TALKBACK: A Sequel Soliloquy: Scot Eric's Top Twelve #2's of All Time

[measle]

Great article, look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts on the best sequels

http://www.criticalmess.net/index.php?page=460

[Toyman]

Skipped ahead (still reading).  Lots of good titles in here and IF Empire had to lose to someone I'm glad it was the Godfather pt. II.

Back to readig.

[Mister Sinister]

Nice idea for an article, it's fun and well written.

I think there's arguments to be made for Rambo and Rocky 2.

[Toyman]

Very well written and quite entertaining, Scott!    While my ranking may differ slightly I have to say I agree wholeheartedly on much of the list.  Did not know Weaver was up for an Oscar from Aliens.
Speaking of which, Measle, didn't you and I have the T1/T2 and Alien/AlienS conversation a while ago on here?

I second the Rambo II argument and find it similar, though not as striking, as the change in genre from Alien to Aliens.  There's more drama in First Blood whereas Rambo is very action oriented.

And while I love the first four Rocky films, and even Balboa was good, I find that 1 and 2 are the same story with different outcomes, whereas 3 and 4 are the same story with different deaths.  So I'd put that amongst the Evil Dead/ED2 pile.

What really upsets me though is that I have a paper to write, a blog I want to finish, and more than anything I want to watch Wrath of Kahn!

[measle]

For me, I enjoyed Rambo a lot the first time I saw it (I think I was in 9th or 10th grade), but it almost seems like it belongs in a different series of films from First Blood....even perhaps more-so than Alien and Aliens.  I don't know that the main character being John Rambo added anything to the movie.  Also, it doesn't hold up as well for me as most of the movies on Scot's list.  

[Scot Eric]

Thanks for posting the article, Measle -- and especially for the images you chose to illustrate it.  Seeing the "Crocodile Dundee II" poster made me laugh quite heartily.

Of course -- re-reading it -- as I often did in the past -- I again wish I had proofread it a little more closely.  I'm apt to be evicted from the White Tower of Grammatical Power for the errors I racked up in that piece.

As for the Stallone films that have been mentioned here and why they didn't make my list...

I have about as much interest in sitting through a Rambo film as I do in watching two hoboes piss on each other.  Outside of quoting the "It's over, Johnny" line -- I have never been one to embrace any of those films -- particularly the 2nd film, so closely identified with the Reagan era of jingoistic bullshit.  The first film is decent -- but the rest makes me want to have an enema delivered by an Uzi.

As for Rocky II -- I actually don't like it very much.  It almost completely undercuts the whole point of the first film, and isn't as remotely artfully composed, written or acted.  As far as I can tell, its sole reason for existence was to placate the meat-headed masses who didn't like the fact that Rocky lost in the first film.  Hell -- even in their comic-book-like simplicity and bombast -- I'd actually prefer to watch III or even IV before ever watching II again.

Uh oh -- knocking suggestions by other folks -- no way I'm getting any mojo 'round here!

[measle]

Thanks for posting the article, Measle -- and especially for the images you chose to illustrate it.  Seeing the "Crocodile Dundee II" poster made me laugh quite heartily.

It seemed a perfect fit for the paragraph it abuts.   

[Chooch]

The only surprise on the list for me was Toy Story 2.  Partially because I didn't expect a "kid" movie to make it and partially because I just didn't think it captured the same magic that the first one did.

[Scot Eric]

With the exception of "Cars"-- I don't consider any Pixar film to be simply a "kids movie".

As for the actual opinion of the film -- I guess we're poles apart on this one -- because in many ways, I think TS2 is actually better than the original.  TS3 is one of the few films I'm actually going to bother to see this summer, that's for sure.

[John Moores]

Perfect list; I can't think of a sequel that should be there. Except Iron Man 2.

[Scot Eric]

Perfect list; I can't think of a sequel that should be there. Except Iron Man 2.

I THINK I'm seeing it on Saturday.  I'l be sure to pop in here over the weekend to say if it would have/should have/could have made my list.

[kcekada]

And here I though this was going to be an argument in favor of Dick Sargent over Dick York -- though no one would be silly enough to make that argument. Although I definitely prefer Sarah Chalke as Becky II on Roseanne.

Mostly in agreement with Scot, but "Fellowship of the Ring" had more of an impact on me than the two films that followed -- though I loved all three. Fellowship had, well, a fellowship. I liked seeing the "band of brothers" taking on a big quest. The fellowship had to be broken to build up to the reunion at the end, but the first film is what really pulled me in.

Also, I'd vote for Star Wars over Empire and Godfather I over Godfather II -- though both sequels were good. I actually didn't see Emprie until after I saw Return of the Jedi -- so that probably skewd my opinion somewhat. Plus, Star Wars was a movie unto itself -- while Empire was continued to Jedi.

I have yet to see any of the Aliens movies in one sitting. Seems like everytime one of those is on -- it's not the original, and I'd like to start with it. Guess I'll have to rent in one of these days.

Never saw the Dundees, and only part of Toy Story I. 

[The Superfly]

Where is Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo?

[Coffee Joe]

Fantastic list, Scot.

Toy Story II surprised me, as well, but I don't disagree with you.

Rocky III was light-years ahead of Rocky II.

If I'm not mistaken, The Godfather, Part II wasn't just the first, but it's the ONLY sequel to win Best Picture, no?  (The Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King, being the THIRD installment of the trilogy, doesn't count.  )

Also, I DO believe "Return of the Thin Man" was necessary.  I absolutely LOVE that series.  Now, if you mention the sequel to Topper, well, that's a different story.

Were this my list, the only change I would have made is to swap out the Bond flick for Lethal Weapon 2.  But that's me.

[JSayonara]

I think I would have put Ghostbusters 2 in there somewhere.

While I'll admit it wasn't as good as the first film it had more than enough good moments, HE-Man birthday party, the courthouse scene, the River of Slime, the returning Titanic et al and the Statue of Liberty scene to make it worth watching.

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