We live in a world of sequels, most of them bad, some of them good, others just plan baffling. But which ones deserved a little more love than they got? Join me as I count down my five favourite picks.
My dad was an air traffic controller for 33 years and watching Die Hard 2 with him is… hilarious. He starts squirming. Then hiding his face. Louder and louder groans come from him until he finally explodes and starts ranting the many many reasons the entire plot couldn’t even happen.
I feel like positivity is wonderful but I want the scathing reviews, I want the brutal honesty so I can know what I’m getting into. If he only reviewed good movies, he wouldn’t have that many videos and definitely not about recent media
Yeah but if all you do is shit on everything all the time without highlighting what you think is better then you just come off as a toxic hater like some of Drinker's peers. @@rosemaryrieger6676
@@JOHN----DOE Not quite! He recently sung the highest praises for LOTR, which came out from 2001-2003, then he quickly noted nothing that good will ever be made again, lmao.
My favorite underrated sequel is The Mummy Returns. Maybe it got more love than I realize, but I never hear anyone mention it let alone praise it. My favorite part is how the main romance couple from the first one was allowed to stay together and stay in love instead of being artificially forced apart in order to repeat the love arc. Instead they have an almost adam's family style relationship and a kid who somehow isn't annoying. It would have been so easy for the movie to use the kid being kidnapped as leverage for relationship drama that pulls them apart for the second act, but instead they comfort and support each other like complete psychopaths /s. There are other things it does well and poorly(like how the brother is flanderized), but overall it's a fun movie that kinda floundered into obscurity unless someone wants to point out the bad CG of the scorpion king at the end.
I think what holds it back is it's a bit forgettable. I barely remember The Mummy exists, and I honestly loved that one when it came out. Those two were not bad movies...
Yeah, I agree completely with this analysis. It seems like we had a lot of 3 part movie series' back then and most of them I loved the second more than the first and hated the third. Although, in retrospect, watching some of them as an adult I ended up changing my opinion of them, except for the Mummy series, and Jurassic Park, where I still love the second more than the first and hate the third. An example of what I mean by a changing opinion over time would be TMNT, where I loved the second as a kid and found the third boring, but as an adult I found the second completely juvenile and actually loved the third.
They're goofy movies but I remember watching the second one as a kid and noticing what a good sequel it is. It takes everything from the first one and takes them to the next level which is what a good sequel is meant to do. And, as you say, it doesn't just rehash stuff from the first one, it continues them in a believable way. The plot, while not exactly Shakespeare, is also fairly imaginative for a sequel: a new villain is about to be resurrected and destroy the world so people resurrect the villain from the first movie to fight him, and the heroes have to stop _both._ That's more interesting than simply "the villain from the first movie comes back fir Round 2" or "here's a new villain who's very similar to the first." Yeah, overall I agree with you.
All of these movies have the problem that they're following up to absolutely incredible first movies. Expectations are high, and being pretty good just isn't good enough. Of course, some sequels to amazing movies somehow manage to deliver everything that is promised (The Empire Strikes Back or Aliens). But they are always going to be the exceptions.
People get mad at Ghostbusters 2 mainly because it's almost exactly the same plot as Ghostbusters. That doesn't make it less fun, but it does make it feel less like something new and exciting.
There wasn't a joke in GB2 that worked for me. I almost walked out, and I was a little kid. I was soooo excited about it and left deflated and depressed. 2010 though, that one's a classic. Die Hard 3 is far better than 2, but 2's still decent.
@@hariman7727I think it was because back then people expected high things from sequels after things like the godfather part ii and aliens. Basically they expected the sequel to ether be just as good or top it. In todays filming going audience we expect sequel’s to be bad or downright horrible. So I think it’s mainly audiences expectations which have changed over time because I know for sure if we got things like predator 2 today it would be praised outright because it is indeed a fun and good movie.
Also worth mentioning. In Predator 2 days you could have a hugely diverse cast like in this fantastic movie and nobody made a big deal about it. It was just a great cast for fitting roles and all in all good characters. How things have changed these days…
Yep, nobody made a big deal about it, because nobody cared. Back then, we all just wanted to see good movies with good actors. No one even batted an eye at the race or gender of the actor in question, we just wanted to be entertained -- not have agendas shoved down our throats.
I don't like Predator 2 but you're not wrong there. I noticed when I was rewatching all the "24" seasons how diverse the cast and characters were. The difference is the moral and competency alignment of the characters has nothing to do with their demographic. There's heroic white characters, villainous white characters, heroic black characters, villainous bIack characters. Competent white men, incompetent black women, and vice versa etc. _That's_ the stuff we want to return to.
@@privatecitizen5968while I’m not 100% sure on this, the likely reason they gender-swapped one of the characters (Dr. Liet-Kynes, the Imperial ecologist character) is because the character was played by a legendary actor, Max von Sydow, in the (vastly inferior) David Lynch version, and I don’t think any actor would want to fill in his shoes. So Villeneuve probably chose to gender swap the character. Honestly, if this is true, there’s nothing forced about it.
I honestly had no idea that Ghostbusters 2 was considered "bad" sequel. I liked it a lot when i first watched it (still do) and only years later found that out.
It’s not a bad movie, but it does reset everything that happened in the first movie and then just does more or less the same again. It’s like a cheaper copy of the first one. That said, still a phenomenal cast, super special effects and cool ideas; it’s definitely a good movie. It just has to measure up to a better first movie.
It also suffered from the fact that it came out a full 5 years after Ghostbusters, which back in the 80's was a really long time to wait for a sequel. To put that into perspective, I was 13 when Ghostbusters came out and 18 for GB 2. That's a lifetime at that age for a follow up film.
