Sequels

[poliphilo]

It's the conventional wisdom that movie sequels are a bad thing.

Only they're not.

Lots of sequels improve on their originals.

Here are some good movies with even better sequels.

Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein.
A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More.
The Godfather and Godfather II.
Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead.
Toy Story and Toy Story II

The problem isn't with sequels. The problem comes when the series gets extended into a trilogy.

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly just about holds its own, but Godfather III and Army of Darkness show a distinct falling away of inspiration. I forget what the third Frankenstein movie was called, but I know I've seen it and it wasn't much good.

The original movie is experimental. The sequel gets it right. The third is almost always a mistake.

Comments

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've given up on Star Wars.

I saw the Phantom Menace- and that killed any desire I might have had to further explore Lucas's universe.

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

I think he should go in another direction. The Star Wars films were lots of fun, at first. Then they got...bloated? Lucas could probably find another universe to inhabit and explore....or pay someone to help him locate it, he's got enough money.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

He should pay someone else. I think he's an artist in decline. i seriously doubt if he's got it in him to make good movies any more.

[solar-diablo.livejournal.com]

I gave up on Star Wars after Empire Strikes Back. I never forgave Lucas for those damn Ewoks.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I didn't mind the ewoks at the time, but in retrospect they seem like a prophecy of Jar Jar Binks.