Trilogies: Really necessary? Only 3? by Fastmover

OTHER SCIENCE FICTION SERIES

Trilogies: Really necessary? Only 3?

POSTED BY: FASTMOVER
UPDATED: Saturday, June 16, 2007 19:12
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 4541
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Sunday, May 27, 2007 10:23 PM

I just watched POTC: At World's End today, and I must say, it was a really good movie. However, I did have a few gripes about it. The plot that is developed throughout the entire series is very interesting and intriguing, however it is also very complex. When you right and work with something like this, it's not always possible to design it to be divided cleanly and evenly into 3. The movie did feel a bit crammed in and lengthy.

What kind of bugged me a little was that the plot was a little too dense for me, and I think this was the result of trying to do too much in one film to tie up all the ends while including the needed grand finale. Now, if they had been able to make a 4th movie, I think they could have spread things out a bit more comfortably. I'm just wondering, in cases like this, I understand 3 is tradition, but must it be 3? Why not go on to a 4th film if the story could use it? There's a 4th Indiana Jones film coming out next year, plus Lord of the Rings will include 4 films once The Hobbit is released. Also, if the other 2 Riddick films are made, then there will be 4 in that series including Pitch Black.

On the flipside, however, I noticed there is supposed to be a second Inside Man film. You may remember the first as being the big heist film of last year that starred Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, an Jodie Foster. In this case, I really felt that they completely tied up all the loose ends, and provided a great sense of closure in that one film. I can't really think of much else they can do, but I know there are possibilities.

So do they really have to make sequels every time a movie does well, and are they always obliged to make 3 these days?

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Monday, May 28, 2007 2:42 AM

EVILDINOSAUR

Are you sure they aren't making a 4th pirates movie? I'd heard there were talks of it, and the ending of 3 definitely left it with somewhere to go.

"Haha, mine is an evil laugh."

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Monday, May 28, 2007 2:49 AM

SPEAKFIRE

The reason for making sequels is pretty obvious, if one movie does well, why not use the same chemistry of characters and make a sequel that can make the same amount of money and be equally successful, if not more? If you think about it, this is done far far more when writing books, in all fiction genres. In general though, the more 'sequels' to movies that are made (especially past the Trilogy), the less popular they are. As far as I know there's only been a couple truly successful movie series that are more than a trilogy. One is Star Wars, and the other is Harry Potter (where the cast was signed on to 7 movies to start off with, so they all knew what they were getting into).

It's probably for a variety of reasons. Few directors, writers, producers, and most importantly, actors and actresses, want to keep doing hte same thing over and over. And the more movies you make, the more difficult it is to come up with creative and interesting stories to go in the movies.

Regarding the Lord of the Rings movies, the Hobbit is not a sequel in the truest sense of the words. It was actually written years before The Lord of the Rings, so the LOTR movies are actually a 'sequel' to the Hobbit.

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Monday, May 28, 2007 2:55 AM

NBZ

Pirates is not a true "trilogy".

The first part was a complete story in and of itself. When then that did remarkably well, they decided to add to it.

The second two films have very little to do with the first.

If they make a fourth (which they probably will) I hope they return more like the first one. "At Worlds End" was very enjoyable - a lot better than Dead man's chest, but IMO not a touch on the original.

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Monday, May 28, 2007 3:26 AM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Yeah, it wasn't meant to be a trilogy. I still haven't seen the new one, but I plan to, even though the story took a completely different turn than what I expected from the ending of the first one.
I heard they were considering making upwards of seven Pirates movies. I'm betting they'll keep cranking them out as long as box office is high.
However, I do have to say that, in general, movie franchises do not remain good after three movies. A lot of them have had direct-to-video fourth movies or something like that. It nearly always starts being bad, forced, overdone, under-funded, etc etc etc. Not that this has to be the rule, but it sure does seem to be.

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.
A troll's hair is still pointy, even when it's wearing a hat.

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Monday, May 28, 2007 4:16 AM

CYBERSNARK

There's also the trend in film-making (whether movies or TV) to break stories down into three "acts." To this mindset, a trilogy just makes instinctual sense.

(And I would argue that Pirates III could've been improved by moving a good hunk of the plotlines into Pirates II and eliminating the cartoony and out-of-character sequences.)

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Monday, May 28, 2007 5:27 AM

LWAVES

I liked POTC3 too. Expected more humour (although what was there was good) and some of it seemed a little forced.

