Favorite Failed Fantasy Franchise - Blu-ray Forum

The Mad Kiwi · 07-11-2010, 06:31 PM

All right, so with the success of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings back in 2001, filmmakers have been trying over and over again to nab the next big fantasy-book-turned-film series. The only one that's gotten sequels is The Chronicles of Narnia (and Twilight, I guess, if you want to label that fantasy). All of the other ones have had initial installments that weren't successful enough to continue with follow-ups. Which of these films is your favorite? Note that I'm only including first films in a potential series, so one-off films like Bridge to Terabithia and The Spiderwick Chronicles that weren't designed for sequels don't count. Oh, and I realize calling A Series of Unfortunate Events a fantasy is a bit of a stretch, but it's such a heightened sense of reality that I'm including it here.

For me, it would have to be The Golden Compass. I realize it's a mess of a film, but my problems with it stem mostly from the editing, which was New Line's doing. Judging by what actually made it into the film, I love what I see; it just needs more of it to smoothen out the pacing and fill in the gaps. Sadly, Chris Weitz said his original three-hour version may never be released as it would cost about another $17 million to finish the effects, something New Line wouldn't find profitable enough in the long run. Shame.

Holmes · 07-11-2010, 07:20 PM

A Series of Unfortunate Events. I thought the first film was delightful. Loved Carrey as Olaf, loved the Edward Gorey-esque production design, loved the supporting cast (Meryl Streep, Jude Law, etc.)--it was just a fun, well-crafted movie overall. I've always been a bit sad a sequel was never produced.

I also thought The Vampire Assistant was solid. Entertaining. Dug John C. Reilly's vampire antihero. Though this film had no right being so open-ended. At least The Golden Compass had the "we were so sure it would be a blockbuster, LOTR-style!" excuse. The Vampire's Assistant was in no way, shape, or form a guaranteed hit/franchise-starter. They should have written a proper ending.

I'm not sure if it qualifies, but I'm still tempted to cry when I remember Sky Captain flopped and a sequel was never made.

God, I loved Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. So, so much. I wish it had been a huge hit and Sky Captain 3 or 4 was on the way as I type this. Alas, it was not to be.

Holmes · 07-11-2010, 07:22 PM

Oh, I notice you included City of Ember. Decent movie (underrated, IMO), but I didn't get a "sequel" vibe from it at all. Were there literary sequels?

Holmes · 07-11-2010, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holmes

Oh, I notice you included City of Ember. Decent movie (underrated, IMO), but I didn't get a "sequel" vibe from it at all. Were there literary sequels?

Did a bit of research (I just discovered this tool called Google

) and I s'pose there were sequels to the novel. Several. Go figure.

The Mad Kiwi · 07-11-2010, 07:29 PM

Doh! I completely forgot Cirque du Freak. I had a nagging feeling there was one I was missing, which is why I put the "Something else" option. That must've been what I was thinking of.

Yeah, City of Ember was followed by three books: The People of Sparks, The Prophet of Yonwood, The Diamond of Darkhold. I don't know if scripts were commissioned for any of those the way sequel scripts had been already been written for Golden Compass and Inkheart.

And I, too, really enjoyed Sky Captain. I do think the story could've used a little more work, but I loved the look and feel of it, and a lot of elements did work well.

Filmmaker · 07-11-2010, 07:29 PM

Though A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS might have been the less compromised of the two and, as such, plays as a better single film, I'm much more interested in how HIS DARK MATERIALS (of which THE GOLDEN COMPASS is Book One) would have played out. I watched TGC twice before reading it and it was only after doing so that I realized how problematic the film actually is. I'd absolutely love to see the original cut before the rather spineless director (don't believe me? Watch his timid, deferential interviews in the supplemental material) surrendered it for the final studio butchering.

Holmes · 07-11-2010, 07:30 PM

Wikipedia:

In June 2009, [director Brad] Silberling confirmed he still talked about the project with [author Daniel "Lemony Snicket"] Handler, and suggested the sequel be a stop motion film because the lead actors have grown too old. "In an odd way, the best thing you could do is actually have Lemony Snicket say to the audience, 'Okay, we pawned the first film off as a mere dramatization with actors. Now I'm afraid I’m going to have to show you the real thing.'"

I WANT THIS TO HAPPEN!

