Prequels

Sitting through this season of "Lost" I'm reminded of my distaste for prequels, which originated during the debut of the "Star Wars" Episodes 1-3, and I'm not just talking about Jar Jar Binks. I'm referring to the complete absence of suspense that arises from near-death experiences befalling characters you know survive.

It's similar to the feeling you get when you see Jack suffer terribly after his impromptu appendectomy, knowing he's one of the Oceanic Six.





What might be worse is how it's almost a foregone conclusion that the characters who did not make it into the sequels invariably will die. Making it that much more difficult to invest in that character.


Natalie Portman, we hardly knew ye.

Bilbo Baggins may be able to break this trend, for me personally. The legacy of work, the fact that most know "The Hobbit" well before they've ever feasted their Eye on Sauron.

Nevertheless, original work may still win out. The brilliance of movies like Step Brother and Wanted ensure that the pap smear of work that calls itself Hollywood will continue in perpetuity. Long after Funny or Die has unfunnily died.