Trilogies

[PyroChamber]

I'm sure there's probably been more threads about this, but what is it that most comic book movie franchises can't seem to have a good third movie; especially after a lot of people pretty much despised Spider-Man 3?

 

[Mr. Socko]

Yep, to me none have a 3rd film that lives up to the first two.

 

[Jordacar]

It seems to me that X3 and Spidey 3 had similar problems of cramming too many plots into their running times and sacrificing things like story and character, which both part-2's handled well.

I think one reason this happens is that contracts usually call for 3 movies to be made, and by the time the 3rd film comes around, the filmmakers take it on like it's going to be the last one, so they have to fill the quota and get in the cool stories like the phoenix saga or the black costume in there along with everything else.

So, the way I see it, stop trying to put a cap on the third film. If you want your audience begging for more, it shouldn't be because they want to make up for a crappy part three.
(Come to think of it, isn't that why they made Ocean's 13?)

 

[Storm22]

I think with Spiderman and X-Men in paritcular, the expectations were so high following the second installments that people were bound to be disappointed either way.

I personally think both SM3 and X3 are good additions to each franchise, no they're not better than the second movies but I think the reaction/backlash is way too harsh when you consider the quality of each film. You'd swear they were the worst movies ever made the way some people talk about them. I know people were disappointed but some perspective is needed here - some people, not everyone, seem upset because they didn't see what they specifically wanted to see (specific Phoenix portrayal/Venom portrayal etc.) but that doesn't necessarily mean the movies are poor quality, you have to seperate personal expectations and actual quality. Of course then there are those who judge the movies on their own merits and simply don't like them and that's fair enough.

 

[Chris B]

I think part of the reason why it is hard to do a third film is that it becomes harder to keep the story and characters fresh.

 

[UltimateJustin]

I think the reason its hard for people to make a good third film is because they incorrectly think they need to keep the story and characters fresh. This results in them trying to cram anything that could happen into the movie. People just want to see the established characters on another adventure. It sucks Raimi believed "we have to do something new, if we kept doing the same old thing audiences would lose interest". Its not true, make another classy movie like the first two and audiences would be happy. Its part of the reason why Spiderman 3 and X3 arent bad movies, they are just off cause they tried to be too many things.