Bad Sequels Are Results of Laziness

[direstraits]

It's pretty much the norm to expect that sequels be bad, and why is that?

I believe now in my heart of hearts that if a sequel is bad, it's because someone didn't work hard enough. Not because of luck, or some other environmental factors.

I've long believed that Toy Story 2 is one of the few movies where the sequel is better than the original. I recently saw Toy Story 3 and once again it trumps the ones that came before. Somehow that proves to me that creating a great sequel is simply a matter of not accepting mediocrity.

What movies have you seen where the final film of a multi-parter that continually built on the success of it's predecessors?

(Don't tell me the Star Wars prequels, because the story sequences were not made chronologically)

 

[sparkchaser]

I maintain that Godfather II was superior to Godfather I, but only marginally.

I agree that it is laziness.

 

[beer good]

I maintain that Godfather II was superior to Godfather I, but only marginally.

Yeah, but then there's Godfather III...

What about Evil Dead?

 

[Polly Parrot]

Laziness and greed. Usually, when a film is a success making a sequel is the 'logical' thing to do, if only to milk the cash cow a little more.

 

[brk_3]

I think the Lethal Weapon movies got better as the series progressed. Maybe LW 3 wasn't as good as LW2 but LW4 was one of the best ones.

I maintain that Godfather II was superior to Godfather I, but only marginally.

yea I agree

 

[Lincoln Rhyme]

Army of Darkness and Terminator 2 are better than there originals IMO.

 

[direstraits]

Terminator 3 and 4 were not up to snuff, though.

 

[Fantasy Moon]

The Rescuers Down Under was better than the original film.

 

[Occlith]

Most bad sequels are the result of the studios trying to cash in on the success of a hit movie so there is a rush to create a script, to film, and release the sequel while the first successful movie is fresh in everyone's mind.

However, a truly good movie will be remembered years after its initial release as in your example of Toy Story, ds.