Another Summer Of Sequels & Remakes

“I don't take the movies seriously, and anyone who does is in for a headache.” - Bette Davis 

SEQUEL SEASON IS IN SESSION!

This summer no less than 80% of all releases are sequels to successes of summer’s past. Here’s some of the most notable: 

SPIDER-MAN 2 (Dir. Sam Raimi) Here's hoping that this sequel lives up to the promise of its kick-ass trailer.

SHREK 2 (Dirs. Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, & Conrad Vernon) Don't have hopes as high for this one.

THE PRINCESS DIARIES 2: ROYAL ENGAGEMENT (Dir. Gary Marshall) Yep, the world was dying for this one. 



BEFORE SUNSET (Dir. Richard Linklater) 

My Spidey-sense is tingling that this follow-up to BEFORE SUNRISE that re-unites Linklater with stars Ethan Hawke and Julia Delphy from the much loved 1995 indie might be the most worthwhile sequel of the summer. 

THE BOURNE SUPREMACY (Dir. Paul Greengrass) Apparently the BOURNE IDENTITY wasn't just one of the biggest box office hits of 2002, it was the most rented movie of 2003. So here's a sequel.



HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN (Dir. Alfonso Cuarón)

AVP: ALIEN VS. THE PREDATOR (Dir. Paul W.S. Anderson)



EXORCIST : THE BEGINNING (Dir. Renny Harlin)



Most of the 20% of the remaining releases this summer are remakes of cult classics. The cream of the crop:



THE STEPFORD WIVES (Dir. Frank Oz)



THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (Dir. Jonathan Demme) Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep do their best to answer the question - remake the perfect classic - why? Doubt they'll have a convincing answer.



SOUL PLANE (Dir. Jessy Terrero ): AIRPLANE! with black people, that's the pitch. Seriously. Snoop Dog stars.

More later...