I was aghast and horrified when I read about the idea of Hunger Games prequels. This news in the same week we are finally getting a new Star Wars movie. A bit too dramatic? Well maybe, but I really can’t stand prequels and I don’t know anyone who does. Prequels are either money grabs or narcissist cop-outs by the creatives who ended or ruined their story and now they want it back. “Fonzie just jumped over a shark on water skis; let’s go back and make a TV show about Fonzie coming of age.” Here are four reasons why prequels are a very bad idea:
1. There is no suspense
When I watched the “first” Star Wars movie, the garbage compactor scene was intense. Walls closing in, stormtroopers in hot pursuit and a garbage monster to make matters even worse. The humor, the stress, and the suspense all combine to make this one of the best scenes in the saga. On the contrary, when you watch Darth Vader fight Obi Wan in Episode III, you know that Darth Vader is going to live. There is no suspense and therefore no emotion. Let’s just sit here and watch what already happened. The only thought going through your head is “oh, that’s how he got disfigured.” A potential great scene ho-hummed because we already know the answer. A prequel is a movie where every scene’s been spoiled by the original.
2. Prequels ruin the original too
Let’s say you stumble upon somebody who has never seen any of the Star Wars movies. Hey, its possible: one of my co-workers has never seen The Wizard of Oz. Anyway, do you advise her to watch the movies 1-6 or 4-6, 1-3? If you were to watch Star Wars or Caprica or Hanibal Rising or Prometheus before the movie or show they prequeled, the show would be less mysterious, less thought-provoking and less interesting. No movie, book or TV show is made better by knowing more of the backstory. I really tried to like Caprica. Didn’t you?
3. We don’t want to see our favorite characters played by different actors
Or different characters played by the same actors. Do you really want them to make another version of Sons of Anarchy without Charlie Hunnam? Well, they’re going to bring him back… as his own father. And who wants to see a Hunger Games movie without Jennifer Lawrence? Not me. I never heard of her until the Hunger Games movies, but now she’s the only Katniss I ever want to cheer for. It’s not like there can’t be more story after Mockingjay Part 2. It’s fiction, for heaven’s sake, make something up.
4. Prequels are just a money grab
This is the final and true reason that prequels are so awful. Prequels are created to extract a ton of money from faithful fans. There is very low risk of commercial failure and no real need to write a compelling story. If you agree, I urge you to join the fight against prequels. Either way, post your thoughts below.
Comments
I’m experiencing your Star Wars example now. My 12 year old hasn’t seen any of the movies and wanted to watch them all before we see Episode VII this weekend. I advised that he watch 1-6, I was wrong. The first 3 are confusing without the references we knew from 4-6. And now he won’t get to discover a lot of the revelations that we did in 4-6, like Luke’s father or Obi Wan’s relationship to Darth Vader. I told him to hold on for Episode VI, the story lays out better and he’ll enjoy it more.
Thanks for the insightful comment. I hadn’t thought about prequels not making much sense without seeing the originals. Everyone should heed this and have their children start at Episode IV, just like we did.
By the way, have fun watching the movie this weekend. I’m taking my family on Sunday. I can’t wait.
As noted, what is different about Star Wars is the amount of time between each movie release. It probably impacts the efficacy of a prequel in any series.