There’s nothing like a good piece of storytelling that keeps moviegoers buying movie tickets in droves. So, when a prequel a prequel to a movie is made, people get excited over learning more about their favorite story. Who could blame them? I always get excited to learn more about a character. Sequels are equally good at fleshing out a character and expanding the storyline. As for equals, it is a movie that compares to the original, but not produced by the original creators. Grab some popcorn and your favorite beverage because this article covers some of the hottest prequels, sequels, and equals in the film industry.
Star Wars
You can’t kick off this article without mentioning George Lucas’s space opera, “Star Wars.” It has all of the elements that make a movie a blockbuster, such as the use of groundbreaking technology, forbidden romance, and everyone’s favorite, action and adventure. “Star Wars” has loads of it. Harrison Ford, Carrie Lucas, and Mark Hamill are the stars and a better cast couldn’t have been picked. Their chemistry is off the charts. Not even Lucas anticipated his movie becoming a cult classic, phenomenon that is loved by billions of fans worldwide. Generations have loved “Star Wars” and have created some of the best fan fiction based on it. The first movie released in 1977 and exceeded expectations. I recall standing in line for five hours just to get a good seat! The main series span nine films, from 1977–2019. The 2019 film is in production. The success of the franchise is so huge that it spawned two anthology films, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (2016) and “Solo: A Star Wars Story” (2018). “Star Wars” is one of the few films that have prequels and sequels. I would say it’s only equal would be considered is Mel Brook’s “Space Balls.” “Space Balls” is a 1987 fantasy/parody filmed based loosely on “Star Wars.” DVD Netflix has all of the Star Wars movies and anthologies in their database. I encourage you to browse, add to your queue, and rent today.
[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g3_CFmnU7k”]
Independence Day
Harry Connick, Jr. (Capt. Jimmy Wilder) made such a huge impact with his short scenes in the 1997 film “Independence Day.” Fans wished he could have had more screen time, but the plot needed a reason for Will Smith to take revenge on the alien invaders. The best revenge plotline is when the character that dies is innocent and funny. The loss resonates with the audience. This best describes Harry’s character. But what is Independence Day without Will Smith? That’s exactly the question fan’s voiced when a sequel was made without Will Smith. Whether it was due to scheduling or contractual conflicts, in my opinion, Will not starring in the sequel that took over 20-years to make had impacted the film’s success. I’m surprised Twentieth Century Fox would attempt to release a sequel without Will Smith. Needless to say, but I’ll say it nonetheless, the film’s release was worse than the movie. As I watched it, I kept thinking how it would have been better if Will was in it. The cast as great and the storyline wasn’t bad. It was just missing that key element to make it a hit–Will Smith. You can rent both movies from DVD Netflix.
[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA2WzBi2grE”]
Stargate
“Stargate” is another cult classic that moviegoers love. However, all fans received, thus far, is a television series, three television movies that are based on the series, and one origin digital series that threw everything out that made “Stargate” fantastic. For years, a sequel to the movie has been teased. What was finally produced is a streaming service that contains all of the Stargate content. I tried it out, to check out the origin story. Now, before I go further, I should explain that the origin story only focuses on one character-Catherine. In the “Stargate” movie, Catherine, Catherine didn’t have a major in the plot, but she had a significant one. Unfortunately, “Stargate Origins: Catherine” writers, Mark Ilvedson and Justin Michael Terry, changed some of the elements that occurred in the movie. If you decide to watch it, be prepared for a different tone. You can rent “Stargate,” including all of the television series, animated series, and the mini-movies from DVD Netflix.
[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiJtZUPvJxY”]
Alien
Director Ridley Scott’s 1979 hit “Alien” spawned two prequels and several sequels, not to mention across-predator showdown called, “Alien Vs. Predator.” I recall watching Alien in the theater. My friends and I arrived late, so we had to sit in the front seat. As soon as the infamous scene, where the alien bursts out of a man’s chest, took place I knew my love affair with being scared out of my wits had ended. I ended up in a strangers lap, shivering and crying. It was sad! [lol] For those who love a good scare, Scott’s “Alien” will not be disappointed. Rent the movies from DVD Netflix today.
[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEVY_lonKf4″]
Rent all of the classics that spans 20-years in the DVD Netflix database! They are available for rent via DVD Netflix. Add them to your queue today. If you don’t have an account, you can sign-up for a free month. If you decide to keep the membership, pay as little as $7.99 per month to enjoy DVD Netflix’s massive database of blockbusters, documentaries, independent films, and more. #DVD20 #DVDNation #ad
About Author
