"A film is a film but when it is shown in theaters it becomes a movie" - Willis Drummond
We've had so much response both positive and negative about Ed Callistan's THE TOP 100 SEQUELS THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN MADE article (March 12, 2003) that he agreed to list the best sequels made but he smirkingly added that it was hard to come up with anything more than a top ten list which pretty much underlines his original point. Also we've got new DVD reviews, a look at the PG-13 rating, and of course more lists.
And now once again Edward Callistan :
I said in my top 100 worst sequels list that there were precious few good sequels and I'm sad to report that that was no slanted remark - it's true that there are only a couple of handfuls of good follow-ups or series entries in the moviegame. They are :
THE TOP TEN BEST SEQUELS EVER MADE
1. The Godfather Part II - undoubtedly the greatest sequel because it was better than the original, won a best picture Oscar, and because unlike all the sequels on the top 100 worst list it actually has more story to tell. The casting of Robert Deniro as a young Vito Corleone didn't hurt either. Like Part I this was written by Mario Puzo who also wrote :
2. Superman 2 Works as a follow-up because it's actually an extension of the first film. It was filmed at the same time for the most part and nicely concludes the Krypton villains subplot set-up from the original.
3. Star Trek II : The Wrath Of Khan It wasn't hard for this one to be better than the first because the first one really sucked! It was long and boring and had a celebral egghead ideal at it's core nothing like this shoot 'em up good Vs. bad get back to sc-fi basics bonanza!
4. The Empire Strikes Back The second one but actually the 5th in the series as we all know this is a great dark layered film luckily not directed by Lucas.
5. Lord of The Rings - Return Of The King: Peter Jackson broke all sequel rules by making 2 kick-ass series entries and being the second sequel best picture award winner.
6. In Like Flint: Many forget Flint James Coburn's suave American equivalent to James Bond. They really shouldn't because this is some sharp slick '60's stuff.
7. The James Bond Series (1962-Present)- I got people saying that many of the Bond films should have been on the worst list and people thanking me for not including any of the films especially the much reviled "The Man With The Golden Gun", "Moonraker, and espcially the Timothy Dalton tragedy "License To Kill" but I feel overall they series keeps a high standard and I felt there were more deserving targets.
8. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: Dennis Miller once joked that Star Trek VI ought to be subtitled "The Apology" (you know because of the Shatner helmed tradgedy of Star Trek V) but this is the sequel that really should have that subtitle. This was a pure return to form after the misguided Temple Of Doom. Sean Connery as Indiana's father really seals the deal. The word that there may be a 4th Indiana Jones movie is troubling though.
9. Mad Max 2 : The Road Warrior
10. Aliens
Next Bertie Shafer one of our break-out most emailed contributors has a classification breakdown. We're talking the Motion Picture Association ratings system's PG-13. The youngest of the ratings it has the task of handling the grey areas of movies on the line. Go Bertie!
HAPPY BIRTH DAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY PG-13 : PARENTS STRONGLY CAUTIONED -HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
That's right. 20 years ago the PG-13 rating was born. Steven Spielberg claims on the recent DVD boxset of Indiana Jones movies that he had the idea for a rating between PG and R because of movies that may be too intense for younger audiences but not intense enough for mature audiences. His involvement in Gremlins and Indiana Jones and the Temple Of Doom supports this claim but Jack Valenti President of the MPAA denies this. Whatever the case when you look at the reasons on a poster or video box for a film being labeled with the PG-13 rating it's always different. A survey of a number of titles over the years brings us these denotations :
MILD LANGUAGE
SOME SENSUAL CONTENT
CRUDE SEXUAL CONTENT
CRUDE HUMOR
SOME RUDE HUMOR
DRUG MATERIAL (OR DRUG REFERENCES) - Apparently any drug content gets a movie a PG-13. Whale Rider denotes a Momentary Drug Reference even!
SOME VIOLENCE
VIOLENT SPORTS-RELATED IMAGES (Seabiscuit)
PERVASIVE LANGUAGE
IMAGES OF NUDITY
COMIC NUDITY (?) (Johnny English)
SEXUAL INNUENDO
THEMATIC ELEMENTS
This is one of my favorites -
SCI-FI ACTION VIOLENCE, SOME DISTURBING IMAGES AND BRIEF PARTIAL NUDITY (The Hulk)
DRINKING - I know how could this get a PG-13? There's lots of drinking in G rated Disney flicks! Maybe it's because it's Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights.
Another good one -
FOR INTENSE SEQUENCES OF FANTASY, VIOLENCE, LANGUAGE AND INNEUNDO (Leauge Of Extraordinary Gentlemen)
INTERGALACTIC VIOLENCE - yep if your flick contains violence of an interplanetary nature you will get a PG-13 rating. Watch out!
Again Happy 20th PG-13. May you denote particular film content for the good of the young ones everywhere for decades to come.
- Bertie Shafer who personally is rated NC-17.
Uh thanks Bertie. I guess I can't take my nephews to see you now. Anyway Sarah hit us with some more lists, will ya?
Of course Danny - I will oblige :
TOP 5 MICHAEL CAINE MURDER MOVIES
1. DEATHTRAP (1981)
2. SLEUTH (1972)
3. SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM (1990)
4. DRESSED TO KILL (1980)
5. HOW TO MURDER A RICH UNCLE (1957)
FIVE DMV-APPROVED MOVIES :
1. INTERSECTION
2. CHANGING LANES
3. THE CROSSING GUARD
4. FREEWAY
5. TRAFFIC
FIVE BAD MOVIES BASED ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE CHARACTERS :
1. CONEHEADS
2. IT'S PAT
3. SUPERSTAR
4. THE LADIES MAN
5. NIGHT AT THE ROXBURY
- 'Til next time luscious list lover lady Sarah Warner logs out.
More later...
is the Green Art Nail
