Dissapointing sequels/prequels

[Timber Loftis]

I was loathe to even read this topic because the title just screamed "Yet another Star Wars Episode I and II Bashing Thread. Alas and alack, I failed to heed my instincts.

Skywalker knew damn well the consequences of his actions, but his desire for power, his insatiable greed and lust, is what drove him to the Dark Side. He's more like H.R. Haldeman or Bill the Butcher from Gangs of New York, than some whiny teenager.

Not the way I see it. I think the way Ani is being portrayed is a character study in how weakness of character is often more dangerous than powerlust or greed. I think evil that dark is something one comes to slowly, in bits and pieces. And, I think Palpatine has a good 30 years of manipulating Ani ahead of him, so the only believe storyline is that Ani is a bit of a dupe and easily manipulated.

If you cut Jar Jar out, Episode I isn't too bad. Episode II is actually quite good and sits on the fulcrum balancing a lot of very complicated plot points for the overall story.

But, hey, maybe I'm just easy -- I liked Rambo.

[Oblivion437]

The first Rambo was a good movie, but it never should have had a sequel.

As far as a case study in the after effects of Vietnam, Taxi Driver was much more effective, as was another Robert De Niro picture, Jacknife.

Speaking of De Niro and Scorsese, the follow up they did to Goodfellas, Casino, wasn't nearly as effective, it lacked the same kind of tight, absolutely driven narrative, and it didn't move at the kind of pace Pileggi's book moved, and that was while showing a much bigger picture. I think the material is at fault, as Frank Rosenthal's story doesn't land on film as well as Henry Hill's, even after you white wash him and turn his paranoid ex-best-friend into a coke-headed ex-best-friend.

[Cerek the Barbaric]

<font color=deepskyblue>I think it is much easier to list sequels/prequels that people DID like than to list ones they didn't.

One of the BEST sequels (IMHO) was Aliens. Of course, I saw it before seeing the original movie, but I still think the second one was the best of the series.


The WORST sequel (again,IMHO) was Highlander 2. That is because Highlander is my favorite film of all time. I never expected a sequel, so I was ecstatic when I learned one had been made. I was SO excited that my college roommate and I drove over 100 miles just so we could see it on opening night. Needless to say, it was a HUGE disappointment.

Highlander 3 and 4 weren't nearly as bad. Highlander 3 learned from the previous mistake and basically said "OK, let's just pretend Highlander 2 never happened". Of course, what they did was basically just re-hash some of the elements that made the original so successful. At least Highlander 4 added an original concept, storyline, and character development. It was still a bit cheesy in places but - as another college buddy said about Highlander 3 - at least it didn't suck.

In regards to the Star Wars movies, I've liked both of the prequels so far - including Jar Jar Binks. At least he had a little bit of depth to him. The one character I couldn't stand from the first movie was the leader of Jar Jar's people. Actually I didn't dislike him so much as the director gross overuse of the one-dimensional "jowl shaking schtick" for cheap laughs. The first time it was kinda funny. The second time was still a little funny. But when he started doing it after practically every sentence, it got downright annoying.</font>

[Cerek the Barbaric]

<font color=deepskyblue>Add just to add another dimension to this discussion - I noticed a lot of people disliked films because of the actors (or the acting) in them.

One film that received criticism for the casting decision was the original Batman. I couldn't believe they cast Michael Keaton as the Dark Knight!!! But I give him credit, he actually made the role fairly believable.

His counterpart, however, was the one that took the most criticism. MANY of my friends complained about Jack Nicholson being cast as the Joker because he wasn't tall enough. I agree with that, but I didn't care....Jack Nicholson had the personality and style to pull it off. He was the Joker. I'm not sure any other actor could have captured that evil, schizophrenic personality any better than Jack did.</font>

[Azred]

<font color = lightgreen>Contrary to the opinions of many, I really liked Matrix: Reloaded. Unfortunately, at that point the Wachowskis had written themselves into a corner from which only the most deus ex machina-like plot-twisting could extricate their characters.

Phantom Menace was rather weak, but Attack of the Clones had more depth, equalling Return of the Jedi in overall scope. Anakin is troubled because his youthful inexperience and arrogance overtake his higher nature; Sidious (Palpatine's evil twin brother [img]graemlins/beigesmilewinkgrin.gif[/img] ) will use this to tempt him with power, power enough to conquer his own personality faults. This will cause a dissociative disorder, fracturing the Anakin personality into submission with the Darth Vader personality taking over, thus explaining the apparent inequalities between the two characters. [img]graemlins/petard.gif[/img]

The scene in Return of the King in which the four hobbits are laughing: they are laughing because their sacrifices made the revelry around them possible, even though none of the revelers know this. They are laughing because they survived.

Other failed prequel/sequels:
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Superman III and IV
Batman & Robin and Batman Forever
Blues Brothers 2000
Lethal Weapon III
any Child's Play/Chuckie movie, including the original</font>

[ 06-10-2004, 12:50 AM: Message edited by: Azred ]

[Bahamut]

Hey... I loved Lethal Weapon III... I think Lethal Weapon 1-4 were great... in fact I think 4 was the weakest... but then I love them all [img]smile.gif[/img]

MIB II: man... they overdid Will Smith's attitude...

[uss]

Aliens was great! IMO, the first episode is second best in the series.

I actually liked Lethal Weapon IV the most in the series(closely followed by Part I), since the jokes were funny and Jet Li's fighting was amazing!

[Kakero]

Star Wars 2 - so boooring...I actually yawn at the cinema.
Matrix Reloaded and Revolution - It certainly has lost something from the first movie.
MIB2 - Same as above.
Exorcist 2, 3? - the scarynest of it has gone
Poltergiest 2 , 3? - same as above
Terminator 3 - Too fast and too short.
X Men , X Men 2 - too shallow compared to the comic.

[Timber Loftis]

You know, all I think Matrix 2 and 3 "lost" from the original movie was that they explained more and didn't leave so much to the imagination. In my opinion, 2 was great in setting up 3, which came to a logical and reasonable conclusion. I just think everyone is upset that it wasn't what they had envisioned as a conclusion. For my part, I am fine with letting the authors dictate how their ending came out. In the end, I find all 3 movies to be coherent and astounding.

[Bahamut]

I agree with you TL regarding the Matrix saga. [img]smile.gif[/img]

BTW, I think Robocop 2 is the best Robocop movie ever.

Did Mortal Kombat have a sequel?