Why Four Eyed Monsters Should be Continued...

In this Week's Monday Movie Meme, The Bumbles ask "What movie doesn't have a sequel that you wish did?" and I totally understand how they could want a sequel to "Bourne Ultimatum" and also agree with the frustrations over the production limbo, plot games and casting strangeness that this Bourne Movie Franchise has been going through for too long.

There are also lots of independent films that I believe could do well in a sequel. One in particular is "Four Eyed Monsters" because after building a large fan following that supported their relationship, Arin and Susan's story doesn't have to stop there despite its emotional ending.

DISCLAIMER - The rest of this post might contain movie spoilers, so if you have not watched "Four Eyed Monsters" and plan to in the near future, then I suggest you check it out before reading any further. After watching the movie, you are welcome to return and add your two cents if desired. Side Note: If you need to read this disclaimer than I need to ask...Why haven't you watched "Four Eyed Monsters" already? It's a great movie! I highly recommend it.

Now, anyone who checks out their stuff would know that they work on projects together in real life so let's get that out of the way. From a consumer or rather that of a moviegoer/watcher/YouTube streamer perspective, it would be nice to learn how the two talented individuals related to one another following the breakup and also how their lives changed following the breakup.

Did they find a new boyfriend or girlfriend who could inspire them as much as their previous significant other?

Were their professional lives and ability to achieve artistic goals better or worse now that they are no longer one unit?

Is there any chance that Arin and Susan will get back together?

Since "Four Eyed Monsters" was very personal and lots of people became attached to Arin and Susan's relationship, closure for fans would be an even greater (and probably a somewhat therapeutic) reason to release a sequel. The second film could help fans learn how to deal with change and teach people that life does go on after a serious relationship. This factor could probably help everyday folk, even if they don't follow independent films or art or social media.

People who are having problems in their relationship or find it hard to move on after being with someone that they love for a long time could probably benefit from a sequel, by learning how the two main subjects in "Four Eyed Monsters" deal with it.

With that said, here are two reasons why there probably won't be a sequel to "Four Eyed Monsters," at least in my opinion.

1. Sequels suck! Sure, it's nice to fantasize about the next edition of favorite films but have we learned nothing from "Sex and the City 2," "Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2" or "_______________" (YOU fill in the blank in the comments section!)? Most movies should not have a sequel because often times, it's never as good as the first one so the sequel ends up not only disappointing fans who had high expectations but now it also causes a great film to be lumped in with what ha become a lackluster series.

It's kind of like buying an album and then learning that you only enjoy two or three songs. Two songs won't make me want to listen to an album if I have to sort through 14 tracks that I can't stand.

2. From a filmmaking perspective, another reason why I believe that there probably won't be a "Four Eyed Monsters" sequel is because that in it's early stages, that whole video series was an experiment that turned into something great. The collaboration of two people who brought their different talents and skills together built a large following and created a platform where people could share ideas and discuss topics that were of interest to everyone involved, in some way or another. Expecting them to reproduce another "Four Eyed Monsters" is silly because they've both grown as artists and individuals so why try to aggravate their creative process by trying to get them to remain in the same spot....or on the same project?

The bottom line.......

Sometimes, film sequels should be non-existent because they are just either not appropriate (like making a 'Bourne' movie without Matt Damon....they must be crazy) or necessary (like making a "Sex and the City 3" movie...please tell me that Sarah Jessica Parker is kidding).

Still, if Arin and Susan decide to make an aftermath of their breakup or some type of glimpse into the time periods that followed their separation, you better believe that I'll be in line at the movie theater or right up on YouTube or wherever they decide to screen it.

Hey, a girl can dream!

"Four Eyed Monsters" is available on DVD and in a variety of other platforms.

