Showing posts with label FRANCHISES. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FRANCHISES. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Leprechaun: An Appreciation



True confession time, folks!
Over the past few weeks, I've become quite the fanatic of the LEPRECHAUN film series. Whuh?
I know, I know. Believe me, I know.

Here was a series of films that I truly had no interest in, for whatever reason, I can't recall. Perhaps, because they were so corny, but that's never stopped me before! I honestly avoided these films and never considered them worth my time. I was wrong. Dead wrong.

I'm proud to finally say that I love these damn flicks! I cannot believe I've been missing out on their gleeful nature this entire time. What a fool I've been. I've always been a fan of Trimark Pictures and if New Line Cinema is the house that Freddy built, then Trimark is certainly the house that Lep built. A steady breadwinner of a franchise, and very much like the aforementioned Freddy flicks.

Why love it so much?
Two words... well, one full name, really:
Warwick Davis.

Davis makes these films so much fun to watch based on the fun he's having in them. If you don't take everything to heart and are out for a fun time, his vibe is truly infectious. He is the sole reason the franchise can go from film to film consistently being inconsistent and embracing the virtue.

The most basic premise ever has a century-old Leprechaun who wants his gold. That's all. And nearly, every film centers around one gold schilling gone missing and his horrific efforts to retain his bank. Film after film, plot lines and characters are interchangeable, situations and places arise out of nowhere, but the central point is good ol' Lep. Take him to Vegas, take him to the outer reaches of space, the hood, back 2 tha hood, whatever, wherever.

Fifteen years after the original, I've finally gained an appreciation for a series of films that I never thought I would. After six films, I want more. And, more and more. Now that Trimark has faded away and their library has since been absorbed by Lionsgate, the possibility of these films continually being pumped out is much less likely (Lionsgate did produce one post-Trimark sequel in 2003), but it's my belief that LGF has got nothing to lose. Take a lucrative brand with straight-to-video production values, a built-in fanbase and one central idea milked over and over again and you've got... dare I say it... gold.

As the Lep himself would say, "I want me gold!"
That makes two of us!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

JAWS Rip-Offs



Steven Spielberg's JAWS has always been one of my favorite films, certainly the one I've been most obsessed with and have seen more than any other. To me, it's a perfect film. And, there's always been this unwritten rule that if I'm flipping through the channels and come across a showing that's about to begin or already in progress, I simply must cave-in and watch it. The same rule applies to THE BLUES BROTHERS and Spielberg's other epic, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND.

That being said, it's always proved to be a successful blueprint for exploitative producers to steal a little thunder here and there. Of course, the best era for the JAWS rip-offs were during the JAWS craze which spans roughly from when the original JAWS premiered in 1975 to the release of one of the last directly-inspired films from the over-bled trend, Lamberto Bava's DEVILFISH in '84.

So, being a JAWS fan, I've always loved all FOUR films (Yeah, I said it!) and most of the rip-offs from that period.

If you love them too, then it's time to test your noggin' on my masterful (not really) quiz!

TAKE THE BLOODY QUIZ, ALREADY!

Enjoy and best of luck!

Friday, May 23, 2008

1989: Year of the Sequel


Few years have contained as incredible an amount of sequelitis as the final year of the 1980's. Quite fitting, as this was the decade in which the commercialization of the Hollywood blockbuster had truly flourished. Without further ado, here's the gigantic list of 1989's franchised follow-ups...
  • AMERICAN NINJA 3: BLOOD HUNT
  • BACK TO THE FUTURE, PART II
  • BARBARIAN QUEEN II: THE EMPRESS STRIKES BACK
  • BEYOND THE DOOR III
  • C.H.U.D. II: BUD THE C.H.U.D.
  • COBRA MISSION 2
  • DANGER ZONE II: REAPER'S REVENGE
  • EDDIE AND THE CRUISERS II: EDDIE LIVES
  • FLESH GORDON AND THE COSMIC CHEERLEADERS
  • FLETCH LIVES
  • THE FLY II
  • FRIDAY THE 13TH, PART VIII: JASON TAKES MANHATTAN
  • GHOSTBUSTERS II
  • GNAW: FOOD OF THE GODS II
  • THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY II
  • GODZILLA VS. BIOLLANTE
  • HALLOWEEN 5: THE REVENGE OF MICHAEL MYERS
  • HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD II
  • THE HORROR SHOW (HOUSE III)
  • HOWLING V: THE REBIRTH
  • INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE
  • THE KARATE KID, PART III
  • LETHAL WEAPON 2
  • LICENCE TO KILL (BOND 16)
  • NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION
  • A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET: THE DREAM CHILD
  • OUTLAW OF GOR
  • POLICE ACADEMY 6: CITY UNDER SIEGE
  • THE RETURN OF SWAMP THING
  • THE RETURN OF THE MUSKETEERS
  • SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT III: BETTER WATCH OUT!
  • SILK 2
  • SLEEPAWAY CAMP III: TEENAGE WASTELAND
  • SPEED ZONE! (CANNONBALL RUN III)
  • STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER
  • STEPFATHER II
  • STRIPPED TO KILL II: LIVE GIRLS
  • THE TOXIC AVENGER, PART II
  • THE TOXIC AVENGER, PART III: THE LAST TEMPTATION OF TOXIE
  • WIZARDS OF THE LOST KINGDOM II

