As the summer days are fleeting, most spend their time with friends, or on their couch with a good summer movie playing. Looking at the cinema listings, one can find the simple rom com, the latest superhero, and the next sequel that is bound to ruin the first installment. Since replicating success has never been an easy task, good sequels are very hard to find. Here is a list of 10 perfectly good movies that were tainted by their sequels.
1. Grease
"Grease" is a classic, you can never go wrong with this movie. It encompasses the harsh realities of high school and the importance of camaraderie within friends.
"Grease 2" is an attempt to replicate the timeless hit that was the original, of course, it fails spectacularly. In the sequel, an English high school student attempts to win the heart of the leader of The Pink Ladies. The biggest problem with the second film is that there is no progress from the first one. It is pretty much the exact same movie with a worse cast and average music.
2. Mean Girls
"Mean Girls," another teen classic, has had generations of movie lovers reciting infamous quotes such as, "YOU GO GLEN COCO," and, "She doesn't even go here!" It is a movie that resonates in our self-conscience, mean-girl-loving hearts. Why then, I ask you, would producers and writers alike agree to ruin this classic with the trash that was "Mean Girls 2"?
"Mean Girls 2" comes nowhere near the level of "Mean Girls." The movie's plot is surrounded around new high school student Jo, who meets high school loner, Abby Hanover, a girl she pretends to be friends with when Abby's dad offers to pay for Jo's college tuition in return... Realistic right? Regardless of this flimsy plot line, there is no possible way these writers thought they could conjure up something as good as the original "Mean Girls," right? If only.
3. Despicable Me
Much as animated movies are, films like "Despicable Me" are meant to be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Two hours, stress-free of horror flicks and dramatic romance awaits when you watch films like Despicable Me.
However, when the franchise decides to drag this wholehearted fun into "Despicable Me 2" (and 3) movie-goers cannot help but be annoyed. It is enough to watch the same plot line and one-liner jokes once with your siblings or children, but three times!?!? Let's not even get started on the Minion movies.
4. Pitch Perfect
I'm not sure how long I can write about this without getting very emotional. Perhaps it is because I feel very strongly about this. "Pitch Perfect" is a fabulous movie. I cry every time they sing the last mash up at finals and I cannot help but watch that iconic kiss at the end at least four times. The music is amazing and the actors are hilarious and genuine at the same time!
"Pitch Perfect 2" was probably the biggest disappointment of acapella history. The song arrangements sound repetitive and altogether pop princess. The group lost their chemistry and... this is making me upset, moving on.
5. Mulan
Why, Disney? Why? Can't we just have our cute ending with our beloved Disney characters? No, I guess not, because the Disney movie franchise has created many sequels that have ruined our originals.
"Mulan 2" is a biggie. The entire plot revolves around Mushu trying to end Mulan and Shang's marriage. Cringe worthy plot people! Not to mention (spoiler), THEY MAKE US THINK SHANG DIES! So not cool. I'll stick with the Huns to hate.
6. Beauty and the Beast
Most aren't aware of this second installment, so I feel the need to shed some light.
"Beauty and The Beast; The Enchanted Christmas "is an attempt at continuing Belle's time in the Enchanted Castle. While it does offer some heart-warming moments, it makes the plot of the original story hard to understand. When exactly did this happen? And why is Belle trying to win the Beast over, he is the one who kidnapped her and her father! It confuses me and the original is my favorite Disney movie, so I try not to dwell on it.
7. Lilo and Stitch
"Lilo and Stich" is the best movie about true family and love. Its legacy, like many other's, has been tainted by another random installment.
In "Lilo and Stitch 2," life gets complicated for Lilo after Stitch begins to malfunction. As Stitch's condition worsens, Lilo struggles to choreograph an original hula dance for an upcoming competition at her school. When she realizes something is terribly wrong, Lilo and Jookiba scramble to build an advanced device capable of saving Stitch from certain death. Huh??? Why couldn't we end it with "Ohana means family and family means nobody gets left behind?"
8. Cinderella
The continued "Cinderella" installments are another popular disappointment. I think we've come to the conclusion that all Disney movie sequels will never live up to our expectations *sigh*.
"Cinderella III "made me the most upset. The movie revolves around a time-traveling mishap as the Evil Stepmother attempts to regain her life of luxury before Cinderella ever found her prince. Time travel is never good! I mean, think about it! At the end of the movie Cinderella and the Prince do end up marrying each other, but only after the Evil Stepmother has changed time and their journey to find one another! That means that our beloved story doesn't even exist!!!!!
9. Jaws
Say what you will about "Jaws 2", but it had maybe the greatest tag line in the history of cinema: "Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water."
Unfortunately, that was the only good thing about the movie. The plot was quite familiar: another shark starts killing the people of Amity Island, the mayor doesn't want to close the beaches and Chief Brody is forced to kill it himself. As horrible as it was, the next two sequels were infinitely worse.
10. Halloweentown
The "Halloweentown" movies are hard to criticize, but there is one small detail in the second installment, "Return to Halloweentown," that makes it hard to watch the first.
The recasting of the main character, Marnie, left fans of the original movie disappointed. Whether it was director error or actor's differences the character seemed to be two completely different people, in looks and in personality.
Dear movie industries,
Please stop ruining our beloved movies to continue your capitalistic agenda in making terrible sequels.
Love,
Everyone.
