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Sunday Matinee - August 4th, 2013

Greetings.

Before we get to today's matinee question, I'd like to announce that I stepped into the year 2006 and got a twitter account. You can find me @CaliberWinfield, and get direct links to all my updates, and hear about how upset I am that they remade Robocop. I mean, who wouldn't want to follow me?

Today's question should cause some conflicting opinions;

Greatest sequel? I'm leaning towards Expendables 2. The first 10 minutes made all the references to the original it needed to, as sort of a way to say thanks to the fans. They then built on the characters further, introduced others, and ramped up the one-liners, action, and humor. It was everything that a sequel is suppose to be.

Also, big mention to Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, which improved on the original in just about every way imaginable. Also, Friday The 13th: Part 6 - Jason Lives. There's so much to say about that movie that I would be here all day if I were to talk about all of it's high points. Fantastic atmosphere, ingenious kills & effects, and a perfect blend of humor. Awesome film.

How say you?

Comments

  1. Dark Knight is, in my mind, the greatest sequel ever hands down.



    I also love the shit out of Back to the Future 2.

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  2. Body Chemistry 4 starring Shannon Tweed is the greatest Erotic Thriller to ever grace late night premium cable.

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  3. Toy Story 2, much like the original Toy Story, was a fantastic movie. I didn't see much of a dip in quality there, if any.


    I love all the Back to the Future films, so I'll also list BTTF 2 here.


    Terminator 2 also kicked ass.

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  4. You would put Expendables 2 over Toy Story 2, Terminator 2, Dark Knight, Godfather Part 2, Toy Story 3, Skyfall, Empire Strikes Back, Spider-Man 2, Bourne 2 and 3, Fast Five and Fast Six, M:I4, and about a million others I'm not thinking of?

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  5. The Dark Knight and Toy Story 3 are two of my favorites. Its obligatory to mention Godfather 2 so let's just get that out of the way. And if we count a spinoff movie as a sequel, Get Him To The Greek was pretty great.

    Worst sequel ever, imo? Boondock Saints 2. Bad enough that I've cooled off on the original, the sequel is just all levels of atrocious. One of the legit worst movies ever made, and not in a "so bad its good" way.

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  6. Obligatory for a wop to mention Godfather 2.

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  7. You people must be insane. Godfather II. There is no other answer, except for maybe sci-lovers with Empire Strikes Back

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  8. Your answer to most of these questions is The Expendables Caliber :P

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  9. Debbie Does Dallas...2.

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  10. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryAugust 4, 2013 at 11:47 AM

    Greatest sequel: Godfather II, with Empire Strikes Back a close 2nd. The Godfather might be the all-time GOAT in terms of cinema, but its follow-up is every bit its equal and also deserves a nod.

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  11. A few good ones that haven't been mentioned Superman 2, Rambo: First Blood part 2, and Temple of Doom.

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  12. Aliens and Dark Knight. Easy and by a mile.
    Expendables 2 is pretty great though.

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  13. You SERIOUSLY think the greatest sequel ever is Expendables 2, with Nightmare on fucking Elm Street 3 as a serious contender?

    When I first read this post I honestly was perplexed. I felt there had to be some kind of caveat, like best dumb action movie sequel, or best sequel most people hated.

    I'm still not sure that isn't the case and you just forgot to mention it.

    It's your opinion, of course. And hey, I haven't seen Expendables 2, maybe it does indeed top every other sequel ever.

    I doubt it, though... :D

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  14. Back Door Sluts 9

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  15. You aren't too familiar with Caliber, I take it. Being the only person in the world to think some stupid meathead movie is the greatest thing of all time is pretty much his gimmick. We've all just learned to nod along and ignore it, like when your drunk uncle starts his racist rants at Thanksgiving.

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  16. X2, Dark Knight, Terminator 2...

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  17. Movie related Threadjack: I watched Spring Breakers last night, and I wanted to bring it up on here for a few reasons. 1, if anyone hasn't seen it i'd definitely recommend it. Don't let the Teen Beat cast fool you, its an atmospheric moody crime film, kinda similar to Drive in tone, and if that don't grab you its also practically softcore porn. 2, James Franco's character reminded me a little bit of a wiggerish Max Cady, or Waylon Mercy, or Bray Wyatt. Seems contradictory but I got that vibe from it. And 3, for some fucking reason, Jeff Jarrett is in it? How the fuck did that ever happen? He was possibly the last person i'd expect to pop up in that movie.

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  18. Top five favorite sequels, in no particular order: Godfather 2, Superman II, Back to the Future 2, Dark Knight and Die Hard With A Vengeance (does a threequel count?).

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  19. I think it's also obligatory for another wop to up vote.