Holmes · 07-11-2010, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

Though A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS might have been the less compromised of the two and, as such, plays as a better single film, I'm much more interested in how HIS DARK MATERIALS (of which THE GOLDEN COMPASS is Book One) would have played out. I watched TGC twice before reading it and it was only after doing so that I realized how problematic the film actually is. I'd absolutely love to see the original cut before the rather spineless director (don't believe me? Watch his timid, deferential interviews in the supplemental material) surrendered it for the final studio butchering.

It's interesting how The Golden Compass was HUGE overseas. After a stilted, almost anemic run in the U.S., it made over $300 million abroad. I have a feeling we would have seen a sequel if it had just made slightly more stateside (say, $90 million). Maybe with a different director.

The Mad Kiwi · 07-11-2010, 07:40 PM

I'm not entirely sure we would've gotten one, anyway. New Line had to sell the foreign distribution rights in order to help pay for the rest of the film (or, at least, the rest of their butchered edit since it's still $17 million away from completion). So they didn't see a dime of that money overseas, causing them to go bankrupt.

It's so sadly ironic because New Line shot themselves in the foot. They cut an hour's worth of footage to make the movie more brisk and accessible for audiences. Then when audiences heard how much had been cut out, they avoided the film and decided to wait until a director's cut was released. I bet if they had just left the film alone, it would've easily had made $150-$200 million domestically. The hype surrounding it was HUGE before news broke out over the re-edit.

Holmes · 07-11-2010, 07:44 PM

Would Van Helsing count? I'm sure, when it was greenlit, Universal thought they had a new franchise on their hands. Huge advertising, a franchise-friendly star in Hugh Jackman, the animated prequel (Van Helsing: The London Assignment)--every element for a new franchise seemed to be there. But then the movie itself was a bit...lame.

The laughable Dracula in particular.

Holmes · 07-11-2010, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Mad Kiwi

I'm not entirely sure we would've gotten one, anyway. New Line had to sell the foreign distribution rights in order to help pay for the rest of the film (or, at least, the rest of their butchered edit since it's still $17 million away from completion). So they didn't see a dime of that money overseas, causing them to go bankrupt.

It's so sadly ironic because New Line shot themselves in the foot. They cut an hour's worth of footage to make the movie more brisk and accessible for audiences. Then when audiences heard how much had been cut out, they avoided the film and decided to wait until a director's cut was released. I bet if they had just left the film alone, it would've easily had made $150-$200 million domestically. The hype surrounding it was HUGE before news broke out over the re-edit.

Ah. I wasn't aware of the particulars.

What a ****** disaster.

And the project had so much potential, and a dynamite cast.

RampageIceman · 07-11-2010, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holmes

A Series of Unfortunate Events. I thought the first film was delightful. Loved Carrey as Olaf, loved the Edward Gorey-esque production design, loved the supporting cast (Meryl Streep, Jude Law, etc.)--it was just a fun, well-crafted movie overall. I've always been a bit sad a sequel was never produced.

I agree with all of this except the sequel... I am okay with not having a sequel to this amazing film.

Walts Ghost · 07-11-2010, 08:17 PM

I actually really liked Inkheart. I thought it was fun, and a bit different. It wasn't great by any means, but I was really hoping we'd get to see a second one. I enjoyed it for it was

demers_60 · 07-11-2010, 08:43 PM

Loved the visuals of Golden Compass. Too bad it's all but dead.

Holmes · 07-11-2010, 08:50 PM

I wonder if The Last Airbender will find a home on this list in the near future. While chances are it will turn a profit in the end, the W.O.M. seems so toxic. I can't imagine there being much enthusiasm for a second round of M. Night-helmed bending.

Foggy · 07-11-2010, 08:58 PM

A Series of Unfortunate Events

JTStarkiller · 07-11-2010, 09:25 PM

Man, I'd love to get that full Golden Compass cut. I saw potential in the theatrical version, but you're right, Kiwi. It was just so choppy and quick. No time for things to play out naturally. Such a shame, because the books are great.

Monolithium · 07-13-2010, 12:33 AM

I would love to see the next film after The Golden Compass. Oh well.

TheForce8686 · 07-13-2010, 02:22 AM

The Golden Compass really had some potential. The movie had lots of good things about it. They made so much money over seas they should still complete them.

AKORIS · 07-13-2010, 02:51 AM

I enjoyed Percy Jackson- but my favorite was LEMONY SNICKETS-- I thought that was very good (and would look incredible on blu-ray-- release it Paramount!!!!)