'89 also saw the launch of franchises that would inspire their own continuations over the following years, such as: Tim Burton's BATMAN, BEST OF THE BEST, BILL & TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE, DEEPSTAR SIX, Disney's HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS, K-9, KILLER CROCODILE, LOOK WHO'S TALKING, MAJOR LEAGUE, MOONTRAP, RED SCORPION, SAVAGE BEACH, WARLOCK and WEEKEND AT BERNIE'S.

From 1987 to 1989, the amount of sequels seemed to increase little by little. Naturally, I've gone to great lengths (not really) to include lists for years '87 & '88, as well...


1988

  • ANGEL III: THE FINAL CHAPTER
  • ARTHUR 2: ON THE ROCKS
  • BILOXI BLUES
  • BLACK COBRA 2
  • BRADDOCK: MISSING IN ACTION III
  • CADDYSHACK II
  • COCOON: THE RETURN
  • CRITTERS 2: THE MAIN COURSE
  • 'CROCODILE' DUNDEE II
  • CURSE II: THE BITE
  • THE DEAD POOL
  • DEATH NURSE 2
  • DEATHSTALKER AND THE WARRIORS FROM HELL
  • THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION, PART II: THE METAL YEARS
  • EMMANUELLE 6
  • ERNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS
  • FRIDAY THE 13TH, PART VII: THE NEW BLOOD
  • FRIGHT NIGHT, PART 2
  • 'GATOR BAIT II: CAJUN JUSTICE
  • HALLOWEEN 4: THE RETURN OF MICHAEL MYERS
  • HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II
  • HOWLING IV: THE ORIGINAL NIGHTMARE
  • IRON EAGLE II
  • L.A. CRACKDOWN II
  • A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4: THE DREAM MASTER
  • NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER II: RAGING THUNDER
  • PHANTASM II
  • POLICE ACADEMY 5: ASSIGNMENT MIAMI BEACH
  • POLTERGEIST III
  • RAMBO III
  • RETURN OF THE KILLER TOMATOES!
  • RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, PART II
  • RETURN TO SNOWY RIVER
  • SATURDAY THE 14TH STRIKES BACK
  • SHORT CIRCUIT 2
  • SLEEPAWAY CAMP II: UNHAPPY CAMPERS
  • THUNDER WARRIOR III
  • THE UNDERSTUDY: GRAVEYARD SHIFT II

1987

  • AMERICAN NINJA 2: THE CONFRONTATION
  • BENJI THE HUNTED
  • BEVERLY HILLS COP II
  • BIG BAD MAMA II
  • THE CARE BEARS: ADVENTURE IN WONDERLAND
  • CREEPSHOW 2
  • CRIMINALLY INSANE II
  • DEATH WISH 4: THE CRACKDOWN
  • DEATHSTALKER II: DUEL OF THE TITANS
  • EMMANUELLE V
  • EVIL DEAD II: DEAD BY DAWN
  • GHOULIES II
  • HELLO, MARY LOU: PROM NIGHT II
  • HOUSE II: THE SECOND STORY
  • HOWLING III: THE MARSUPIALS
  • IT'S ALIVE III: ISLAND OF THE ALIVE
  • JAWS: THE REVENGE
  • THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (BOND 15)
  • A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3: DREAM WARRIORS
  • PENITENTIARY III
  • POLICE ACADEMY 4: CITIZENS ON PATROL
  • A RETURN TO SALEM'S LOT
  • REVENGE OF THE NERDS II: NERDS IN PARADISE
  • SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT, PART 2
  • SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE II
  • SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE
  • TEEN WOLF TOO
  • THEY STILL CALL ME BRUCE

You're welcome.

Monday, May 12, 2008

He's a Fly Guy!



Today was my second viewing of Jon Favreau's IRON MAN. Damn good stuff. Certainly the best Marvel comics-inspired film (not a truly difficult feat when you stop to think about it) and a nice little "I told you so" memo to those who never thought Robert Downey, Jr. could pull it off.

The IRON-ic matter is that these naysayers and newcomers are "discovering" or re-discovering Downey and seeking his previous work. On one hand, I believe it's a good thing, on the other, it reminds me of the mass audience that Johnny Depp gained with his "Pirates Of The Caribbean" films. "His other films are so weird!" Whatever. Get used to it. It's called a "filmography" filled with "smart acting choices". Weird!

Of course, the success of IRON MAN has everything to do with the collaboration of some truly gifted individuals who actually "care" about making a quality film with staying power, rather than the conventional flavor-of-the-month summer blockbuster. Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges are all excellent in their roles and the creative partnership of Favreau and Peter Billingsley strikes gold once again.



Looking forward to that inevitable sequel!
GO FAVS!