January 2014 Movie Prequel Guide: A Checklist
Just because we’re entering the new year tomorrow doesn’t mean new releases up and stop. It’s not a huge shock to hear that January (and February) movies aren’t exactly the highest quality. However, you also shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, right?
Anyway, below you can find all the prequel materials for all the non-original movies in January 2014. I’ve listed them, like always, in order of importance. This includes Essential, Useful, and Extra.
Check it out below…
Useful:
The Paranormal Activity franchise – Since The Marked Ones is simply a spin-off, the stories between this and the other Paranormal Activity movies probably aren’t that connected. However, if you’re a fan, maybe it’s worth rewatching all the news ones.
Extra:
Hercules in film – The newest Hercules movie isn’t even close to the first adaptation of Hercules. The most famous, if I had to guess, is the Disney version back in 1997. Catching up on any or all of them isn’t a bad idea.
Useful:
Jack Ryan film franchise – Believe it or not, this is the fifth Jack Ryan film. The others, which include The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, and The Sum of All Fears, won’t be necessary per se, but if you haven’t caught them, this is as good of as excuse as ever.
‘Jack Ryan’ book series – Before he made it to the big screen, Tom Clancy created Jack Ryan in his books. If you want a jumpstart on the potential plot, the books are a good starting point.
Extra:
Surley Squirrel (animated short) – Before Peter Lepeniotis made a feature version of The Nut Job, he made an animated short called Surley Squirrel. This time around he has a more amazing voice cast and the help of a major studio.
Useful:
‘I, Frankenstein’ by Kevin Grevioux – I’ll eventually get to the true inspiration of Frankenstein, but the actual source material for the film starring Aaron Eckhart is a graphic novel by Kevin Grevioux. I still haven’t read it, but I definitely feel like I need to.
Extra:
‘Frankenstein’ by Mary Shelley – The classic novel by Mary Shelley is the true inspiration for the Frankenstein character. This is just another reason to read (or re-read) it.
Frankenstein movie adaptations – There are close to 50 different adaptations of Frankenstein out there to choose from. If I had to choose a few to watch before I, Frankenstein, I’d check out the 1931 classic or the 1994 adaptation. However, even the recent Frankenweenie is a pretty solid choice.
Useful:
‘Labor Day’ by Joyce Maynard – Like every month, I’ve got to report on the obligatory novel made into a movie. Joyce Maynard’s 2009 novel is the latest to release. Check it out!
Alright, have a great January of moviegoing!
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