View Poll Results: Favorite initial installment of a doomed fantasy franchise?
A Series of Unfortunate Events	26	31.33%
Eragon	6	7.23%
The Seeker: The Dark is Rising	0	0%
The Golden Compass	19	22.89%
City of Ember	8	9.64%
Inkheart	6	7.23%
Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief	10	12.05%
Something else I missed entirely	8	9.64%
Voters: 83. You may not vote on this poll

07-11-2010, 06:31 PM	#1
The Mad Kiwi Power Member Top contributor Member since:Jun 2010 Location:Florida 4K collection:199 Blu-ray collection:902 DVD collection:128 Digital collection:16	Favorite Failed Fantasy Franchise All right, so with the success of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings back in 2001, filmmakers have been trying over and over again to nab the next big fantasy-book-turned-film series. The only one that's gotten sequels is The Chronicles of Narnia (and Twilight, I guess, if you want to label that fantasy). All of the other ones have had initial installments that weren't successful enough to continue with follow-ups. Which of these films is your favorite? Note that I'm only including first films in a potential series, so one-off films like Bridge to Terabithia and The Spiderwick Chronicles that weren't designed for sequels don't count. Oh, and I realize calling A Series of Unfortunate Events a fantasy is a bit of a stretch, but it's such a heightened sense of reality that I'm including it here. For me, it would have to be The Golden Compass. I realize it's a mess of a film, but my problems with it stem mostly from the editing, which was New Line's doing. Judging by what actually made it into the film, I love what I see; it just needs more of it to smoothen out the pacing and fill in the gaps. Sadly, Chris Weitz said his original three-hour version may never be released as it would cost about another $17 million to finish the effects, something New Line wouldn't find profitable enough in the long run. Shame. Last edited by The Mad Kiwi; 07-11-2010 at 06:35 PM.

07-11-2010, 07:40 PM	#9
The Mad Kiwi Power Member Top contributor Member since:Jun 2010 Location:Florida 4K collection:199 Blu-ray collection:902 DVD collection:128 Digital collection:16	I'm not entirely sure we would've gotten one, anyway. New Line had to sell the foreign distribution rights in order to help pay for the rest of the film (or, at least, the rest of their butchered edit since it's still $17 million away from completion). So they didn't see a dime of that money overseas, causing them to go bankrupt. It's so sadly ironic because New Line shot themselves in the foot. They cut an hour's worth of footage to make the movie more brisk and accessible for audiences. Then when audiences heard how much had been cut out, they avoided the film and decided to wait until a director's cut was released. I bet if they had just left the film alone, it would've easily had made $150-$200 million domestically. The hype surrounding it was HUGE before news broke out over the re-edit. Last edited by The Mad Kiwi; 07-11-2010 at 07:42 PM.

07-11-2010, 07:20 PM	#2
Holmes Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Dec 2009 Location:Maryland 4K collection:3 Blu-ray collection:779	A Series of Unfortunate Events. I thought the first film was delightful. Loved Carrey as Olaf, loved the Edward Gorey-esque production design, loved the supporting cast (Meryl Streep, Jude Law, etc.)--it was just a fun, well-crafted movie overall. I've always been a bit sad a sequel was never produced. I also thought The Vampire Assistant was solid. Entertaining. Dug John C. Reilly's vampire antihero. Though this film had no right being so open-ended. At least The Golden Compass had the "we were so sure it would be a blockbuster, LOTR-style!" excuse. The Vampire's Assistant was in no way, shape, or form a guaranteed hit/franchise-starter. They should have written a proper ending. I'm not sure if it qualifies, but I'm still tempted to cry when I remember Sky Captain flopped and a sequel was never made. God, I loved Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. So, so much. I wish it had been a huge hit and Sky Captain 3 or 4 was on the way as I type this. Alas, it was not to be.

07-11-2010, 07:22 PM	#3
Holmes Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Dec 2009 Location:Maryland 4K collection:3 Blu-ray collection:779	Oh, I notice you included City of Ember. Decent movie (underrated, IMO), but I didn't get a "sequel" vibe from it at all. Were there literary sequels?

07-11-2010, 07:29 PM	#5
The Mad Kiwi Power Member Top contributor Member since:Jun 2010 Location:Florida 4K collection:199 Blu-ray collection:902 DVD collection:128 Digital collection:16	Doh! I completely forgot Cirque du Freak. I had a nagging feeling there was one I was missing, which is why I put the "Something else" option. That must've been what I was thinking of. Yeah, City of Ember was followed by three books: The People of Sparks, The Prophet of Yonwood, The Diamond of Darkhold. I don't know if scripts were commissioned for any of those the way sequel scripts had been already been written for Golden Compass and Inkheart. And I, too, really enjoyed Sky Captain. I do think the story could've used a little more work, but I loved the look and feel of it, and a lot of elements did work well.

