HK originals vs. sequels

[Mikestar*]

I just watched the third in the collection of 'Her Fatal Ways' series and although it was quite funny in parts, it lacked the 'sparkle' of the original. I thought the same of the second in the series even though they were all made by the same director with recurrent characters.

This made me reflect on the numerous 'series' of films in HK cinema and how often sequels tend to match up to their originals. What do you guys think overall?

Just to get the ball rolling, thought I'd note a few of my preferences from well known series..

'Young & Dangerous' - Original is the best by far

'Infernal Affairs' - Original

'Prison on Fire' - Number Two outshines

'Once Upon a Time in China' - Personally, prefer Number Two

'Chinese Ghost Story' - Original

'God of Gamblers' - The 'Return' episode..

Anyone else with input

[calros]

"Police Story" the best is the 3rd.

"Drunken Master" the best is the 2nd.

"Kung Fu Kids" the best is the 2nd.

"A Touch of Zen" the best is the 2nd.

"Aces Go Places"... the worst is the 1st.

[Fan]

"Aces Go Places"... the worst is the 1st.

I "remember" it's good.

[calros]

How old were you when you saw this movie?
I did not say it was (really) bad... only the worst of the series.

[Fan]

How old were you when you saw this movie?
I did not say it was (really) bad... only the worst of the series.

40? Just kidding, I understand what you're saying so I said: I remember it's good.

[Loulou]

The worst is the lau kar leung n° 5 !!! No doubt on it !!!!

I like very much the number one too.

[calros]

The 5th one, "The Terracotta Hit" is at least the movie which has the best martial scenes of all the series. And my fav of the series.
The martial scenes of the rest of the movies of the series are simply BAD.

[Loulou]

When i watch a movie like AGP, i watch comedy first, the action is a bonus. And we are lucky in France to have a excellent postsynchro for the first opus. It's maybe why i like this one so much.....

[Brian Thibodeau]

'Young & Dangerous' - Original is the best by far

Personally, I felt the YOUNG & DANGEROUS movies got technically more sophisticated as they went along, in keeping with the evolution of the characters, but I'd select Y&D 2 as my all time favourite. There's just so much going on in that movie!

ACES GO PLACES II is my favourite in that series. It refines and defines everything that makes such a series so amazing. I would say Part 5 is the least of the series, though it does indeed feature some nice martial arts scenes lacking from the other four entries.

GOD OF GAMBLERS III: BACK TO SHANGHAI is tops on my list among the "Gamblers" series. GOD OF GAMBLERS RETURNS resides at the bottom of the list.

On a similar note, I love CONMAN IN TOKYO over it's two predecessors, largely because it throws in everything but the kitchen sink and bears no pretentions, although all three films have their moments. Haven't seen CONMAN 2002 yet.

DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS is much more preferable to its sequel.

Anyone here seen every TROUBLESOME NIGHT movie yet? Any favourites there?

[JohnR]

A spinoff rather than a sequel, but I thought Portland Street Blues was the best of the whole Y&D collection, and the Prequel stood out, too; but I liked them all.

The first Infernal Affairs is much better than 2 & 3.

[calros]

3 against 1...

[Brian Thibodeau]

You're a stand-alone guy, Carlos!

[STSH]

'Young & Dangerous' - Original is the best by far

'Prison on Fire' - Number Two outshines

'Once Upon a Time in China' - Personally, prefer Number Two

'Chinese Ghost Story' - Original

'God of Gamblers' - The 'Return' episode..

Part 2 is better for :

* Y&D (3 was awful)

*CGS (3 was good, but a letdown)

* Daughter of Darkness

* Drunken Master (3 was awful)

* A Moment Of Romance (3 was awful)

* Swordsman

* Savious Of The Soul
(can't understand why this choice is controversial)

* Fist Of Fury 1991

Agreed, with POF II, GOG Return

Looks like I like 1st sequels .......
For me, Part 2's tend to be better than the originals, and Part 3's tend to be a letdown.

And for originals :

OUATIC (part 2 deeply sucked)

[Loulou]

Ouahhhh, another fan of Saviour of the Souls 2 !!!!

We have a few fans in France of this misunderstood movie too....

[Beat TG]

- Drunken Master = DM 2

- Tiger Cage = TG 2

- Police Story = PS 2

- Young & Dangerous = Y&D 1

- Once Upon a Time in China = OUATIC 2

- The Lucky Stars = W&S

- A Better Tomorrow = ABT 1

[calros]

- Police Story = PS 2

PS 2

Even "Project S" is better. (well I think )

[Mike Thomason]

Hmmm, the sequelitis debate rages again...

I like Police Story 2 a little more than part 1, a lot more than part 3, loads more than part 4 (First Strike)...but part 5 (New Police Story) sits on counter balance grounds.

Once Upon A Time In China - parts 1 & 2 stand well, parts 3/4/5 are all pretty lacklustre and part 6 (China & America)...I can't even remember, except that Shanghai Noon was the basis of the story it was stolen from.

Swordsman films - Swordsman II outshines both of its surrounding films

Young & Dangerous - this is kinda weird...parts 1 & 2 are definitely outstanding, parts 3 & 4 are so-so, part 5 is good again, the retroactive part 6 has its charms, and part 7 (Born To Be King) is a fine return to form as a series closer. However, side projects Those Were The Days and Portland Street Blues eclipse near everything in the entire series.

A Chinese Ghost Story - love them all equally

Downtown Torpedoes is better than followup Skyline Cruisers

Legend Of Speed is better than forerunner Full Throttle

A Better Tomorrow - part 1 is a classic, part 3 a cool reimagining...and I wish that part 2 never existed (as its negatives outweigh its positives)

He's A Woman, She's A Man & Who's The Woman, Who's The Man are equals in every way imaginable

Saviour of the Soul 1 & 2 - I rate equally, as neither are really good films

God Of Gamblers - the original and part 3 (The Early Stage) are fine, part 2 (Returns) is an unmitigated dud of flying paper and hammy performances.

And sidelining into the unofficial gambling films for a moment...

All For The Winner is better than Saint Of Gamblers; God Of Gamblers III: Back To Shanghai is better than God Of Gamblers II; I enjoyed Conman In Tokyo over Conman and Conman in Vegas, and well over Conman 2002 -- but Fate Fighter and My Name Is Nobody were worthy entries in the "Conman" series; Casino Raiders far surpasses Casino Raiders II: No Risk, No Gain and Casino Raiders II

...meanwhile...

Tokyo Raiders was more entertaining than Seoul Raiders

Dragon Loaded and Dragon Reloaded stand the same ground

Running Out Of Time was a better film than its sequel (but the sequel was funnier)

Peacock King amused me more than Saga Of The Phoenix

Visible Secret was much better than part 2

A Wicked Ghost 1, 2 & 3 all sucked - so that's something they had in common

Heroic Trio did more for me than the sequel (Executioners), but it's a close call

I could go on...but my fingers are getting tired of typing...if I think of any more (of which there are possibly hundreds, I'll jot a few down if time permits...)

Michael