Life of Adventure

There is something which has been going around lately which I like to call “resurrections”. You know. One great movie which you watched years ago and then one day, just when you were starting to forget that such a movie even existed, you find out that there is going to be a sequel! Not a remake, like in Batman’s case but a sequel as in “the story goes on”.

In the past we’ve had:

- Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz and John Hanna make a return with The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor (2008) 9 years after The Mummy (1999) and 6 years after The Mummy Returns;

- Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, Bad Boys (1995), came back 8 years after Bad Boys II (2003)

- Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zetta–Jones came back with The Legend Of Zorro (2005) 7 years after The Mask Of Zorro (1998);

- Arnold Schwarzenegger came back with Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines (2003) 19 after Terminator I (1984) and 12 years after Terminator II: Judgment Day (1991)

- Bruce Willis came back with Live Free Or Die Hard (2007) 19 years after Die Hard I (1988), 17 years after Die Hard II (1990) and 12 years after Die Hard III.

- Last but not least, we have Sylvester Stallone who brought us two resurrections. First there is Rocky Balboa (2006) which was released 30 years after the first installment, Rocky I (1976), and 16 years after what was supposed to be the last one, Rocky V (1990); second we have Rambo (2008) which was released 26 years after First Blood (1982) and 20 years after Rambo III. This makes Rambo the oldest resurrection – Which I know.

Since trilogies are so in, we should watch out for Bad Boys and Zorro III.

Now, we have 3 more resurrections coming in a couple of years. But before we get to them, let’s take a look at the latest one: Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull (2008) which was released 27 years after Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981), 24 years after The Temple Of Doom (1984) and 19 years after The Last Crusade (1989). George Lucas is working on a fifth – and probably last – Indiana Jones movie. Unlike what everybody though, it won’t be centered on Shia LaBoeuf as the new Indiana Jones. George Lucas told MTV “Indiana Jones is Indiana Jones. Harrison Ford IS Indiana Jones”. Since it’s still in the thinking stage, modifications might still happen.

The first movie following Indiana Jones’ example is Beverly Hills Cop IV!!! Good news: Eddie Murphy is coming back as Axel Foley; bad news: it will be directed by Brett Ratner – Remember X-Men 3: The Last Stand? I still haven’t forgiven him for it. Yet again Rush Hour 1-3 were great. – Still don’t know what the plot will be about. At first, Brett Ratner stated that unlike the three previous ones, BHC 4 would be rated PG then later dismissed it by saying that it will be rated R like the other ones. It is schedule to be released 2010. Beverly Hills Cop I (1984) was released 24 years ago and Beverly Hills III (1994) 14 years ago.

Another surprising resurrection is Lethal Weapon 5 (and probably last). The word going around is that Shane Black (who wrote Lethal Weapon I, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) has already handed the screenplay to the franchise’s producer: Joel Silver. It will be directed by either Richard Donner (Lethal Weapon 1-4) or by its writer Shane Black. Everybody is waiting for Mel Gibson’s approval to get started. Nothing has been said about the other cast members, but I do hope that Chris Rock and Joe Pesci will come back too. One possible addition to the cast is Columbus Short as Murtaugh’s son. ComingSoon posted the following logline: “This time, homicidal Riggs (Mel Gibson) is about to retire, but pulls Murtaugh (Danny Glover) out of retirement to solve one final case, before they both officially head off into the sunset.” Lethal Weapon I (1987) was released 21 years ago and Lethal Weapon IV (1998) 10 years ago.

A resurrection less likely to happen is Under Siege III. Steven Siegal told MTV that “There are offers and we’re looking at them,” and “I personally want it to be something more modern. In other words I wouldn’t mind if it was about something more mystical or… maybe extraterrestrial in nature. Some real government top secrets instead of just the typical.” So it will be a Kung-Fu movie with aliens as bad guys!? We’ll see how it’ll go. If it ever makes it to theater of course. Under Siege I (1992) was released 16 years ago and Under Siege II (1995) 13 years ago. Isn’t that number supposed to represent bad luck? Maybe they should hold that idea a little bit longer.

Wow! Seems like Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull started quite a chain reaction. I wonder what the next resurrection will be. One which I bet would really be historical and make quite some noise would be Titanic II – Now that would be funny. Yet again what are the chances of that actually happening? As the saying goes “In Hollywood, anything is possible”.

The Trailers’ Park