On Sequels

Movie sequels are an interesting proposition. There needs to be enough new material to keep the sequel fresh while maintaining the old jokes and storylines from the previous film(s). As is the case with most sequels, they're pigeonholed into a half-assed effort to mostly ride out the money train into the sunset, complete with forced laughter and awkward character development (if at all-looking at you Star Wars). Of course there usually has to be a popular reception to the previous film(s) before a sequel can even come out.

Or so I thought, until recently.

I had actually watched the second movie of Don't Go Breaking My Heart  《单身男女2》before I watched the original. For those of you not versed in Chinese films, they're some combination of martial arts, fantasy, and love story, and in this case, it was a love story (love stories to be accurate, as it involved a love pentagon). The sequel was decently palatable without that much forced character development. It probably helped that the love stories weren't overly schmoozy and over the top. Additionally a couple of new characters helped liven up the story. The first movie, on the other hand, was too lovey dovey (though that plays right into the hands of a typical Chinese love story) and development was pretty poor. The relationships seemed forced and chasing the girls seemed quite petty. In general I felt that they could have done without the first film and left the second one as a standalone.

I'm just glad at this point Spaceballs 2: The Search For More Money won't come to fruition.

Occupying Yourself For Four Hours

It's actually not a bad movie...

Oblivion

This past weekend was the first time I had seen a movie in theaters since Fantastic Four (2005) and that one mistake of an M Night Shamylamamamalan movie Lady in the Water (2006), and I'd have to say Oblivion wasn't half bad. I'd have to say the plot was at least compelling, but there were definitely some things that were a little creepy. You almost wonder how the agents never ran into each other more than once (how do you not notice these huge things floating around the planet?), and how certain memories still exist after "memory wipes". Granted, I don't remember too much from the film anymore, but it was definitely nice to get into a theater again for the first time in forever.