching It Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but not The League. I will continue to watch Rescue Me until it ends this coming year, and I will continue to follow Justified and Lights Out. I look forward to what F/X has in store for the future, even without knowing what it will be. This channel has definitely become one that I will continue to tune into. I think there is something special about F/X.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Sequels
Sequels are spawned every year. Sometimes one, sometimes several. Mostly in the horror genre, which I will leave out because those are a different type of monster. I love a good sequel, and will even goes as far to say I love a sequel, on occasion, more then the original. It's not often that is the case, but we should all be aware that it does happen. I myself have been known to even watch the sequels that are, most likely, destined to be sub-par. It doesn't mean I enjoy them all of the time, but if I was a fan of the original, then I will give it a try. Although that doesn't always seem to be the case, because I have also not watched a sequel even after enjoying the original, because I felt that there was nothing else for me. The story had been told and I don't need to see a plot that was developed just to make money.
Some sequels I choose not to watch, because they couldn't even retain the same actor(s) for the sequel. It doesn't always hurt, but sometimes it doesn't help. As an example of one that works, I will look at the sequel to Silence of the Lambs. Hannibal didn't retain Jodie Foster, but brought in the talented Julianne Moore. I know there was lots of time in between the movies, so perhaps they may have aided in why it work, and it didn't hurt the film either. I feel that Hannibal wasn't as good of a movie as Silence, but it was a good movie in it's own right. Did the missing Jodie Foster hurt? Not at all. Julianne Moore gave a fine performance as Clarice. She was the best choice to take over where Jodie Foster left off. What also helped Hannibal was the retention of Anthony Hopkins as the Hannibal Lecter. Had he been lost as well, then maybe nothing would have helped that movie. Thankfully we will never know.
As an example of a movie that lost itself completely I look to The Punisher: War Zone. An awful sequel, for numerous reasons, but one reason alone is the fact that Thomas Jane didn't reprise his role (I see why). I'm not saying that Ray Stevenson was a bad choice, it's simply that the movie was bad, and it lost all of what made me enjoy the Thomas Jane version. Had Ray Stevenson been the original choice (forget the Dolph Lundgren version) then maybe the second would have been OK instead of terrible. The second was a cheap knock off-of the first, as well as being a cheap knock-off of B movie gangsters. The only thing that made it watchable was the violence.
Sometimes there are movies that are set up to be trilogies, which I am fine with as long as the story can continue to move and grow, then, by all means, lets have more for me to enjoy. The Matrix was set up as a trilogy, but the latter two lost the same fire that made the first a phenomenon. I enjoyed the second two, but the first is head and shoulders above them. The original Matrix is a "stand alone" movie, however, I cannot say that for the latter two. Should it have been a trilogy? Yes because with that particular story there were many more stories that could have been told. I'm not sure that the latter two chose the best stories to tell, but the weren't the worst stories either. They could have been better, but they could have been worse. I think they Wachowski's lost what made the first so incredible story wise and just focused on what made it work visually.
Then there are the Lord Of The Rings movies, which are based off of books, so of course the trilogy was already there. I never read the books but I can tell that these were intended to be enjoyed in parts. Each part, however, is not really "stand alone" capable. Which is kind of interesting, but also what makes sure that they have to be enjoyed in parts to a whole. I don't think that these could have been any better then they were. I think they were done so well that each one outdoes the others in some ways. Because of that, my favorite of the three is incredibly hard for me to decide. I have a love for certain parts in each one that make me feel that particular movie is my favorite of the three. I can say that if they were not a trilogy and therefore one, I would have to say each was my favorite. Figure that out!