@SirDracolis Yes, I remember the "Real Ghostbusters" cartoon. As good as it was, as well as the toys, they were targeted at my 2 younger brothers age group.(9 and 10 1/2 younger) Still, not the same as the iconic Aykroyd, Murry, Ramis, Hudson, Weaver, Moranis and Potts. Sorry, but not exactly on my Senior year watch list. Cool if you liked it, maybe you were a bit younger. The point was, it was a long time to wait for a sequel. I still liked it more than most ppl, but it lost some of the magic from the first film. As far as waiting for a 3rd movie, we'll, we all know how that went.
The weird thing about the criticisms of Ghostbusters 2 is that most of them also apply to Ghostbusters 1. It's not so much that the criticisms are invalid as it is that the people making those criticisms have a massive blindspot for them in the first movie. Like they're remembering the first one through rose tinted glasses. I like both movies, btw.
Every time I hear “go away now” I’m like “hmm which one of drinkers videos shall I watch next” we are here to stay Mr.Drinker. Keep up the good work ❤️
"For a Few Dollars More" is another that is overlooked. Sandwiched in between "A Fist Full of Dollars" and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" it never had its heyday that it deserved. The plot, characters and music were brilliantly done and has one of the best surprises I've seen in years.
But its not a sequel. There is no continuing story arc in the Dollars trilogy. They are standalone films where the same actors can play different roles. Lee van Cleef, hero in For a Few Dollars More, somebody else and a villain in The Good, the Bad & the Ugly. The only constant is Clint's character and I am not even sure of that. As somebody told me, it is a trilogy in the sense that Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and At World's End form a trilogy.
This is true. Van Cleef plays ‘Colonel Mortimer’ in For a Few Dollars More, and ‘Angel Eyes’ in GBU. It is unclear if Eastwood is the same guy until he puts the poncho on in GBU. For a Few Dollars more, is my favorite of the three. GBU is overrated, but still a great film.
@@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623 Apparently the timeline is "the good the bad and the ugly" is first chronologically, and "a fist full of dollars" is last. So while the stories are connected, they're only really connected by Clint and a few bullet holes in his hat. I guess they sort of expected viewers to look over the repeated use of the same actors in different roles. Plus the fact that the intent wasn't to make a trilogy in the first place, so connections between the two movies are sparse.
I agree with the point the first reply made. But For a Few Dollars More was always my favorite of the three. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly just dragged on too long. That whole Civil War scene was so out of place. I think of the three as a trilogy though with Clint Eastwood playing the same drifter throughout and just chalking up the other actors appearing as different characters as a mere coincidence. Especially Lee Van Cleef’s characters.
Blade 2 is also worth a mention. Top notch action sequences and effects that actually improve on the original. Never thought I’d say Luke Goss was a genuinely terrifying villain. Had a very Aliens vibe to it with the monster effects.
I love Predator and Ghostbusters 2. Especially the courtroom scene with Rick Moranis as the lawyer. That scene is hilarious ! As honorable mention, I would add Addams Family Values. It's a fun movie that is often looked down compared to the first Addams Family.
The WORST ending to any movie, ever, comes from Pre-dater 2. An alien space vessel takes off from underground, using the same explosive method our own space crafts use, and Danny Glover survives this by hiding behind a few feet of granite?! HE WAS 10 FEET AWAY~
You know an absolutely great sequel? The Rescuers Down Under. The first one is decent but kind of meh. The sequel is frigging amazing. It has these really gorgeous scenes of the main character riding a giant eagle, the villain is voiced by George C. Scott, and it actually takes itself really seriously for a kids movie. I love it. Even if you're an adult you can totally get into it.
Loved this as a kid so much but not letting my kid watch since it's Gisney and they will do a remake some day and change Cody to make a political statement.
I never understood the hate Predator 2 received. I saw it as a kid on VHS and loved it. Characters were great and action was excellent. Glad that you put it on the number one spot!
It is decent, but like Terminator Predator is not a franchise where you can have different actors play different movies. It is an Arnold Schwarzenegger star vehicle, and without him it's just not the same. Danny Glover did a good job, but he is no Arnold. And sadly the trophy wall with the Alien skull spawned the god awful AvP films.
@@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623 Idk man. Arnold would look "out of place" in Predator 2... The scenery and everything fits an "everyday cop" like Danny Glover way better.
The best Drinker content will always be the ones that Drinker suggests or recommends movies and series instead of ranting for bad ones. You're doing both great Drinker and you're always entertaining but I'll always root for positivity over anything.
@@user-rv9hp6bo3yI have satellite tv and would watch The Beast at night, when it was on canal +. These movie channels air these movies at least 6 times, for a period of 2-3 months. I was 20 and always high, smoking hash, so when drinker recommended it I decided to rewatch it
Predator 2 is quite underrated. Danny Glover makes for a great lead. Also Rocky 2 is awesome. My favorite moment is when he’s running up the steps and you got all the kids running behind him and cheering him on. There’s something really feel good about that moment.
He's not Arnold, but Glover is a big guy with good screen presence in his own right. I'm surprised Bill Paxton's hilarious turn as Jerry wasn't mentioned since it's nearly as good as his portrayal of Private Hudson.
A shout out to 28 Weeks Later as an underrated sequel. While the overall relapse of the infected apocalypse was preventable to say the least, the opening sequence still stands even today. Tragedy, fear and desperation all rolled into one scene.
I wasn’t a fan of Chronicles so much; it went off in a weird direction that I didn’t care for. However Riddick 2013 was a great sequel. It’s more like Pitch Black.
Have to disagree. Pitch Black was a grunge Sci fi horror movie. Chronicles was some weird high end epic action movie. The two movies don't feel like they exist in the same world at all.
@@JadeRunner completely with you, actually. I was saying I didn’t like Chronicles of Riddick (2004) for exactly the reasons you mention. However the third movie Riddick (2013) was much more like Pitch Black in theme and tone. It’s a proper sequel.
I sincerely appreciate your sarcasm & wit in general whilst ripping apart movies & shows. Which leads me to love that when you give flowers to a production, it lends so much weight. Great work as always my fellow drinker. . . .
