tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post9025354068420271561..comments2023-12-24T19:38:00.242-08:00Comments on Mendelson's Memos: Into Lightness: Star Trek Into Darkness aside, here are six sequels that bucked the 'Go darker!' route.Scott Mendelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08131426080984100749noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-47263406448603285662012-12-10T13:02:10.762-08:002012-12-10T13:02:10.762-08:00No apologies needed. But yes, there is a certain ...No apologies needed. But yes, there is a certain trend to look down upon sequels that go light while thinking more of sequels that go dark (and yes, at least a few of the films I wrote about are *bad* films). As far as your last question, I'd argue 'majority opinion' would hold Lethal Weapon 2 and Spider-Man 2 (as well as the almost-included it Superman II) as the best of their respective franchise. It is rare for a sequel to go lighter and even rarer for the lighter sequel to be superior. So the question is, I suppose, is the ability to 'go dark' somehow helpful in crafting a superior sequel?Scott Mendelsonhttp://scottalanmendelson.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-66365954424700175832012-12-10T12:57:44.783-08:002012-12-10T12:57:44.783-08:00Wooooooooah. Slow down, Mr. Mendelson.
MY comment...Wooooooooah. Slow down, Mr. Mendelson.<br /><br />MY comment was argued via majority opinion, since 3/5 sequels you picked are often regarded as lesser in quality. That's all.<br /><br />You should have written whatever you wanted to write. This was, as I ended with, an interesting read. I only meant I'd be curious to see how many sequels bucked the "go darker" trend AND improved on their predecessors i.e. if you cross bred this post with that one from 2009.<br /><br />Apologies for the misunderstanding?David Kleinhttp://twitter.com/SaxaboomDKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-42974781801403942432012-12-10T12:29:40.123-08:002012-12-10T12:29:40.123-08:00Strongly considered that one, but I'd argue th...Strongly considered that one, but I'd argue that the campiest sections of Superman II aren't that much campier than the Otis/Lex stuff in Superman. It's just that Superman II is entirely made up of the more broadly comic stuff found in the last half (2/3?) of Superman, minus the more serious and iconic first third that gives the Donner picture weight. Superman II has more overt violence and scarier villains, which arguably evens out compared to Superman's more grandly involving myth-making. But yeah, I won't fight too hard if you think it counts.Scott Mendelsonhttp://scottalanmendelson.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-809548854392794442012-12-10T12:22:43.555-08:002012-12-10T12:22:43.555-08:00Superman II?Superman II?Luke Y. Thompsonhttp://twitter.com/LYTrulesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-51481172180065235652012-12-10T08:56:12.080-08:002012-12-10T08:56:12.080-08:00It is not a defense, merely an examination of seve...It is not a defense, merely an examination of several 'exceptions to the rule'.<br /><br />I don't expect readers to remember or have read every piece I've ever written. But, if you're going to criticize something on the grounds of 'you should have written this', you might want to make sure I haven't written 'this' already...<br /><br />06/04/09: "Second time's the charm - when superior sequels surpass lukewarm originals."<br />http://scottalanmendelson.blogspot.com/2009/06/2nd-times-charm-when-superior-sequels.htmlScott Mendelsonhttp://scottalanmendelson.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-91933510033214740412012-12-10T07:31:56.917-08:002012-12-10T07:31:56.917-08:00This is by all means a defense via "majority ...This is by all means a defense via "majority opinion," but I'd be more interested in seeing a list of 5 sequels all regarded as equal to or better than their originals. 'Destroyer,' 'Ooze,' and even 'Legend of Zorro' are all commonly regarded as inferior installments.<br /><br />Of course that's not really the point you're making (nor does darker=better), but it's worth noting. An interesting read as always.David Kleinhttp://twitter.com/SaxaboomDKnoreply@blogger.com