Then there are the Star Wars movies. I was reading an article and they were saying that they are still unsure if George Lucas had originally intended them to be a trilogy let alone to have SIX of them. Plus an animated Clone Wars. So perhaps box office success played a part. Nonetheless, I love the Star Wars movies. On my list of favorite movies of all time. This is an example of a sequel being better then the original. The Empire Strikes Back is a better movie then a New Hope. The story in Empire is the most mind-blowing of all the movies. The moment we learn the truth about Darth Vader is a moment that will live in cinema history forever. Return of the Jedi is also an admirable sequel. It brought great closure to the story, and maintained an element of anxiety, as to what will happen next. Then came the sequels, or the pre-quels. OK, look, I love Star Wars, but I do wish these ones were better then they were. They should have been, but George Lucas went a little too crazy trying to create worlds and scenery and forgot that what made the originals great was not just the amazing effects (for the time) as well as the amazing sets, but the fact that his story was hard hitting, and heartfelt, as well as intense, and endearing. The characters he created in the originals were, and will always be iconic. However his characters in the pre-quels were already iconic, but forgot that, leaving us trying to pick up the pieces of a broken C3P0. How do we piece it together to make us love it again?
Then there are the movies that had success at the Box Office, or maybe just happened to gain a cult following, so therefore being pushed into "sequel land" which can be very disappointing. Such as Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, or Speed 2: Cruise Control, or Oceans 12, Batman Forever and Batman and Robin, and I know there are many others. I can't be positive, but I believe that these sequels were made because the originals were able to have success. What a joke. How do you expect us to respect these movies when clearly they didn't respect us? In the Batman movies they couldn't even maintain the stars. Well, Chris O'Donnell really wanted to be Robin twice, and Joel Schumacher decided he didn't mess up Batman Forever enough he needed to really mess it up, so he decided that he would do Batman and Robin. Oceans 11 had an outstanding cast, which came back for Oceans 12, and was put together so well that it didn't need it to say "Look we are all really famous!". Oceans 12, however, did just the opposite. It said "You loved us before, now we don't really have anything to do, but remember how much you loved us?" And the result was just plain awful. A story that was stupid, and sad, and (insert negative here). All these movies do is remind us that, although a movie can have success doesn't mean we should just make a movie for the sake of it.
My overall point is simple. A good sequel shouldn't be that hard to do if you stay true to what brought you there in the first place. In the near future we will have sequels to Avatar, and The Hangover. They both may turn out great, but chances are that with one seemingly having told it's story, and the other with a story that could still grow, we may be looking at another installment to a trilogy and one that is saying "more money please". So as sequels continue to happen, look for my sequel to this in the future, as this may just be a story that has more to tell.
Some sequels I choose not to watch, because they couldn't even retain the same actor(s) for the sequel. It doesn't always hurt, but sometimes it doesn't help. As an example of one that works, I will look at the sequel to Silence of the Lambs. Hannibal didn't retain Jodie Foster, but brought in the talented Julianne Moore. I know there was lots of time in between the movies, so perhaps they may have aided in why it work, and it didn't hurt the film either. I feel that Hannibal wasn't as good of a movie as Silence, but it was a good movie in it's own right. Did the missing Jodie Foster hurt? Not at all. Julianne Moore gave a fine performance as Clarice. She was the best choice to take over where Jodie Foster left off. What also helped Hannibal was the retention of Anthony Hopkins as the Hannibal Lecter. Had he been lost as well, then maybe nothing would have helped that movie. Thankfully we will never know.
As an example of a movie that lost itself completely I look to The Punisher: War Zone. An awful sequel, for numerous reasons, but one reason alone is the fact that Thomas Jane didn't reprise his role (I see why). I'm not saying that Ray Stevenson was a bad choice, it's simply that the movie was bad, and it lost all of what made me enjoy the Thomas Jane version. Had Ray Stevenson been the original choice (forget the Dolph Lundgren version) then maybe the second would have been OK instead of terrible. The second was a cheap knock off-of the first, as well as being a cheap knock-off of B movie gangsters. The only thing that made it watchable was the violence.