Airplane 2 is an insanely underrated sequel. Unlike most comedy sequels, it manages to understand what made the original movie great, have natural story evolution, jokes that feel like they fit in the original movie, while still feeling different, and giving the characters great closure.
The scene with Apollo in his office talking to Tony Duke about how he “won” the first match but didn’t beat Rocky is one of my favourites in the series.
Solid list, 100% on board with those top 3. Always thought 2010 was excellent and under appreciated and never understood the grief Ghostbusters 2 and Predator 2 got.
Gremlins 2 is my favourite sequel. It’s so deliberately over the top and self aware. It mocks itself but gets the tone correct. It’s Paul Verhoven esq. satire of what a sequel is. The same plot but everything turned up to 11. Smashes through the 4th wall, mad cameos and call backs.
Came out the same year as Die Hard 2 and Predator 2, among *many* other underrated/underperforming/flop sequels. 1990 was a weird year for movies. (It's also strange how Dick Tracy, which didn't perform as well as Disney expected but was still a monster hit that summer, has been almost completely *erased* from the popular memory. Except for "Vogue," which was thrown onto Madonna's sort-of-soundtrack album at the last minute and which most people don't even know had any relationship with the film.)
I like the second even better than the first. The campiness is turned up to eleven as if the gremlins took over the movie produc…ouch!..what the…oh my .. get them off me! They’re r-real!!! Gremlins are actually r
@@sageoz9886 Joe Dante didn't want to make a Gremlins sequel but Warner Brothers gave him complete creative control. And then he got a devious gleam in his eye.
@@sageoz9886 I don't know if I like it better, but as with Alien and Aliens or Terminator and T2, you can make a strong case for either film, and on any given day I might prefer one to the other.
Yup, but it was suposed to be a TRON sequel and how much time was what is suposed to be main character in it? 5 minutes? Well...1982 movie was the same, Tron was not main character...
It also had a pretty good story arc. Even though you had to do some homework to fill in the holes. Of course I love the first one, so I'm probably biased.
Yes! Was hoping to see Rocky 2 on here. I would actually add Rocky 3 as well. It’s actually about something- how success changes you, and how to overcome that.
I'd also add Rocky 3 on the list, as it was not only the first Rocky film that I watched as a child, but also because I happen to be a big fan of Mr. T's kickass (and world-famous) performance as Clubber Lang, as well as the fight scene with Thunderlips (aka Hulk Hogan). Those two aspects are what made (and still makes) the film highly entertaining to watch imo. It was also the last film in the series to include character Mickey Goldmill, a role in which Burgess Meredith shone especially well in Rocky 3.
I agree, Mr T was great in his role and blew up to super stardom getting into the A-Team afterwards, he was just like Rocky in the first two movies except way more brash and cocky, also Pauly was a great character in the first three movies, it shows how much writers could pay attention to details by giving minor characters a character arc through 3 movies (don't remember much about the 4th one other than Dolf/Russia).
Imagine a Predator movie set in an active war zone. You could go older setting with unreliable communication like the trench lines of WWI. Or a WWII setting where a German and British platoons are combating over control of a town and a Predator is killing them all. The possibilities are nearly endless.
One massively underrated aspect of Predator 2 was the worldbuilding. Even taking the Predator out of the story altogether still leaves an interesting and exciting environment that feels like the people within it are all dealing with important struggles, such as overstretched police department struggling to contain the drug war that has its own very different and unique belligerents, or the general degradation of society with aggressive, shit-stirring reporters and vigilante members of the public. It almost felt like an entirely new film in its own right rather than a sequel. Also a great performance from Danny Glover.
I also appreciate the differences in the Predator's behavior in the sequel. He's much more bloodthirsty and bold than the one Arnold faced off against.
Glover is fantastic in Predator 2!! I agree that they did an excellent job worldbuilding for the sequel. I also think the DRASTIC setting change was super ballsy and they pulled it off perfectly
Escape from LA is an underrated gem with an ending I adore. Also Psycho 2 surprised me with a shocking amount of care put into it as abates tries and fails to move on
I'd rather watch a film of dude taking a shit reading a news paper and staring at his watch for 2 hours.... wait I'd reather take a 2 hour shit than watch Escape from Bel Air
I don't know if it's underrated, but Beverly Hills Cop 2 is a strong sequel. Good humor, storytelling expands on the original, and Brigitte Nielsen was a good villain.
Yes, completely agree. Very underrated. Always seemed a bit more polished than the first one in story, action, comedy and chemistry between the cast. Like the first one was a good practice run and number two was the aim.
All I ever remember about that movie is my dad pointing out the laziness of the props department. There's a scene with muddy shoes and when one is picked up, it leaves dirt in the shape of the shoe on the carpet. So rather than making the shoes legit dirty, they just sprinkled dirt on top. At least I think it's that movie.
Nah, I can imagine why GB2 was underwhelming, it’s a tall order to make a sequel, and they went from demons and a blockbuster monster that was amazing… to a slow burn comedy horror. GB2 had to be … Huge to make people feel the same shock and awe. This is also an era in which you didn’t have the same direct to video tape sales. They’d just bring the old movie back to the cinema before the new movie came out in case you missed it the first time. People had VHS, but it wasn’t assumed that people would see the movie on VHS. So all they’d remember was that ending. Great sequel, but it would have made people wonder if they couldn’t make a titan sized monster / demon as well. It did well, but I think people had lofty ambitions for GB2 to make the ghosts more shocking, zany and comical, because they were probably under the impression that it was a kids movie. The stay puft marshmallow man as a villain overtook what people wanted from movies, and elevated the audience’s expectations and memories of what GB1 was about. Going from King Kong sized monsters to an evil painting is underwhelming. It works, but it’s a different time. Modern sequels, you add a second Death Star and make it bigger.
