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Two weeks ago, my friend Lisa and I took the bus down to the Waterfront AMC to go see one of the most anticipated movie sequels of the year: “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”. (You can read Lisa’s review of the film in last week’s issue of pillbox!) We always get there in time to watch all the previews, and that particular night we decided to turn it into a game. We would count how many previews were for original movies versus sequels/movie adaptations/biopics/etc.
In the 10 previews we watched before the movie, only one was not based on an existing IP. The one original preview was for the upcoming Christmas-themed spy movie starring Chris Evans and The Rock, and it looked awful. I swear one of the characters literally said, “He’s right behind me, isn’t he?” in the trailer.
Now listen, I am notoriously a big fan of bad movies, and I have nothing against sequels per say — in fact, one of my favorite movies is “Evil Dead II”, which is both a sequel and… of questionable quality in the eyes of the average viewer. But there is something about the current media landscape of nonstop remakes, nostalgia-laden sequels, and the never-ending stream of Marvel-esque CGI slop that has gotten a bit tired, in my opinion. A lot of these big-budget productions seem to have lost the heart of what makes movies special. Instead of telling an engaging story that the creators are passionate about, it seems that many movies are written with the box office in mind.
A great example of this kind of emptiness is “Deadpool and Wolverine” — I love the first two Deadpool movies, but the most recent is just missing something. There is non-stop fan service (which I should be enjoying, I am a fan after all!) but it all falls flat. The story is contrived and tries to fit in a bunch of Marvel lore that just made no sense. It gives up plot and pathos for cameos, call backs, and clippable moments.
This was the issue that “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” as well as many other recent sequels and remakes, have faced. I just wish that movies could start being made from a place of creative passion again instead of greed, but I’m not sure how realistic this wish is in our current capitalistic society. On the consumer side of things, here are my suggestions:
First, go to the movies when an original, good-looking movie comes out. Show Hollywood that people care about original art and that original material can still bring in money. I think the biggest recent triumph of successful, original filmmaking was “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once”, which deserved every bit of praise it got. Support future EEAOs!
Second, rewatch old movies, either in theaters or on your own. There are so many movies that have been created, we’ll never be able to watch all of them. Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville shows a lot of good movies, both old and new. You could also just browse free streaming services, which always offer the most random movie selections.
Finally, support indie movies! This includes studios like A24, but also check out local film festivals and random film showings at places like The Studio in CFA and other arts/cinema venues.
Ultimately, though, I don’t think bad sequels or soulless remakes will be leaving the cinematic landscape anytime soon. Until then, you can find me scouring Letterboxd reviews or combing through the Tubi catalog, trying to find my next favorite movie.
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