Underrated Sequels

Today is Saturday, which means its time for another general film post. This weeks topic is underrated sequels.

This post is not about the best sequels. Instead I am going to write about sequels I like that have been forgotten about or were critical/financial disappointments.

Escape from L.A. (1996)
I love Escape from New York and like the sequel, which was also directed by John Carpenter. I re-watched this couple of months ago and it is still a lot of fun, although the CGI is noticeably dated. One of the reasons I liked the first one was because it featured many famous and recognizable actors such as Donald Pleasence, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, and Isaac Hayes. The sequel keeps up with this tradition as we have Cliff Robertson, Pam Grier, Steve Buscemi, and Bruce Campbell! This is more of a spoof than the original which turned off some fans, but I still find it to be a fun ride. There is an old rumor that Carpenter would make another movie in the series called Escape from Earth, but since its been 15 years since the last one and Kurt Russell isn't getting any younger, I doubt it will happen now. I just wish that Escape from New York had a true sequel (Escape from Cleveland?!) back in the 80s. It did surprisingly well at the box office when originally released so I'm kinda surprised it took 15 years to make a sequel. Nowadays its not uncommon to get long overdue sequels (Tron: Legacy, Predators, etc.) but at the time EFLA came out it was a bit unusual.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
While I agree with the consensus that Temple of Doom is the weakest of the first three Indiana Jones movies, I still really like it. Of the original three Indiana Jones movies Temple of Doom is probably most like the serials of the 1930s and 40s. I think that its stock has risen since Kingdom of the Crystal Skull has come out. I liked how this one tried to do something different by having an old school horror influence. Sure its pretty dark, probably too dark, but at least its not a rehash. I know that Kingdom of the Crystal Skull tried to do the same thing but with 50s sci-fi, but I feel it didn't work as well for a variety of reasons. Kali Ma!

Predator 2 (1990)
I really like the first Predator but the sequel is surprisingly good. I liked how Predator 2 didn't try to rehash the first film and instead opted for the urban jungle setting of late 80s/early 90s Los Angeles.  Danny Glover is a lot of fun and Gary Busey is crazy as usual. I also liked how this movie gave us more information on the Predators. The alien (Xenomorph from the Alien series) skull in the Predator ship at the end is one of the best Easter eggs in all of cinema!

Robocop 2 (1990)
Irvin Kershner, most known for directing The Empire Strikes Back, directs yet another very good sequel in Robocop 2! The movie has one of my favorite Robocop lines, "Thank you for not smoking!" Another cool thing about this movie is that the title "Robocop 2" doesn't just refer to the fact that this movie is a sequel, but also the the next generation robocop called Robocop 2! I know not all sequels with a number can do something like this but I thought it was clever. A lot of people didn't like the kid Hob, but it made sense to me since Robocop could not harm children. While Robocop 2 doesn't try to rehash the original, it still does a good job of keeping in line with what was set-up in the original even though its not as good. Unfortunately Robocop 3 did not do this, probably due in part to its PG-13 rating. If you've only seen the first Robocop check out Robocop 2 but stay far away from Robocop 3!

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is not only my favorite Star Trek movie, but also one of my favorite movies period. That is a tough act to follow, but as a direct sequel to that film The Search for Spock is a worthy successor.  There is an old wives tale that all the odd numbered treks suck and all the even numbered treks are great. Although this was rule was somewhat true at one point, it has now completely fallen apart since Nemesis was bad and Star Trek (2009) was good. Although Star Trek III got overshadowed by its better and more popular prequel and sequel, it is still a very good movie in its own right. Christopher Lloyd plays the villian, the Klingon captain Krudge. Lloyd is great as always, but his role was very important to the Star Trek universe as it was the first time (other than a brief appearance in the first Star Trek film) that we got to see the new look and style of the Klingons. Lloyd and the other Klingons in this movie created the model for how actors would play Klingons for the next twenty years. Star Trek III does something many good sequels do, which is to inverse the message of the original. For example, in the first Terminator you are a slave to your fate. However in T2 you can change your fate and create your own destiny. In Star Trek II the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one. However in Star Trek III Kirk and his crew risk their careers and lives and make several sacrifices all for the sake of one man, their friend Spock.

Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
The biggest complaint with this movie is that it feels like a long Next Generation episode. While this is kinda true, I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing. Star Trek First Contact was better, but at least this one tries to be different. The basic plot is shockingly similar to Avatar: a planet contains resources that could help all life across the universe, but to do so the native population would have to be moved and they don't want to leave their home. Another thing I like about Insurrection is that the characters make the film. If Kirk and his crew were in the same situation they would have helped the Federation evict the aliens on the planet because the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few! Picard and his crew obviously take a different approach. Insurrection is my second favorite Next Gen film, ahead of Generations and Nemesis.

Fright Night Part 2 (1988)
I've written about this one in Part three of my summer round-up so check out that post for a full review. The main reason I feel this is underrated is simply that nobody knows about it, even fans of the first movie. The main reason for this is that the DVD is currently out of print. Hopefully it will get a re-release to coincide with the Fright Night remake.

Tremors II: Aftershocks (1996)
This is the best direct to video movie I have ever seen although that is not saying much. It's nowhere near as good as the first, but still enjoyable. Kevin Bacon doesn't come back but we still have Fred Ward and Michael Gross. If you loved the first like I did, check this out Tremors II. The third one wasn't good and I haven't seen the fourth yet or the short lived TV show.

Cube 2: Hypercube (2002) and Cube Zero (2004)
Cube is a great movie, so I was pleasantly surprised that the sequels (actually a sequel and a prequel) were actually decent. The second Cube movie has a similar premise to the first in that it is about some people trapped in the cube with no idea how they got there who try to escape. Of course this time we have different people and a different cube with new traps. Cube 2 isn't as good as the first, but the concept is so good that doing it again with different types of people in a new setting works. I liked Cube 2 better than Cube Zero. Cube Zero is a prequel, which is a bit disappointing as I was expecting Cube Cubed! Anyway, Cube Zero was not a bad movie, but it actually shows what is going on outside the cube. I liked how the first two films gave some hints, but left the details up to the imagination. The explanation contradicts some things said in the first one about the origin of the cube, which I didn't care for. However, I really like the character of Jax and the idea of a character from the outside actually choosing to go inside the cube. Sure the sequels were unnecessary, but I still liked them and they could have been a lot worse.

The Karate Kid, Part II (1986)
I liked The Karate Kid, but didn't love it like a lot of people. Other than a great Oscar nominated performance by Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi, its basically Rocky for kids. I liked the second movie in this series because it doesn't rehash the first one. Miyagi goes back to Japan because his father is dying, and Daniel comes with him to continue his training. The different setting and lack of a tournament changed things up, but it works. I liked the subplot about Miyagi's former best friend who is now his rival and wants to fight him. The Karate Kid, Part II is not as good as the original, but not a bad movie at all. On the other hand, The Karate Kid, Part III sucks. I've only seen the Nostalgia Critic's review of The Next Karate Kid and that is all I need to see! I haven't seen the new The Karate Kid with Jackie Chan and don't really plan on it.

I'm not sure what my topic will be for next week, but I think I'll want to get away from remakes and sequels. Come back tomorrow (Sunday) for the weekly round-up.

Summer Movie Round-Up Part 3 of 3

This will be the final post covering the movies I have seen so far this summer. Like the previous posts, this one includes 8 brief reviews.

I love Bill Murray, and he is at the top of his game in Stripes. Murray stole the show in Caddyshack (1980) but this time his is the leading man. Murray's character, John, loses his job and his girlfriend so he convinces his best friend Russell (Harold Ramis) to join the army with him. Ivan Reitman directed three films in a row with Bill Murray: Meatballs (1979), Stripes (1981), and Ghost Busters (1984), which also starred Harold Ramis. Although Stripes is a Bill Murray vehicle, we are also treated to early roles  from John Candy, John Larroquette, Judge Reinhold, and Sean Young who all add to the hilarity. The first two thirds of the movie takes place at boot camp where hi jinx ensue. However, it is the last act where the movie really shines. Murray and Ramis steal a secret government vehicle in order to meet up with their girlfriends only to have things get out of hand... and "That's the fact, Jack!"
Stripes joins a 7/10!

One of my new favorite directors is David Cronenberg. I absolutely love Videodrome (1983) and Dead Ringers (1988) and have been seeking out more of his films. They Came from Within (1975), also known as Shivers, was Cronenberg's first full-length film. Not surprisingly it is pretty raw, although since the movie is about parasites that infect the residents of a high-rise and turn them into sex-crazed zombies, it works in the film's favor. The special effects and gore are pretty good considering the low budget. Probably the best example is the horrifying bath tub scene which is depicted on the poster. It is interesting to see Cronenberg's body horror at an early stage and how the themes of flesh and technology would be further developed upon in his later films. Like most of Cronenberg's movies, this was filmed in Canada, specifically in the city of Montreal. Almost the entire movie takes place in an apartment complex. Even though it is a huge building, it leads to a claustrophobic setting since all the rooms and hallways are small to accommodate so many people, which helps add to the suspense. So far this is the weakest film I have seen by him, but I still enjoyed it. Cronenberg's next film, A Dangerous Method, will be released later this year and is about Freud and Jung.
They Come From Within infects a 6/10!

