It'll be a little while when we should really start arguing about the Browns again -

So, 3 categories (only first sequels, no trilogies, etc...)

1 - Movie Sequels that were better than the originals.

2 - Sequels that didn't quite live up to the originals.

3 - Sequels that should've never been made in the first place.


Category 1: Naked Gun 2 1/2
Star Trek 2 (Wrath of Khan)
Devil's Rejects - much better than House of 1000 Corpses


Category 2: Godfather 2 - 1st one much darker in terms of the way it was shot and subject matter
Rocky 2 - 1st one much more raw
Aliens (2) - the '79 version is one of the best sci-fi horror films ever made
Blade Runner 2049 - the original is quieter and less over the top visually (but pretty darn good)
Terminator 2 - good Hollywood film I guess, but not as good (maybe a nostalgic thing for me)
The Human Tornado - not a bad sequel but Dolemite was a classic

Category 3: The Two Jakes (awful compared to Chinatown)
Airplane 2 (awful)
Predator 2 ( awful-where was Arnold?)
Carlito's Way Sequel (can't even remember the name)
Caddyshack 2 ( the worst of all time)

Wild Card: Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 ( one of the funniest horror films of all time - but the original was a classic.)


So anyway, entertain the digression. Or I guess we could continue arguing about the same stuff ad nauseum until the draft.

Interested to hear your opinions.

1) Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Absolutely agree.

Goldfinger w/Sean Connery as James Bond. It's not the second in the series, but it is a sequel.

The Color of Money w/Paul Newman and Tom Cruise was probably not as good as the original, but it was still very good.

Agree about Goldfinger. Better spy gadgets and, of course, the best name of a female lead in all of the Bond films. Thank you, Ms. Galore.

Put Matrix 2 and 3 in category 3....

The Dark Knight can go into category 1

No doubt a about that one. Heath Ledger did weird, brilliant things in that movie.

I only saw the first one, so I'll take your word for it. Lots of times, good sci-fi films will try to cash in on the positive critical and fan response to the original. Most times it fails.

That was by far one of the best acting jobs I've ever seen... he was amazing..

Count yourself blessed..... I've watched them a few times hoping they'll get better or I'll understand the story better, but they are trash...

Blade Runner 2049 was great. It's hard to be better than the original, and in this case that bar was set pretty high. It's not, but it is really, really close.

Cinematography was amazing. Story continued naturally without being forced; it even expands the story without ruining continuity. Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford were both amazing.

Probably my favorite sequel ever.

You're right about Blade Runner 2049 and the cinematography. I guess for me it was the overall mood and the Vangelis soundtrack of the original that sticks in my mind the most. Plus: you can't top Rutger Hauer.

Oh, and for any other horror fans - Category 1 should include "Evil Dead 2". Much better (and funnier) than the original. Bruce Campbell, like Bill Moseley, are legends in the genre.

Not quite fitting into any of those categories because it is technically a prequel, The Thing (2011).

The way it leads just absolutely perfectly into The Thing (1982) is a thing of beauty, and the entire movie was just exceptionally well done. Incredible attention to detail.

The Thing (2011) is one of the best horror films of all time. I've probably watched it 6-8 times and it never gets old. Masterpiece by John Carpenter, way better than the film that made him famous (Halloween).

a - Lethal Weapon 2, John Wick 2, Rambo, first blood 2.
b - Every slasher flick and romcom sequel ever made.
c - All those pics Debbie did after Dallas.

A - Can't agree about Lethal Weapon 2. You're probably right about Rambo.

B- RomCom stuff is almost always one and done, though (for some reason) I thought Meet the Fockers wasn't too terrible. I'd guess I'm alone on that one. But I think there are a decent number of quality horror sequels if you go back 40 or 50 years.

C- No argument.

I always liked Home Alone 2 (the first is my favorite, but it’s not bad as a sequel)

Max Max 2 I felt was more entertaining than Mad Max. It may be classic, but a large part of the original was just setting up the story. Mad Max 2 (Usually Called "The Road Warrior") was the story most people think about when referring to the movie.

It's not a big deal, but The Godfather, Part II was a great movie. I think it's purely subjective as to whether the original was better or not, but I don't believe The Godfather II deserves to be placed in an inferior category.

The Thing '82 is fantastic, and I still find myself watching my DVD copy a couple times a year.

I didn't want to watch the 2011 prequel for the longest time because I was sure I'd be disappointed. I finally watched it early last year, and it turned out to be a decent film. For me, the best part of it (as you mentioned) is the way it takes you directly to the point where '82 begins.

No question. Road Warrior was far superior. Though, I still think the best villain in any of those movies was Master Blaster in Beyond Thunderdome. How can it get any better than the little dude riding around on the hulk's shoulders?

Godfather 1 and 2 are both classics. 2 is definitely more epic and broader in scope. I think the reason why I like the first a little more is because it had this simpler, linear feel to it. The photography was much darker in it as well.

Didn't see the second one, but I had a stepdaughter at the time who loved the first and insisted on me watching it with her about a dozen times (not just for Christmas).

Speaking of Christmas, I loved Bad Santa. But, in Category 3, should be Bad Santa 2 - shouldn't have bothered.

