BendyBadger's Brickset BonusBall Bonanza - SumoLego @lowlead Edition! (Drawing 12/31/2022)

SumoLego

Aloha Bricksetters... Happy Monday/Day After Christmas Day to Everyone in the Forum!

Because @lowlead's heart has grown three sizes larger (or maybe it was always that large to begin with), we are continuing the annual tradition of giving away sets that I want to keep.  If you remember last Christmas Day, our friend @lowlead provided a pair of very exclusive GWPs for two (2) raffles.

This year, he has provided a #40567 Forest Hideout and a #40532 Vintage Taxi for the annual raffle.  I will be running one today that will conclude with the BonusBall draw on December 31st, and then a second super-super-awesome raffle that'll run from January 1, 2023 through the BonusBall draw January 6, 2023.

We want as many unique posts in thread as possible, so please avoid double posts - but EVERY unique post will be counted.  If in the event we do not have enough entries to cover all of the actual BonusBall possible outcomes, I will assign a number (in the order of entry) and we'll do the raffle by a random number generator of those entries.  (If the BonusBall number drawn doesn't have a corresponding post.)

If the prize isn't your thing, I do have a wide variety of extra sets, polys, figures and Lego-related whatnot in my inventory - and I'm happy to substitute the prize for something of reasonable comparable value.  For instance - if your heart is set on an Ideas Sailboat instead of the Taxi or the Hideout, I'm happy to work something out.  (And no, I'm still not shipping a UCS Millennium Falcon to Ulaanbaatar or Dushanbe.)

Finally, I strongly urge everyone that enters to make a donation to FairyBricks.  If you happen to win the raffle, making a sizeable donation for FairyBricks would be even better.  If you don't the raffle, but still make a sizeable donation, that that makes you a Danish Prince.  (No it doesn't, but please consider making a donation nonetheless.)

If you're new to the Forum, or not really familiar with what FairyBricks does, please check out their website.

https://www.fairybricks.org/

Direct Link for making donations:

https://www.paypal.com/uk/fundraiser/charity/66053

Back to the normal nonsense with the drawing... a fun observation for your consideration, and an inane question as well:

If you watch 'Love Actually' and then 'Die Hard', it's really tough to have any sympathy for Hans Gruber.

With our eyeballs and brains being subjected to 'A Christmas Story Christmas' and 'The Santa Clauses', is there really any room for interesting new content, or is everything just some sort of derivative work of something that was once good?  Or should we be nostalgic and happy that somewhere... out there... our beloved characters continue on enjoying fun adventures?

@SumoLego's answer:  This is a difficult question for me.  I like to think a good story never ends.  But I highly dislike a new story that is terrible and makes me hate the character I once liked.  Short answer - make something original.

Enjoy!  And Good Luck!

Gibbo1959

A pertinent question for today. There’s a new Detectorists airing tonight on BBC2. First new material in 5 years, after 3 excellent series with an almost perfect ending. I rewatch it all yearly and would have been happy with that but writer Mackenzie Crook says he only came back to it because he felt he had a good enough new story. I am beyond excited and still recommend the series to anyone who hasn’t seen it yet. For anyone outside the UK if you can track it down on BBC World or some other streaming service you’re in for a treat.
Thanks @lowlead & @SumoLego

pxchris

I shall once again be excluding myself from entry into the contest since I am a relatively recent winner. But I do want to thank @lowlead and @SumoLego for hosting once again this awesomely generous contest!
Best wishes to one and all!

MugenPower

I agree with leaving things alone especially if the story has a good ending or was originally written as the definitive ending, even if it's open-ended.  While we're at it, enough with the remakes already!

Bumblepants

If you have a good story to tell fine but if the project is clearly based on $$ first and story and characters are an afterthought it will almost certainly suck.

Lo1sJess

I think there is room for all - new ideas, expanding/filling in gaps in prior stories, and new timelines if done smartly.  The key qualifier though stated above by @Bumblepants is story and characters first no retreads for money.  

bandit778

I have no problem with new stories of existing characters/worlds providing they are a decent addition to the stories that have been told and not just a rehash of the originals (the difference between Rebels/Andor and the sequel trilogy).
I have no problem with old stories being retold/updated providing it brings something new to the table or at the least a decent interpretation of the original (MCU vs DC films springs to mind).
My biggest issue with a lot of modern retelling is that instead of utilising technologies to improve a story, there seems to be this mindset that if 'we stuff it full of effects, people won't realise we phoned in the script and characters' which is a shame as there are so many brilliant stories yet to be told on screen but they get pushed aside for existing properties because of the (more or less) guaranteed financial reward instead of taking a risk (the MCU seemingly the exception to this with GOTG and Antman).