Select to view spoiler:

I also thought they ignored the bit where Chow Yun Fat hinted at Elizabeth Swann being Calypso. It never came into play later at all except for a couple of worried glances.

Overall great action, great set pieces. Although as stated it was a bit much for one film. But no where near as bad as Spidey 3.

To me the 'tradition' of making a trilogy is a more recent development.
For example:
The first Matrix did very well. The makers said that they always planned it as a trilogy (yeah right) and then they bolluxed the next two up.
Spider-Man was 'supposed' to have been set out as a trilogy from the start, but only Harry's arc really continues and you can't count Peter Parker as all the films are about him.
X-Men was the same. First one hit big so they say they are doing a trilogy, and they know they have interest for two more films. After that.....

I don't think film series based on books can count as 'planned trilogys', they just go as far as they can with the source material. The makers of LOTR went with three films coz of three books. JK Rowling said there would be seven Potter books so it stands that there will be seven films.

Film makers will always go as far as they can.
That's why we have Rocky 6, Rambo 4, Die Hard 4, Indy 4, Beverly Hills Cop 4 either out or on the way. They are just trying to recapture past glory and make more money (yes, even Indy 4).
I really wish they'd leave them alone after this amount of time, and I'm a big Indy fan and don't want to see it ruined.

Quote:
As far as I know there's only been a couple truly successful movie series that are more than a trilogy. One is Star Wars, and the other is Harry Potter

You could add the Bond and Star Trek movies to the list as well. Although they are stanalone movies and not 'true sequels'.
Going on that idea then Star Wars is made up of two trilogys. The first dealing with Anakins story, the second with Luke. Therefore they haven't been successful beyond the three film marker. (Being a bit picky there).

At least nobody has made 'ET 2: Armed And Dangerous' or 'ET 3: Back With A Vengeance' or 'Titanic: The Poseidon Adventure 3' or 'More Usual Suspects' or 'The Usual Suspects Again".
Well, not yet......

"If I hear voices and someone is really there, does that mean I'm going REALLY crazy?"

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Monday, May 28, 2007 5:37 AM

CYBERSNARK

Actually, there is a sequel to E.T., but it's only in book form. E.T., Book of the Green Planet was available in the late 80s, though even then, I never saw it outside of Universal Studios Florida's gift shop. Really good book, though.

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Monday, May 28, 2007 5:40 AM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:
Quote:
As far as I know there's only been a couple truly successful movie series that are more than a trilogy. One is Star Wars, and the other is Harry Potter

Going on that idea then Star Wars is made up of two trilogys. The first dealing with Anakins story, the second with Luke. Therefore they haven't been successful beyond the three film marker. (Being a bit picky there).

Don't forget that for the most part the prequel trilogy sucked hard bits of moldy green cheese.
I'm also of the opinion that the Harry Potter movies could have been better right from the start, and stopped seeing any after the second one, but that's just me.

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Monday, May 28, 2007 6:58 AM

CHRISISALL

At least Robocop 3 was good.

Murphyisall

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Monday, May 28, 2007 8:48 AM

FASTMOVER

Quote:
Originally posted by EvilDinosaur:
Are you sure they aren't making a 4th pirates movie? I'd heard there were talks of it, and the ending of 3 definitely left it with somewhere to go.

"Haha, mine is an evil laugh."

I really hope there is, but there are a few things going against it, though they may be overcome. First off, on a positive not both Gore Verbinski and Johnny Depp say they'd love to continue the series, plus Disney is really game for it as well. However, most of the central conflict has been resolved, and unfortunately Keira Knightley has said that she wishes to move on to different projects.

Bruckheimer has said the series may continue, but as a spinoff that may not include Jack Sparrow.

HERE BE SPOILERS!!!:)X __________________________

Unfortunately I wasn't able to stick around and see the bonus scene after the credits, but apparently Will Turner sails home after 10 years for his one day on land, and there is a 'green flash.' This supposedly indicates someone's soul returning to earth, and the writers, while it was not included in the film, have said that Will has in fact been released form the curse because of Elizabeth's love.

I thought in a 4th film they could have found a way to release him otherwise. Also, there could be a battle over the Fountain of Youth when Jack tries to find it. Jack could go back to fighting Barbossa perhaps, or Will could still be immortal, but Elizabeth not, so he must fight Jack for it to give to her.