The last two round-ups have featured many movies from the last year or two, so now I get to change things up a bit with (so far) the oldest movie I have reviewed on this blog. The Mummy (1932) stars Boris Karloff as Imhotep and also features African-American actor Noble Johnson as "The Nubian." The film starts out with a fantastic scene in which the mummy is discovered in 1922. The screams are haunting and this creepy opening still holds up today. After this great beginning, the story jumps ahead ten years and unfortunately the story slows down. Imhotep pretends to be a modern Egyptian, and finds a woman who was his lover has been reincarnated. While the final scene is just as good as the first, most of the movie is dialogue heavy with not much happening. I am not asking for non-stop action, but it felt a repetitive at times. I did enjoy the flashback scene, although it was heavily cut for its theatrical release and that footage is sadly lost. Critics have never put The Mummy on the same level as Frankenstein (1931) or Dracula (1931) and although I haven't seen those films yet, I think I can see why. Simply put, not enough happens, although I think the explanation is that unlike those two films, this one was not based on a novel. I have a feeling that audiences in 1932 would have had a greater appreciation for the characters simply talking than we do today. But all things considered The Mummy is still a classic early horror film with great cinematography and atmosphere. Karloff manages to make his character an intimidating force to be reckoned with, yet one the audience feels bad for as he literally waited thousands of years to get back the woman he loves. Although Karloff had already hit the big time as Frankenstein's monster a year earlier, it was films like The Mummy that helped cement his status as a star. "Karloff the Uncanny," indeed.
The Mummy wraps up a 7/10!

I got to admit I was pleasantly surprised by Devil (2010). Although directed by John Erick Dowdle, M. Night Shyamalan is credited as a writer and producer. While I haven't seen Shyamalan's more recent films, I have not heard good things about them. However, Devil is a solid contained thriller about group of people trapped in an elevator who apparently have Satan himself in their midst. Like many of Shyamalan's films, this one takes place in the Philadelphia area, specifically center city. While I would have made the devil stuff more ambiguous, I did like it. The characters stuck in the elevator were well written and it was interesting to them interact with each other as the situation got increasingly worse. The detective investigating the situation is not played by the best actor, but I did like how his storyline coincided with one of the people in the elevator. Even if Shyamalan did direct this, I still wouldn't call it a comeback, but it is a step in the right direction.
Devil doesn't go to hell with a 6/10!

Time to take a break from horror movies and thrillers. I always thought that St. Elmo's Fire (1985) was a John Hughes film, I guess because it features so many members of the "Brat Pack" who were in movies like The Breakfast Club (1985). In fact we have almost half the cast from that movie here! St. Elmo's Fire is actually a Joel Schumacher film. Having recently watched The Lost Boys I was curious to see another of his pre-Batman Forever and Batman and Robin movies. St. Elmo's Fire is about the trials and tribulations of recent college graduates. As a recent college grad myself I felt it was the right time to see this one! Overall this wasn't really my cup of tea, although the characters were interesting and the directing was fine. What I want to know is how these seven guys and girls all became friends in the first place since they were all pretty different and it therefore felt like an unrealistic group. Also I don't understand how Rob Lowe's character got into Georgetown, but whatever. Anyway I'm glad I saw this since I had heard the quote "You cannot have the Pretenders' first album!" and now know its from this movie. Also featuring Andie McDowell and Jenny Wright (Near Dark).
St. Elmo's Fire burns up a 5/10!
   

