Author Topic: Movies Improved Upon by Sequels (Read 23222 times)

Russell Nash · **Reply #25 on:** June 09, 2008, 03:43:49 PM

Quote from: Ocicat on June 09, 2008, 01:38:25 PM

When I was in college years and years ago, this subject came up. The only three we could think of at the time were Star Trek II, Road Warrior, and Evil Dead 2. So I agree on all those. Spider-man 2 as well.

And let's see... Aliens was fantastic in a totally different way than Alien, and I couldn't say which is better. But the existence of the second movie makes the first one much cooler. And the existence of the third really hurt the whole deal.

I think it's telling you didn't mention 4 at all.

wintermute · **Reply #26 on:** June 09, 2008, 03:50:07 PM

There was no fourth Alien movie. Didn't happen, I tell you.

Russell Nash · **Reply #27 on:** June 09, 2008, 04:07:23 PM

Quote from: wintermute on June 09, 2008, 03:50:07 PM

There was no fourth Alien movie. Didn't happen, I tell you.

Repressed memories and denial are at work in this thread.

DKT · **Reply #28 on:** June 10, 2008, 05:22:36 PM

X2.

I thought the first one was pretty great, especially considering what superhero movies had become at that time. But the second one was amazing.

stePH · **Reply #29 on:** June 10, 2008, 05:31:47 PM

Quote from: DKT on June 10, 2008, 05:22:36 PM

X2.

I thought the first one was pretty great, especially considering what superhero movies had become at that time. But the second one was amazing.

As I said in The IRON MAN thread, one of the two best-ever comic book movies.

Russell Nash · **Reply #30 on:** June 10, 2008, 05:53:15 PM

It seems like comic book movies are one of the places where it's possible to have a sequel at least as good as the first one was.

wintermute · **Reply #31 on:** June 10, 2008, 06:17:11 PM

But only the first sequel. The third movie in a comic-book franchise is destined to be shite.

Corydon · **Reply #32 on:** June 10, 2008, 06:59:00 PM

Quote from: Russell Nash on June 10, 2008, 05:53:15 PM

It seems like comic book movies are one of the places where it's possible to have a sequel at least as good as the first one was.

Yeah, that's true. Probably because, for me at least, the "how the hero gets his powers" part of superhero movies is usually kind of boring, especially when it's a story I know well: Spiderman, I'm looking at you.

Anyway, two more, non-superhero variety:

Dawn of the Dead is a sequel that improves on an already great movie. I love the feeling of claustrophobia in Night of the Living Dead, but I love the more expansive scope of DotD.

Not technically sequels, but The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is better than For a Few Dollars More, which in turn is better than A Fistful of Dollars. But they're all good movies.

Listener · **Reply #33 on:** June 10, 2008, 08:58:47 PM

It's not sci-fi, but I believe that Clerks was improved upon by HAVING sequels. Mallrats wasn't a spectacular film, but the fact that there were six films in that continuum -- those two plus Chasing Amy, Dogma, JaSBSB, and Clerks 2 -- makes the characters that much more real. I'm a character person, and the better-developed a character is, the more I can forgive in the plot or the telling.

stePH · **Reply #34 on:** June 10, 2008, 10:53:30 PM

Quote from: Listener on June 10, 2008, 08:58:47 PM

It's not sci-fi, but I believe that Clerks was improved upon by HAVING sequels. Mallrats wasn't a spectacular film, but the fact that there were six films in that continuum -- those two plus Chasing Amy, Dogma, JaSBSB, and Clerks 2 -- makes the characters that much more real. I'm a character person, and the better-developed a character is, the more I can forgive in the plot or the telling.

obnitpick:
Clerks 2 is the only real sequel to Clerks. Yes, the rest of the movies were in the same continuum and had some characters in common ... but Robert Downey Jr. will be in The Incredible Hulk as Tony Stark; does that make it a sequel to Iron Man?

stePH · **Reply #35 on:** October 23, 2008, 03:24:49 PM

Quote from: eytanz on June 08, 2008, 08:38:07 PM

Quote from: Russell Nash on June 08, 2008, 08:21:33 PM
Too much magic technology. The need to make Arnold a hero was annoying. 2 also felt some need to make wonderful statements and get a bit preachy.