Onebricktoomany

Loved the Die Hard movies.  Even the 2nd and the 5th.  First was the best of course but thought Vengeance was done really well also!
Want more originality but at this point aren’t all the stories really the same?  

Speedman29

Thanks for hosting chaps. Another Detectorists fan here @gibbo1959 came to it late, binged two series and watched the third. Really looking forward to tonight's festive special. Another series that's just lovely is Gone Fishing with Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse. I have zero interest in fishing, but it's so chilled and funny. We watched the Christmas special of that as well.

In answer to the question, originality please. I'm tired of the endless rehashing  rebooting of films or series.

sipuss

I think there's still plenty of new and interesting content. The thing is, there's more and more easily accessible content overall and yes, a lot of it is remakes/reboots/sequels/prequels/spinoffs that get a lot of marketing. That might make the "good stuff" more difficult to find and seemingly less numerous than in the past.

Russell844

My ex-fiancee was addicted to Hallmark Channel Christmas movies. It was the same plot over and over again. Every one of them was so predictable. I remember a commercial for one that was based on a long haul train ride. I actually requested we watch that one and it was predictable but because it was a more original setting it was better. It didn't take place in a small town.

f2iso100

Thank you so much for hosting! And you may be familiar with the idea that there are seven basic plots - overcoming the monster, rags to riches, the quest, etc. So long as the story being told has richly-drawn characters, an interesting setting, a passable soundtrack...I'm a sucker for giving it a try. I will say, however, that even I stay far away from the Hallmark Channel! 

ReesesPieces

I don't mind rehashes or updates to older stories.  I think as long as the execution is properly, I think the movie can be okay.  A good recent example it Top Gun Maverick.  It really doesn't bring anything new to the table but it well executed and delivered a fun ride.
Thanks for the generosity and for hosting!

jmeninno

Lol Sumo, "giving away sets that I want to keep"

Thank you both for hosting and supplying!

After having watched "The Santa Clauses"...part of me wants to answer "KILL IT".  Let things end on the good note that we all remember and love.  I feel like Toy Story 4 also suffered from this.

But...I'm also very much of the "rollercoaster" mindset.  Hop on and enjoy the ride for what it is.  So ultimately, I'm willing to give most things a chance, and enjoy it for what it is.

But...I wouldn't mind some original ideas, and I do think that there could be some really good original stuff that could be produced.  I just don't have any of those kinds of ideas lol

SirBen

A good story told well is a good story. Please tell it.

A milk cow that has gone dry or the milk's gone sour, put it out to pasture. 

Fodder

I think there is a balance that can be reached. I don’t like remakes for the sake of remakes, but there is some merit in bringing good stories to a new generation.

oldtodd33

I have believed for quite a while that the movie industry has run out of original ideas. The large number of lackluster movies is proof of this. I am open to something new and interesting but haven't seen it yet.

 I had to laugh yesterday when a newspaper article was reporting how the new Avatar movie had brought in almost a billion dollars worldwide. There was supposedly a quote on the internet from the director that it had to make 2 billion to break even. Crazy.

Sethro3

Considering every story is a branch from a few specific main points, you really can't do anything too original.

With that said, I agree it is difficult to further a story along with beloved characters only to destroy everything you loved about them. (One reason why I'm thankful Will Ferrell said he'd never do an Elf 2).

But if they can handle the characters (maybe need the whole original cast and writing crew/director), then it might be something worth while and not just a money grab. It'd be like Ghostbusters: Afterlife. I thought they did a good job continuing that universe even though it was decades later than the original.

PJ76uk

If the original story has a satisfactory conclusion I do not believe revisiting the story either as a continuation (either movie or tv series) or a reboot benefits the original story.

Having said that, if it's done well then it can be gratefully received - but done badly it can ruin the originals reception.

TheOriginalSimonB

Thanks to @SumoLego and @lowlead for hosting and prizing.

Unless a story ends with everyone dead or the end of the universe then there is always scope for more, but we should be protected from the law of diminishing returns.  What I really want to see most is consistency though.  Anything designed as a standalone series (or multiple run of seasons) should be plotted out ahead and filmed in one huge lump. Otherwise we end up with Lost.

messy

For some it works and the original is richer for it, for some everything is ruined.

im2cre8iv

Most things these days are derivative. But I wish more “original” productions were created instead of the multiple sequels we see these days

Lobot

Thanks to @lowlead and @SumoLego for hosting!