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  20. To be fair t o CW, I have Expendables 2 in my instant queue on Netflix

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  21. I thought James Franco was great in it, but I didn't really care for the movie. 2 characters are shipped off before the climax for no adequately-explored reason (1 of them at the halfway point of the movie!) and it has this annoying need to repeat the same line(s) over a 3-5 minute stretch. Literally (and not in the Gorilla Monsoon sense). And I would've liked a little more meat to the ending.

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  22. I freaked out when I saw Double J, and then did the Jeff Jarrett strut out of the theatre. I also yelled Ain't I Great HAHAHAH but no one got it.


    Spring Breakers was so hypnotic. I felt like I was in a dream like state. The Everytime scene kills me.

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  23. SPOILER ALERT ON THE CHARACTERS SERIOUSLY DON'T READ THIS IF YOU DON'T WANNA KNOW:


    Selena Gomez's character is established as the good girl who is always uncomfortable by her friend's actions and she reaches a breaking point. So she leaves.


    Rachel Korine's character gets shot and realises she doesn't want the life.


    I liked the matter of factness. Selena Gomez's character leaves and you keep thinking she'll come back and save the day or something. But that's not how it works, and she just goes home,never comes back and is a much better person for it.

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  24. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 4, 2013 at 1:42 PM

    anther reason elm street 3 is awesome:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtR6IrvxeFs

    and another reason jason lives is awesome: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbT8n_ay4fM

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  25. I think the matter-of-factness would've worked better had the movie not been so zany and unlike real life.


    I agree on the Everytime scene though. That was a legit LOL moment.

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  26. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 4, 2013 at 1:49 PM

    i think terminator 2 is a strong candidate. not sayin the original is bad (cause it aint), but some of you youngin's might not remember what a HUGE fuckin' deal it was when t2 came out. even the fact that there was a new GnR song in it was a huge deal


    so when i think of sequels that far outshine the originals (in terms of exposure), t2 is at the top


    honorable mentions go to rambo and mad max beyond thunderdome (yeah, i know it's 3rd in the series)


    aliens was a huge deal, too, but i dont think it outshined alien

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  27. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 4, 2013 at 1:51 PM

    last 30 min killed dark knight for me and dragged it down

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  28. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 4, 2013 at 1:56 PM

    i was thinkin 'boot empire, but i think its lateral to sw. different but still the tits

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  29. Sequels I liked more than Expendables 2 in 2012:


    The Dark Knight Rises
    Avengers
    Skyfall
    Madagascar 3

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  30. Toy Story 3 and Aliens would be my top picks. Both follow excellent movies and somehow exceed them.

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  31. I'll say the Toy Story movies get better each time. The first was good, but Pixar was still feeling things out. Two had more heart and built on the first, and three capped off everything perfectly.

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  32. Gotta love those 80's metal horror themes. Like Peanut Butter and Chocolate.

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  33. I'll throw out some not mentioned.


    Rocky II - A lot of people think this one sucks, but forget that a lot of the iconic Rocky moments are in it. Chasing the chicken. "Yo Adrian I did it!" Also, Mickey is awesome in it. It isn't better than Rocky, but it made a pretty strong movie from something that Stallone was obviously pressured into doing.


    Spider-Man 2 - Much better than the first and a great little Spidey movie.


    Freddy Vs Jason - Does this count as a sequel? I think they did a great job in making a fun movie out of two overblown horror franchises that captured what made both fun. I saw it opening night in a theater that was probably 80% black people that were going apeshit. Best part was when Freddy finally gets pulled into the real world and turns around and Jason is standing there and this big guitar riff hits. Huge mark out.

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  34. Well its Harmony Korine, this might be his most sensical movie ever by comparison. And I actually liked the thing with the repeating lines. If you'll notice, it mirrored a lot of repeating visual images (girls peeing, guns in mouths, the girls breaking through a parting crowd). Consider that and then consider the soundtrack: all dubstep and trap, where a theme will be repeated on a loop and tweaked slightly each time. Basically the movie was a visual poem that mirrored the rhythm of EDM. The plot was secondary, although again, for a Harmony Korine film to even have a plot is uncharacteristic.

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  35. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 4, 2013 at 4:32 PM

    always been a personal fave:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95gM3NAvIfA

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  36. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 4, 2013 at 4:35 PM

    entire theater erupted in applause when they finally squared off

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  37. Let's not forget this great sequel......

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  38. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 4, 2013 at 5:29 PM

    Oh hell yeah, man. Those songs are the fucking jam.

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  39. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 4, 2013 at 5:30 PM

    Don't forget Dave Mustaine's cover of Alice Cooper's "No More Mr. Nice Guy" for the soundtrack. Then he shot the video and was so fucked up on heroine he couldn't pretend-play the guitar and lip-synch at the same time.

