Remember when important films/filmmakers earned the right to have the directors name appear as part of the title? I.e- A Stanley Kubrik film. A Steven Spielberg film. A film by Martin Scorsese. Since when did silly pieces of ass-foolery like a Rush Hour sequel get the right to say A Brett Ratner film as if it was something important? Apparently, some time between the hour voices of reason were silenced and Brett Ratner became an important director*.
I may brand myself as having no taste, class or what most PhD’s would call “logic” by stating this, but I bear no will ill toward one Mr. Brett Ratner and even think he gets a lot of unfair junk-punching on occasion. I respect the fact the guy has a passion for what he does, made his dream happen and can kiss ass (I believe that’s called “charm” in some circles) from many a fine looking woman’s Tempurpedic to the executive boardrooms of 20th Century Fox. Fact is, Ratner is the Mama Mia! of cinema. He makes middle-road movies people like to see and I can live with that. What I don’t want to live with is unneeded/wanted sequels.
Enter Rush Hour 3. It’s coming. And much, much sooner than any of us wanted.
Thanks to You "look-quick-before-it’s-yanked" Tube, a shady peek at Rush Hour 3 can be yours. Again, I’ll tarnish my name by saying I enjoyed the first Rush Hour. I did and I’m sorry. That was close to a decade ago when I was still a college-aged twenty-something, but the DVD still holds a place on my shelf. Rush Hour, however, died then and there. The sequel was tired and foolish (yet beloved by way too many, hauling in over $200 million). Rush Hour 3, looks to be taking the tired premise (and one of the least funny running gags of the first two films) and launching it into the upper echelons of the realm yawntastic.
Believe me or go ahead and see for yourself.
* He’s a director, but not an important one. I’d appreciate any insight here, just don’t quote the "But X-Men III made bank!" line of reasoning. The success of X-Men: The Last Stand (For Now) had little to do with Ratner’s direction of the film and way more to do with the popularity of laser-powered eyeballs, magnet men, psychics, bald invalids and the action pieces that follow them.