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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsName a movie sequel that was better than the original
Been a shitty week and it's not even Wed. yet so just trying to lighten the mood.
I'll start with an easy one:
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Dennis Donovan
(18,770 posts)Va Lefty
(6,252 posts)yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)Went from a haunted castle movie to an epic film!
Va Lefty
(6,252 posts)Eliot Rosewater
(31,116 posts)and clearly the best of all of them, IMO
When one takes into account the year this was made and the sounds, special effects, etc.
I saw it at a 70 mm theater I think it was called back then. Made me physically uncomfortable it was so realistic.
Unfair to compare it to something made several years later, and even when you do, it stands out, IMO.
There was nothing like "Alien" at the time, nothing.
yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)"Alien" is just a slasher movie, and the heroine survives ( see "Friday the 13th" and "Nightmare on Elm Street" ).
"Aliens" is "The Heroine Strikes Back" on steroids!
exboyfil
(17,865 posts)of being two different genre films in the same continuity. Both of them qualify as top 10 in their respective genre as far as I am concerned. Aliens is a more complex film and more enjoyable to watch over and over. Alien still has that visceral feel of a great horror movie (alas such movies are not as effective when rewatched).
Snackshack
(2,541 posts)The theatrical version was great... but the directors cut was awesome. Cannot believe the sentries in the hallways got cut.
Terminator 2 was also much better than the original.
Empire Strikes Back is another one.
Laffy Kat
(16,386 posts)LonePirate
(13,431 posts)Va Lefty
(6,252 posts)Have not seen the other 2
thegoose
(3,115 posts)First one was meh but "Addams Family Values" was hilarious.
thegoose
(3,115 posts)John Boorman's classic trainwreck, "Exorcist II: The Heretic." Wrongheaded from beginning to end but a scream.
http://www.weirdmovievillage.net/2009/10/
Va Lefty
(6,252 posts)Pachamama
(16,887 posts)Wednesday Addams: "You have taken the land which is rightfully ours. Years from now my people will be forced to live in mobile homes on reservations. Your people will wear cardigans, and drink highballs. We will sell our bracelets by the road sides, you will play golf, and enjoy hot hors doeuvres. My people will have pain and degradation. Your people will have stick shifts. The gods of my tribe have spoken. They have said, Do not trust the Pilgrims, especially Sarah Miller.
"And for all these reasons I have decided to scalp you and burn your village to the ground."
My vote is for this movie....I loved also the actress Joan Cusack as Uncle Festers love interest....
exboyfil
(17,865 posts)as Morticia. It has to happen.
FSogol
(45,524 posts)Va Lefty
(6,252 posts)cos dem
(903 posts)BT is actually my favorite of the series.
TexasBushwhacker
(20,210 posts)The thing that was weird in Mad Max was that they dubbed an American actor's voice over Mel Gibson's dialogue.
Mike Nelson
(9,966 posts)...Empire Strikes Back
Siwsan
(26,289 posts)I loved Star Wars, too - just thought the sequel had better action. The Return of the Jedi was good, until the muppets showed up.
As for the "prequels", I barely managed to slog through them. Way too much CGI, for my taste.
Va Lefty
(6,252 posts)Siwsan
(26,289 posts)My brother, who is a big fan of George Lucas, worked at the Fox movie studio and got us tickets. I was surrounded by a massive throng of Star Wars geeks. They were a hilarious to listen to as they dissected the film, in whispers. Actually more entertaining than the movie.
onlyadream
(2,167 posts)I don't know if it was just me, but I saw the first one many times, and it was a hoot. The second one had me on the floor tho.
Va Lefty
(6,252 posts)Lochloosa
(16,067 posts)Best of the three.
Va Lefty
(6,252 posts)bagelsforbreakfast
(1,427 posts)kick-ass opening.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,586 posts)cemaphonic
(4,138 posts)Paladin
(28,271 posts)mucifer
(23,559 posts)Va Lefty
(6,252 posts)LisaM
(27,827 posts)Assuming the third movie in the franchise can be considered a sequel, I'd go with that. It's the one I re-watch.
Va Lefty
(6,252 posts)tymorial
(3,433 posts)bagelsforbreakfast
(1,427 posts)Also a number of foreign movies like Police Story 2 & 3 (Jackie Chan) and Hong Kong Triad series.
Va Lefty
(6,252 posts)bagelsforbreakfast
(1,427 posts)Va Lefty
(6,252 posts)tymorial
(3,433 posts)The first one was so bad no one remembers it.
pdxflyboy
(678 posts)Va Lefty
(6,252 posts)mahatmakanejeeves
(57,586 posts)I have no complaints about the first one (1962, John Frankenheimer, Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Angela Lansbury), but the remake (2004, Jonathan Demme, Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Jon Voight) is waaaaaay more paranoid.
Watch both. See what you think. I have both on DVD.
Va Lefty
(6,252 posts)Mendocino
(7,504 posts)Roast beef on rye with mustard.
