Movie Sequels

Sometimes a movie leaves the ending hanging and then you crave a sequel (i.e. Maze Runner {YOU PIECE OF SHIT! HOW COULD YOU END IT LIKE THAT?!}) or they just keep popping up like unwanted flies (i.e. Hangover).

Take the Indiana Jones series. It has awesome sequels which are Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and a horrible, out of nowhere forth sequel Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull (that was nine years after the third movie).

Pink Panther was good but the sequel was too much and unfavorable. The same thing happened with Despicable Me where too much was going on in DM2 even though we got to see more of the Minions.

So I guess it would depend on the franchise or the movie plot/script and the choice of director and actors.

I only watch sequels if I really enjoyed the first movie or have heard good reviews for the sequel.

Right now the only sequels I really like are from Iron Man, Captain America, Indiana Jones (minus the last movie), Star Trek Into Darkness and Home Alone 2.

Sequels I hate are Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull, Pink Panther 2, Despicable Me 2, Twilight sequels (and the whole series really) and the Jaws franchise (Jaws the original was magnificent the rest were vomit).

 

Lately I've been looking at movies that suffer from 'sequel syndrome'; i.e. The first movie in the franchise is such a smash hit that it inspires a whole host of sequels, prequels, tie-in movies and whatnot. Now, I wouldn't mind this usually for movies that make follow ups and are actually done well. Only what seems to be the case is that the first sequel either flops/turns out bad, but then such franchises (at least those whose movies make it into trilogy territory) seem to redeem themselves with a somewhat enjoyable third chapter.

Has anyone else noticed this trend?

 

I think sequels should depend on the story, as some should be continued a little further and others shouldn't.

For example, @[member="Reckless"] noticed a trend of bad second movies with redeeming thirds. Great example is Toy Story from Disney: the first was fantastic, and had a great ending most of us could live with. The second was incredibly depressing and more of a step back than a step forward on the story. The third movie, however, was the perfect way to end the tale of these animated toys. The story was continued in a way that made the second movie very relevant, and had us (at least me) on the edge of our seats for a few parts. Sadly I hear they're making a forth one.

A movie that shouldn't have had any sequels was Cinderella. Honestly, they ruined the story by releasing not one, but two terrible sequels that just made me shake my head while watching. You can't understand how I feel until you actually watch them, but I don't recommend self-torture.

 

Sequels are, and always will be, a hit or miss. An example of a good sequel would be Shrek 2. An example of a HORRIBLE sequel would be Cabin Fever 2. If they're done right, I don't mind. That's just it though; you never know until it's produced.