I don't have any particular preference if I'm honest.  There are some genuinely brilliant classics, but newer content can be equally good.  However, I really object to the re-boots of most films etc, which are usually awful!

Bobflip

A lot of Christmas stuff feels forced - similar when a TV series shoehorns in a Thanksgiving episode that doesn't further the plot. That said here's still space for things that are told well, even when the basic story is basic. 
Of course many are cash grab ins just made to capture the kids' attention and drain the parents wallets, so don't go that extra mile!

Mr_Cross

I still love some of the classic films of my childhood, BTTF, Ghostbusters, Superman the Movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars... I don't mind them making new stuff based on exiting IPs, I don't mind reboots of them either. So long as I'm allowed to make my own mind up about whether I like them or not.
I'd love and probably prefer new IP that I could get excited about though.
What I really want are films with family appeal that I can go see with my kids. I want movie magic - IMO there's no need for grit or darkness or adult themes to "attract the audience".
I don't need a film to be based on a comic or a classic TV show, although I'll happily watch them.
I'd like more LEGO movies but that's not necessary either.
Entertain me, surprise me, give me characters I care about in a story that engages and distracts, make me laugh and/or cry - that's all I ask.

Brainslugged

As long as the project is being driven by a great story, then great. Unfortunately that seems to be increasingly rare these days and beloved IPs are just being used to shovel identity politics and present day commentaries down our throats. I want to be entertained, not lectured to.

SumoLego

Happy Monday everyone!  Here are your official results for Saturday's Drawing!

01.) @Gibbo1959
02.) @pxchris
03.) @MugenPower
04.) @Bumblepants
05.) @Lo1sJess
06.) @bandit778
07.) @Onebricktoomany
08.) @Speedman29
09.) @sipuss
10.) @Russell844
11.) @f2iso100
12.) @ReesesPieces
13.) @jmeninno
14.) @SirBen
15.) @Fodder
16.) @oldtodd33
17.) @Sethro3
18.) @PJ76uk
19.) @TheOriginalSimonB
20.) @messy
21.) @im2cre8iv
22.) @Lobot
23.) @Bobflip
24.) @Mr_Cross
25.) @Brainslugged

I guess the number to bet on is 19, as that was also the BonusBall for our last raffle...  So, congratulations - @TheOriginalSimonB!  I will be in-touch to get the parcel with @lowlead's complimentary prize!

TheOriginalSimonB

Crikey! There’s a turnip for the books. Let’s hope that’s not all my good luck for 2023 used up already.

lowlead

Now that the first drawing is over....

The Andor series illustrated to me how a 'new' story with many new characters in a pre-existing, giant universe might be the best of both worlds so to speak.  Plenty of lore, aesthetic and familiarity already exists, but we're taken to a different corner of said universe for new stories.

Poorly-written characters and bad storytelling can ruin anything, old or new.  So I would have to say quality is the key to success.  The latest Dune iteration is another good example of quality production efforts surpassing former versions of the same franchise - and countless examples of the opposite....

red237

I am a purist. A few sequels are good, but honestly, remakes are not my cup of tea….I did struggle through the Christmas Story Story, or whichever it is called. I wanted to loke it as much as watching the original with my Dad, who was that age that uear…..just couldn’t! However, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK was a second, or fifth…..so there is that!

SumoLego

lowlead said:

Now that the first drawing is over....

The Andor series illustrated to me how a 'new' story with many new characters in a pre-existing, giant universe might be the best of both worlds so to speak.

I completely agree.  Andor is excellent all the way around.  There are plenty of questionable plot contrivances, but this is what quality SW content should look like.  And none of it requires contrived magic powers to escape the bad writing.

I hate to say this, but the quality of this show is going to intensify my standards for Mandalorian and Ahsoka.  

MaffyD

I'm late (again) but would put forth the idea that anything can be made anew with a fresh outlook and be excellent (Pete's Dragon had me in tears, for instance). Continuations of existing stories and characters can also be done that honour the original plot and the characters past whilst making exciting developments and connections (Andor is a remarkable feat for Disney in that respect, and in the movies the Marvel double whammy of Infinity War & Endgame certainly made an impact on me).

BUT. For every one of those that I love, there are at least 10 that fall flat or almost ruin what has gone before. Including Star Warts (leaving the typo), including Marvel.

But they don't spoil it enough for me to fear new iterations, so I would say that keeping them coming is a good thing. And we do get original stuff, more than I could ever hope to watch in a lifetime anway, so I'm not too bothered by the amount of materaI I need to skip.