Excellent list! Refreshing to get your perspective on these films! At one point I thought you would mention Tron Legacy ; one of the only movies I felt like it brought the original up to the next level, also the script is minimalistic and efficient, the atmosphere is timeless, and the rhythm and editing are soooo on point
I always liked how Die Hard 3 is nothing like the first one. Adapted from an unrelated script, completely different scale and format for its premise, but it really works.
It would absolutely be on this list if it was a direct sequel. I think he was looking at just the next released movies. I think Die Hard 3 is just as good as the first one. It's really good.
It's amusing you say that and I agree with you but that reason that's it's different is the reason most people give for not liking Hangover 3 or Taken 3 as they were both too different from the first two movies in their series. I happen to like both of those movies as well for the very fact that they're different and offer an interesting close to both of those series. And DH3 is actually one of my favorites in its series. 1, 4, and 3 are my top 3 DHs.
My camera lecturer worked on Die Hard 2 and I have a funny anecdote to share. Bruce Willis was just beginning to really lose his hair, so the DOP was asked to make sure nearly every close up shot of Bruce in that film was framed tight to hide his scalp. God speed to old Bruce, sad to see him go through it these days.
As if he didn't already have a receding hairline when Moonlighting started five years before this movie, and definitely for Die Hard. Weird that they were suddenly concerned about it for DH2.
*Back* *To* *The* *Future* *Part* *II* So I watched this Heavy Spoilers breakdown video for Back to the Future Part II while inside a Tokyo Central which is a Japanese grocery store. There was a radio station playing. Guess what was playing when I watched the Heavy Spoiler video? Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode”. A few songs before that was “NeverEnding Story” which I rarely hear on the radio. If only Huey Lewis’ “Power of Love” played right after “Johnny B. Goode”. Back to the Future Part II is my all-time favorite movie followed by the OG. I’ve seen BTTF 1 and 2 over a 100x. Maybe BTTF2 at least 150x and BTTF1 over 100x. I used to memorize almost every line from them. “Well! Since when did you become the physical type?” I think The Shawshank Redemption is the greatest film I’ve ever seen in the theater and it was my favorite for years, but BTTF2 really is my favorite 34 years later. My previous girlfriend would say Claudia Wells was the prettier Jennifer over Elisabeth Shue. I used to think it was Elisabeth but now I think my gf was right. Claudia is the prettier one based on how she looked in the 1985 movie as she has the prettier eyes although Elisabeth is still attractive and she was great in The Boys and her appearance in Cobra Kai. Elisabeth’s Jennifer did have more things to say and do. Young Jennifer: I’m old! Old Jennifer: I’m young! BTTF was really the first franchise where I would rewatch it and I would learn something new each time. They’re the ultimate Easter Egg movies and the perfect movies for breakdown videos from Heavy Spoilers and New Rockstars. Like I didn’t notice Twin Pines Mall became Lone Pine Mall until several rewatches. I didn’t know they filmed it at Puente Hills Mall which was a mall I frequented from 1999-2009 before it became empty. I’ll admit, BTTF2 might actually be the weakest movie of the trilogy but it’s my favorite because it got me into loving Nikes and gadgets. I say it’s the weakest because the story is very flawed. Since when did Marty McFly become Alex Keaton and he wants to be rich so badly? He was going to use the sports almanac to cheat his way into a fortune. That’s very out of character for Marty. I didn’t see BTTF2 until early 1990 or so when it started to appear on Showtime. I remember recording it with a blank VHS tape and it might have been the first movie I ever recorded from TV. I absolutely loved it when I first saw it. Then I bought a legit VHS copy of BTTF1 at Sam Goody if I recall and would watch that one repeatedly. I saw it in this order: 2-1-3. When I would check copies of TV Guide, BTTF2 would only get two stars. It wasn’t a well received movie when it first came out similar to Batman ‘89. It only got more popular years after it came out similar to The Shawshank Redemption. The more universally beloved BTTF movie is the original. And when BTTF3 came out, it got more positive critics’ reviews than what BTTF2 initially got. Surprisingly, Robert Zemeckis admitted his favorite Back to the Future movie is BTTF2 because it was darker, more bizarre, and wilder. We visit three different timelines and the third act in 1955 is basically how Avengers: Endgame plays out revisiting moments from the previous film. I saw BTTF3 in the theater and it’s the only BTTF movie I’ve seen in the theater. MCU and Star Wars are the most talked about movie franchises with the Millennials and Zoomers generation while Back to the Future and Indiana Jones are the most rewatchable ones beloved by many Gen Xers who grew up watching them during the 80s. There are times when SW content can bore me to tears. My Top 20 Favorite Movies Ever 1. Back to the Future Part II (1989) 2. Back to the Future (1985) 3. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) 4. Maverick (1994) 5. Let it Ride (1989) 6. Casino (1995) 7. Goodfellas (1990) 8. Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood (2019) 9. The Big Lebowski (1998) 10. Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) 11. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1989) 12. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) 13. Elvis (2022) 14. Air (2023) 15. Kingpin (1996) 16. Dumb and Dumber (1994) 17. History of the World Part I (1981) 18. Some Like It Hot (1959) 19. Pulp Fiction (1994) 20. Back to the Future Part III (1990) I used to dislike BTTF3 but it’s actually grown on me over the years. I still don’t understand where the DeLorean was that Doc came with in 1885? I still don’t love 3 as much as 2 and 1 but I’ve grown to enjoy it. I don’t mind the slower pacing as I’ve gotten older and the better character development for Doc. It’s all about Doc falling in love while Marty no longer cared about being called a chicken. Christopher Lloyd said BTTF3 was his favorite by far. Since he’s an actor, I can understand him enjoying his character change and not only be some crazy scientist. And I enjoyed the slower pace after the frenetic ending to BTTF2. It’s probably the most relaxed BTTF movie. Almost like a hangout movie the way Dazed and Confused and Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood are. I notice for many people, many of their favorite movies was when they were still kids. BTTF 1, 2, and Bill & Ted raised me since I was 9. I love them. I sorta consider Bill & Ted as my BTTF3. They’re these time travel 80s movies that remain timeless to me. They don’t feel dated like other 80s comedies especially from John Hughes. They’re quintessential 80s that don’t feel dated. Going to buy a Bill & Ted hat that says: Be Excellent To Each Other. Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads. That’s what Tony Stark should’ve said after Sam Wilson accidentally shot Rhodey down in Captain America: Civil War. I love time travel comedies like Back to the Future, Bill & Ted, Hot Tub Time Machine, and Loki. Anyhoo, party on, dudes. For All Time. Always. 😎
The Delorean that the Doc travelled to 1885 is buried in the mine so that Marty can unearth it in 1955 (with 1885 doc intending Marty to return to 1985, not knowing his fate at the hands of Biff). They can't use that DeLorean in 1885 because it would create a time paradox by not being buried for Marty and Doc to unearth in 1955 for Marty to return to 1885 :P Ah Time Travel
I got to say, Rocky 2 has always been in my top 10 movies. Fully agree that it’s very overlooked due to its surface level similarities to the first one
Understandably so, I think. Even as a huge Rocky fan, it was my least favorite sequel for many, many years. I love it and appreciate it more now but, as a film that picks up immediately after the first, it didn’t originally gel well with me feeling like it did.
