Dr. DVD

Inspired by the BTTF vs. Matrix thread. Same premise, just put the POTC sequels in for the BTTF movies.

I think these two sets of sequels have more in common than the one in the other thread, though not in necessarily positive ways. Both were highly anticpiated sequels, both were done back to back. And, it seems, the second installment killed a lot of the franchise momentum and interest in the third installment. Granted, POTC 3 crossed the $300 million mark domestically, but it also cost as much to make it. It was also a step down from the $400+ million of POTC 2. Similarly, the second Matrix made $287 million domestically while I believe the third limped to only $130 million in that area. This is what I mean by the second one killing interest in the third; a lot of people saw the second, but they didn't really think much of it and opted out of the third.

Anyhoo, I think the POTC trilogy will fare better with time as Captain Jack was apparently a good enough character for the franchise to still be alive.

DarthVong

POTC wins by far. It was way more merchandised and promoted IMO. Not to mention there's a 4th and probably 5th, 6th entry coming in the series.

Matrix is as dead as Neo.

Mike86

Meh. The Pirates sequels are better but that's really not saying a whole lot in my opinion. Both these trilogies are examples of a good first movie with sequels that weren't really necessary and don't really live up to the hype of the first.

Dragon Tattoo

I'd rather watch Revolutions than ANY of the Pirates movies.

fumanstan

In Pop Culture? Depending on how you view that question, you could argue that the Matrix sequels are more relevant and notable for their poor result then the Pirate's sequels being mediocre and will be remembered more then any of the on going Pirates movies for that failure.

If it's just gauging success and public reaction, then obviously the Pirates sequels faired far better.

Groucho

POTC. At least that franchise earned another installment.

wm lopez

For pop culture THE MATRIX because the generation to come will be dealing with computers, end of times stuff.

Sean O'Hara

Matrix still loses. At least no one involved with Pirates decided their series was some deep philosophical exegesis on the nature of reality and free will.

The Antipodean

Why the heck so many Matrix movie threads all of a sudden? It is 2003?

And "neither" would be my choice in this thread. Both sequel series blew the giant goat.

AnonomusBob15

Supermallet

Mod Note: I see at least three "Sequels vs. Sequels" thread on the front page. Please do not start more until the others fall off. We don't want anything to be seen as forum domination, even if it wasn't intended that way.

Supermallet

Now, to answer the question, while the POTC sequels were bloated compared to the original, they still aimed for the same blend of humor and action that the first movie possessed. Where it went wrong was by trying to take away the simplicity of the plot. Too much back and forth for no reason, and the pointless island sequence in the second one really sucks out the momentum. But, ultimately, despite what people say on this forum, the Pirates sequels did a good enough job at being fun.

The Matrix sequels made the mistake of forgetting what made the first one such a hit, and ended up not being any fun at all.

story

I had no idea what "POTC" meant, had to scroll down to see someone post the word "Pirates," I haven't seen the third POTC movie, and I already know they're better than The Matrix sequels.

SkinJob

I refuse to vote for either of these four terrible sequels. None of them should have ever been made.

Anubis2005X

Minor spoiler regarding the beginning of the plot for each 3rd movie...



Maybe Hollywood needs more ideas...

RichC2

POTC II was unbearably bland and boring, The Matrix II was at least 90 minutes of an entertaining action flick (it wasn't bad once you got past the terrible first hour).

POTC III I never finished, and The Matrix III I wish I never finished.

So in terms of pop culture, neither is worth a damn, they both should have been 1 and done. Though, The Matrix Reloaded was superior to POTC II, I can't imagine POTC III being worse than Matrix III. I also can't imagine the dialog in POTC III being as trite (Revolutions was every piece of terrible war movie cliche dialog thrown into one).

Sean O'Hara

That's true of the original as well -- just try to keep track of how many times someone is captured, escapes, or changes course. It has as much plot as a game of tag. However, it was always clear what each character wanted, which covered for the problems, while even after watching the sequels I'm not entirely sure what everyone was after.

majorjoe23

This. Totally this. I just got the new Mark of the Beast ap for my iPhone.

RichC2

If it were POTC vs The Matrix that'd make sense (I'm not a huge fan of either). But this is more on the subject of the sequels.

rexinnih

POTC. There will be a fourth movie.

islandclaws

I don't think either deserves much of a place. Their predecessors, yes.