Finally I get to write about a truly awful movie, Robot Holocaust (1986)! I first heard about this one through Mystery Science Theater 3000, so when I saw it was in available for free in HD via Comcast On Demand, I had to see it. Once or twice I had seen a MST3K movie in its original form, but never has one looked so good when it comes to picture quality. The plot (or lack thereof) is about a rebel named Neo who teams up with a robot that makes Jar Jar Binks seem like John Wayne in comparison. Together they meet up with a woman warrior, a Beastmaster wanna-be, and a rebel girl in order to defeat an evil computer ("The Dark One" although it is a glowing orange ball and not dark at all!) that has taken over the world. This movie rips off everything from The Terminator to Star Wars to Mad Max to Alien. When a movie borrows music from Laserblast, you know its going to be bad. If you took a drink every time a character uttered "the Dark One" you would be in a coma in 10 minutes. As bad as this movie was, I got through it without too much permanent brain damage so it was still watchable. I was laughing at it and cracking jokes, but I've seen some movies so boring and bad that I couldn't even do that. Robot Holocaust is still in so bad its good territory, although barely.
After watching the movie I decided to see the MST3K episode. This is a first season episode and I noticed that Joel and the bots use more sight gags in the theater than in the later seasons. Also it was interesting to see Josh "J. Elvis" Weinstein who played Dr. Forrester's original sidekick Dr. Laurence Erhardt as well as Tom Servo. Dr. Erhardt would be replaced with TV's Frank (played by Frank Conniff) and Kevin Murphy took over as Servo. I thought he was fine (he was a little annoying as Dr. Erdhart though that was the point) but that the other two were simply better fits for the show. For an early episode I was surprised about how good it was. I loved the recurring jokes about Valaria's "accent" and the Ted Nugent references. One of my favorite riffs was "In the future, all robots will act like Don Knotts!"
Robot Holocaust craps out a 2/10. Stick with the MST3K episode.

I have now seen two movies directed by Wes Craven, but still haven't gotten around to seeing A Nightmare on Elm Street. Funny how that works out. I liked Craven's The Serpent and the Rainbow (a cool zombie flick) as well as his work on the 80s Twilight Zone (the show is nowhere near as good as the original but still a decent sci-fi/fantasy/horror anthology show and better than the 2002 version). However, Shocker (1989) was a bit of a mess. Shocker is about a serial killer who comes back from the dead after being killed on the electric chair. The main problem with Shocker is that it doesn't know what it wants to be. At first the main character, Jonathan Parker, can interact with the killer in reality through his dreams. This part is kinda like The Dead Zone meets Nightmare on Elm Street. Then after the serial killer, Horace Pinker (Mitch Pileggi) comes back from the dead, he can inhabit the bodies of other people and the dream aspect is mostly dropped. The first two acts are played pretty seriously but the movie turns into a horror-comedy for the last act when the serial killer uses a satellite dish to go inside television programs! While this was a huge tone shift that felt out of place, I must admit, it was funny. Horace sucks Jonathan into the TV in an attempt to kill him and they run through everything from war films to Leave it to Beaver! One of the things I did like was the revelation which established a strong connection between Jonathan to Horace. Mitch Pileggi was great as a serial killer and Ted Raimi had a fun but small role. I enjoyed the 80s metal soundtrack. Although the directing was fine, the writing could have been a lot better. When Horace's supernatural powers like taking over bodies and traveling through television signals are revealed to others, they buy into it way too quickly, even newscasters! I wouldn't mind this if the story was taking place in the world of Harry Potter or something, but this is clearly grounded in the real world and these are unrealistic reactions. Also the actor who played Jonathan, Peter Berg, wasn't very good and often whispered his lines for no reason. I think I'll stay away from Craven until I get to see Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream.
Shocker shocks its way a 4/10!

I loved the first Fright Night (1985) so I had been meaning to see Fright Night Part 2 (1988) for a long time. Although this is a fantasy-horror movie, unlike Shocker it clearly takes place in the our world as the movie starts out with Charley (William Ragsdale) seeing a psychologist who tries to convince him that vampires aren't real. The first one came out in 1985 so the sequel takes place in real time, three years later. This sequel has the two main characters (Charley and Peter Vincent, host of the fictional late night horror movie show, Fright Night) return and this time they have to deal with a vengeful vampire who wants revenge for her brother in the first film. Unlike many sequels, this movie is not a rehash but instead a good continuation with some nice twists to keep the viewer guessing. Roddy McDowell was fantastic as Peter Vincent in the first Fright Night and he is just as entertaining (as always!) this time around. I only wish that his character got a bit more closure. Like the original, this one does a good job of balancing humor with creepy horror. Overall Fright Night Part 2 is not as good as the first, but still a solid sequel that will please fans of the first movie, though its not as memorable as the original. Now I just hope that the Fright Night remake is good!
Fright Night Part 2 sinks its fangs into a 5/10!

I am now caught up with the movies I have seen this summer! I therefore probably won't have a post tomorrow, but should have one up for Wednesday 6/29. See you then!