Sequel Baiting #9 - How to Train Your Dragon 1 & 2

We’re going to end sequel baiting with something a little different. Sequel baiting is a massive time drain, which is why I’ve ultimately decided to cancel it. But I love this franchise and I want to look into their library of TV series at some point, so where better to start than with the 2 movies that have come out. I am aware there’s a third due out next year, which is why this would not normally qualify for the sequel baiting treatment. So, think of it is me combining 2 mini reviews together, patching together my thoughts, with a little compare and contrast. There won’t be categories or scoring on this one, but I hope it’s still relatively clear

Sequel Baiting #8 - Bill & Ted - Excellent Adventure vs Bogus Journey

We’re going back a bit for this one, Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves star as Bill and Ted. At their heart, they’re goofy comedies about 2 dim-witted boys who need to accomplish an objective with some involvement of time travel. They’re not meant to be taken seriously, but they still hold value as movies. But which of the two Bill and Ted movies is the better one. If you believe the critics and the box office you’d believe the first one, but I propose we put ‘em against each other.

But I can only come up with 5 categories, so the bonus point is dropped for this one, I know that might be upsetting but I have what I can work with. Let’s take a look at the Bill and Ted films.

Sequel Baiting #7 - Crank vs Crank: High Voltage

So, time to talk about the highest age-rated movies I’ve ever covered. You remember Jason Statham? He played the extreme character in SPY? He’s also in the Fast and Furious franchise for bit and we’ll be getting to that soon. But this is the movie where he takes the spotlight. And its hardcore action with softcore pornography… Better send the kids to bed before reading this one, folks. In fact, here’s a pre-requisite trigger warning

This review will discuss rape. If this makes you uncomfortable, click away from this review

Interestingly, these movies were distributed by 2 different studios, the first was handled by Universal, the second by Lionsgate, who had a hand in the production of the first, the first made a small profit, making $42m on a $12m budget, but the second was less successful, $34m on a $20m budget. But which is the better movie, I’m gonna judge it over 6 categories, as per usual, there’s a bonus point where one significantly outshines the other

Sequel Baiting #6 - Charlie's Angels vs Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle

Time for something for little less serious. There have been hundreds of takes on the spy genre, but none scream girl power quite like Charlie’s Angels. Based on the 80s TV show, Charlie’s Angels followed 3 sexy spies doing missions for their faceless man known as Charlie. I’ve not seen the show, but I’ve seen the movies… Oh, have I seen the movies. Although the show was ultimately cancelled due to low ratings, Charlie’s Angels has gained a bit of a cult following, can’t imagine why *cough*boobs*cough* spawning the creation of Charlie’s Angels in 2000 and Full Throttle in 2003. (Also a 2011 revival series and a 2019 remake *sigh*) critically and commercially, the first comes out on top, but we’re not here to look at what other people think.

Sequel Baiting #5 - Ghostbusters vs Ghostbusters II

When there’s something strange in your neighbourhood, who you gonna call?

Nah, not today. Today we’re looking at the originals in this Sequel Baiting Halloween Special

Yeah, it probably is odd that I haven’t done a Halloween special in the past, truthfully, if you’ve seen any of my thriller reviews, you probably know Horror on its own doesn’t interest me. So yes, I’ve not lived with the nostalgia of Ghostbusters, in fact, prior to reviewing this, I hadn't even seen Ghostbusters 2. Both movies enjoyed a certain amount of financial success but it’s clear that the first one was more successful, both critically and financially. Hell, if it weren’t for Linkara saying he preferred the second movie, I’d have called this a foregone conclusion and left it be. But here we are. The rules from the Tomb Raider review apply here, the winner in each of the 6 categories gets a point, with 1 bonus point available for where one outdoes the other most significantly.

Sequel Baiting #4 - Lara Croft - Tomb Raider vs The Cradle of Life

Tomb Raider and Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life are movies based on the Tomb Raider video games, both were critically panned but the second one wasn’t profitable enough for the film venture to continue and despite a new actor being announced when Tomb Raider: Underworld came out, no Tomb Raider movie has arrived yet, although a trailer was released for one 2 weeks ago (and in my opinion it just looks like a rehash of the reboot game's story) But which is better. Let’s take a gander. 

And I’m going to change the format a little. Instead of giving each movie a point score out of 5, I’ll grant the better of the two one point. There is a single bonus point available for if one movie is significantly better in a particular category.

Sequel Baiting #3: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief vs Sea of Monsters

Percy Jackson has had a tough go in movies, a failed attempt at a 5-movie franchise adapting the popular novels by Rick Riordan. And when I say 'adapting' I mean in the loosest possible fashion. The first movie changes some major elements from the first book. With the second, I wonder if the writers had only flicked through the book before throwing it away and working on their script. But this is not a review that will rank these movies as adaptations, I myself have only read Wikipedia summaries of the plot. Both movies had a similar mixed reception, and made a similar amount of money about $220m, but the second one had a higher budget so it was seen as disappointing. I have seen both of these movies and here are my thoughts.

Sequel Baiting #2 - Nanny McPhee vs Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang

When I think Nanny McPhee I think of a refined version of the Mary Poppins formula. Children who misbehave too badly for conventional nannies to deal with are taught by a stern, female, magician who uses her magic powers to induce delight and wonder as well as to teach. Where I felt Mary Poppins went wrong is by having the ultimate arc be Mr Banks’. Sure, he was stubborn, stuck up and in many ways looked down on his children but it felt like the ultimate resolution was him having a mental breakdown. Nanny McPhee focuses more on the children learning, all whilst incorporating some kind of mischief that’s afoot.

Based on the Nurse Matilda books, Nanny McPhee and its sequel, Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang have both enjoyed moderate critical and commercial success. So why did it end at 2? It had the higher budget and made less money. But the question is, does that mean it’s worse than the original. Well, I’ll be judging on 6 categories

Sequel Baiting #1 - Ghost Rider vs Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

It’s new format time once again, actually the first time since the 4 issue test. Anyway, this is sequel baiting and up first is Ghost Rider vs. Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance.

Released in 2007 and 2012, neither film was massively profitable, leading to the rights reverting to Marvel and their use of the character in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Both films have received critical lambasting but which is better? There’s only way to find out…

Judge them by numerous categories!!!

What? You can’t get 2 movies to fight, that’d be stupid.

I’ll be rating the films on 6 categories, these may change depending on the film being judged, each one will get a rating out of 5 stars, whichever has the most stars is officially the best of the two.

So, let’s get started and look at the plot.