Sometimes there are movies that are set up to be trilogies, which I am fine with as long as the story can continue to move and grow, then, by all means, lets have more for me to enjoy. The Matrix was set up as a trilogy, but the latter two lost the same fire that made the first a phenomenon. I enjoyed the second two, but the first is head and shoulders above them. The original Matrix is a "stand alone" movie, however, I cannot say that for the latter two. Should it have been a trilogy? Yes because with that particular story there were many more stories that could have been told. I'm not sure that the latter two chose the best stories to tell, but the weren't the worst stories either. They could have been better, but they could have been worse. I think they Wachowski's lost what made the first so incredible story wise and just focused on what made it work visually.
Then there are the Lord Of The Rings movies, which are based off of books, so of course the trilogy was already there. I never read the books but I can tell that these were intended to be enjoyed in parts. Each part, however, is not really "stand alone" capable. Which is kind of interesting, but also what makes sure that they have to be enjoyed in parts to a whole. I don't think that these could have been any better then they were. I think they were done so well that each one outdoes the others in some ways. Because of that, my favorite of the three is incredibly hard for me to decide. I have a love for certain parts in each one that make me feel that particular movie is my favorite of the three. I can say that if they were not a trilogy and therefore one, I would have to say each was my favorite. Figure that out!
Then there are the Star Wars movies. I was reading an article and they were saying that they are still unsure if George Lucas had originally intended them to be a trilogy let alone to have SIX of them. Plus an animated Clone Wars. So perhaps box office success played a part. Nonetheless, I love the Star Wars movies. On my list of favorite movies of all time. This is an example of a sequel being better then the original. The Empire Strikes Back is a better movie then a New Hope. The story in Empire is the most mind-blowing of all the movies. The moment we learn the truth about Darth Vader is a moment that will live in cinema history forever. Return of the Jedi is also an admirable sequel. It brought great closure to the story, and maintained an element of anxiety, as to what will happen next. Then came the sequels, or the pre-quels. OK, look, I love Star Wars, but I do wish these ones were better then they were. They should have been, but George Lucas went a little too crazy trying to create worlds and scenery and forgot that what made the originals great was not just the amazing effects (for the time) as well as the amazing sets, but the fact that his story was hard hitting, and heartfelt, as well as intense, and endearing. The characters he created in the originals were, and will always be iconic. However his characters in the pre-quels were already iconic, but forgot that, leaving us trying to pick up the pieces of a broken C3P0. How do we piece it together to make us love it again?
Then there are the movies that had success at the Box Office, or maybe just happened to gain a cult following, so therefore being pushed into "sequel land" which can be very disappointing. Such as Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, or Speed 2: Cruise Control, or Oceans 12, Batman Forever and Batman and Robin, and I know there are many others. I can't be positive, but I believe that these sequels were made because the originals were able to have success. What a joke. How do you expect us to respect these movies when clearly they didn't respect us? In the Batman movies they couldn't even maintain the stars. Well, Chris O'Donnell really wanted to be Robin twice, and Joel Schumacher decided he didn't mess up Batman Forever enough he needed to really mess it up, so he decided that he would do Batman and Robin. Oceans 11 had an outstanding cast, which came back for Oceans 12, and was put together so well that it didn't need it to say "Look we are all really famous!". Oceans 12, however, did just the opposite. It said "You loved us before, now we don't really have anything to do, but remember how much you loved us?" And the result was just plain awful. A story that was stupid, and sad, and (insert negative here). All these movies do is remind us that, although a movie can have success doesn't mean we should just make a movie for the sake of it.
My overall point is simple. A good sequel shouldn't be that hard to do if you stay true to what brought you there in the first place. In the near future we will have sequels to Avatar, and The Hangover. They both may turn out great, but chances are that with one seemingly having told it's story, and the other with a story that could still grow, we may be looking at another installment to a trilogy and one that is saying "more money please". So as sequels continue to happen, look for my sequel to this in the future, as this may just be a story that has more to tell.
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