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  40. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 4, 2013 at 5:31 PM

    Oh yeah, a sequel is a sequel is a sequel. You have some fantastic choices. Ever see Superman II: The Donner Cut? Superior to the Lester one, I do say.

    And me's thinks you'll damn enjoy Expendables 2. I'm jealous you get to have a first time experience.

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  41. I bought The Donner Cut when I bought the 14-disc Ultimate Superman Collection back in 2007. I like both the Donner Cut and Lester's original, but yeah, I think Donner's is better.

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  42. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 4, 2013 at 5:40 PM

    But see, there's more to it than that.

    I grew up with these action movies. Guys like Arnold, Stallone, Van Damme, Lundgren, they were a huge part of my child hood. While most kids had Star Wars, I had action/martial arts films. Some of my favorite memories of my child hood were watching these films. Then as I got older, I grew to love them even more as the real people behind them inspired me in real life. Be it working out, or busting my ass to make things happen for myself.


    Expendables 2 was such a joy for me. While Expendables 1 [director's cut] is one of my all time favorite films, I think the second one was a bit lighter, and more of a celebration of the over-the-top ridiculous action films. It was like 2 hours of sitting back and going "Oh fuck, remember how awesome this was?! Automatic shot-gun! explosions! Catch phrases!". Plus, I'd been a legit fan of JCVD for years, and thought he always got the shaft when it came to being a serious actor. Well, it was a huge thrill for me to see him on the big screen again, doing spin-kicks and being a bad-ass. Then he got a lot of praise in the press, and it felt like redemption as a fan. Sure, he'd got a lot of good press for JCVD, but it was quite press. Not a lot of people know about this film. But this was a #1 at the box-office, so everyone knew.



    While The Expendables may just be meathead bullshit to a lot of people, to me, it's a celebration of a huge part of my current & past life. It's a celebration of the fun in life. People in that theater were cheering, laughing, and having a fucking grand time as burly dudes solved the worlds problems with fists, abs, catch-phrases, and never-end ammo clips.



    That's why I love Expendables 2.

    But Back to the Future II gives it a run for it's money.

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  43. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 4, 2013 at 5:41 PM

    yep yep yep!

    when i was a wee asshole gettin into metal, it was late '88/early '89. didnt know any peeps to lend me stuff so i relied on headbangers ball. never actually saw any vids like 'peace,' 'wake up,' or 'anarchy' for the longest time believe it or not, so this song was the 1st song i ever heard by 'deth when the vid played. since i liked it i knew i'd like them

    i'd long been admiring the art for peace sells but was too chickenshit to buy it (my folks), but older sister assholette got it for me that christmas

    i also remember there were a few cuts of the vid, some with movie clips and some without. it actually got on mtv's daily top 10 countdown for a while

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  44. "Expendables 2 is my second-favourite sequel, Monsoon."
    "What's your favourite, Brain?"
    "All the others are tied for first!"

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  45. Any answer that isn't The Godfather II is wrong.

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  46. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 4, 2013 at 5:44 PM

    Even if the question is Best All Girl Musical Film, I'll find a way to answer it with The Expendables.

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  47. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 4, 2013 at 5:46 PM

    I'd probably put it neck & neck with Back to the Future II. I gave my reason why, a few responses up.

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  48. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 4, 2013 at 5:47 PM

    amen, man. Whenever I watch the film I turn it off around the time Joker blows up the hospital.

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  49. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 4, 2013 at 5:48 PM

    I've always been a fan of thicker women, so for me growing up, nothing beat a cheap Anna Nicole Smith film on late-night Showtime. Like the Die Hard ripoff Skyscraper. Hell yeah.

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  50. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 4, 2013 at 5:49 PM

    14 discs? Holy shit.

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  51. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 4, 2013 at 5:51 PM

    I'd only recently seen it a few years ago on VH1 Classics' superfantastic Metal Mania. I was pretty surprised, given how "FUCK THE MAINSTREAM!" that trash metal was at the time. But, The Shocker is pretty metal.

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  52. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 4, 2013 at 5:52 PM

    You know, people act like I have no feelings. Just because I rock doesn't mean I'm made out of stone, you know!

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  53. I worked at Hollywood Video for a while and always enjoyed when Skyscraper starring Anna Nicole Smith was rented. Although the Mystery section always had the best direct to video softcore treasures.

    Kids these days won't know the joys of watching late night HBO for brief nudity and the chance of a whiff of boob.

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  54. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 4, 2013 at 6:06 PM

    No kidding. That's one thing that pisses me off about this generation.

    Guys like us? We had to earn our porn! We had to sit through some crappy Hard-R mystery/thriller for the chance of some boobage. Or we had to get Playboys from our friends at school and try to hide them at home.

    Then, when we finally got computers, all we had access to was photos, and 10 second porn clips that took 30 minutes to download!

