RFTV: 2011 : THE YEAR OF SEQUELS AND PREQUELS

AND ROLL CAMERA…

So by the end of the year, the cinema would have shown a record minimum of 26 sequels (I say minimum because that’s all I could find – there could be more. I'm pretty sure there are 28. Show yourselves number 27 and 28!).

These include: (prepare yourself – again – there are 26! You can skip the list in fear of headaches.)

Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (Big mistake.)

Scream 4 (Have you EVER screamed at a ‘scream’ film?)

Fast five (Did you know Vin diesel is 44!- He looks it.)

Hoodwinked too! Hood vs. Evil (Why, oh why? Not even the lead actress – Anne Hathaway – enjoyed the first one.)

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (I ENJOYED THIS SEQUEL!)

The Hangover Part II (Original story line.)

Kung Fu Panda 2 (The day that no one enjoys seeing an overweight panda doing Kung Fu and voiced by Jack Black will never come. Actually after seeing the sequel…it probably will.)

X-MEN: First class (Yes, it’s a prequel, but it’s pretty much the same as a sequel – they have similar names and everything.)

Cars 2 (I will NOT be mean about Pixar.)

Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Okay, okay, I haven’t seen it – but it’s unlikely to be as good as the first.)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 (I’m British – I’m obliged to enjoy Harry Potter.)

Final Destination 5 (Anyone else unsure why there are five? Surely a ‘final destination’ means it should be ‘final’? For the benefit of my eyes it should have been.)

Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (Have not seen it – will not see it.)

The Human Centipede 2 (WHO THINKS OF THESE IDEAS?)

Paranormal activity 3 (Scary.)

Puss in Boots (Another prequel, but let’s be honest, Puss isn’t the same without Shrek to sprinkle some Scottish anger on him.)

Happy Feet Two (…)

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (DON’T JUDGE ME…but…I like it!)

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (I NEED to see this film. Only to tear it apart. Positively of course.)

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (Tom Cruise = No.)

Don 2: The Chase Continues (Nope, me neither.)

Winnie the Pooh (Super awesome! If you’re four.)

The Muppets (You go Miss Piggy!)

Rise of the Apes (Oh Ahh Ahhh Ah.)

Mean Girls 2 (WHY? I can quote the first until I die. The sequel…I wouldn’t quote it unless I was in a world where this was the only film shown EVER.)

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (Ha. Ha. Ha. No.)

BREAK

Give yourself a clap – we made it through the list! If you took my advice and skipped the list then… shame on you.

So as you may have noticed I’m not a massive fan of sequels or prequels – admittedly there are a few really GREAT sequels, but for other films I feel a sequel ruins the magic behind it.

Let me explain…

When I watch a film I gain a connection with the characters and imagine their life stories and how they came to the situation they are in (You don’t? Just me? Oh. This is awkward.), so for me a prequel or sequel can sometimes tell us TOO much. As an audience we should (If the film is well made.) be interested enough to think up what we don’t see.

Plus sometimes a sequel will RUIN the novelty of the original film. For instance (sorry Todd Philips…) The Hangover. When it first came out it was witty, entertaining, a great cast and a GREAT plot. HOWEVER, the plot was so great that it should have been left as just that – a great plot. Instead it was recycled into a new film – a film purely made on the basis of how much money it will make (admittedly I didn’t sit in on the meeting about The Hangover 2, but it’s a little obvious.). I’m not saying it wasn’t a good sequel – it was, but for me it ruined the element of surprise the first film had to offer.

Now to balance out my sequel criticism on the scales of life –

I LOVE HARRY POTTER AND THE TWILIGHT SAGA.

(I’m aware of your reaction – Boys: sigh, Girls: WOO.)

So to recap, 2011 was the year of money making, magic ruining films. However it was also the year many nerds alike sadly huddled at the loss of hope for a new Harry Potter film (J.K Rowling -remember you can change this!)