May 2014 Movie Prequel Guide: A Checklist
Maybe this is the most unoriginal month, or maybe it is finally getting closer to blockbuster season. Even though Captain America: The Winter Soldier ushered in the unofficial blockbuster season, May is even closer to the typical summer months. With huge releases like The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Godzilla, and X-Men: Days of Future Past, May is looking like a big, big month.
Below you can find all the “prequel materials” for the movies that are based on anything from a short story to another film. This includes prequels, originals, books, or anything that you may need to see (read or play) before the movie comes out.
As always, I’ve categorized the materials into Essential, Useful, or Extra. The checklist is in chronological order based on release date:
Essential:
The Amazing Spider-Man – Since it is a direct sequel to the 2012 reboot, I’d watch the original first. Both are directed by Marc Webb and star Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. The first movie serves as an origin story, so expect this one to hit the ground running!
Useful:
Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man franchise – I always think it is fun to compare universes to one another. Spider-Man 2 is pretty legit, so can The Amazing Spider-Man 2 live up to that film? We’ll see.
Comics – There are tons and tons of potential comics to draw from. However, rumor has it this movie is based on (spoiler alert!) “The Night Gwen Stacy Died” (although we don’t know if Stone’s version of Stacy will die). I’d also pay closer attention to comics involving The Green Goblin (played by Dane DeHaan) and the primary villain Electro (played by Jamie Foxx).
Extra:
TV series – There are seemingly endless versions of Spider-Man that hit the silver screen. None of them will have significant influence on the movie.
Other films – Likewise, there are various TV and theatrical movies with Spidey.
Video Games – Lastly, if you want the full experience, check out the differing Spidey video games, from 1980 on.
Extra:
Dido Elizabeth Belle painting – Well, this is a first. Belle is based on a painting (seen here).
Essential:
The Protector – As the “2” in the title implies, The Protector 2 is based on another movie. You might want to see that one first.
Useful:
“Devil’s Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three” by Mara Leveritt – The biographical film is based on a nonfiction book which would be a good read before the movie.
Useful:
“The Double” by Fyodor Dostoyevsky – Check out this novella that Richard Ayoade’s black comedy is based on.
Useful:
“God’s Pocket” by Pete Dexter – John Slattery’s film is also based on a novel. If you are one of those that needs to read the book before seeing the movie, you better get reading.
Useful:
“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum – Just like The Wizard of Oz, the latest 3-D animated film is based on the very popular children’s novel. Any excuse to re-read it is a good excuse.
The Wizard of Oz – How could you not revisit the original live-action adaptation?
Useful:
“Palo Alto” by James Franco – It isn’t often that your star is also the source writer for a film. It is less likely to be a series of linked short stories. That is exactly what Palo Alto is based on.
Essential:
Godzilla (1954 film) – The first (and most popular) version of Godzilla came in the 1954 film. It is a classic that should be watched by everyone before the newest remake.
Useful:
Other films – There are three different “series” of Japanese Godzilla adaptations. There are also various American films. You could, if you had the time, check them all out. In all, there are 28 Japanese and 3 American versions. So, yeah, good luck.
Extra:
Comics – A series of other franchise materials have been released, including some comics. They won’t have significant influence on the movie, though.
TV Series – Same with the TV versions…
Books – …and the books…
Video Games – …and, finally, the video games.
Useful:
“Million Dollar Arm: Sometimes to Win, You Have to Change the Game” by J.B. Bernstein – The biographical source material for Million Dollar Arm comes in the form of a book.
Essential:
Wolf Creek – The 2005 independent film Wolf Creek serves as the prequel for Wolf Creek 2. I don’t know a lot about either, but I’d venture to guess you need to see the first one.
Useful:
The 92 Minutes of Mr. Baum – The Angriest Man in Brooklyn is actually a remake of the 1997 Israeli film by Assi Dayan. I hadn’t heard of it until I researched this movie, but it could be interesting to see the original.
Useful:
“Cold in July” by Joe R. Lansdale – Add this book to the growing book source materials you should read before the movies.
Useful:
“Tracks” by Robyn Davidson – Davidson’s real-life account of her nine month trek sounds pretty amazing. It’s probably better in book format for those interested.
Essential:
The X-Men film franchise – X-Men: Days of Future Past will join two up-to-this-point separate X-Men storylines. There was the original X-Men trilogy, but X-Men: First Class served as a prequel. Days of Future Past will bring the entire cast from both movies together. It sounds pretty epic. Make sure to also watch the standalone Wolverine movies. To enjoy everything to its fullest, I’d watch all the movies up to this point.
Extra:
Comics – “Days of Future Past” is its own comic storyline, so I’d start there in the seemingly endless sea of X-Men comics.
TV Series – Like the other big adaptations, there are other TV series you could watch…
Other films – …and films…
Video Games – …and video games.
Useful:
“Filth” by Irvine Welsh – Yet another movie based on a book.
Useful:
Seducing Doctor Lewis – The Grand Seduction is our second remake (third if you count Godzilla) of the month. Check this out if you get the time, even if it isn’t completely necessary.
Useful:
“La Belle au bois dormant” by Charles Perrault/”Little Briar Rose” by The Brothers Grimm – The live-action Maleficent is based on the famous fairy tales but shows the other side of the story.
Sleeping Beauty films – If you want to also see the Maleficent villain character in film format, check out the movies.
Useful:
“A Million Ways to Die in the West” by Seth MacFarlane – There is a book tie-in for the movie if you really want to get an in-depth look at MacFarlane’s latest movie.
Extra:
“The Monkey Wrench Gang” by Edward Abbey – Since Night Moves is only loosely based on this novel, I’m counting it as extra material this month.
There you have it: a total of twenty movies over five weekends. You better get going!
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