Bad Santa is my favorite Christmas move of all time. And I agree with you about Bad Santa 2. Godfather 2 certainly rivaled the original and I almost think of the two movies as one. It's like the story would be missing or totally incomplete without Godfather 2. As if someone stopped the plot line and ended the movie in the middle of it.

An overlooked classic.

" Why don't you wish in one hand and "poop" in the other. See which one fills up first." - Billy Bob.

I agree Godfather 2 was a great movie. I still like the original better, but only by a slight amount.

BTW, I love threads like these because no one is wrong. As you said it is subjective, personal opinion.

MY son had a friend who insisted only the music groups he liked were good, if you liked one that he didn't, you were just wrong.

I am not sure if I have seen both of these, but it made me think of another Sci Fi classic. I didn't read all posts completely so maybe someone mentioned this already but if not, here is an opinion of mine regarding a sequel.

The 1956 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers I think, was a great movie, especially the special effects for its era. I also loved the 1978 remake and would put it pretty close to the original.

Man! I was trying to remember those! SO GOOD! Though I like Army of Darkness better than Evil Dead 2... such great movies...

The '78 one had that greasy, grimey 70s look to it. The thing is that most people remember Donald Sutherland from it, but Spock was the truly disturbing one.

I was about 20 when I began to really appreciate Bill Moseley's stuff - Army of Darkness (though it's hard to recognize him), Chainsaw 2, a few Rob Zombie films (Devils Rejects being the best).

He's extremely talented and funny.

Bruce Campbell is better know for good reason, but I think lots of horror fans would be surprised how much Moseley has contributed to the genre.

It's strange, because the vast majority of movie fans will almost always pick Godfather 2, ( and to a lesser extent) Rocky 2 and Aliens over the originals. That's legitimate and maybe true.

But I think there's something to be said for the origin story. And I know that the first 2 Godfathers were already written before being on screen.

I just think the impact of the original can sometimes be heavier.

Hell, Rocky was slapping people around for the vig and bouncing a racquetball up and down near the docks in the first one. Plus, he actually (and realistically) lost the fight. That's good stuff.

Except for the sequels to the Naked Gun and Austin Powers movies, I'm not sure if I can think of any other comedy sequels that were really good. Maybe somebody else can.

Hollywood probably just relies on the laughs and money from the first and doesn't care about the quality of the second.

Anchorman 2 had a shot - and was funny - but failed. Shoes were too big to fill.

Billy Bob didn't invent that line. I've heard that one my entire life. Parents used to say it to their kids back in the day. No idea where it started.

That was one of my old man’s favorite lines to use on us as kids. RIP old man.

Agree on Leonard Nimoy. WE only knew him from Spock for the most part, but DS had played a lot of strange characters.

Fair enough.

I didn't realize it had been around that long.

But you got to admit hearing it come from a drunk, disheveled, soiled Santa who's given up on life is a little bit different. Grotesque and hilarious.

The thing I remember about Nimoy's great performance (besides the creepy laughing and weird, reassuring smiles he gave to his followers) was that I couldn't quite figure out when he had been taken. Is it possible that he had already been copied close to the beginning of the movie? I don't know.

But that scream he gives when Sutherland locks him in the closet towards the end is a good one.

Even saying Billy Bob didn't invent that line sounds a little silly to me actually. I'm pretty sure he didn't write the script. As a matter of fact I'm sure of it.

Who cares what you think?

^^^^

I think there is the possibility that this thread has run its course.

Wonder when the Sequel will come out?

It's actually not a question of what I think. It's about the fact that Billy Bob didn't write the script. That is factual and has nothing to do with what anyone thinks. The writers were Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. You can untwist your panties now.

Just because an actor does not get a writing credit does not mean they didn't write a line, or suggest one. Some times things make it in off script but that doesn't get you a writing credit as that would change royalties.

I am not saying in this case it happened but the lack of a writing credit is not proof of who actually put a line in a movie.

Rocky is another good example. Rocky 2 and 4 were good entertainment

As far as movies and their sequels go I have enjoyed all of the John Wick movies. There is a fourth one due out this year.

I'm really not into the superhero genre per say. I did enjoyed watching Robert Downey Jr. playing Iron Man but otherwise not into the Batman, Superman, etc...

But there is one superhero movie series that I like even though there are only two of them out with a third scheduled to be released next year to my understanding. That's Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool. I thought both the original and the sequel were equally as good.

Deadpool is simply the best, and DP3 should be amazing with Wolverine added.

The John Wick movies were fantastic for the first two; however, I felt that the third was just a vehicle for showcasing overly, and overtly, elaborate 3-gun techniques and obviously hyper-choreographed fight scenes. I didn't care for Halle Berry in it. I appreciate the work she put into getting ready for it, but I feel they kinda 'jumped the shark' with her addition.. the whole "let's add more big names for no reason" syndrome that infects any popular/successful franchise.

My wife liked the Halle Berry addition more than I did. But I didn't see it as a negative. Nor a distraction. At least not a distraction in a bad way.

well, there is that

Halle, and her girls as she refers to them, are never a bad addition visually... it just didn't fit the movie, I felt.