(From syracusenewtimes.com)
At the end of “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,” Ben Stiller’s character Larry looks out of the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan wistfully and thinks …
And we think …
To read my review of this third installment in this comedy franchise for my weekly Monday film blog review on the comely Syracuse New Times site, click the link below.
http://www.syracusenewtimes.com/thanks-robin-for-a-night-at-the-museum/
I write about how the final performance of Robin Williams hits me.
But here I come to ask about when you know you’ve had enough of a film series.
This may be the last time we see Ben playing Larry. He’s sure getting gray enough around the edges to be the night guard … his son has left the continental U.S. … his beloved characters have …
But the filmmakers have added new pieces to the puzzle, naturally, that could be introduced in later installments if they so choose.
For example: In November, Pixar disclosed that there is going to be a “Toy Story 4.” At the close of “Toy Story 3” in 2010, as I sat in the theater shedding tears with my daughter Elisabeth and my dear wife Karen, I thought that was the best franchise-ender, ever.
Here’s the link to the the L.A. Times story about “Toy Storyn 4.”
So my questions to you today:
How do you know when you’ve had enough of a movie franchise? Would you get resentful about another chapter to a beloved series, like “Toy Story,” and not go to the next film, or would you give in and attend because the curiosity is too much? What sequel would you give a surprise green light if you were a studio chief, and why?
Mark Bialczak 
I think it’s the curiosity that brings me back. Some do well with the sequels. Lethal Weapons 1, 2, and 3 were good but the final one was just too stupid and the writers and producers knew it too. I couldn’t keep up with Harry Potters after a while. Now the Fast and Furious I can watch them all over and over. Maybe it’s the cast that keeps me interested.
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I think it has to be great story too, Kim, not just the cast. Thanks for pitching in. Happy holidays as we head to the New Year, my friend.
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I was being sarcastic. Being that the cast of F&F is testosterone fueled. 🙂 My poor attempt at humor.
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Hard to read sarcasm on the Interwebs. My bad, Kim. I should have known you better. 🙂
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🙂
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Not a big fan of sequels unless they are completing a story (Lord of the Rings). Most concepts stretch thin after awhile.
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Thanks for sharing your view with us, Cat. It is tough to get a story that withstand this test, I agree.
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i’m generally for the original, rarely for the sequel and i’ve never loved a third and onward – napoleon dynaminte: electric boogaloo II?
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Illustrative timeline there, Beth. 🙂
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I’d have to give in, but maybe wait until the movie becomes a rental option. This recent Mocking jay movie sealed the deal on that for me… talk about a snoozer, IMHO, but I am curious how they interpret the series which is what gets me to view it.
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They get a hook into you, and that’s that. I know what you mean, Aud.
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I (hangs head) have not seen any of the Night at the Museum movies. *BLUSHES* But I did know about Toy Story 4 coming out. I think I am fine with more of a movie series as long as they truly are “sequels”. (So, no, not Friday the 13th. I guess technically that was a sequel because Jason recurs, but they got ridiculous when they kept coming back.) Anyway, I digress. I like when a movie has a sequel that continues the story (such as Meet the Parents) and I only like those when they use the same actors (or in the case of Toy Story, the same actors’ voices). How about you?
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Your sequel rules are stickler, but they work for continuity, Rachel. Good job! As for me, I know I want a sequel when the characters AND story are calling my name at the end of the first movie. When it’s all tied up. Don’t force it with a surprise twist, please.
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Yeah, I agree with that point, too.
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4 is too much for anything.
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Except for helpings of good food? Beers? Fritas? Kerbey, what say you?
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Oh, not food or drink! No, no. Keep them both coming.
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How about someone make a “sound of music” 2 .. we could catch up some years later where they went, did the captain and maria get divorced?, what about liesel – did she really believe in ‘true love’ or got pregnant and found he was a slob.
Maybe they could cast NIcole Kidman as Maria – mind you she cannot sing to save herself but would get the punters in. ha ha aha
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You are such a funny one, Louise. ha ha aha, indeed. 🙂
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it is about the only movie that has not had a remake or a ‘2’ after it.
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Too classic, Louise. I hope!
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come on won’t ya’ luv to see a remake????
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You are so persistent. 🙂 Live on NBC with Carrie Underwood for Christmas 2016, I will allow it. They’ll have to pick it up down there for you, my friend.
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you know i love your styling… anyway how about all the die hard and those type of movies with 2, 3, etc after them. What about those freddy krueger ones. also.
we got a movie called big toy 6 playing. i do not even re call 1-5 of these animated movies. you are right its too much
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There is too much of the too much, yes, Louise. And thank you for your kind words. 🙂
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I’d see it for the same reason as you. And your review didn’t change my mind. I’m done with Toy Story though. Depends on the movie franchise for how far I’d go. Star Wars only needed the first three 🙂
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I’m glad to hear you agree with me on “Toy Story.” No need for No. 4. And I still need to see the first three Star Wars. 🙂
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The sequels must continue. Screenwriters need to get paid! 🙂
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And the screenwriter in our group gets to voice his opinion, of course! Thank you, Austin. 🙂
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🙂
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While I like some book series Mark, the movie series usually loses something in a series. Same with TV series. After a few times they revamp a story line, thinking the viewer may have forgotten the fact that they have seen it before with different names, different actors, same old story. Come to think of it, some authors do the same with their books, hoping the readers will forget they are revamping an old story. If the original is good, forget the sequel. Let it go leaving a good memory and don’t kill the memories with future bad scripts when the originality has dried up.
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If they can come up with enough originality, Angie … That’s a tough ask, but it’s a must ask.