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Monday, May 28, 2007 9:42 AM

FASTMOVER

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:
I liked POTC3 too. Expected more humour (although what was there was good) and some of it seemed a little forced.

Select to view spoiler:
I also thought they ignored the bit where Chow Yun Fat hinted at Elizabeth Swann being Calypso. It never came into play later at all except for a couple of worried glances.

Overall great action, great set pieces. Although as stated it was a bit much for one film. But no where near as bad as Spidey 3.

To me the 'tradition' of making a trilogy is a more recent development.
For example:
The first Matrix did very well. The makers said that they always planned it as a trilogy (yeah right) and then they bolluxed the next two up.
Spider-Man was 'supposed' to have been set out as a trilogy from the start, but only Harry's arc really continues and you can't count Peter Parker as all the films are about him.
X-Men was the same. First one hit big so they say they are doing a trilogy, and they know they have interest for two more films. After that.....

I don't think film series based on books can count as 'planned trilogys', they just go as far as they can with the source material. The makers of LOTR went with three films coz of three books. JK Rowling said there would be seven Potter books so it stands that there will be seven films.

Film makers will always go as far as they can.
That's why we have Rocky 6, Rambo 4, Die Hard 4, Indy 4, Beverly Hills Cop 4 either out or on the way. They are just trying to recapture past glory and make more money (yes, even Indy 4).
I really wish they'd leave them alone after this amount of time, and I'm a big Indy fan and don't want to see it ruined.

Quote:
As far as I know there's only been a couple truly successful movie series that are more than a trilogy. One is Star Wars, and the other is Harry Potter

You could add the Bond and Star Trek movies to the list as well. Although they are stanalone movies and not 'true sequels'.
Going on that idea then Star Wars is made up of two trilogys. The first dealing with Anakins story, the second with Luke. Therefore they haven't been successful beyond the three film marker. (Being a bit picky there).

At least nobody has made 'ET 2: Armed And Dangerous' or 'ET 3: Back With A Vengeance' or 'Titanic: The Poseidon Adventure 3' or 'More Usual Suspects' or 'The Usual Suspects Again".
Well, not yet......

"If I hear voices and someone is really there, does that mean I'm going REALLY crazy?"

I felt the Davy Jones character arc was a bit forced. I understand what happens is an important part of the plot, but I really liked the character for some twisted reason, actually feeling sympathy for him a couple times, and felt his evolution to possess more humanity was a bit rushed.

I agree with you, though, that I'd rather have them move on from some series. Indiana Jones sounds exciting, as I'm also a big fan, but I hope they don't overdo it as they do so often these days. Sometimes it's just better to leave a good thing alone. I'm thinking that if they do make another Pirates film, maybe they could give it a few years so people don't get tired of it too quickly.

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Monday, May 28, 2007 9:50 AM

FASTMOVER

Quote:
Regarding the Lord of the Rings movies, the Hobbit is not a sequel in the truest sense of the words. It was actually written years before The Lord of the Rings, so the LOTR movies are actually a 'sequel' to the Hobbit.

I think The Hobbit is supposed to follow Bilbo's life before LOTR proper, I believe Gandalf is featured as well. What I'm wondering, though, is whether this has become somewhat of a fad. In Pirates and others a lot more emphasis is placed on introducing certain characters. Pitch Black is another example, it's the prequel to the Chronicles trilogy, which TCOR is the first. It is uncertain whether the other 2 will be made. A lot of time is spent getting to know a main character, his capabilities, his values, emotions, background etc. Not that this is a bad thing, it's good they do this, but I'm just curious. It is a bit hard for me sometimes to watch one movie, get so used to its style, and then the sequels end up completely different.

Sometimes, though, I also think that they don't necessarily have to make 3 films every time. 2 can be good enough.

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Monday, May 28, 2007 11:58 AM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:

To me the 'tradition' of making a trilogy is a more recent development.

The true trilogy goes back to 5th century BC Greece. A playwrite would submit 3 tragic plays, each separate works, but each developing a singular theme, to the annual theatre festival. 3 works at one time.

First time I remember it being used in modern times was Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy, originally 9 or 10 short stories, set in a common universe and building to a final climax; republished as a 3 volume book length set.- now just 3 related books.

Lord of the Rings, the books, might have been slightly before that, certainly around the same time- 3 books with a common plot, universe, characters, building to a common theme, intended as a 3 book full work.