Is Rocky 4 still considered underrated? Excluding the pro-USA anti-Russia allegories I think its a great film with moments still hyped and remembered even today.
Totally agree Drinker. Predator 2 is by far the most underrated sequel. Absolutely love it. I remember seeing it at the cinema and watching the final act when all the predators begin to uncloak and it just about blew my mind.
Psycho 2 is a real hidden gem. The original is an undisputed classic, obviously, but the sequel focuses more on Norman's trauma and paranoia and manages to craft a suspenseful mystery with some great slasher kills.
Far too often overlooked is the humor in Psycho 2. Just because it had to take its rightful place beneath the original didnt mean that it couldn't have its own charm and wit.
@@MatthewSmith-fy5hkanother often overlooked aspect is Meg Tilly's performance as Mary. She has to be simultaneously so many contradicting things at once - smart, naive, innocent, deceptive, honest and manipulative - without the audience noticing the incongruity if her behaviour and she absolutely nailed it. Also doesn't hurt that she's cute as fuqq, ha.
Another very underrated sequel: Gremlins 2. Seems like 1990 was full of these. Exactly the sort of off the wall insanity that didn't play it safe and was just totally bonkers. I watched it with my brother on NYE and we had a drunken blast.
Gremlins 2 also had a lot more to say than people give it credit for. It had commentaries on big souless corporations and business culture, how TV has evolved into a focus on one type of content per channel (Cooking, DIY, Crime, Archery lol). Then the cherry on top is the addition of the genetic mutations. It was a brilliant way to raise the stakes and to add a whole new dynamic to the Gremlins. Honestly, I actually like it a little better than the original.
Predator 2 gave us the trophy wall, the clan, their sense of "honor" (by not killing an unborn baby, only because it would downgrade him as a top killer), the gift/trophy for the winner and the notion that they are here for a long, long time. I love the first movie, but the fact that Arnold didn't come back helped to cement the hunter as the true protagonist of the franchise
Wholehearted agreement from my side. I have never understood why people were so annoyed about Arnie not being in the sequel. Would not fit, completely different era and area. In my opinion Glover is just as a badass under the circumstances. Well, if they had made a 3rd episode with Glover and Arnie later on, that would have been an amazing, mind-blowing feature. Too bad it never happened.
I would have liked to see Arnie comeback in a later installment as the cyborg version of Dutch as seen in the arcade game for a GOOD AVP movie. In a way i like to see major characters have their story be done. It lets a universe build more stories and characters off the results of those stories. Back when they released Alien resurrection, i wanted more expendable colonial marines stories, not more Ripley.
Completely disagree. I hate the whole retcon of the Predators being these "honour bound warriors" and turning them into the heroes of the franchise. You're correct that this lore was introduced by Predator 2 but that's why I dislike the movie. In Predator 1 there's no hint anywhere that the Predator is "honourable." People point to the fact he only kiIIs armed prey and removes his armor and weapons for the end fight with Dutch, but they're wrong. The Predator is a _thrill seeker._ He's doing it all for the asrenaline rush. He refrains from kiIIing unarmed prey because there's no _fun_ in it, not because it's "dishonourable." At the end of the movie, after having lost to Dutch, he activates a mini-nuke to take out the pair of them, and he laughs like a maniac as he does so. That's about as dishonourable as you can get! The Predator sequels all dropped the ball as far as I'm concerned when it comes to what the Predators themselves are supposed to be, but Predator 2 is the one that started all these silly trends. Just my opinion.
Yo you got a subscription ur genuinely funny and you have made me laugh and hurt my side multiple times today I look forward to watching more of ur content
Greetings noble Drinker. Long time subscriber, first comment post. Nice choice on 2010 Year We Make Contact being an underrated sequel. There is a cinematic tour de force called Surviving the Game starring Ice-T, Gary Busey, Charels S. Dutton; F.Murray Abraham, and Rutger Hauer. I have never in my life seen any mention or analysis of it on RU-vid if you care to look into it. Thanks mate for all you do! Cheers.
@@SumDumGy_formerly_Tim_WaldenI argue it is very underrated. Absolutely no one talks about it but a few people in the comments section. To me, that's underrated.
Really happy to see 2010 getting some recognition. It did a good job at humanizing HAL through his related AI SAL. The ending where he understands the importance of life and encourages his creator to leave and live is a great redemption arc
Was coming on here to say just this! I watched 2010 first as a kid before I watched 2001, which admittedly might color my judgement, but I think 2010 is the better overall movie.
