homiealex 1 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Hello all, I was just thinking ... Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest was a refreshingly (and perhaps surprisingly?) enjoyable sequel after the awful run of sequels and spin-offs the last few years. Think of how many sequel/spin-off/prequel films there have been in the last few years that have ranged from mediocre to terrible, all of which started with an original that was at least decent (most were awesome)! I thought of a few since about 2000. * Star Wars 1: The Phantom Menace * Jurassic Park 3 * Mission Impossible 2 * Star Wars 2: Attack of the Clones * Star Trek 10: Nemesis * The Matrix Reloaded * The Matrix Revolutions * The Ring 2 * Ice Age 2 * The Legend of Zorro * Batman Begins (although opinions vary widely on this film) * X-Men 3: The Last Stand But on the other hand, there have been precious few sequels that were much better than their originals ... namely Spider-man 2 and X-Men 2: United. If anyone thinks of any others, feel free to share! The ones I listed above are only the ones that I've seen. God bless, Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joni Wiljami 1,206 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Shrek 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandor 797 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Think of how many sequel/spin-off/prequel films there have been in the last few years that have ranged from mediocre to terribleGenerally speaking, sequels and spin offs have ALWAYS been plagued by the same level of mediocricy. Good to great sequels are a rarity. And this is as much true today as it was 20 or 30 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,331 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 ... 30 years ago.Examples? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Docteur Qui 1,544 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 X-Men 3 was neither mediocre or terrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandor 797 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Examples?Jaws 2. Need I go on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,331 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Examples?Jaws 2. Need I go on?No, I will: The Exorcist II. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitch 57 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Examples?Jaws 2. Need I go on?No, I will: The Exorcist II.No, I WILL: The Birds II: Lands End Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Breathmask 555 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 X-Men 3 was neither mediocre or terrible.Nor was Batman Begins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivier 5 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 X-Men 3 was neither mediocre or terrible.Nor was Batman Begins.Nor was it a sequel-- I think that's what they were trying to get across with that (silly) title. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandor 797 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Nor was it a sequelWell, the topic starter listed TPM, so I would say it's "legal" to mention it here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,949 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 X-Men 3 was neither mediocre or terrible.nor was it a well made movie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 1,059 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Examples?Jaws 2. Need I go on?Actually Jaws 2 was quite successful considering everything and really isn't that bad of a film, outside of the annoying teenagers.It's just a tired idea of the same crap happening to the same people, in the same town years later.Now Jaws III and IV suck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandor 797 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Well compared to the original, Jaws 2 is incredibly lame and downright disappointing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 * Star Trek 10: NemesisI think this film is quite good. Grand scale plot, decent villains, theme of duality and all that crap, and a terrific Goldsmith score. It's not the film I'd like to have ended the Next Generation franchise, but at least it's better than AOTC and COS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandor 797 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 I'm sorry, but Nemesis is probably the most exhausting ST film ever made. It goes on and on, no suspense, no humor, disappointing SFX, ... Oh, wait - only The Motion Picture fits that description even better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 I'm sorry, but Nemesis is probably the most exhausting ST film ever made. It goes on and on, no suspense, no humor, disappointing SFX, ... Oh, wait - only The Motion Picture fits that description even better.You must be kidding.Exhausting? Quite exciting! No suspense? I thought there was plenty. No humor? Some of it was lame, but I can deal with lame. Disappointing SFX? Oh, come on. Nemesis had the best special effects I'd seen in a Trek film since Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitch 57 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 I concur except for the poor ending of NEMESIS. I loved the alternate scene better with the captain's chair and the safety belts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandor 797 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Nemesis had the best special effects I'd seen in a Trek film since Star Trek: The Motion Picture.The Nemesis effects during the first part of the film were fine, but the effects dominating the second half of the film seemed to me to come straight out of the Babylon 5 TV series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 On the contrary, I thought the space battle scenes in the second half were second to none. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Skywalker 1,795 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 On the contrary, I thought the space battle scenes in the second half were second to none.second to none in the ST franchise or in film history?I cannot opine about the first but i disagree completely if the latter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trent B 337 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 I for one loved Star Trek Nemesis. Grant I too would have had liked the show to have ended a bit better but hey I won't complain to much about it. Then again I love all 10 Star Trek films...well I like Star Trek 5 for the most part, until they reach the great barrier...then after that it becomes crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Crichton 4 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Nemesis was decent. Better than Insurrection, at least it tried to be a movie and not a 2-part TV episode. I'll watch Nemesis just to hear Goldsmith's score, the best of the Next Gen scores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandor 797 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 I'll watch Nemesis just to hear Goldsmith's score, the best of the Next Gen scores.Yeah, it's great, but why do I always hear The Force