Open Forum Friday: Do Direct To DVD Sequels Piss You Off?
We are gathered here today to discuss a plague that is threatening to drag the movie industry down. I’m talking about something worse than piracy, worse than remakes, and, yes, even worse than Scientology. I am talking about the alarming new trend of direct to DVD sequels. Now you might be saying to yourself, “direct to video sequels are nothing new”… which is true. Studios have been churning out direct to video crap for years, and consumers have generally known it to be a mark of poor quality.
What is new, however, is the number of big name franchises that are starting to get involved in this mess. Studios used to save their major franchises for theatrical release because they could make more money that way. But now, when a big budget sequel to a popular franchise is no longer possible (ie. the original actors have had enough), there is just as much money to be made by slapping the franchise name on a generic spin-off with unknown actors. You’d think people would stay away, but the DVD market is so hot right now that consumers will buy anything. Plus there are no critic reviews to convince them to avoid crappy releases. And unfortunately, as a result, classic franchises are starting to get (and I hate to use the word) “tainted”. I don’t care about sequels to things like American Pie or The Dukes of Hazzard, but when they start talking about knockoffs of The Goonies, Jaws and The Lost Boys, it becomes pretty clear that nothing is sacred anymore. What do you think? Does this trend bother you? Do bad sequels change how you feel about the originals? Are there any direct to video sequels you actually liked? Give us your thoughts on Open Forum Friday.
Comments (8)
Worse than Scientology?? I don’t know about that.
I don’t really think it’s a problem. To take the examples you bring up, the first two I agree were made for this sort of thing. Something like Jaws, I highly doubt will get its reputation tarnished at this point. It’s a pretty well-known movie at this point, and it already has a shit sequel (from what I hear).
Now I haven’t seen either Goonies or The Lost Boys, but both of them are fairly aged at this point. They don’t have any franchises. Most of the fans are people who saw them when they were initially released. So I don’t really think this is a travesty. I mean they are pretty much dead in the water so to speak. The only other thing possible to do with the franchises is a remake, and would you really prefer that?
I’m not too unhappy with studios releasing the shitty sequels on DVD instead of theatrically. I don’t feel ‘threatened’ by it in any way, because none of the movies that I love and cherish are going to get sequels like this, so I guess that makes me a little jaded about the complaints, but in the end it’s still your choice to watch it. If they make a Goonies 2 and release it on DVD, will you be annoyed if it does huge business? I don’t really think it matters.
Actually come to think of it, I wish they would do sequels like this to other franchises that had shit movies but good ideas, even though it didn’t go anywhere with Highlander I guess, but I would love to see a sequel to something like Double Dragon. Get Scott Wolf back on the screen.
Posted by Henrik on February 9th, 2007I HATE Direct to DVD Sequels!!!!!
I absolutely have to agree with you guys. Direct to DVD sequels are NOT good pieces of entertainment(more specifically, the ones that come from good franchises ex.American Pie).
I mean, it’s bad enough Hollywood is remaking certain movies.I’m against doing remakes regardless how faithful they are towards their original counterparts. To me, this is a sign of weakness in coming up with original ideas for new movies as well as good sequels.
BTW, I think this would make a WONDERFUL Versus segment: Remakes vs Originals!! Go for it guys!!!
Posted by Albert on February 9th, 2007In animation circles, the term “cheapquel” has been used to identify the shoddy, half-assed, direct-to-video followups that Walt Disney has produced, crap like Bambi II and Cinderella III. And by “produced,” I mean subcontracted out to the lowest bidder, usually some no-name Korean sweatshop or other.
I like the word, and think that “cheapquel” should spread to wider usage.
Posted by Trevor on February 11th, 2007Yeah those Disney ones are a great example. Disney has been getting by on cash grabs like that for years now.
Posted by Sean on February 11th, 2007Ugh… you have no idea how disgusted these make me.
Posted by Jonathan on February 11th, 2007I actually own a website dedicated to direct-to-dvd sequels. It has news about sequels currently in production and a list of over 100 different dtv sequels already out.
check out the site http://www.dvdsequels.com
Posted by marc on February 28th, 2007HEY WARNER BROS READ THIS AND READ IT GOOD, DIRECT TO DVD SUCKS STOP DOING IT ECSPECIALLY TO ARE CHILD HOOD FILMS COMING BACK AS SEQUELS!
Posted by ME on August 4th, 2008GOONIES 2 SHOULD BE IN THEATERS AND PUT MORE MONEY AND THOUGHT BEHIND IT BEFORE YOU JUST CHUCK IT OUT THERE, OH AND GET ALL THE CAST BACK INCLUDING SLOTH. DO SOMETHING BADASS WITH THE MOVIE HAVE THE ORGINAL 3 BAD CHARACTERS IN THE MOVIE ESCAPE FROM JAIL OR SOMETHING, COME ON SPIELBERG YOU KNOW YOU CAN, GOONIES NEVER SAY DIE!
Posted by ME on August 4th, 2008Leave a Reply