I loved Rocky 2. It felt like a natural follow-up to Rocky, and it still held true to the ethos and spirit of the first movie. It's also in Rocky 2 that Apollo Creed becomes a much more nuanced character rather than simply an obstacle and a goal for Rocky. You can really see how the bout with Rocky really ate away into Apollo's psyche. Also loved how Rocky 2 deepened Rocky's relationship with Paulie and Adrian. I enjoyed the later sequels for what they are (at least if we ignored Rocky 5), but by that point they've become your typical 80s action film while Rocky 2 at heart is still a drama.
Good list. It's been so long since I've seen the sequels for Rocky, Predator, and Ghostbusters that I could just re-enjoy them from a fresh perspective now. I also never even saw the space odyssey movies. Perhaps I should give them a go also. Thanks for the recs Drinker!
Tremors 2. I adore that movie. The script (by the same writers, one of whom also directs) is just as tight, entertaining, and inventive as the original, playing on what we currently know and then sprinkling in new twists and a new part of the evolving graboid life cycle to figure out. It may not have the budget of the original, but it never feels like a 'small' direct-to-video sequel. It's got some great action, lots of memorable dialogue (especially for Burt Gummer), plenty of humour, a tightly-knit and enjoyable cast of characters ... yeah, it's a great damn movie!
I like all the Tremors movies but my favorite is actually Tremors 4--a sequel (actually a prequel) that almost no one has seen. It features graboids in the old West. And since I love Westerns, this sequel was my favorite. How could you go wrong with fast 6-gun shooters and monsters?
My favorite Rocky scene was from Part II, with Duke telling Apollo to "let it go". "I saw you beat that man, like I never seen no man get beat before, and the man kept coming after you. We don't need that kind of man in our life"
Heyyy, what a Great video! Seriously, Drinker, I hope you do a sequel to this one, as there are probably enough for a top 10. I REALLY appreciate your inclusion of Rocky 2. That movie has so many great moments, like when Adrian recovers & tells Rocky to win, the end of the fight with Apollo where it comes down to who can get up. Guess I was too young to remember it being panned by critics. In 1981 or 82 it was on Showtime and we watched every time it played. Your analysis at 4:04 min. is much appreciated, with understandings that never occurred to me as a teen. I'm elated that you included 2010: The Year We Make Contact. Agree 1,000%!! Makes me cry every time. And Predator 2. YES, 1,000%!!
A lot of Die hard 2 was filmed at the old Denver, Stapleton international airport. I flew out of there many times when I was young and watching it recently brought back memories!
Predator 2 does a good job in adding onto the Predator species, like how they hunt anything (including Xenomorphs), have a sense of honour, don't fight those who are pregnant (the pregnant cop), or have fake weapons (kid with a toy gun) and also making each Predator look unique too
The "sense of honour" is the most egregious thing about Predator 2 for me. The Predator in the first movie has no sense of honour He's a thrill-seeker who does what he does for the adrenaline rush. At the end of the movie he activates a mini-nuke to take out both himself and Dutch after Dutch beat him - that's about as dishonourable as you can get! For some reason the writers of the sequel missed that part of the first movie and incorrectly interpreted the Predator's refusal to attack unarmed prey as some sort of "honour" thing as opposed to there just being no fun in it. This is what started the awful trend of making the Predators heroes. 🤦♂️
Hi drinker,love your stuff and unfortunatly agree with almost all of it :D,just finished watching Reacher season 2 and damnnnnn its even better than first and wonder if you got around to it,man realy want to see your toughts about it,last episode was bonkers :D keep up with great work ,much love from Croatia :)
Totally agree with the top two. Ghostbusters 2 and Predator 2 were both great movies. One I would add (albeit a sequel to a sequel) is Alien 3. I loved the first film for it's tension, never knowing where the alien was and seeing it pick off the crew one by one. Aliens went full gung-ho. It was a good film, thanks mostly to Sigourney, but it lost every single element that made the first one so great. Alien 3 was a brilliant return to the original style. Why it got so much hate I'll never understand.
Rest in peace, Bill Paxton. Like Kurt Russell, he brought that "extra something" that elevated movies like "Predator 2" and "A Simple Plan" to snother level.
I’m 44 years old and some of my most memorable movie going experiences were when I saw Aliens, Predator, and the first two Die hard films in the theater and this is why I have no hopes that anything will ever top those theatrical experiences because not much has even come close in decades.
Oh my god, thank you for talking about Ghostbusters 2! I have always loved it for every reason you stated. Underrated by people who have probably never seen it, or at least haven't seen it since the 90s. Deserves to be rediscovered.
I find Roboop 2 to be extremely underrated. I think Irving Kershner did a brilliant job. The original Robocop is about how Murphy becomes Robocop, Robocop 2 is about his decision to carry on as Roboop, in essence, its the story of him establishing himself as a bonafide superhero; in spite of all the weight he has to carry as Robocop, in spite of the tragic nature of his existence, he carries on, not because of his programming, but because of his sense of duty. We finally see in Robocop 2 just what makes Murphy who he is. The moment where he electrocutes himself to erase OCP's programming and finds no prime directives...and immediately resumes his cop duties was awesome. He was CHOOSING to do that, it wasn't OCP, it was Murphy choosing to be the best cop he could be. In a sense, I think Robcop 2 is one of the most conservative movies there's been, because it is in a sense all about the hero's sense of duty and restraint and the power that his "Irish Catholic" upbringing had to instill those virtues in him whereas in Kaine we see the opposite, a man with no restraint or sense of duty to something greater than himself.
It was much darker and pulls no punches Robocop 2 was a worthy sequel I mean how do you top the shotgun scene from the 1st film you don't. Robocop 3 was a farse.