Technorati Tags: monday+movie+meme, movie+meme+should+be+continued, the+bumbles+blog, the+daily+meme, four+eyed+monsters, four+eyed+monsters+sequel, four+eyed+monsters+movie, four+eyed+monsters+film, movies, feature+films, youtube,

Film roles for Actresses are Scarce.....the Julia Roberts Complex

During the Spring of 2010, Lauren Graham visited the 10! Show on NBC in Philadelphia to promote her show, Parenthood after not having a main presence on the tube since The WB's "Gilmore Girls" came to an end back in 2007. This interview was enlightening on not only what she thinks about her own abilities and/or limitations in the entertainment industry but also whether there truly is an imbalance of job opportunities between television and movies, for women, specifically actresses.

When asked if she wanted to get back into television or did the Parenthood role speak to her, Lauren Graham told the host that her decision to join the NBC cast was based on a combination of those factors. Graham also added, "I think the best jobs for actresses are on television in general, unless you're Julia Roberts".

Is this really true? I don't think so. Then again, I'm not Lauren Graham so what do I know? Maybe she can find better roles on television than in movies....or maybe there is something to what she's saying, not the whole "Julia Roberts" part but acting roles in general. During an appearance on ABC's The View, actress Marg Helgenberger who stars in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation also stated that there are more roles for women in television than there are available in film. Based on the fact that two different women (who work for different networks and were interviewed on two different types of TV shows) made similar statements in the same week, maybe there IS an imbalance of opportunities between the two industries, as Lauren Graham mentioned.

As a Gilmore Girls and Lauren Graham fan, her comments still made me sad and wonder if she's selling herself a little short.

Here are three ways, from a TV fan's perspective, in which Lauren Graham could possibly find more roles in film so that she doesn't continue to believe that television is her only or more promising option.

1. The Best roles are not on Television. Steady roles are on television. Take a walk down the Jennifer Aniston path. During the rein of Friends on NBC, there was probably no reason for actress Jennifer Aniston to be concerned with landing film roles because she was not only part of the cast of a popular show, but she also had a lucrative job at the moment (weren't those Friends cast members making like $1 million each per episode or something?) so of course, in that position it could be easy to believe that the best roles are on television. The question though is.....where is Aniston working now that Friends is over? I haven't noticed her dominating television recently. Why? Because she's busy landing film roles.

Aniston seems to be finding jobs just fine in film, in roles that are probably better in quality than what she's been offered in television since departing from her Friends and she doesn't seem to be worried about Julia Roberts either. Isn't there enough room for a variety of talent? Actresses may have great roles on television but reality shows still seem to dominate the channels, which does not add much substance to broadcast networks in terms of quality program options for both cast members and TV audiences.

2. Star in Comedy Movies
Lauren Graham may be great in comedy movies. Why stop at Bad Santa or Evan Almighty when it's clear that comedy seems to be your thing? I'd likely go to the movie theater to watch Lauren Graham in the next "Meet the Parents" spin-off or it would be nice to see her work with Steve Carell, Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell or even Adam Sandler.

3. Do something Daring, or at the very least, something Different (really different, not just raising a new set of kids on another TV network).
As of 2011, I've watched up to three different programs where Lauren Graham essentially had the same role.....a single mom. The thing is, all of these roles were not on television (cue The Answer Man if you don't believe me) so maybe it's time for her to try a new character that doesn't come with a dead-beat dad, homework help and college tours.

Maybe she could benefit from playing a professional woman with no children (Sarah Jessica Parker in Smart People, anyone?), a psychotic lesbian, a married woman with a family or anything other than many of her previous roles that depict a woman who had a child too early and has to try and figure out how to raise this child on her own. It seems that the story has been told already, many times over with different kids but the same mom...Lauren Graham. I think we get it. She can play a single mom. What else is in store for Lauren Graham, not the mom, but the actress?

Jessica Biel's transition from television (7th Heaven) to film (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre; Blade: Trinity) didn't seem to be that difficult. Mila Kunis also took her That 70's Show fame on the road, gaining film roles that put her next to best of 'em in the business such as The Book of Eli opposite Academy Award Winner, Denzel Washington and The Black Swan next to industry darling, Natalie Portman, which Kunis has been getting lots of media attention for over the last 12 months.

