The 2017 Entertainment That Should Have Been More Popular
With so many movies and TV shows coming out every single week, it's nearly impossible to keep up to date on the best pop culture has to offer. Unfortunately, that means some of the most outstanding pieces o entertainment can get lost in the shuffle, especially during the busy year that was 2017.
From what may have been the best video game adaptation ever, to a sequel that arrived 35 years after the movie it followed, to new ground being broken in the superhero genre, GameSpot is revisiting the best entertainment moments from the past year that should have been more popular. For one reason of another, these films and TV shows didn't find the audience interest they deserved. Whether it was a lack of box office success, not enough excitement from potential viewers, or a no social media buzz, these projects deserved better.
Did you catch them all?
Marvel's The Punisher
After both Iron Fist and Defenders were met with average reviews, and given the current social climate when it comes to gun violence, you can't really blame viewers for skipping out on Marvel's The Punisher. That said, missing this one was a mistake. While Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) didn't get much character development on Daredevil, Punisher paints the tragic anti hero as struggling with mental health issues as he gives into the urge to kill his enemies.
Blade Runner 2049
This movie had a lot going against it. As a sequel to a film from 35 years earlier, a major portion of the audience didn't know about the original. Still, somehow director Denis Villeneuve created one of the most beautiful and critically acclaimed sci-fi films of all time. In the end, though, the audience reaction didn't live up to the hype, leading to a disappointing run at the box office.
Colossal
When people complain about there being too many sequels and reboots, tell them about Colossal. It's the story of a woman who realizes her drunken movements are mimicked by a giant monster in Japan, putting a new spin on kaiju movies. With a cast consisting of Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, and Dan Stevens, you might expect it to be a hit. Sadly, it bombed. Perhaps that's why original ideas aren't explored more.
Castlevania
Netflix releases a lot of content every month. From scores of new shows, to original movies, it's easy for things to miss out on something. For many, that was the case with its animated adaptation of Castlevania, which debuted in July. This rare example of a video game adaptation that works really well was met with positive reviews from critics. However, as with many Netflix shows, it was quickly forgotten after release.
Saban's Power Rangers
The Power Rangers movie reboot was much better than anyone could have expected it to be. Whether it was giving an interesting backstory given to the Ranger powers or giving audiences their first autistic superhero, there was plenty to like about the film. Unfortunately, it opened to mixed reviews and less-than-stellar box office results. A sequel is possible but doesn't seem very likely.
Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later
The original Wet Hot American Summer movie has a niche fanbase at best. That's why it's not so surprising that the second sequel TV series--Ten Years Later--doesn't have a huge audience. Those missing it are skipping out on one of the funniest and star-studded shows of the year, though. With names like Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Ken Marino, Michael Ian Black starring for multiple episodes, what's not to love?
A sequel to a 12-year-old movie is a risky bet, especially when you consider the franchise in question is xXx. Still, in terms of pure fun, xXx: Return of Xander Cage is hard to beat. With Vin Diesel returning as Xander Cage and very fun and funny performances from co-stars like Nina Dobrev and Ruby Rose, it really did deserve to be more of a hit. Luckily, it did rather well at the international box office, so perhaps there's still life left in the franchise.
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