Theme in it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Huh, in what part do you hear that?I like the Nemesis score but the main theme is pretty much nothing but a simplistic variation of 5 notes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandor 797 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 I cannot get my finger around it. It's not a note-for-note copy. Perhaps it's more the feeling a certain melody line from the score evokes. I don't think it's part of the End Title sequence. Maybe someone had a similar experience with Nemesis. Or maybe it's just me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beowulf 4 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Why do people constantly berate the Matrix "Sequels"?Is it possible that they can't conceive of the greater story arch of the the Trilogy and the epic themes woven throughout the whole series?And the complaints are always the same, but mostly how they don't live up to the standards of the original. But I think each of the films builds greatly upon the existing material and enhances it even further.Oh well....I guess that's just me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandor 797 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Ï had little problems with the Matrix sequels... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 The problem with the Matrix sequels is that the character arcs were resolved at the end of the first film. And they did not really give the herioes any interesting new ones.That is why Morpheus is sitting next to Will Smith's wife, letting here do the flying while he just looks "concerned" in the last film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Skywalker 1,795 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Were the matrix sequels always planned? (if the 1st one got success like Star Wars)I think 'The Matrix' ended as closed as any isolated movie can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,331 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Were the matrix sequels always planned? (if the 1st one got success like Star Wars) Each and every post, Luke, each and every post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Even though Star wars was shot as an isolated film, it had charecter arcs and plot threads that could be furter extended.The Matrix pretty much ended with Neo believing that he was The One, and the other 2 films still have him not being really sure about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Skywalker 1,795 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 It is the only example available, isnt it?Luke, Waiting for Alex's next Blade Runner quotation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,331 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 The problem with the Matrix sequels is that the character arcs were resolved at the end of the first film. And they did not really give the herioes any interesting new ones.Everything aspect was less interesting.It is the only example available, isnt it?If it was, I would not have reacted. How much quotes do you want? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Exactly, in The Matrix the point of Morphues' character was to try and make Neo see who and what he was, and guide him throygh that. Once Neo understood that in the end of that film, there was really no need for Morphues anymore (I'd rather that they had given him a heroic death in Reloaded then putting him in the passengers seat in part 3) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beowulf 4 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 The morpheus-character argument sounds a lot like someone else I know from another well-known Trilogy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,331 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Actually, The Matrix already told me everything I needed to know about it. The rest was meandering and totally unnecessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romão 2,274 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Although opinions on Batman Begins may vary, I think I can say the majority quite liked it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trent B 337 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Why do people constantly berate the Matrix "Sequels"?Is it possible that they can't conceive of the greater story arch of the the Trilogy and the epic themes woven throughout the whole series?And the complaints are always the same, but mostly how they don't live up to the standards of the original. But I think each of the films builds greatly upon the existing material and enhances it even further.Oh well....I guess that's just me.I could never understand the whole bashing of the Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions (even though they were filmed as one big film but split up into two parts because of theater time). This is another Trilogy that I absolutely loved and I for one understood what was going on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitch 57 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 This is another Trilogy (Matrix) that I absolutely loved and I for one understood what was going on.I hope to see your typed one page, double spaced synopsis on it some day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Breathmask 555 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 I agree with Steef.Incidentally, The Matrix was conceived as a trilogy, but Warner Bros. only wanted to commit to one film. As always, it's unclear how much got moved forward, how much was already really in place for the sequels, and how much changed, but there's a huge difference to me between The Matrix and its two-part sequel. It feels like it's one great movie, and one insanely long over-blown sequel. There's no proper trilogy arc.- Marc, who certainly didn't expect to see Zion within the first ten minutes of Reloaded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bondo 33 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 My favorite recent sequel was Bad Boys II. It didn't try to expand upon the story of the first film and take it in all new directions, and it didn't claim to be the 2nd film in a "previously planned trilogy". It was just an epic-action movie... action scene, comedy scene, action scene, comedy scene, etc, with THREE (!!) car chases.It defined the loud, summer blockbuster, and I don't see it being topped any time soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 75 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 I think Revenge of the Sith should be added to that list, even though it is (barely) the best of the prequels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Skywalker 1,795 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 It is the only example available, isnt it?If it was, I would not have reacted. How much quotes do you want? I meant if SW is the only available example of 1st movie being done more or less as an isolated movie, but a larger story was in the mind of the creator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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