    Not to mention watching Scramblevision and being like "Oh snaps! It's clear for a second! Boobies!"

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  55. Yeah, it was a ridiculous collection I got for about $100. I almost re-bought it on Blu-Ray a couple months back when Groupon had a deal, but I couldn't justify it to myself.



    It breaks down like this:
    4 discs for Superman the Movie (movie and special features)
    3 Discs for Superman II (Lester/Donner versions and special features)
    1 Disc for Superman III
    1 Disc for Superman IV
    3 Discs for Superman Returns (movie and special features)

    1 Disc for You Will Believe:The Cinematic Saga of Superman
    1 Disc for Look Up in the Sky: The Amazing Story of Superman


    The last disc is one of my favorite documentaries ever.

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  56. I will read it and find a way to disagree with you. Don't worry

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  57. Oh I like Expendables 2 a lot, and I think it was better than the first one. The big reasons are that we don't get Stallone's awful direction and the movie doesn't take itself seriously at all. That was the main flaw of the first one.


    I thought JCVD got a lot of press for JCVD (the movie) but it just never translated into box office. It's a great film and that monologue is killer. The ending never made much sense.

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  58. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryAugust 4, 2013 at 6:59 PM

    I thought it was awful. Korine has always been hit-or-miss with me, and I thought it was a miss, because it was just a clusterfucky mess. James Franco walked away with that movie, but I just had X-Pac Hear vibes with all four actresses; it wasn't a "these characters are deplorable" feeling, it was a "I would be OK if these girls NEVER acted again" feeling.

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  59. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 4, 2013 at 7:03 PM

    I love that documentary. I watched it when it first came out in 2005, then like 2 weeks ago I rediscovered it on youtube and watched it 3 days in a row. It's fantastic.

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  60. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 4, 2013 at 7:03 PM

    I would be disappointed if it were any other way

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  61. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryAugust 4, 2013 at 7:04 PM

    Good call on Spidey 2; I liked-but-didn't-love the first, but I was ecstatic over number 2: Better FX, better story, and a GREAT villain in Doc Ock, big ups to Alfred Molina.

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  62. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 4, 2013 at 7:05 PM

    Freddy vs Jason was one of my all time favorite theater experiences. I'd never been to a film where people acted like they were at an "experience", so to speak, but this was one of'em. The place exploded with cheers, claps, and laughter when Jason executed that awesome bed-folding kill. At that point, the movie had us in their palm.

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  63. For the record, I had Expendables 2 ranked 105th for 2012. So I did like it

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  64. See I don't ever fault your opinions for being what they are. You love this stuff and it means something to you. But its that its always gotta be "this is the greatest of all time" with you (and not just here, I've noticed it on your facebook for years). "All time best" arguments always involve a certain amount of being concillatory to other people's tastes, hence the boring obvious answer here of Godfather II. So if you just presented your unique and certainly never boring opinions as just that, it wouldn't rub people so wrong. Frankly, "greatest ___ of all time" is a boring discussion anyway just because it owes so much more to public taste than personal taste, so i'd say just junk it.

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  65. Godfather 2 is the all time best. Empire Strikes Back and The Dark Knight are the runner ups.

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  66. Shit, forgot Terminator 2. That is the number 1 runner up.

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  67. Terminator 2
    Aliens
    Road Warrior

    My dark horse pick is Infernal Affairs 3. That was amazing. A Better Tomorrow 2 was also quite good.

    Besides that, the same stuff everyone says...Godfather 2, Empire Strikes Back, etc.

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  68. I LOVE Harmony Korine movies. I still can't believe he got the cast he did for Spring Breakers. It was totally a EDM/Grand Theft Auto movie. It won't stick with my like Gummo, but it was still awesome.

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  69. I throw that disc in whenever I need some sort of pick-me-up. Another fun Superman documentary came with the Superman/Doomsday animated movie, but that may just be fun to me. When they interviewed writer Roger Stern, they did so at the comic shop in Ithaca I went to for the better part of 10 years. It was a really random surprise when I saw it.

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  70. No love for Superman 2? I mean, that movie's so good, they keep remaking it...
    Godfather 2 is an awesome movie. But even though it's technically a sequel, I always thought of it as the second half of the overall Godfather story, with 3 being that part you use as a coaster when you buy the box set.

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  71. It's not the best all-time or anything, but in terms of greatest improvement over the original, you have to give props to Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey.

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  72. AverageJoeEverymanAugust 5, 2013 at 1:57 PM

    Searching the little HBO guide they would send (or you would steal from a Hotel) for N, BN, or SC was one of the rights of passage.

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  73. AverageJoeEverymanAugust 5, 2013 at 1:59 PM

    Peter Griffin would say it 2 insists upon 2self

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