What are the two worst words to hear in film? Paris Hilton. No, just kidding. It’s actually “sequel” and “remake.” Why? Because these words can destroy movie franchises faster than a dog can find its tail. Some studios have avoided the word “remake” and instead call it a “retelling.”

You’re probably wondering why I think this is so bad. Take for example “Prom Night.” It’s a remake of the 1980 original, and it premiered last week. Another sequel, “Step Up 2: The Streets,” was released in February.

I know “Prom Night” opened at No. 1 at the box office, but did this film really need to be remade? The same goes for the “Step Up” sequel, which I know was only remade because the first movie made some money.

There are only a few times when a remake is worthy. Remember “Scarface?” It was originally a 1930s film and was remade in 1983 starring Al Pacino. That film is now a classic and should never be remade again.

There’s no more originality. That’s my point. Where are the original ideas?

A majority of sleeper hits have been from independent films. “Napoleon Dynamite” and “Juno” are some of the best films to have come out in recent years. “Juno” even got an Oscar nomination for best leading actress. As usual, indie films have become the new hip thing for some moviegoers. What we need are some new writers with fresh ideas. I’m hoping to be one of them.

People say Hollywood is running out of ideas and just buying whatever they can make a profit on. It’s true. I’ve been checking out movie sites, and there’s always talk of sequels and remakes. A couple of weeks after “I Am Legend” was released, there were already talks of a sequel. A sequel? If you’ve seen the movie you know what I’m talking about.

For those who haven’t heard, for the past couple of months pictures from the set of “Fast and the Furious 4” have leaked. That’s right. “Fast and the Furious 4,” with Vin Diesel and the original cast from the first film, is back in action.

I don’t mind sequels or remakes just as long as they’re better than the original. There have been only a few franchises to have accomplished that feat. Off the top of my head, two good franchises are “The Godfather, Part II & Part III” and “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” Oh yeah, “Terminator 4” is planning to be released in 2009.

Overall, the words “sequel” and “remake” need to be retired for a little while and should only be mentioned for special occasions; an occasion where a sequel is really needed to complete a story or a remake to help people forget an awful original.