By Sarah Weller
When reflecting on the many sequels coming this year, I can only think of the words of Jamie Kennedy’s character, Randy, from Scream 2: “Who would want to do that? Sequels suck!” For those of you who thought you had finally seen the last of Jason and Freddy, you were wrong. Not only is Hollywood giving us a sequel starring these more-than-overdone characters this year, but there will be many more sequels to films whose original storylines should have been left alone. With the films listed here, plus others like Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle and Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde, it seems as though Hollywood is going through a dry spell in the creativity department. Although there have been many surprises, such as last year’s interesting eighth installment of the Halloween series, not everyone will be so lucky. Here are just a group of films that will be not only a waste of money for the people who made them, but also for those who go to see them.
Final Destination 2
Though it contained an ending perfectly structured to lead into a sequel, Final Destination is something you should only do once. Clear Rivers (Ali Larter), the only survivor of Flight 180, is now locked in a psychiatric hospital with the crazy idea that Death is coming for her again. This sequel presents a whole new cast and a whole new supposed plan for Death. This one could be the sleeper hit for sequels this year; however, let’s just hope Final Destination 2 ends it all one way or the other.
Freddy vs. Jason
There have been many rumors and claims since 2001 about what is going down in this film, in which the two most popular celluloid serial killers of all time are pitted against each other. One can be pretty certain, however, that this is going to be a major suckfest as far as horror movies go. Robert Englund is back to play Freddy for the eighth time, while Destiny’s Child’s Kelly Rowland gets her big-screen debut. Like several of the sequels made for the Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th series, this one is sure to be more comical than terrifying. Remember Jason X?
X-Men 2
It?s been three long years since the first X-Men movie was released. While based on a very popular comic, the first movie barely blew audiences away. So why go see this one after three years with the same ideas in place? In this second installment, Magneto breaks out of his plastic prison, only to find an unlikely alliance in Professor Xavier as they go against an unlikely enemy. Oh yeah, and Wolverine is once again searching for answers to his past. Blah, blah, blah.
American Pie 3, a.k.a. American Wedding
Even as an avid fan of the American Pie movies, I think this one is taking it too far. Though many said they could never do a sequel, it was pulled off with minimal success. In the third (and hopefully final) installment of the American Pie franchise, Jim and Michelle the band geek are getting married, but not without a little help from friends Stifler, who is in charge of the bachelor party, and Finch, whose mission is to stop Stifler’s mom from getting remarried to Stifler’s father (rumored to be played by Tim Allen). The rest of the original cast decided wisely to opt out.
To Justin From Kelly
Though technically not a sequel, this musical movie is banking on the success of hit TV show American Idol. Starring Idol winner Kelly Clarkson and runner-up Justin Guarini, who even cares what this movie is going to be about? We know they can sing; what else are they trying to prove… and who knows how long it will take this movie to be finished? We’re still waiting for Kelly’s album to come out!