Since then, it became a marketing tool-- " Hey ,look, 3 books/ records/ movies about the same stuff." HitchHiker's Guide ( actually 5 + 1/2 book length pieces ); Star Wars; SpiderMan, Die Hard, whatever...

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Monday, May 28, 2007 12:58 PM

CYBERSNARK

Quote:
Originally posted by NewOldBrownCoat:
HitchHiker's Guide ( actually 5 + 1/2 book length pieces )

I especially liked how one of them was billed on the cover as "The Fifth volume in the Increasingly-Inaccurately-Named Hitchiker's Trilogy."

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Monday, May 28, 2007 2:26 PM

REGINAROADIE

Actually, the one film trend that's more seen in independent and foreign cinema than mainstream Hollywood cinema is more of the "thematic series", where a filmmaker creates a series of films that may have one character or at least a theme that's repeated over a long period of time.

The most famous is obviously Kevin Smith and the "New Jersey Chronicles", where every movie he's done (sans JERSEY GIRL) all takes place within the Highland's area of New Jersey and have characters constantly reference other characters that were in other movies, with Jay and Silent Bob being the only recurring characters in each movie. Of all of those, only CLERKS II is a direct sequel to CLERKS. So it's more of a thematic series, as opposed to a Part 6. The only other time an independent American filmmaker has done something similar to that (which I know of), is Richard Linklater with BEFORE SUNRISE and BEFORE SUNSET. The former came out in 95, the latter in 04.

In Europe, there's been numerous film series or sagas that span decades that you wouldn't necessarily call franchises. The most famous is Francois Truffaut's Antoine Doinel series. Began with THE 400 BLOWS with Antoine as a kid, and then continues over the decades with STOLEN KISSES, BED AND BOARD and LOVE ON THE RUN. I highly doubt that some studio head in France was pestering Truffaut with "Frankie, the flick's a hit. Come down Monday morning and get your check for the sequel. Gotta get moving for that Bastille Day weekend!!"

And that's just scratching the surface. If you follow the link below, you can find plenty of Criterion Collection box sets of various sagas and trilogies that are more thematic than franchiseable. So I guess the idea of film series and trilogies aren't just limited to blockbusters.

http://www.criterion.com/asp/browse.asp

I guess the different between a continuation and a sequel is that a sequel is partially done for money.

**************************************************
"Have you ever fired two guns whilst jumping through the air?"
"No."
"Have you ever fired ONE gun whilst jumping through the air?"

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Monday, May 28, 2007 2:32 PM

WHISPER

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:

Select to view spoiler:
I also thought they ignored the bit where Chow Yun Fat hinted at Elizabeth Swann being Calypso. It never came into play later at all except for a couple of worried glances.

Select to view spoiler:

That's becuase Elizabeth wasn't calypso. Calypso was the medicine woman. Remember her getting all large and making the maelstrom in the ocean? I think Chow Yun's line about Elizabeth was just to throw the audience off.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Want Firefly/ Serenity/ BtVS/ Angel desktop wallpapers? Take a look at the ones I've created at:
http://www.whispergraphics.net
Now hosting the Firefly Extended Gagreel

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Tuesday, May 29, 2007 8:10 AM

LWAVES

To Whisper:

Select to view spoiler:

The reply

Select to view spoiler:

Obviously I got that Elizabeth wasn't Calypso (and never thought she was), but the point I was referring to was later on when they are in the battle and they are talking about freeing Calypso from Tia Dalma.
Elizabeth must be at least suspicious of what Chow Yun Fat told her earlier, he seemed certain after all.
And then the pirates say they are going to free Calypso. Wouldn't you be a little worried about what they were going to do, if you had even the slightest thought that it MIGHT be you.
And when you do know for certain there's still nothing from her.
I would have settled for a 'Phew it's not me' type comment when they picked Tia Dalma, but there was nothing. Not even a relieved look from her.

Oh well. Maybe it'll be clearer on a second viewing. Things go by so quickly on a cinema screen.

To Fastmover:

Yeah I liked Davy Jones too, and I felt sorry for him. It was a nice moment when he was next to the brig (not gonna say anymore, you'll know the bit I mean).

And back onto the original topic:

I've always liked 'thematic series'. Kevin Smiths stuff is a stand out example.
If Tarantino had directed all the films he's scripted it would have been similiar.
Alabama from True Romance is mentioned in Reservoir Dogs. Mr. Blondes (Vic Vega) parole officer (Scagnetti???) is in Natural Born Killers. Vic Vega in Reservoir Dogs is Vincent Vegas (Pulp Fiction) brother.
There are probably more.

