C’mon Hollywood #114

… turn some HBO shows into movies!
by Sturdy

I’ve always liked the idea of ending a great TV show with a feature length film. Shows like The X-Files, Buffy, and countless others would have made more of an impact had they gone out with a full blown theatrical movie rather than a whimper of an hour-long episode. However, that idea isn’t more applicable anywhere than on HBO, where fantastic TV shows like Sex and the City, Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Deadwood, Entourage and others are either ending, or have already ended.

I think Sex and the City is a good example of an HBO show that needed a movie. I know they had one planned and of course it’s impossible to get four women to agree on anything (sorry ladies, but you know it’s true). However, with rumors circulating that they’re revisiting the idea, I have to say I support it and that Carrie and friends would make a good translation to the big screen.

Quick, which one is Sarah Jessica Parker?

The Sopranos is one of my favorite shows of all time (isn’t it everyone’s?) and it too is nearing the end. I could write all day about how fantastic the show is, but the one thing that would make it better is to put it on the big screen. Tony and the gang need a huge send off and a trip to the local cinema would do them good. I can’t imagine it would be too difficult. Every episode feels like a mini-movie anyway, so it shouldn’t be too much work to add in a story and some action and there you have it.

Reason 1 to have a Sopranos movie!

In a sense, Borat was a full-length feature film of Da Ali G Show and look how well that worked. I know it wasn’t the same thing, but it was a character a lot of people liked and were familiar with and that had to have helped its success. There are plenty of other examples of HBO shows that would translate well in theaters. I’d love to see Entourage on the big screen and Mark Wahlberg could add some star power to it. Deadwood would be another good example with plenty of fans following it to the big screen.

HBO has the motto that “It’s not TV, it’s HBO”. Although a little corny, I have to agree that most TV shows on HBO are far superior to their network counterparts. I also feel comfortable asking for this because I know we won’t have any of the same screw-ups that we’ve had with other TV to movie translations. I know a Sopranos film wouldn’t be a joke as long as the same creative team was behind it and all the stars showed up for it. Ditto for all the other HBO shows. I don’t want remakes of the shows, I want continuations. The fans are there for HBO, just look at the fact we’re willing to pay twice as much for the DVD’s even though there’s half as many episodes. I’m sure there are others that would be willing to follow them to the big screen.