Post by MWGallaher on May 26, 2021 13:24:12 GMT -5
I've been thinking about sequel titles.
In recent years, it seems the movie world has been rebounding from simply numbering sequels (a trend that--as far as I can determine--began with THE GODFATHER: PART II and then FRENCH CONNECTION II).
Hollywood's norm now appears to be subtitles such as SPIDER-MAN: Far From Home and WONDER WOMAN: 1984.
There have been plenty in between that combined both approaches (e.g. STAR TREK II: The Wrath of Khan, HIGHLANDER II: The Quickening).
Less often, sequels don't explicitly incorporate the exact titles of their predecessor, like the sequel to ROMANCING THE STONE, THE JEWEL OF THE NILE.
Another approach is to give the sequel a variation on the original's title or otherwise echo it (ANALYZE THIS/ANALYZE THAT, EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE/ANY WHICH WAY YOU CAN). I can think of at least one instance that combined this with numbering (THE WHOLE NINE YARDS/THE WHOLE TEN YARDS).
And then there's real oddball cases where the sequel assigns a number to title that wasn't used in the first place, like RAMBO III, following the title transition instituted by the first sequel in the series, RAMBO: First Blood Part II. And the most annoying variation on the numbering approach, PART 2 WALKING TALL.
So, without regard to the quality of the sequels what are some of your favorite titles given to sequels, whether on film, in literature, TV, or other media? I wouldn't expect anyone's favorite to be a numbered one ("SUPERMAN II just sounds way cooler than plain old SUPERMAN!"), but which sequel titles generated intrigue and excitement and enticed you the most?
The first that came to my mind was BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES. That had to be an unexpected one--what viewer would have thought to ponder whether there'd be anything worth filming beneath the planet of the apes? So much cooler than the obvious "Return to" would have been!
Another I'm quite fond of is THE MUMMY'S HAND. Why zero in on that particular body part? I don't know, but the title captivated me.
In recent years, it seems the movie world has been rebounding from simply numbering sequels (a trend that--as far as I can determine--began with THE GODFATHER: PART II and then FRENCH CONNECTION II).
Hollywood's norm now appears to be subtitles such as SPIDER-MAN: Far From Home and WONDER WOMAN: 1984.
There have been plenty in between that combined both approaches (e.g. STAR TREK II: The Wrath of Khan, HIGHLANDER II: The Quickening).
Less often, sequels don't explicitly incorporate the exact titles of their predecessor, like the sequel to ROMANCING THE STONE, THE JEWEL OF THE NILE.
Another approach is to give the sequel a variation on the original's title or otherwise echo it (ANALYZE THIS/ANALYZE THAT, EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE/ANY WHICH WAY YOU CAN). I can think of at least one instance that combined this with numbering (THE WHOLE NINE YARDS/THE WHOLE TEN YARDS).
And then there's real oddball cases where the sequel assigns a number to title that wasn't used in the first place, like RAMBO III, following the title transition instituted by the first sequel in the series, RAMBO: First Blood Part II. And the most annoying variation on the numbering approach, PART 2 WALKING TALL.
So, without regard to the quality of the sequels what are some of your favorite titles given to sequels, whether on film, in literature, TV, or other media? I wouldn't expect anyone's favorite to be a numbered one ("SUPERMAN II just sounds way cooler than plain old SUPERMAN!"), but which sequel titles generated intrigue and excitement and enticed you the most?
The first that came to my mind was BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES. That had to be an unexpected one--what viewer would have thought to ponder whether there'd be anything worth filming beneath the planet of the apes? So much cooler than the obvious "Return to" would have been!
Another I'm quite fond of is THE MUMMY'S HAND. Why zero in on that particular body part? I don't know, but the title captivated me.