T2 was the greatest sequel, followed by Empire Strikes back.. And, despite its problems, I want to give the Matrix 2 some love. It wasn't as so neatly cohesive as 1, but it had a lot of interesting ideas, action sequences, and, unlike 3, that tried to go too epic, and who got weighed down trying tie everything together 2 felt like a foray, further into the IP that had been piqued in 1. It had its own identity, and had my attention for the duration of the run-time. But these are all "great" sequels, not necessarily "underated" ones..🤷♂️
2010 was a pleasure to watch. The dynamic between John Lithgow and Elya Baskin was phenomenal. To this day I intentionally mix up “piece of cake and easy as pie”. Dana Elcar’s Russian accent nearly caused me to crap myself from laughter.
I liked that movie at the time, it was a fresh breath of air in a time full of jingoistic 'Murrica, f*** yeah' Cold War movies, the Leonov became the inspiration for the Babylon 5 Omega Destroyer, and I find that in a time where we are in a proxy war with Russia it has become oddly relevant again.
YES! agree 100%. I've always appreciated, enjoyed and defended all these sequels as well. DH2 Pred2 GB2 Especially. Ill even add Robocop 2 to this list.
Great video, I agree completely. These are all some of my favourite movies of all time, right up there with their deservedly classic predecesors. Cheers!
I missed it in the cinema but my Dad had a DVD and I put it on one day out of curiosity. I agree that it's an excellent film in its own right but being under the shadow of it's predecessor I understand why it's been neglected. My favourite aspect are the relationships between the crew despite the build up to war on Earth. John Lithgow & Elya Baskin becoming firm friends despite the initial frosty reception from the other cosmonauts beautifully highlighted the futility of what is taking place back home.
I've watched 2010 about once a year since it came out. Absolutely love it and was thrilled to see it featured. Fellow cinephiles always rolls their eyes when I mention it and that's just absurd. It's damn good. Watched it again today, still holds up. I mean, Roy Scheider in anything, yeah?
_2001_ is a movie that cinema snobs fawn over, but I just don't enjoy it. Much rather read the book. I haven't enjoyed any of Kubrick's other films, either. _2010_ is actually fun to watch. The characters actually get to be characters and everything. And the resolution of HAL's subplot ought not be forgotten.
Dude I can't believe you mentioned Predator 2! I completely agree. Great film not a lot of people know about that one these days. Love Danny Glover. Good choice
The Riddick sequels are pretty underrated. Chronicles was a bold attempt at doing "dark gritty Star Wars" and looks like a masterpiece next to Rebel Moon!
Predator 2 expanded the lore of the alien hunter more than any other film before and after. It really drove home that it wasn't muscle or brawn that could defeat the predator, but intellect.
As a kid seeing the group of Predators dap up the main character after killing on of their own was pretty sweet. I definitely wanted to join their gang.
_Predators_ was also awesome in that regard. It was an homage to the first movie, but they relied on their cunning and wits to overpower their captors. It expanded the lore and nailed the atmosphere of the original film to a tee. No idea why the Drinker didn't like it, but whatever. 🤷♂️
Couldn’t agree more, and by changing up location it gave us a look at how the predator hunts in a different kind of jungle. Also it introduced new characters and did something right, which is make me care about the characters and I was upset when they got picked off. Great sequel 😃👍🏼💯
Exactly right about Predator 2 in regards to Arnold's lack of presence. Predator was perceived as a Arnold Schwarzenegger movie similar to Conan the Barbarian rather than a "Predator" movie, so the perception was it didn't make any sense making a sequel without Arnold. But it was a great movie regardless.
Drinker you read my mind. Predator 2 is so underrated. As a sequal and a Sci Fi horror. I love this movie. It's probably my favorite of the franchise and in my top 5 favorite films. It's just such a bonkers movie with the Jamaican gang (love King Willie and his monolog)and the cops and the feds and the predator...fabulous stuff. Man it's good to see this film get some positive recognition. Absolute classic.
Thank you for listing Ghostbusters 2. I actually enjoyed it when I saw it in theaters and the abandoned subway scene is still legit creepy after all these years.
Agreed. I was 5 years old when it was released and was probably one of the first, if not the first movie I saw in theaters with my dad which helped to spark a lifelong love of the theater and a bonding experience with my father. GBII has always been one of my favorite movies.
A plot thread they hinted at but largely abandoned was Louis Tully and Slimer (who they kind of had to retcon as a "good" or at least less-bad ghost) teaming up.
I was 6 when that movie came out and had to leave the theater because it scared the crap out of me. That part in the sewers and the part where the painting came to life with the creepiest looking dude ever along with the floating baby was hard to take.
Wholeheartedly agree with 2010: The Year We Make Contact. I'd seen the first one a few times and found it, as Drinker stated, "pretentious." But the sequel made me love the two movies when viewed in tandem. And, yes, HAL's redemption was almost perfect and made perfect sense. One of the few truly worthy sequels.
So glad to see “2010” getting some love. I’d watch Roy Scheider in almost anything and Hal getting his heroic bow makes the movie worth it all by itself. And speaking of watching Roy Scheider in anything I’d add “Jaws 2” to this list. As with all the other films you list it had the impossible task of living up to an original that is legitimately one of the greatest movies of all time. It naturally fails to do so, but taken on its own merits it’s a perfectly serviceable killer shark movie that is vastly superior to modern Jaws knockoffs like “The Meg”.
Jaws 2 is maybe the 2nd best killer shark movie ever... but the gap between that one and the original is huge! The rest are all tied for a distant 3rd. Still, Scheider is amazing -- the scene where he tries to nerve himself to wade into the water to recover a bit of plot-important flotsam is amazingly good, in a small satisfying way.
Poor HAL was driven insane because he was ordered to lie to the original crew, and that really put him in a new perspective and made a lot of sense. I also agree about "Jaws 2", but hey, "The Meg" is still a *fun* knockoff! 😁
@@charlesws7825Yeah, poor HAL, he murdered 4 people in could blood but he was really just misunderstood...or misprogrammed. Clarke had a soft spot for the thing, but to me he'll always be the bad guy.