07-11-2010, 07:29 PM	#6
Filmmaker Blu-ray Count Top contributor Member since:Aug 2009 Location:Tulsa, OK (but don't hold it against me!) Home Theater Gallery:90 4K collection:1162 Blu-ray collection:3145 DVD collection:593 Trading Score:24	Though A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS might have been the less compromised of the two and, as such, plays as a better single film, I'm much more interested in how HIS DARK MATERIALS (of which THE GOLDEN COMPASS is Book One) would have played out. I watched TGC twice before reading it and it was only after doing so that I realized how problematic the film actually is. I'd absolutely love to see the original cut before the rather spineless director (don't believe me? Watch his timid, deferential interviews in the supplemental material) surrendered it for the final studio butchering.

07-11-2010, 07:30 PM	#7
Holmes Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Dec 2009 Location:Maryland 4K collection:3 Blu-ray collection:779	Wikipedia: In June 2009, [director Brad] Silberling confirmed he still talked about the project with [author Daniel "Lemony Snicket"] Handler, and suggested the sequel be a stop motion film because the lead actors have grown too old. "In an odd way, the best thing you could do is actually have Lemony Snicket say to the audience, 'Okay, we pawned the first film off as a mere dramatization with actors. Now I'm afraid I’m going to have to show you the real thing.'" I WANT THIS TO HAPPEN!

07-11-2010, 07:44 PM	#10
Holmes Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Dec 2009 Location:Maryland 4K collection:3 Blu-ray collection:779	Would Van Helsing count? I'm sure, when it was greenlit, Universal thought they had a new franchise on their hands. Huge advertising, a franchise-friendly star in Hugh Jackman, the animated prequel (Van Helsing: The London Assignment)--every element for a new franchise seemed to be there. But then the movie itself was a bit...lame. The laughable Dracula in particular.

07-11-2010, 08:17 PM	#13
Walts Ghost Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2010 Location:Arizona 4K collection:785 Blu-ray collection:3088 DVD collection:177 iTunes collection:34 Blu-ray reviews: 33 Trading Score:1	I actually really liked Inkheart. I thought it was fun, and a bit different. It wasn't great by any means, but I was really hoping we'd get to see a second one. I enjoyed it for it was

07-11-2010, 08:43 PM	#14
demers_60 Special Member Member since:Feb 2010 Location:San Jose, CA Blu-ray collection:459 Trading Score:9	Loved the visuals of Golden Compass. Too bad it's all but dead.

07-11-2010, 08:50 PM	#15
Holmes Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Dec 2009 Location:Maryland 4K collection:3 Blu-ray collection:779	I wonder if The Last Airbender will find a home on this list in the near future. While chances are it will turn a profit in the end, the W.O.M. seems so toxic. I can't imagine there being much enthusiasm for a second round of M. Night-helmed bending.

07-11-2010, 08:58 PM	#16
Foggy Blu-ray Grand Duke Top contributor Member since:Dec 2008 Location:UK 4K collection:29 Blu-ray collection:3594 DVD collection:47	A Series of Unfortunate Events

07-11-2010, 09:25 PM	#17
JTStarkiller Power Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Austin, TX DVD collection:69 Trading Score:17	Man, I'd love to get that full Golden Compass cut. I saw potential in the theatrical version, but you're right, Kiwi. It was just so choppy and quick. No time for things to play out naturally. Such a shame, because the books are great.

07-13-2010, 12:33 AM	#18
Monolithium Power Member Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Canada	I would love to see the next film after The Golden Compass. Oh well.

07-13-2010, 02:22 AM	#19
TheForce8686 Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Nov 2006 Home Theater Gallery:1 Blu-ray collection:992 Trading Score:79	The Golden Compass really had some potential. The movie had lots of good things about it. They made so much money over seas they should still complete them.

07-13-2010, 02:51 AM	#20
AKORIS Blu-ray Prince Member since:Jul 2008 Location:Beautiful Pacific Northwest 4K collection:662 Blu-ray collection:3655 Blu-ray reviews:19	I enjoyed Percy Jackson- but my favorite was LEMONY SNICKETS-- I thought that was very good (and would look incredible on blu-ray-- release it Paramount!!!!)

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