"If I hear voices and someone is really there, does that mean I'm going REALLY crazy?"

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Tuesday, May 29, 2007 8:33 AM

STORYMARK

As to a fourth movie: According to the writers of all three (Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio), while no one is ruling out any further installments, none are on the drawing boards right now. No one is contracted for any more, nor have the writers been asked to come up with any ideas. Add to that the reports that the stress of doing these 2 back-to-back nearly killed Gore Verbinsky (the director), and I'm betting that they'll wait a few years before they start working on another.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Tuesday, May 29, 2007 6:30 PM

FASTMOVER

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
As to a fourth movie: According to the writers of all three (Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio), while no one is ruling out any further installments, none are on the drawing boards right now. No one is contracted for any more, nor have the writers been asked to come up with any ideas. Add to that the reports that the stress of doing these 2 back-to-back nearly killed Gore Verbinsky (the director), and I'm betting that they'll wait a few years before they start working on another.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

Of concern to me is the fact that Keira wishes to move on. She's honestly not my favorite character, but a lot of the fans were driven by the 'cute' coupling between her and Will. I think they could always replace her, her character, or maybe get Natalie Portman because they look so much alike they even doubled for each other in The Phantom Menace.

Interestingly Verbinski is aware that Disney wishes to continue the series, so maybe he just needs a couple years of rest and then he can come back to it. Depp wants to do another trilogy, and I'm not sure I'd like a spinoff without him. Not sure about the rest of the characters, but I'm sure if the story was completely new they would need new characters. I just hope Gibbs returns because he was really cool, and I liked his warm, fatherly figure among the treachery of the pirates.

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Wednesday, May 30, 2007 2:36 AM

CYBERSNARK

Well, they could easily bring back Jack, Barbosa, Gibbs, Pintel, Ragetti, and the rest of the crew and leave Will and Elizabeth where they are.

Maybe grab a couple of other marketable names (Say, maybe one of: Nathan Filion, Adam Baldwin, Alan Tudyk, Sean Maher, Ron Glass, Gina Torres, Morena Baccarin, Jewel Stait, or Summer Glau) as new characters, tied to Jack's quest for the Fountain.

Really, if they meet up with Elizabeth again, it'll just weaken the emotional good-bye scene at the end of this one.

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Wednesday, May 30, 2007 5:56 PM

FASTMOVER

Quote:
Originally posted by Cybersnark:
Well, they could easily bring back Jack, Barbosa, Gibbs, Pintel, Ragetti, and the rest of the crew and leave Will and Elizabeth where they are.

Maybe grab a couple of other marketable names (Say, maybe one of: Nathan Filion, Adam Baldwin, Alan Tudyk, Sean Maher, Ron Glass, Gina Torres, Morena Baccarin, Jewel Stait, or Summer Glau) as new characters, tied to Jack's quest for the Fountain.

Really, if they meet up with Elizabeth again, it'll just weaken the emotional good-bye scene at the end of this one.

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

HAHA I fully agree. :) I think that at the point where Will and Elizabeth are, they should just let them be. I can't really see their story arc going any further. The only real reason I see for bringing them back, is like I said, they do seem to be the main appeal for younger viewers, especially girls. Bring in a new 'cute couple', like Jewel and Sean.

Also, I could just see Wash at the wheel of the Black Pearl wearing an eyepatch and screaming "Oh God, Oh God, we're all gonna die!" Jayne would fit in perfectly as a mercenary, as well as Gina in the tough environment. "Aargghhh, bring me my gorram chest, dumbass hog!" "What's in that chest? Maybe it's gold." And Morena could play some princess or another pirate lord in charge of the fountain. :) Okay I'm dreaming.

Oh, and another scene I really liked:

Select to view spoiler:

When the Black Pearl and Flying Dutchman attack the Endeavor with Cutler Beckett on board. I just love the scene when he walks down in defeat as everything around him explodes and utters his last words, "It was just good business." It's weird, but I loved that scene just like the one in Riddick when the Purifier finds himself and commits suicide.

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Thursday, May 31, 2007 3:34 AM

CYBERSNARK

Actually, I was initially thinking Alan as Steve the Pirate.