2001 was one of the few movies that got past my filter where I was genuinely pissed I wasted my time on it. So much promise throughout the journey squandered by a giant VFX barf in place of an ending. Now I'm wondering if 2010 fixes that. Didn't even know it existed
@@SepticFuddy I think of 2001 as an art house movie. 2010 has a very good story but has a good foundation of using 2001 with 'what the hell happened?" I think 2010 does a pretty damn good job of sorting that out.
One sequel I'd add to the list for sure is TRON: Legacy. It's a surprisingly deep and satisfying story about an old man and his son both finding their places in the world, taking on the question of what it really means to be human in an increasingly digital world through the lens of a parent reconciling with his child. It's paired with my favorite-ever sci-fi visual design aesthetic and a famously killer score courtesy of Hans Zimmer and Daft Punk. It fell fairly flat at the box office when it released back in 2010, but with a textbook example of the Joseph Campbell hero circle and incredible VFX that still hold up 14 years later, I will always contend that this movie is scandalously underrated.
I love that movie so much. It is easily my second favorite movie! I love watching it late night in the dark. Vibrant visuals, the techno music and all the action just fits in place. Along with a good story line !
@@Dystopia1111 Well, looks like you're going to get your wish. Apparently, the third Tron movie is in the works. Last I heard, it had the working title of TRON: Ares and involved Jared Leto in some way. I don't know exactly what kind of time table they're aiming for, but it may come sometime in the next 2-4 years.
Totally agree about Ghostbusters II. I avoided it for decades, believing the reputation it had garnered. Then I watched it for the first time just at the end of last year with my 15 year-old daughter who I'd introduced to the original a couple of years ago which she had absolutely loved. Yup - Ghostbusters II really isn't all that bad at all, and I couldn't believe I had denied myself that further slice of goodness for so long.
They explained Dutch's absence in Predator 2 - I can't remember if only in the book or in the movie too - he was being treated in a hospital with PTSD and other trauma. And it's kinda understandable..
I have a giant Vigo The Carpathian portrait on my wall. 😆 He definitely wasn't a forgettable villain for me - as a kid, the idea of a genocidal tyrant confined to live in his own portrait and trying to possess a baby so he could be fully reborn kinda stuck with me. And his whole "On a mountain of skulls, in the castle of pain...." opening monologue I thought was heavy metal as fuck haha! 🤘
Imo both Ghostbusters don’t really ride on the back of their villains. Gozer the Gozerian is more or less just a special effect and not really a great villain. But his job isn’t to carry the plot, he only needs to be the iceberg on the path to hit the titanic for what the movie needs.
@@Duomaxwell02M I thought 2010 was more of a political thriller and a decent one. Removing the 2001 elements from the story wouldn't have harmed the film and would have allowed it to be judged on its own merits.
2010 is an amazing movie. The atmosphere breaking scene is incredible! And I have always loved how much is explained and ties up the story. Great video, Drinker!
I'm glad you mentioned Ghostbusters 2. That's my favorite Ghostbusters, I genuinely like it more than the original. I haven't seen 2010 but all these sequels that I have seen are pretty damn good movies, and mostly the best case scenarios for following up the absolute monoliths of their first installments.
Sweet list, Drinker! I’m on board with you on each movie. I actually saw Predator 2 before Predator due to me being a big Glover fan back then. Loved it then and now. Even though I get why Predator 1 is so loved, I’m not sure I would really put it above the second.
Watching Rocky get mocked while struggling to read almost brings me to tears. Stallone played it perfectly. I love when Adrian backs him up too. The feels...
@@rmhartmanthe First Blood breakdown is phenomenal. I think he's one of those actors who only really fits in particular kinds of roles, but anyone who says he isn't great at what he does well have no idea what they're talking about.
@@Vivi_9 the problem with that is the majority of viewers are only on these channels to suck up that sort of anti-woke garbage so that they know what sort of opinions to have about everything. They're not interested in anything that actually has to do with cinema.
Hot take for many people, but Alien³. I actually enjoyed it. Sure, it doesnt compare with the first two, but it's still a good, tense, horror sci-fi movie. And it was in production hell as well, nearly ending Fincher's career.
I quite liked the second ace ventura. It feels like they really hit the mark by just delivering more of the same, but with a fresh new plot and location. I know its only a comedy movie but the jokes really stand on their own and don't feel laboured or tired. We get more of the same humour but it somehow feels new and engaging.
I can't agree that it delivered "more of the same." The sequel is way more unhinged, as the comedy is way less grounded in the real world. There's not as much ridiculousness in the first one as in the second one. In the first one, the only thing I can think of is Ace being dragged around by the shark. In the second one, it's full of lunacy, such as his parking, him performing insane surgeries on the natives, torturing a guy with "scrape a plate" sounds, coming out of mech rhino's behind, him calling all animals to him with an animal call, and so on. The first one felt like he was a crazy man in the regular world (as @DeadManWalkin-ym1oo says), whereas the second movie feels more like a world detached from reality; it's cartoon logic. Contrary to DeadManWalkin-ym1oo, however, I really like it. I think I prefer the total lunacy of a cartoon-like world found in the sequel over the odd match of the one crazy man in an otherwise normal world we get in the first movie.
"2010" is definitely underrated. With all the good things you talk about, I would like to call out the scene where they dock with Discovery as a true excellent piece of cinema that captured the fear of a bizarre and dangerous setting (and John Lithgow did an tremendous job!). The scene doesn't add a whole lot to the overall plot, but it's a great slice of life showing a difficult situation in a realistic and compelling way.
The fact that carl weathers shows up twice on this this list is more then enough justice to give him a star on the hollywood hall of fame. Bro is an absolute legend and appreciate predator 1 immensely. Give him his dues.
Totally agree with your list man! I would’ve listed most of those myself, didn’t actually realise there was a sequel 2001 will watch that now. Thank you!