Oh, it's not a perfect movie - far from it. But I still think it's better than the first one.

I'm firmly with Nash on this one. I rewatched T2 last month (hadn't seen it but once in the early 90s) and three things really stuck out for me:

1: I really hate preteen John Connor.

2: The "Tin Man with Heart" Terminator was hokey as all-get-out.

3: the "liquid metal" Terminator strains even my willing suspension of disbelief. It's also the thing I hate most about the new TV series.

Original The Terminator for the win.

Talia · **Reply #36 on:** October 23, 2008, 03:33:53 PM

oh come on. liquid metal terminator was AWESOME :p

Russell Nash · **Reply #37 on:** October 23, 2008, 04:02:28 PM

Quite a bit of threadromancy here, but since Steph agreed with me, I like it.

DKT · **Reply #38 on:** October 23, 2008, 04:04:16 PM

T2 was great fun to watch and everything. But for my money, the Terminator is a way better movie and avoids much of the "Huh?" moments T2 invites on itself (and never answers).

Although I do think Sarah Connor's evolution was pretty kickass.

Zathras · **Reply #39 on:** October 23, 2008, 07:35:51 PM

Cube and Cube 2, there is no 3rd Cube movie!

I have to agree on Dawn of the Dead, but will go further and say that Day and Land each added to the story as a whole.

wintermute · **Reply #40 on:** October 23, 2008, 07:47:26 PM

I'm not convinced the first two Cube movies existed either, though...

Zathras · **Reply #41 on:** October 23, 2008, 08:07:36 PM

How about The Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, Return of the Killer Tomatoes, Killer Tomatoes Strike Back and Killer Tomatoes Eat France?

DKT · **Reply #42 on:** October 23, 2008, 08:42:38 PM

Huh. Am I really the first one to mention The Dark Knight?

stePH · **Reply #43 on:** October 23, 2008, 09:15:15 PM

Quote from: DKT on October 23, 2008, 08:42:38 PM

Huh. Am I really the first one to mention The Dark Knight?

Might be. I only just saw Batman Begins a couple of months ago. But somebody mentioned it upthread I'm sure, questioning whether it counts as being related to the Keaton/Kilmer/Clooney series (I say no.)

Thaurismunths · **Reply #44 on:** October 24, 2008, 01:11:49 AM

Quote from: DKT on October 23, 2008, 08:42:38 PM

Huh. Am I really the first one to mention The Dark Knight?

It's hard to say if Dark Knight improved on Batman Begins, or if it just carried on the same high standard.

ryos · **Reply #45 on:** October 27, 2008, 07:16:09 PM

Was Casino Royale a sequel? (More of a prequel, really...) In any case, it's the best Bond flick I've ever seen (and yes, I've seen Goldfinger). I hope the winning streak continues with the next one they're making.

slothflyer · **Reply #46 on:** October 27, 2008, 09:35:24 PM

Rise of the Silver Surfer was a pretty enjoyable sequel:

Less Julian McMahon
more true to the comics look for Ben Grimm
New Technology (the plane)
great effects
the Silver Surfer
It really built on the first movie well.

However, so many people hated the first movie...

Nt 2 B TKN INTRNLY · **Reply #47 on:** October 27, 2008, 10:40:25 PM

Quote from: ryos on October 27, 2008, 07:16:09 PM

Was Casino Royale a sequel? (More of a prequel, really...) In any case, it's the best Bond flick I've ever seen (and yes, I've seen Goldfinger). I hope the winning streak continues with the next one they're making.

Huzzah. But the Bond franchise seems doomed with a never-ending story line. In my oppinion.

bluerequiem · **Reply #48 on:** October 30, 2008, 08:10:16 PM

Conan the Barbarian looks like an oscar winning masterpiece next to the cliche filled sequel, Conan the Destroyer.

stePH · **Reply #49 on:** October 30, 2008, 09:48:05 PM

Quote from: bluerequiem on October 30, 2008, 08:10:16 PM

Conan the Barbarian looks like an oscar winning masterpiece next to the cliche filled sequel, Conan the Destroyer.

Then it belongs in the Movies Destroyed by Sequels thread.

Author Topic: Movies Improved Upon by Sequels (Read 23222 times)

Russell Nash

Russell Nash

Russell Nash

Russell Nash

Zathras

Zathras