In case that’s clear as mud, this is about film “subtitles”—the confusingly named “second” title, typically placed after a colon, used on many films. Often, but not always for a sequel.
I got to thinking about this the other day when I was musing about my own favorite such subtitles. Almost everyone else picks Breakin’ 2’s Electric Boogaloo as their go-to “joke” sequel title, which is understandable, but that’s actually not one of my personal favorites.
Mine are actually:
•Darkman III: Die Darkman Die. I dunno, maybe it’s just the way it’s so nakedly gruesome, yet somehow still retains that grip of restraint. An exclamation point would have ruined it. But as it is, “Die Darkman Die” is an oath, escaping through clenched jaws.
•Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn
I’ve never seen this movie. I thought I’d seen parts of it, but it turned out I was thinking of Steel Dawn. But I think that’s for the best, really. As the title tells me—in many, portentous and chilling words—absolutely nothing about the story.
Leaving aside the “Metalstorm” for the moment—whatever that, it, or he is—“Jared Syn”? Is that a person? A place? Does Jared Syn wreak destruction? Is it about the quest to destroy Jared Syn? Is it a King Lear-style chronicle of the downfall of Jared Syn? Does the Metalstorm actually figure into these events, or is it just the heritage title of a series? Is it a metaphorical “Metal storm,” or some kind of brand name, or a literal storm of metal of some kind?
This title isn’t just oblique, it’s actually impossible to understand. It sounds wonderful, intimidating, bleak, and it might as well be gibberish. Half of it is gibberish, really.
You can’t even tell what genre the movie is, unless you at least see the poster. Which tells you that it might be science fiction. Or maybe fantasy. Or science-fantasy. Or post-apocalyptic action. Or some kind of especially weird Hong Kong action movie.
So, to this day, “The Destruction of Jared-Syn” is one of my favorite movie titles, and I have no idea what it means. And a part of me doesn’t want to know. It could never measure up to the giant in my imagination.
So,those are my picks…but what are YOUR favorite “subtitles”? And/or which ones do you feel truly stand among the greats, for reasons serious or lighthearted?