Why Stop There?

The cover story for the March 10th 2006 issue of Entertainment Weekly may be all about the long awaited return of the hit cable TV drama, The Sopranos, but the article that lists "The 25 Worst Sequels Of All Time" is a must read for any film fan and a lot of fun.

Sequels have been around almost as long as film itself. The list couldn't have been published at a better time. Especially, when you consider how many more of them are set to come out, between now and the end of the year. Is it just me or does 2006 seem like it has even more sequels coming out than last year? And while I admit that I'm looking forward to seeing a handful of them, I can't help but wonder which of the 2006 crop will end up making the updated list, at some point in the future.

As the article's author Chris Nashawaty writes:

''Sequels, as a general rule, blow. But some are so ill-conceived, so cynically calculated, and so aggressively inept that they need to be called out and held accountable in the public square. Or, in this case, Entertainment Weekly.''

While I find myself in almost total agreement over the full list as presented, I wish that it didn't have to end with number 25. If I had control of things over at EW, I would have also added 10 more films to the list, as well:

Star Trek: Nemesis--The film's plot was a rehash of 1982's Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, almost beat for beat--particularly the last half of the movie--the names were changed only to reflect The Next Generation characters.

Jaws 3-D--Need I say more?

Beyond the Poseidon Adventure--Once the original survivors left the capsized ship they should have just sealed it shut!

The Rage: Carrie 2--Ill advised, Ill conceived and Ill acted.

Smokey and the Bandit Part 3--Film series star Burt Reynolds is reduced to a cameo, leaving Jerry Reed to pick up the slack, while "The Great One" Jackie Gleason is forced to carry on without a worthy opponent.

Oh, God! You Devil --George Burns plays both the Almighty and the Devil in this third installment and is saddled with a very poor script.

Airplane II: The Sequel--Gives new meaning to the term Recycle

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome--should have quit while they were way ahead--Tina Turner??!!!

Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous --lacked the wit and sparkle of the first film

xXx: State of the Union --Ice Cube tries to sub for Vin Diesel and melts

I suppose you could say though, as long as Hollywood keeps making 'em, this list will always be in a state of flux--Then again aren't they all?