Rambling About Sequels

Well, since there isn't much out right now other than the films I've already seen (no, I'm not seeing Total Recall), I decided to do a post about something Hollywood just can't do enough of: sequels. While there's nothing wrong with building off one movie and expanding it into a broader story, you can only go so far. There's a time when certain filmmakers need to just put stop signs in front of them, and move on to other characters. Seriously, how much can you possibly say about Jack Sparrow or Indiana Jones (I rarely criticize you Spielberg, but it's pretty dumb to make a fourth film when the title of the third is The Last Crusade).

On that note, the most important thing to remember when formulating any story, is that each aspect must have a designated purpose. If a writer or filmmaker has no reason to tell a certain part of a character's story, why make a movie about it? With that, let's look at three of my favorite filmmakers who really know how to make a good sequel: Christopher Nolan, Peter Jackson, and Guillermo del Toro.

After having seen the spellbinding conclusion of The Dark Knight Rises, many fans are still hoping for Nolan to continue his Batman franchise, even though he's said he's done. Those in favor of another sequel argue that he could tell about John Blake as Robin, and possibly feature some of the villains he wasn't able to include in the previous films. Yet no matter what percentage of moviegoers support this, I am with Nolan on this being the conclusion. He's said what he's needed to say about the character, and there's no reason to continue. Plus, there will always be plenty more Batman comics and films by other writers and directors in the years to come.

Recently, I read a book entitled The Art and Making of the Dark Knight Trilogy, which examines the process by which Nolan and his crew used to develop this epic series. It was interesting to learn that when he and screenwriter David S. Goyer first began working on the project, they weren't even sure if they were going to make one sequel to Batman Begins. As the story progressed, they discovered more ways to explore the depths of the character, and that was where The Dark Knight began. One of the reasons Michael Bay is one of the worst filmmakers in the industry is because there's no depth to his characters, making the sequels to his movies progressively more pathetic. What makes Nolan's Batman such an iconic aspect of pop-culture is that he does a fantastic job of showing how the character develops; and eventually gets to a point where he fulfills the promise he made on the graves of his parents, and is able to move on. So in response to fans itching for yet another installment in this franchise, I say: what more is there to tell?

Let's move on to the legendary director of the LOTR trilogy, and the 2005 King Kong. It was recently announced that Peter Jackson will be making a third Hobbit film, set to release in the summer of 2014. First off, it's more an adaptation of other works within the Tolkien universe. The Hobbit itself is being split into two films: An Unexpected Journey (this December), and There and Back Again (December 2013). From what I know, the third installment will have more to do with the origins of Middle-Earth, filling in some of the gaps from the previous stories. Again, here you have a legitimate reason to make this movie. One, if Peter Jackson deems a story worth telling, it probably is; and two, this will provide fans with a more in-depth analysis of Bilbo's character.

It's important to remember that even Blockbusters have the power to produce thought provoking questions in the viewer's mind regarding his or her perception of the world. All of Jackson's films do this in an extraordinary manner, allowing us to reflect upon the nature of good and evil, and how it impacts us personally.

Last but not least, Mexican writer/director Guillermo del Toro is an excellent filmmaker to look at in regards to this subject. Having done remarkable original pictures such as Pan's Labyrinth, and comic book adaptations like Hellboy, he too uses a very artistic approach to all of his movies. Looking at Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, there are many parallels between this film and Pan's Labyrinth in terms of style and art direction. What's great about this sequel is that it gives the character even more depth than the first installment in the series, and really utilizes many aspects of classic mythology to formulate the story. I look forward to seeing more del Toro films in the future, and I am certainly excited to examine his work on The Hobbit this December.

Film is a medium which has virtually limitless potential, and should not be limited to flashy sequels. A movie should only be made if there's a story worth telling. That said, it's really time for Indiana Jones and John McClane to move into a retirement home.