Archive for sequels

Movie Review: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I

Posted in Reviews! with tags , , , on 11/21/2014 by Taylor Holt

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Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Jeffrey Wright, Natalie Dormer

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images and thematic material. Running time 123 minutes, Adventure/Drama/Sci-fi

Compare to: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013), The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

If you were to have guessed based solely on premise which new Young Adult adaptions were going to be successful and which ones weren’t, I’m not sure I would have guessed the “Kid’s Running Man” to have been this big.

So big in fact, the last film in the trilogy has to be split into two separate films, leaving us with either half of a film or a story so grand in scale it can’t fit into a mere two hours. Well, we get the former. Continue reading →

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Movie Review: Dumb and Dumber To

Posted in Reviews! with tags , , , , , on 11/14/2014 by Taylor Holt

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Stars: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Rob Riggle, Laurie Holden, Rachel Melvin, Kathleen Turner

Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, partial nudity, language and some drug references. Running time 110 minutes, Comedy

Compare to: Any movie featuring idiots caught up in a dire situation without being aware of it

Nice of them to release The Theory of Everything on the same day as Dumb and Dumber To.

If you’re a fan of the firs Dumb and Dumber and groaned at the idea of a sequel, fear not. While this isn’t the original by any means, you’re not the same age anyway and nostalgia usually beats anything else that could come out.

For me personally, I had to mentally prepare before stepping into the auditorium. The inappropriate attitude to go into any movie is “This is gonna suck.” So don’t do that. Just sit down, relax, and though you’re not going to remember anything you see in this hour and fifty minutes, you can still enjoy yourself. Continue reading →

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5 Reasons George Lucas Needed to Make the Prequels Regardless of How Much They Sucked

Posted in Top 5 Lists with tags , , , on 08/12/2014 by Taylor Holt

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With the new Star Wars films in production, it’s only natural to be excited. Or to not care altogether. Whichever.

Though much of the excitement seemed to come from the fact that they’d be taken from George Lucas and put into the hands of capable film makers that love the material even more. We’d all seen what Lucas does with his decades-old properties and it’s been time for a change.

But even with Lucas’ plan for the prequels becoming glorified mannequin positioning, is there anything to salvage from them? Are they three films with nothing for us to take away? Maybe, but here are some ideas on why they needed to be made for one reason or another, whether or not they sucked.

And man, did they suck. Continue reading →

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Step Up: Going Overboard

Posted in Whatever with tags , , , , , on 08/11/2014 by Taylor Holt

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I’m not alone in saying that I love all of the Step Up movies. I’m also lying when I say that I love the Step Up movies. That being the case, and since the the fifth film in the franchise just opened up (Or is it the ninth?), I would like to pitch an outline for the next Step Up movie that’s bound to be made.

No really- these movies combined have made nearly 600 million, on combined budgets that have cost less than 100 million. Keep in mind that the most recent release only opened this weekend so it’s still got tread on its tires so to speak. My guess? These movies are the perfect ticket to buy when all the teens that go into it are actually trying to watch whatever R-rated movie is right across the hall. Continue reading →

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Movie Review: The Purge: Anarchy

Posted in Reviews! with tags , , , , , on 07/18/2014 by Taylor Holt

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Stars: Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Zach Gilford, Kiele Sanchez, Zoë Soul, and Michael K. Williams

Rated R for strong disturbing violence, and for language Running time 130 minutes, Action/Horror/Thriller

Compare to: A Perfect Getaway (2009), You’re Next (2013)

After any movie on a three million dollar budget makes eighty nine million back, you’re bound to see a sequel regardless of quality. And though the first felt much more ambitious in idea than execution, a further explanation or examination of this masochistic future seemed possible, should the perceived mistakes of the first film be corrected.

So are the previous errors corrected? Sure, provided you can accept the premise in the first place. Once you get past your outlook on humanity, anything is possible in these movies. It’s what’s entertaining and terrible at the same time about them. Continue reading →

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5 Examples of Unintentional Remakes

Posted in Top 5 Lists with tags , , , , , , , , , on 04/24/2014 by Taylor Holt

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There is no originality anymore. We know this. It’s just a fact of life. If history can repeat itself, a bunch of corporate fat cats that make millions off of other people’s stories sure as hell ain’t gonna hesitate to make the same story twice.

We just talked about this!

In any case, the following are examples of how often times, movies come full circle in unexpected remakes that aren’t actually meant as remakes. Similarities are one thing, but being able to do a Mad Libs with the stories and characters settles it. Continue reading →

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ZRE Podcast #15- Sequels: What is and What Should Never Be

Posted in Podcasts with tags , , , , , on 04/21/2014 by Taylor Holt

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Bryce and Taylor go over a major topic in today’s fast paced and technologically cluttered world: SEQUELS.

But specifically- A. Movies that deserve sequels (but ain’t gonna get’em) and B. Movies that should NEVER have sequels even with their potential for expanded story telling. Continue reading →

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Spider-Man Villains to Look Out For

Posted in Whatever with tags , , , , , , , , , on 04/16/2014 by Taylor Holt

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A couple years ago, I wrote an article with a hint of wishful thinking masked by quiet skepticism. I was weak.

In it, I gave a quick rundown of a few villains that didn’t seem like likely candidates for the antagonists of The Amazing Spider-Man movies, seeing as how the writers normally gravitated toward the human and the scientific. I didn’t say realistic, I said scientific, okay?

But since the Avengers films, all bets are off and the ridiculous and ‘out-there’ is becoming the standard. With next month’s Amazing Spider-Man 2 hitting theaters, we’ll be seeing another Goblin, Electro, and the Rhino. And from there, the sky’s the limit it seems.

Here’s a quick list for those looking to familiarize themselves, even if they don’t make it into a Sinister Six movie. Continue reading →

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My Little Expendables

Posted in Whatever with tags , , , , on 09/12/2012 by Taylor Holt

I’ll be honest: I don’t care for The Expendables movies. I think the general idea is great; get all the 80s/90s tough guys together and have them blow things up. Awesome premise and that can be enough for most people. They’re not financially hurting either, with the two combined for an over 300 million gross. People dig it.

Well, I don’t. I don’t care for the “I showed up, and that’s enough” attitude, nor for Stallone’s shadow over the rest of the cast. I don’t find the locations interesting and blah blah blah- it’s not very good. But one thing I can’t deny is the draw of the cast itself. Isn’t that what got most people’s attention to begin with? And for that idea alone, I give Stallone and co. credit. It’s inspired the question among friends about who they would cast as the dream team of Expendables. Living or dead, any era, any character of whatever genre, who would you pick. Here’s my short list although I intentionally left any actual cast members off just to make it a little more interesting. Continue reading →

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