Are planned Trilogies exciting?

[NewMaxFranklin]

Now days Hollywood is becoming increasingly sequel-happy. If a movie doesn't loose money, it's a hit! And part two gets a green light, even if part 1 barely had enough plot to justify one movie.

I for one find Hollywood's lack of innovation very irritating.

On the other hand, there is something that appeals to me about a planned trilogy. That tells me, that the people behind these films really believe in the material. Of corse they could also smell the dollar-signs wafting off of a fresh franchise, but hey, call me an optimist.

I'm currently writing a film trilogy on spec here in Hollwood. And I was wondering if you guys would be more, or less, likely to see a film that was publicized as "part one of three." All of the films would stand on their own, but would fit together as well.

(I don't want to post any details about plot, characters, etc. because the matireal is unfinished and without copyright at this time.)

Your feedback is appreciated. Thanks.

[joker]

i like trilogies are real cool if its a good movie cause if you liked it a lot you know you got 2 more coming out some time soon, by the way i doubt any one would be low enough to steal your idea on this board

[I.R Joey]

Depends sometimes you can hook people and ensure they will want to see the next one. So if the 1st compeling enough, then sure they can be just as exciting.

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by NMaxFranklin
I was wondering if you guys would be more, or less, likely to see a film that was publicized as "part one of three."

It depends entirely upon whether I liked the first one. "Coming Soon: Crouching Tiger II and III" I would regard as a promise. "Coming Soon: Pearl Harbor II and III" I would regard as aggravated assault.

[Calhoun07]

I say that Hollywood should stop forcing stupid sequels on us just because the movie made money. There are sequels that need to be made that aren't getting made because the movie didn't perform the way they wanted it. I know I mentioned it before, but Unbreakable is supposed to be a trilogy. People who are complaining the first movie goes to slow (IT DOESN'T! Not every movie can have or should have fast pacing, anyway. Get over it if that is your rant about the movie. IT IS GREAT!) need to bear in mind that this is act one of a three act drama Night wanted to do. What upsets me the most is that we may never get to see Night's next two movies in this, and he will be forced to produce more audience friendly pap like the Sixth Sense. Sixth Sense was cool, the first two times I watched it. Now it is just so so. Unbreakable works on so many ways that you can watch it more than just a couple times.

[James Harvey]

Sequels can be very irritating. Did we really need a Crow 2 & 3? But if they're planned, then at least we can expect a more complete story told over a few films. And I think planned ones are good. We know that not the whole main cast will survive throughout all the movies and there may be some cool plot twists along the way. If they're planned, then I don't find them irritating. But if they're made becuase the first one made money, then I don't think there's much hope for them. We don't need a sequel to Final Destination. Or a sequel to Pitch Black. Alot fo sequels are just rehash. There are the few rare good ones like Aliens or T2.

[Nightflower]

Unless it is really well made (T2, Toy Story 2), I don't like sequels. Even if I liked the first movie. Actually, that way I hate it even more, because it cheapens and ruins the first movie if it's mediocre (And even worse when it sucks!)

I agree that Hollywood is way too sequel-happy lately. I think The Matrix could stand on it's own without any sequels (Unless it is as good as or better than the first one). I liked the way the first movie ended: hope and promise of radical things coming, but leaving it to the viewer's imagination.

Is it true they're thinking of doing a Titanic 2?

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by Nightflower
Is it true they're thinking of doing a Titanic 2?

Peter Cook was a British comedian back during the 50s and 60s, and each member of Monty Python claimed him as an inspiration. One of them (I think it was Cleese) traced it to the moment that he saw Cook open a newspaper, rattle it a bit, and exclaim "Hullo, hullo! What's this? I see the Titanic has sunk again!"

[Gpoliceman]

A Planned Trilogy is definitely better than a sequel to a sucessful film. Planned Trilogies show that the writers behind the film(s) already have ideas or possibly the full story written out in their heads.

Plus, the first movie to any planned trilogy usually leaves several holes in the story to allow for a sequel (ala the Matrix and X-Men).


Movies that make a lot of dough and get a sequel greenlighted are never as good because the story was already completed in the first movie and now it's all about making more money.

An example of this would be:

Scary Movie 2--------- They said there would not be a sequel, in fact, the main character of the movie gets smacked by a car at the end of the film. BUT. It made a lot of money, therefore, a sequel is made with no real innovation because the writers NEVER expected a sequel.

The Mummy Returns----------An example of a movie that got a sequel cause of how much money the first one made. This sequel was basically a rehash of the first film. That shows innovation right there.


I'd say the only successful "non-planned" franchise is the DIE HARD movies. I think the last LETHAL WEAPON suffered, but that could be counted as one too. The last ALIENS movie kinda suckedm so that shows the effects of it not being planned.

I'd like to say the BATMAN films were successful too but I didn't like the last two films, and it seems like the only original thing about each Batman movie is what villains the writers are going to bring into the movies.


In the end, people like GRAND SCALE EPIC ONGOING stories rather than a good movie that gets a sequel.

I think Star Wars shows this.

Gpoliceman

[NewMaxFranklin]

Thanks for all your replies guys. You seem to feel the same way I do about the whole "planned sequel vs grab for cash" thing.