Over the past few years, movie studios have come to the conclusion that to succeed in the industry, you must be able to create a franchise. The notion of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” applies here really well, but it also hinders the studios from expanding into new territory. If you are a new director and you have an original intellectual property (IP), then you better blow someone’s socks off with your delivery or else it will sink into the ground. Take a look at the past couple of years and the next few years into the future: at least three-fourths of the movies that have come out and will come out are all part of a bigger franchise. They might not all be good or bad, and some might have won awards while others didn’t, but the results are still the same. A franchise keeps a studio alive, on top of the other competition. I have an issue with the current business of looking too far into the future and not preparing for the consequences. I’m pointing my metaphorical finger at the "Batman v Superman" mess of a movie and the upcoming "Avatar" sequels.
Let’s start with the first issue: using two iconic figures from comic book history, and adapting one of the biggest comic book stories/arcs in the DC universe. Nothing could go wrong, right? With a cast of new faces (Ben Affleck as Batman and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman) and old faces (Henry Cavill as Superman and Amy Adams as Lois Lane), everything seemed fine until the updated trailer. With the reveal of Doomsday, what exactly was there to build up to? What could possibly be left to the imagination as we sat in the theater gawking at what the executives at Warner Bros. had just showed us? When the movie came out, it was hardly a surprise when it flopped in terms of creative story telling. Without any spoilers, the film loses all potential and the franchise loses all credibility when a stunt such as this falls flat. The situation has even put Warner Bros. at a disadvantage as they have changed the release schedule of their "Justice League" franchise to cater to the loss that "Batman v Superman" created. Almost everything on their schedule has been pushed to release earlier. Sure, cash-grab movies are being greenlit, and only franchises that have a nice brand name are being promoted, such as the upcoming "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" trilogy. By planning so far out in the future, you have no idea how to properly conduct damage control.
On to the next problem: "Avatar." Even though "Avatar" made so much money and was popular when it was released, you probably can't name one memorable line, or character, or plot device. It is only remembered for its innovative take on 3D filming and special effects that are dated at this time. The script is nothing but a collage of other films that have been blended and watered down to cater to this franchise. I sat through the whole film and did not walk away in awe. The special effects were what was supposed to drive the film, but you know what else was released that same year? "The Dark Knight," "Coraline," "Star Trek" and "District 9." "The Dark Knight" did not rely on heavy usage of CGI and still delivered a memorable story as well as one of the best portrayals of the Joker. "Coraline" was an innovation in stop-motion animation and was able to convey a story of acceptance within a horrible world, both catering to kids and adults. "Star Trek" brought forth nostalgia and a new take on the old sci-fi television show, and was able to make the franchise relevant within pop culture. "District 9" was about aliens invading earth and instead of the usual “humans team together to kill the threat,” humans are on the end of enslaving and discriminating against them in South Africa, making them live in poverty and showing the effects of xenophobia and racism.
What did "Avatar" achieve in terms of its story? Be nice to nature? We are all connected? The natives know more than we give them credit for? The animated film "FernGully" from 1992 and the western film "Dances with Wolves" from 1990 told the exact same story, but in a more interactive and memorable way. James Cameron’s push to make "Avatar" 2, 3, 4 and 5 is a risky move. If he does not make the universe he is creating more interesting to the viewer, then his investment in large movies will be for nothing.
The bottom line is that one should take things lightly when producing such things. Let the numbers show whether or not it will be a good idea to continue on. Don’t be like the "Terminator" franchise and release two flops in a row thinking that a third would be greenlit.
