Cinematic sequels, meanwhile, are as old as the practice of filmmaking itself.
The pattern of sequels riding in the wake of success has endured ever since.
When the wellspring of Fleming novels ran dry, they simply began creating new stories of their own.
It wasnt until the 70s, however, that the modern, numbered sequel came into being.
Other examples of the landfill sequel includeRoboCop,SupermanandThe Karate Kid.
Generally speaking, this would happen a couple of films after most of the makers best ideas ran dry.
It was the kind of pattern that mimicked the UniversalFrankensteinmovies of the 30s.
What weve begun to see over the past decade, however, is a rather different phenomenon.
Take a look at theFast And Furiousfranchise, for example.
Now ten years old, youd perhaps expect the series to have run its course.
This yearsFast Fivehas been wildly successful, and even earned murmurs of begrudging applause from some critics.
FurtherFastsequels lurk just over the horizon.
In this respect, nothing much has changed since the 18th century.
You cant tell me thats just a coincidence.
