# Movie sequels that, for a wonder, didn't suck **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 5, 2004, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-sequels-that-for-a-wonder-didnt-suck/258528 "2004-08-05T23:09:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-sequels-that-for-a-wonder-didnt-suck/258528/21 "2004-08-08T21:44:41Z")
IMHO, _The Black Stallion Returns_ was superior to the original. Oh sure, _The Black Stallion_ was pretty to look at, but I’ve always preferred its sequel. It’s all fantasy, but the second one makes the fantasy seem more plausible. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-sequels-that-for-a-wonder-didnt-suck/258528/22 "2004-08-08T21:55:43Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > You mean I’m not the only one? As a former comic fanboy, I should have loved the movie (as I have every Marvel movie in the past five years sans _The Hulk_) but it sucked. Sucked, sucked, sucked. Well, I didn’t think it sucked, but i also don’t think the words “superhero” and “angst” belong together. Many don’t remember the series of unendingly bad Marvel movies from the past before the recent X-men. And Marvel hasn’t done all that well since- Spidey I= v.good, XmenII- not as good as I Hulk- a kids flick Daredevil- Jennifer Garner in leather _almost_ saved this film. 😉 Almost. ☹ Punisher- “not as bad as the first one with Dolph” eh. :rolleyes: Spidey II- Wow- lots of angst! Lots of our hero making cow eyes! Umm- wheres the heroics? Right- one climatic battle… :rolleyes: House II- way better than House I. “I” being a cheap horror film, II being a parody/horror/comedy/adventure thing that was suprisingly good. ---
**Author:** ![Murcielago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Murcielago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Murcielago)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-sequels-that-for-a-wonder-didnt-suck/258528/23 "2004-08-08T22:36:54Z")
> [@Master Control](#): > > Although a lot of people will disagree, I thought that **Temple of Doom** was much better than **Raiders of the Lost Ark** , dispite all of what’s her names screaming and shreeking. Damn, well I guess I gotta give you credit for sharing an unpopular opinion. I don’t think _Temple of Doom_ was utterly horrid, but you thought it was _better_ than _Raiders of the Lost Ark_? _Temple_ had some clever stunts and a few cool images, but it lacked the perfect pacing and general charm of _Raiders_. Add the grating “cute kid” character and the incredibly annoying presence of Kate Capshaw, and you a have movie best enjoyed by searching to the good parts rather than watching it in its entirety. But hey, that’s just my opinion. (cough) you’re crazy (cough) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-sequels-that-for-a-wonder-didnt-suck/258528/24 "2004-08-09T02:48:43Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Well, I didn’t think it sucked, but i also don’t think the words “superhero” and “angst” belong together. You have heard of Batman, haven’t you? Or, for that matter, Gilgamesh? The angst-ridden superhero is as old an archetype as the superhero as such. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-sequels-that-for-a-wonder-didnt-suck/258528/25 "2004-08-09T03:02:42Z")
Whatever it was that drove Batman, it wasn’t angst. He knew what he wanted - vengeance - and he went after it. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-sequels-that-for-a-wonder-didnt-suck/258528/26 "2004-08-09T03:22:31Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > Whatever it was that drove Batman, it wasn’t angst. He knew what he wanted - vengeance - and he went after it. Yeah, well, that would actually make the guilt-ridden Spiderman a much healthier personality by comparison, wouldn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-sequels-that-for-a-wonder-didnt-suck/258528/27 "2004-08-09T12:52:36Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Yeah, well, that would actually make the guilt-ridden Spiderman a much healthier personality by comparison, wouldn’t it? Healthier, sure, but a far less forceful personality. At least, I think that’s the bone being picked with puny Parker. Outside the costume, in the comics, Peter’s always been a dishrag. Overcome by indecision, guilt, etc. … in other words, angst. Batman, as pointed out, knows exactly what he wants to do. He’s driven. He’s decisive. He knows what’s right and wrong, and with few exceptions here and there, just does it. Obviously, each character has some moments where they reverse type, but for the most part, Spidey’s the worry-wart, and Batman’s the dark avenger. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-sequels-that-for-a-wonder-didnt-suck/258528/28 "2004-08-09T14:38:04Z")
That’s the Marvel way from way back. The DC icons are pre-adolescent power fantasies. Superman and Batman, in their own ways, can conquer and obstacle, do anything. Marvel, OTOH, is about adolescent angst. Spidey’s problems and doubts, the alienation of the X-Men. Peter’s tribulation are one step away from being “passion of the Spider-Man”. It sucks to be a Marvel hero like it sucks to be a teen. In recent years, Marvel has mellowed a bit while DC became more nuanced, but they both still carry these at teh core of their characters beings. IMHO, Raimi nailed the style and feel of 60’s/70’s Spider-Man. I’m not sure if its the best Superhero film, but it’s certainy the best Supers comic adaption I’ve yet seen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-sequels-that-for-a-wonder-didnt-suck/258528.md?page=1)