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Terri Polo is a great comedian and featured in some of my favorite movies on the Hallmark Channel, too. There is one where she is a French chef, and next door to her restaurant, a fireman and his crew run a chili and burger ‘joint’ of course they fall in love! I highly recommend this one, which Hallmark has a list of their movies, which you can also look up Teri Polo…
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I will look for that one, Robin! Thanks for the Terri Polo nudge. 🙂
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Oh, I thought of a sequel that excelled over the first one, my brothers, Mom and I absolutely find “The Fockers” so much more funny than the original, “Meet the Parents,” movie. Barbara Streisand and Dustin Hoffman as hippie parents are so outstanding, I am giggling at their little sexual jokes and antics! (oh oh, better not get the library lady mad!) Anyway, we liked the sequel to the first one since it was done not out of meanness (the first one picks a lot on the fiancé, Ben plays) but out of caring for the family…
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I did not like any of the Focker movies, Robin. They all just seemed too mean to me. Unfortunately, because I really like the wife of Stiller, Terri Polo.
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When you absolutely LOVE the series, you never want it to end, Mark. If it is a good one but it had the best one first, then it should just be the last one. I am not crazy about series of movies in the comedy line, but love James Bond and The Bourne series, as well as I would enjoy more of the Pirates of the Caribbean and Sherlock Holmes’ adventures. I guess I liked the Night at the Museum first one the best, so that was ‘enough’ for me… I would love another Toy Story, as in when the child gets married and has his own child. So, it would go another generation. I would love another Monsters, Inc. and my grandsons enjoy all the Cars and other rescue vehicles you can pack into an animated film, Mark!
I think Robin Williams’ role was a good one, I have not seen the next one, but will for his sake and memory…
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Yes, for Robn’s sake, Robin. Indeed. You are getting another “Toy Story,” and I am against it, because the last one had the perfect ending. I get your point about bringing it to another generation, but I think they can watch the orginal I, II and III.
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I’m a fan of sequels to your posts, Mark!
Movies? There was one too many Indiana Jones films, I would say, even though I loved the original so.
I guess I’m a fan of originals and when originality fades or is too forced in sequels, that’s the time to say “goodbye.” What do you think?
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I don’t want another ‘Night at the Museum.’ I don’t want another ‘Toy Story.’ I don’t want another lot-of-movies, Ann.
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Sequel, schmequel. I want new and original and more of it! Demanding consumer that I am, I feel they rest on their laurels (Hollywood producers) and pump out stuff their financial models tell them will make money.
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Yes, cha- and -ching. Masters of the universe. You have something there, Barbara.
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This is the challenge I face with the new Star Wars movie coming out. I’ll go, because it’s Star Wars and I love that series. I am not looking forward to it because I like to think it ended on a “good” note.
Toy Story 4 is another one I have some trepidation about. That was a perfect ending (and timing; it came out when M was starting high school).
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I am against “Toy Story 4” because “3” was so perfectly finished, Jeanette. But there is money to be made, as Barbara noted so well.
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I think, unfortunately, it’s rare that a sequel is as good of quality as the original. I want to see some of them as I enjoyed the first movie (such as ‘Horrible Bosses’) but then I resent the sequel if it’s not as good as the first one. Could it also be that we get our expectations up for the sequel because we liked the first one so much?
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It is indeed too hard for the sequel to live up to the parent in 99 percent of the cases, Chisty, because of just the reason you stated. The first one was a good one.
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How about sequels that never should have had an original in the first place. Yeah, you, Grown Ups.
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Good call on that one, Ross. Sorry, Adam and Kevin.
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It depends on the movie, but usually after the first two I’m done. Anything more than that and it seems like the producers are trying too hard and it ends up becoming a flop.
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So two seems to be your limit, Me Who. The third one is always tough, I agree.
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I’m not sure Mark. As far as series go I’m not much in to them. I haven’t seen any of these Museum movies at all, but will be doing so, for the pure joy of seeing Mr. R. Williams in something I have not seen him in. That, I look forward to. But for the most part, I don’t go see movies for the series of them. But I bet you knew that. 😉
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Only if there’s a great superhero, and that’s new for you, too, as I recall, Colleen. 🙂
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Very new. And being forced upon me. 😉
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I thought you had taken a shining. ;-0
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I did. But shhhhhhh. They might start forcing that zombie stuff on me next if they know I liked these…… 😉
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No Zombie stuff! I hate that Zombie stuff. I hope you never get forced to watch that zombie stuff. Shudder, Colleen.
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They are trying Mark!!! It’s three to one. I’m holding out. And have NO intention of caving. Seriously. No interest. THANK YOU for the support.
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I’m with Doob on this – one is generally enough for me. I have made a few exceptions like the Potter movies or james Bond – but even then I may see one or two more and then pack it in. Oddly enough, I really enjoy novels written in a series, the famiiar characters being more comfortable. But not so for movies.
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I, like you, like my novel characters returning, Paul. And also am harder to win over in the movie game. Thanks for pointing this out.
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Things like Star Wars was ok because there was an ongoing story line that had to be resolved. Ditto for Harry Potter Inc. But as for The hangover, Horrible bosses, Bridesmaids, he s not into you etc etc ONE is sufficient.
I liked the first 2 Indiana Jones then a bit like James Bond could only take so much. So I gues 2 is enough for me.
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I liked more than two 007s, Louise, but I see your poing on The Hangover. One was plenty there.
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With a few notable exceptions, I’m not a big fan of sequels, prequels, or remakes. I tend to think one is enough.
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I really am not one for prequels, Doobsters. I’m totally with you there. I have liked enough sequels through time, though.
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The words sequel and movie, when combined, always put dread into my heart. It is rare and surprising when a sequel lives up to it’s original.
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That’s a natural order because the original has to have been good — or at least popular — for the honchos to order up that sequel. Feeding the expectations. At least that’s how it used to be, you know, Marissa?
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Oh yes, absolutely!
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