I have learnt a new word this week - threequel. Now, I'm not sure if I have the right spelling (probably not, in all fairness) but, hopefully, some less than perfect spelling will not mask the importance, and significance, of this new 'term'.
In the movie business a sequel is 'a film that continues the story of an earlier one', which is a concept that most of us will be fairly familiar with.
And, to the best of my knowledge, there is no reason why you can't have a number of sequels (a second, third or even fourth sequel should the need arise).
And yet somebody, somewhere has come up with this new term 'threequel' which, apparently refers to the third movie in a series where the story is continued throughout.
Three movies / plays / books are known collectively as a 'trilogy'. And while the first film will be just that (or known as the 'original' perhaps), and the second would be the sequel - or the first sequel - there was never really a proper name for the third picture in the trilogy, except maybe the second sequel or the concluding picture.
The term 'threequel' has come to my attention as I have noticed we have quite a few third instalments of movie franchises coming to a cinema near you this summer.
We have already seen and discussed the merits of 'Spiderman 3' and the third 'Pirates of the Caribbean' picture. And this week sees the release of another 'threequel' in the form of 'Oceans Thirteen' - a film which will be reviewed here next week.
Also looming large on the horizon are 'The Bourne Ultimatum' the third Bourne film starring Matt Damon and 'Shrek: The Third', both of which are bound to do huge business at the summer box office here.
It's not that I have anything particularly against sequels themselves - if they are up to scratch. It's just that one must surely think there are more brains, and better ideas, out there in Hollywood-land than the ones we have already seen time and again.
In saying this, though, the sequel (and now, it appears, the threequel) are a very sound bet for movie studios and the money men behind these hugely expensive productions - the producers.
If movie producers are to invest millions of dollars in a film they want at least reasonable odds that they'll get their money back, and hopefully make a few quid in the process. And what better way to guarantee strong returns than past (successful) performance at the box office.
"Look how successful the first two films were - this one can't fail" the director might tell his less than enthusiastic producer.
So, when you look at it this way, if you forget about originality for a moment, a sequel or a threequel are sound investments.
And if we also look at it from an audience's point of view going to the cinema is often something of a lucky dip. Something that looks good in a trailer (often all the film's best bits are squeezed into these 90 seconds) or which you even read a good review of might not be to your taste at all. Result - you have to sit through around two hours of something you're not really enjoying.
But if you've already seen a similar movie, with the same cast and a similar plot, then you can settle back in the chair pretty confident you're going to enjoy the next two hours at the cinema.
When you think about it, it's getting a bit like the TV. You watched last week's episode and liked it so you're going to tune in again this week.
Is this, maybe, the future of the cinema. Actors getting typecast as characters who turn up every couple of years to play the same part with screenwriters at their wits end trying to think up new things for them to do.
Lets face it - it worked for 'Friends' and many other sit-coms and drama serials over the past fifty years. Maybe the movie business is finally catching on that this is the way to go - a sure fire way of making money.
Take no chances - just make the same film every couple of years and 'Bob's Your Uncle'.
After all it's still working for James Bond - the closest thing the film world has to 'Eastenders' or 'Coronation Street'. Just change the actors every decade or so, keep the same themes and the same old jokes and you'll never loose. Brilliant.