Pirates of the Caribbean 4:
JACK vs STEVE

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Thursday, May 31, 2007 12:45 PM

FASTMOVER

Quote:
Originally posted by Cybersnark:
Actually, I was initially thinking Alan as Steve the Pirate.

Pirates of the Caribbean 4:
JACK vs STEVE

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

HAHA!

Another thought just occurred to me about Keira. Maybe she's just bluffing as a lot of stars do to get them to offer her more to reprise her role. Otherwise I really can't see her turning down a role in such a big movie when honestly she hasn't much else in her portfolio other than King Arthur.

Other actors, like those really cool ones we're talking about would probably kill a couple people, read the complete works of Shan Yu, and drink 2 cases of mudder's milk to get a role like that.

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Thursday, May 31, 2007 2:25 PM

CYBERSNARK

Quote:
Originally posted by reginaroadie:
Actually, the one film trend that's more seen in independent and foreign cinema than mainstream Hollywood cinema is more of the "thematic series", where a filmmaker creates a series of films that may have one character or at least a theme that's repeated over a long period of time.

The most famous is obviously Kevin Smith and the "New Jersey Chronicles", where every movie he's done (sans JERSEY GIRL) all takes place within the Highland's area of New Jersey and have characters constantly reference other characters that were in other movies, with Jay and Silent Bob being the only recurring characters in each movie. Of all of those, only CLERKS II is a direct sequel to CLERKS. So it's more of a thematic series, as opposed to a Part 6. The only other time an independent American filmmaker has done something similar to that (which I know of), is Richard Linklater with BEFORE SUNRISE and BEFORE SUNSET. The former came out in 95, the latter in 04.

Upon reflection, this sounds like what I'm trying to do. I currently have, in various stages of development:

-A love story, as colonists from Earth join the previously self-contained colonies around Jupiter.

-A miniseries about a group of hard-luck smugglers who inadvertently bring about the solar system's first-contact with extra-terrestrial life, and about how this discovery causes civilization to collapse (humanity ends up divided among three civilizations: the Vanel Empire, the Earth Sphere, and the Hishidahte League).

-A political thriller as the exiled prince of the Hishiin returns to the Star Kingdom, leading a convoy of human refugees. He helps bring down his mother, the Regis, and reshape the Hishiin Star Kingdom into the Hishidahte League.

-A children's story/movie about a young Vanel princess named Pallas, who goes on an adventure with an alien named Hoorik (a Kurr) and learns a valuable lesson about prejudice before her father can rescue her.

-A cyberpunk murder mystery, set on Earth, as an android P.I. investigates a series of "murders" --androids having been wrecked and their cyberbrains hacked and wiped. She eventually learns that the suspect/victim is himself only a bit player in a much larger scheme.

-A children's series centred around a group of rookie fighter pilots, one of whom is an android recently escaped from a "no longer safe" Earth. Another pilot is a Vanel soldier (and another is a Kurr). At one point, the rookies cross paths with a pair of gun-runners (aboard the freighter Starry Knight), fomenting rebellion against the Empire. When the soldier sees the woman smuggler, he reacts in shock. Over time, the characters learn that a shadowy enemy has been manipulating events behind the scenes. . .

-An educational series (aimed at younger children), involving a group of Hishidahte explorers (led by a human, and including representatives of several different species, civilizations, and creeds) as they travel the galaxy, investigating nebulae, quasars, different solar systems, life-forms, and spatial phenomena.

-An action/adventure movie-or-series focusing on the teenage princess Pallas Khalil of the Vanel Empire, who has been actively undermining her father's corrupt and fascist regime, with her boyfriend, pilot of the Starry Knight. The Empire is overthrown as a new threat arises, one linked to Earth.

They're all self-contained, but they all share the same universe, crossing over wherever I can find a place for it.

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Saturday, June 16, 2007 7:12 PM

JAYNEZTOWN

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:

To me the 'tradition' of making a trilogy is a more recent development.
For example:
The first Matrix did very well. The makers said that they always planned it as a trilogy (yeah right) and then they bolluxed the next two up.
Spider-Man was 'supposed' to have been set out as a trilogy from the start, but only Harry's arc really continues and you can't count Peter Parker as all the films are about him.
X-Men was the same. First one hit big so they say they are doing a trilogy, and they know they have interest for two more films. After that.....

I think a lot of trilogies these days are just made for the money, sure the first movies are normally great but by the time the third comes around they care little for the source material and go to the box office to simply cash-in their checks.

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