Thursday, July 5, 2018

Thursday Movie Picks: Long Awaited Sequels


This week's topic for Thursday Movie Picks hosted by Wanderer at Wandering Through the Shelves is a good one. You know that movie that was so good, you can't wait for the sequel, but you have to? The powers that be take years and years and YEARS before they finally release it. Just the news of it starting production makes you salivate. The first trailer sends you into a frenzy. Finally, the day it comes out, your practically leaping out of your own skin because it's finally here! We've experienced that en masse with the recent release of Incredibles 2, so I won't go there. I'll talk about some other long-awaited sequels.


Toy Story 3
(2010)
Predecessor: Toy Story 2 (1999)
Toy Story is a groundbreaking movie that I love. I also really enjoyed Toy Story 2. When I heard they were making Toy Story 3, I was all in. And I was not disappointed. I took my kids plus some nephews and nieces to see it opening weekend. I'm not ashamed to say I loved it far more than any of them. If you've been around here you know that I don't cry over movies. That incinerator scene? Close call. The knot in my throat was the size of a golf ball and I could feel the water coming, but I choked all that down. Yup, even my hardened heart has a soft spot. It just doesn't cry.


Star Wars: The Force Awakens
(2015)
Predecessor: Star Wars: Episode VI - Revenge of the Sith (2005) or Return of the Jedi (1983)
The movie before this was Revenge of the Sith, but it's technically a sequel to Return of the Jedi. Whatever. Point is, Star Wars nerds, like me, were eagerly awaiting Disney's first entry into the world's most beloved movie franchise. It had its shortcomings, but it much closer in quality to the original trilogy than the prequels.


Creed
(2015)
Predecessor: Rocky Balboa (2006)
This is the sequel I wanted badly to happen and to not happen. Let me explain. After Rocky IV rumors began swirling about the direction of the franchise. Naturally, most people thought that we would get a movie about Rocky's son. Rocky V gave us that movie and it was a disaster. People wondered would the franchise continue in that direction, if it continued at all. The other possibility we collectively entertained was a movie surrounding then unknown son of Apollo Creed. However, that got laughed off. Years went by and when we got another Rocky movie, it was Rocky Balboa, about the now-geriatric boxer trying to get back in the ring at age 60. Most people liked it, I rolled my eyes, and life went on. Sylvester Stallone couldn't quite let go of boxing and did the spiritual sequel and comedy Grudge Match with Robert De Niro. Meh. More years went by and a young director by the name of Ryan Coogler took the reins and went back to the tossed away idea of making a movie about Apollo Creed's son. And it was a winner.



16 comments:

  1. And I've seen none of these.

    I believe I've stated before my deep dislike of the original Toy Story so I'll never watch the sequels.

    I missed out on all the Star Wars mania when they were first out and then tried to catch up when I was sick one time by watching them in succession, it did not go well and I was throwing things at the TV by the end of the last. But many years later when they released them again to theatres for whatever anniversary it was I decided to give them another chance one by one and went to the Capitol theatre in DC with its enormous screen to see if it improved my experience with them. It did and while I didn't become a raving fan I appreciated them more....though I still hate the ending of the third. However that's as far as I go, I've never felt the least desire to watch any of the others.

    Creed is just one I never got around to. I've heard the positive reviews but having burnt out on the Rocky films long ago I was in no rush to catch up with it. It is the one out of this trio that I will probably see one day.

    The problem with long delayed sequels is that they often fall far short of expectations as is the case with my first and third. With my second the hopes weren't nearly as elevated and if turned out to be a pleasant little film.

    The Godfather: Part III (1990)-Long aborning (16 years between this and Part II) wrap up of the Corleone saga isn’t terrible but a mere shadow compared to the first two. A HUGE weak point is the decision by Coppola to cast his daughter Sofia (a decent director but an atrocious actress) in a key role.

    The Rescuers Down Under (1990)-Thirteen years after The Rescuers the R.A.S. (Rescue Aid Society) sends their top two agent mice Bernard (Bob Newhart) and Miss Bianca (Eva Gabor) down under to save a Golden Eagle from the evil trapper McLeash (George C. Scott). So they hop on their trusty albatross Wilbur (John Candy) and are off on their big adventure.

    Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)-Nineteen long years after Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade came this uninspired follow-up. It not that the film is horrible but for a Spielberg adventure, especially one with Ford in this role, it’s uninspired. It’s nice to see Karen Allen back in the fold but the idea that she and Ford would produce Shia LeBeouf (!!) takes the film even further into the negative category.

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    1. And Creed is the one I suggest you see.

      I don't hate The Godfather Part III, either. It's not a bad film, but a bit misguided. Sofia Coppola was bad, but not the biggest problem, to me. I always thought the biggest issue is that the scope is too big. Two films about a crime family and how their inner workings are affecting them all evolves into a third film mostly about saving the Pope. It just kept getting in its own way.

      I've not seen either of The Rescuers movies.

      I don't hate Crystal Skull as much as others, but it's clearly the weakest entry in the series.

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  2. I liked all of your picks. Creed is probably the one that surprised me the most. It basically has the same plot of the other Rocky movies but it is so engaging and entertaining and feels so fresh!

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    1. Yes! It's kind of miraculous how fresh it feels given that it treads much the same territory as the other movies.

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  3. The Force Awakens is popular today (and well deserved) The Rocky movies were never for me but out of the ones I've seen, Creed is probably my favorite.

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    1. Seems like everyone is on The Force Awakens bandwagon today.

      I won't argue with anyone who has Creed as their favorite Rocky movie.

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  4. 3 incredible films that were worth the wait. I love those films. My list is very different.

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  5. I remember the joy in SW fandom when TFA premiered and it was good. A shame that joy lasted only 2 years and TLJ happened

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  6. So happy you included Creed. Fantastic stuff.

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  7. I think Creed is a nice way of saying that keeping a franchise going isn't necessarily going to fail. Not sure about the second movie now though, hopefully Jordan will distract me enough that I wouldn't mind what was actually happening if it turned out bad!

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    1. I've got my fingers crossed for the next Creed. Bringing in Drago's kid might be going to the well one too many times.

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  8. Creed was well-acted but I found it dragged on and was overlong. I went in with no expectations for Force Awakens and enjoyed myself. I agree E7 is closer in quality to the original trilogy, especially the humorous dialogue worked well.

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    1. Creed never dragged for me. I was into it, start to finish.

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  9. Yeah we match on your first two picks.

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