The bottom line is, everyone does not have to be Julia Roberts and even Julia Roberts started somewhere (anyone watch Satisfaction?). Actresses such as Lauren Graham can still find the "best" movie roles, and may even win huge awards.....the possibilities are out there.

Hey, if all else fails, call Tyler Perry. He seems to be on a movie making roll these days. Side note: Can you believe he got that Alex Cross role for the next James Patterson movie, right up from under Morgan Freeman? SMH!

His bankrolling skills also got Gabourey Sidibe an Oscar for Best Actress (see Precious) and hey, while Graham may think she's no Julia Roberts.....there may be plenty of TV fans and movie fans who think Sidibe is no Lauren Graham, so there you go!

Watch the Full Lauren Graham Interview here:

Resource:
NBC Philadelphia

Technorati Tags: lauren+graham+movie+roles, lauren+graham, lauren+graham+movies, lauren+graham+film, lauren+graham+film+roles, lauren+graham+parenthood, julia+roberts+film+roles, julia+roberts+films, julia+roberts+movie+roles, julia+roberts+movies, movie+roles, film+roles, roles+in+film, roles+in+television, roles+on+television, roles+on+film, television+roles, film+roles, television+roles+for+actresses, film+roles+for+actresses

Why is Netflix Punishing Customers who want DVDs?

Netflix, a subscription based DVD rental service that has been popular for many years (and probably one of the the reasons why Blockbuster retail stores are having such a hard time making money these days) has recently made changes that appear to alienate the company's most loyal customers.

In an attempt to influence customers who rent DVDs from them to move away from physical discs and embrace the company's instant video streaming service to watch movies, Netflix has not only removed the option for customers to add DVDs to their queue using streaming devices but the company has also changed their rental plans to favor a "Watch Instantly" service more than their DVD rental service.

Customer who still want to rent DVDs from Netflix will have to pay nearly twice as much as they did before the company decided to make a move over to streaming movies. Netflix isn't even the least bit concerned about their customer's interests. Instead, they want their customers to either get on this instant streaming bandwagon, or end up paying a higher price (Under Netflix's current movie rental plan, 1 DVDs out at a time costs $9.99 per month and 2 DVDs are priced at $14.99 and then it goes up from there while the instant streaming plan only costs $7.99 per month) to rent DVDs.

The company's actions show that Netflix does not care about their customers needs. They appear to only be concerned with riding the tide and making business decisions that are in the company's best interests. Netflix can still operate as a modern company and still be popular in their market without trying to abandon DVDs altogether, so why don't they even take that into consideration?

Trying to force customers to adapt to an instant streaming service may help Netflix make the transformation that they desire but will definitely cause many of their current customers to either stop renting movies altogether or move to one of many Netflix competitors including Blockbuster, iTunes, Amazon and Redbox.

Current Netflix customers have expressed their reaction to the new changes by simply professing "If they cancel DVDs in the mail, I'm canceling my service..." and hey, if a lot of customers feel this way, then Netflix may not be getting a lot of business within the next two years.....or at least they won't be getting them from the average person who is not a tech geek or get their entertainment exclusively through new gadgets and streaming devices.

After FCC just approved the Comcast merger with NBC Universal, now movie fans have to put up with this?!! Netflix used to be a fun and convenient way to be able to rent movies that people may have missed in theaters but now, just like Comcast, it seems that Netflix is only concerned with being in a position to make as much money as they can, even if it means ignoring the needs and interests of their customers.

Why should Netflix expect customers to use their instant streaming service exclusively and abandon DVDs when a large portion of their movie titles aren't even available to stream instantly?

Technorati Tags: netflix, netflix+dvd+rentals, netflix+rental+service, blockbuster+dvd+rental, blockbuster, netflix+instant+streaming, netflix+streaming, netflix+movie+streaming, netflix+movie+rentals, netflix+rental+plans, netflix+dvd+plans, redbox, redbox+dvd+rentals, itunes+movie+rentals, rent+movies+netflix