Underrated Movie Sequels.
 

As I'm sitting here watching Vegas Vacation on DVD, I sit here and realize the film isn't as bad as everyone has made it to be over the years. While it's no Vacation, I do prefer it over the other two sequels (European and Christmas). Now Vegas Vacation isn't a great flick, I'll admit that. It's a cheesy "playing it safe" PG comedy that is highly enjoyable.

The film has gotten me to think about some other underrated movie sequels. Sequels that are actual good movies, but when compared to the first film in their respective series, the flicks don't get the respect they deserve. Such as:

Scream 2: When released back in 1997, the film was praised by most critics citing it as a better film than the first. The audience tend to disagree. I think Scream 2 is a much better film than Scream (two films I highly enjoy). It's too bad that Scream 3 was a piece of shit.

Shock Treatment: The "playing it safe" PG sequel to The Rocky Horror Picture Show that most people don't know of. While it's not even near the quality of the first film, the soundtrack in the sequel is on par if not better than that of Rocky's.

D2 - The Mighty Ducks: Knuckle puck baby.

Gremlins 2 - The New Batch: One of the few sequels better than the original. As the first film was a horror film with comedic elements, the sequel portrays itself as a comedy with horror elements which makes it somehow work out better than the first.

Halloween 4: Disregard parts 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Part 4 is the only sequel in the series to maintain the tone the first film had. It takes away the violence the sequels had, and puts the emphasis back on the mood.

Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions: ;)

Are there any other sequels that were highly disregarded that should have more respect?

Exorcist 3

Babe: A Pig in the City

American Pie sequels
The Lost World
Escape from Planet of the apes
Rocky 2

Scream 2 was the first that popped up in my mind. The critics were right on this one.

And I also agree with the Matrix sequels.

IMHO

Death Wish II(mainly because Bronson just kicks major behind in this one)

Robocop 2( like it a lot better than the first one)

But I feel most will disagree with me but that is OK.

Lethal Weapon II (IMHO best of the series)

Back to the Future Part 2 -Best of the series

American Wedding -Hilarious, too bad no one saw it.

Definitely!

Others:

Psycho II
Jaws 2
Predator 2
Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
Phantasm II

Batman Returns - Sorry if you disagree but you're wrong.

Alien 3 - returned to the dark claustrophobic tone of the original
Terminator 3 - not as good as T2 but still entertaining

Damn Right - very, very, very underrated sequel/film.

:confused:

American Wedding did gross $104,565,114 domesticly and $230,990,229 worldwide. Also, it actually earned more in the U.S. than the original (American Pie) did.

I know this one wasn't a great (or even good) movie by most people's standards, but it hit some soft spot with me for some reason: Eddie and the Cruisers 2: Eddie Lives!

Another good sequal that didn't get too much attention was Fletch Lives.

Re: Underrated Movie Sequels.
 

I like your choices, Matthew, but I highly disagree with HALLOWEEN 4 being the "only sequel to maintain the tone of the first film."

In Part IV, I don't like how they copped out and brought back both Michael Myers AND Dr. Loomis after what happened to them at the end of Part II.

HALLOWEEN II is a worthy sequel to HALLOWEEN I. Although it is ten times more violent than the original, it still has the same flavor, and both John Carpenter and Debra Hill were involved on a creative level.

Nightmare on Elm Street 2, Godfather 3, Shaft in Africa, Another 48 Hrs, Predator 2, Demons 2.....

Funny, as I was reading your opening post I was thinking of Halloween 2 as being an overlooked sequal. I thought it matched the tone of the original better than anything. The first time I saw part 2 was on TV, and even with all the graphic violence edited out I found it very suspenseful and frightening.

To me, Myers lost his creepiness in part 4 when they gave him super human strength.

Still, each his own...

Let's not forget

ROCKY II and ROCKY III.

My vote goes to Exorcist 3 as well.

Ya know, that's why I love this forum, people hitting on things I wouldn't think of in a million years..................Elm Street 2 and Demons 2 are so damn underrated.

Good call MSD :up:

I agree with Exorcist 3 as well... I'll also second Nightmare on Elm Street 2, Another 48 Hours, Gremlins 2, Terminator 3, Alien 3, BTTF 2, Babe - Pig in the City, Phantasm 2, 3 and 4, and Jurassic Park 3

Also - (nobody will agree with me, but...)

Starship Troopers 2 (wasn't up to par with the first by any stretch, but it had heart and a fairly compelling character-driven story. Not the best acting, but considering the budget they did alot with what they had to work with.)
Blair Witch 2 - It wasn't what people expected or wanted, but I think it stands on its own as a decent horror flick with great characters and a fairly solid story.
Cyborg 2 - not nearly as good as the first (which most people thought was crap anyway), but it had Angelina Jolie and Jack Palance in it. It kinda kicked ass.
Bad Boys 2 - I really enjoyed the first one, but this one was one managed to blow it away... it had humor and better pacing and amazing stunts and even some innovative camera work. Plus, Henry Rollins in his best performance yet.
Halloween 3 - the only Halloween film I liked... no Michael Meyers, but truly hilarious.
Die Hard - With a Vengence - I liked 2 as well, but 3 was an action bonanza which only suffered from shoddy editing and cuts.
Lethal Weapon 4 - I liked the hokey family ending and Jet Li kicking ass. I liked every film in the series as well.
Mad Max - Beyond Thunderdome - I loved all 3 of these films, but the third one seemed to leave a bad taste in the mouths of those who wanted to keep the series a low-budget cult thing cuz the budget was larger. I liked it and didn't think Tina Turner ruined it much at all.
Horror Show - Sequel to House... House 2 kinda sucked, but This one was fairly decent... it kinda ripped off Shocker and they should've just stuck with the House franchise to set itself apart.

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The Empire Strikes Back

Bad Boys 2
Beverly Hills Cop 2
From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter
Ghostbusters 2
Highlander Endgame
Jurassic Park III
Major League 2
Naked Gun sequels

SUPERMAN II

If you don't like it, you can go take it up with Zod.

Umm, Alien Resurrection (runs and hides)

Creepshow 2 - I even like the Chief Woodenhead segment

The Fly II

And others already listed....Love Exorcist 3