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)Although perhaps a remake more than a sequel.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero_Hour!_(1957_film)
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,191 posts)One of the best Sci Fi movies ever made.
moose65
(3,168 posts)And the best of the Universal horror films: Bride of Frankenstein! What a hoot!
NotASurfer
(2,153 posts)If it gets made? Thing Mel Brooks has one more comedy left in him?
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Not that I don't love Mel Brooks, but I think that particular ship has sailed.
lame54
(35,316 posts)DFW
(54,436 posts)"Diplomatic immunity!"
"Just been revoked!"
denbot
(9,901 posts)A close call because the first was pretty cool, and the third Army of Darkness was also pretty awesome.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Does that count?
exboyfil
(17,865 posts)It is a reboot with no continuity shared with the first movie. Even the spelling of Lecter's name is different in Manhunter.
Both Lambs and Manhunter are enjoyable to watch and Manhunter is better than Red Dragon, but Red Dragon is truer to the source material.
Weird that two actors in the original CSI both appeared in Hannibal properties as investigators. William Peterson as Graham and Laurence Fishburne as Crawford in the television series.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)I figured that might be a bit of a stretch.
Maybe I'll go with Gremlins 2 instead.
exboyfil
(17,865 posts)Never saw it originally, but the clips I have seen look great.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Not sure if it still holds up though.
Orrex
(63,220 posts)And I saw it before I read or saw Silence of the Lambs.
Hated Petersen as the lead, really disliked the portrayal of Lecktor, and I think that Dennis Farina was wildly miscast. The whole thing seems like an ABC movie of the week, made in a hurry and on a shoestring budget.
I preferred absolutely everything about Red Dragon.
exboyfil
(17,865 posts)I thought Ed Norton didn't work in Red Dragon, but I will go back and watch it again based upon your opinion. Also maybe a reread of Red Dragon is in order.
It is interesting about your opinion of Petersen. It seems that the actor playing Will Graham in the television show Hannibal (Hugh Dancy) borrowed heavily from that portrayal. They even look somewhat alike.
The Lekter in Manhunter (Brian Cox) I thought was not as good as Hopkins, but I did like him. Even though Fienes is good in anything, I thought Tom Noohan did a good job as Dollarhyde.
Orrex
(63,220 posts)We don't have cable, so I'll have to wait for some other way to see it. Probably won't be buying the CBS streaming service, though. When I eventually see it, I'll watch for the Petersen echoes that you note.
Loves me some Mads, though!
I also really, really like Brian Cox, but not in this role. He has such a magnificent screen presence, though it didn't quite work for me here. Hannibal seemed too, I don't know, casual. Can't quite describe it. And of course Anthony Hopkins is iconic.
Given your comments, maybe I should give Manhunter another look, too!
exboyfil
(17,865 posts)Reserve a week and see if Amazon Prime is running an intro special. All three seasons are available. So binge away. It is weird, and the 1st half of season 3 is unwatchable. The second half of season 3 takes up the Red Dragon story line.
I am saddened that they did not lead with Red Dragon in the 3rd season, it might still be on the air otherwise.
I am kind of hoping that Mads gets connected with the Silence/Starling television project. Hannibal did not have the rights to that story. It is currently in development hell to the best of my knowledge.
Local libraries sometimes get entire series as well on DVD. I watched Battlestar Gallatica that way.
Orrex
(63,220 posts)I just assumed that it wouldn't be available there, but it'll definitely be on the list!
Orrex
(63,220 posts)I have to be honest and say that I'm suspicious of stories that use Asperger's or autism as a lazy way to give characters de facto super powers of insight or wisdom, so I'm not sure how I feel about Will Graham being introduced that way--even if Lecter sort of tweaked it a little.
Still, it's engaging enough. We'll see where it goes!
tblue37
(65,483 posts)exboyfil
(17,865 posts)still Batman Begins was a very good start.
Spider-Man 2
X-Men 2
Batman Returns (but the original is very close in quality)
Some already listed:
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan - This is probably the best recovery for a sequel. The first movie was nearly unwatchable.
Road Warrior - Far superior to the first and third movies
Alien and Aliens are unique as being two of the best movies in their respective genres
Terminator 2 is a better movie, but Terminator given its budget is an incredible movie as well
Empire Strikes Back is marginally better than A New Hope
My pick for best improvement is tied between Wrath of Khan and Road Warrior. Mad Max is nothing special, but Road Warrior was seminal. Third would be Terminator 2.
aka-chmeee
(1,132 posts)Stuart G
(38,439 posts)1991 version of animated, a very good film in my opinion,
2017 version live action. 2017 somewhat better, but totally different forms of presentation.
...Very hard to compare...latest version appears to have far more effort , but who knows?
Box Office.......1991, .....145 million
Box Office .....2017.......505 million
given inflation in 26 years...actually very similar at the box office.