Opinion

Sequels, remakes and reboots, oh my

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Hollywood seems to be scrambling for new content by remaking or creating sequels to older movies. | Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

“Finding Dory”? I waited 12 years to see my favorite blue tang on screen. The Marvel cinematic universe is expanding as fast as the Big Bang (the astronomy theory, not the show). Now we got “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” looming over us. Now where’s my “Incredibles” sequels? Oh, we’re getting that too.

Nothing is original. Everything comes from something. But that does not mean the film industry should minimalize derivativeness. Reboots and sequels are invading the theater screens now and everyone is flocking to them.

According to Box Office Mojo 2014 U.S. Domestic Box Office rankings, a majority of the movies are from existing properties, such as “The LEGO Movie”, “Transformers: Age of Extinction”, “Maleficient” and “Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 1″.

Nereyda Rubio, English literature junior, is a moviegoer who has observed the era of sequels and remakes.

“We’re getting at that point where we’re trying to hit the nostalgia of those grew up in the ’80s and ’90s and try to get money out of that, so why not bring out the old movies and hit that? And have (their potential audience) go, ‘Oh, I remember that when I was a little kid I want to see it again.'”

Derivative properties can borrow the old magic all they want to, but they must have their own too. As long as movies aren’t focusing too much on riding on the coattails of previous properties, they can still revive a bit of childhood.

But it would be nice if Hollywood took more risks and dished out something like, Pixar’s “Inside Out”, which was a famous example of an original mainstream movie that was prosperous. The Box Office Mojo 2015 domestic grossing list currently ranks it on third place, above “Minions”, which ranks fifth.

If people are already invested in the original property, chances are they will take interest in continuations or interpretations of their favorites.

Opinion columnist Caroline Cao is a creative writing and media production senior and may be reached at [email protected].

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