SSgt Burton
Sr Member
I'm probably going to catch hell for this...
I think I like EFLA better. (ducks tomatoes and lettuce)
I wasn't old enough to watch EFNY in the theater (I was 11), and only saw it when they aired movies on television in the 80s.
I don't think I've ever watched it all the way through from start to finish until the other evening.
I did see EFLA in the theater in '96- and was disappointed with it back then. However having watched it a couple of times on dvd (and now watching the two films back to back), I have to say I've warmed up to this sequel.
(Let me say now that I'm 40, and am not fooled by "big 'splosions/quick edits/lens flare" over plot/characters and direction
).
Okay EFNY has some super cool moments- the glider flight and landing on the WTC is still top notch today (although I must admit I always feel strange seeing the WTC in any film).
Ernest Borgnine's "Cabby" character is a thousand times better than Buscemi's "Map of the Stars Eddie".
I could go either way with the "Duke of NY" and "Cuervo Jones". (I think I still give the slight edge to Issac Hayes.)
So I understand that EFLA is not really a sequel... It is essentially a shot-for-shot remake of EFNY. I get that.
There are some pretty lame moments in EFLA- Before the mission, Snake is still wearing the same clothes 16 years later? How would a turbine engine work underwater? The "Bangkok Rules" showdown... Really? They were stupid enough to fall for that? :rolleyes
And the surfing scene with Peter Fonda is worth a double face palm. :rolleyes :lol
(I won't even mention the hang glider attack... No sir I won't. :lol)
However there are some elements of EFLA that are superior (my opinion only of course) to EFNY-
The audio tape in EFNY just doesn't hold the weight it should; it isn't established firmly enough that the tape is as important as it is supposed to be. This in turn lessens the impact of Snake switching, then destroying the tape at the end of the film (it seems no more than a personal big fat middle finger to the "Man").
However the control device and disc in EFLA is clearly established as being able to impact the entire planet. And it is a very cool moment/climax when Snake "pushes the button", which this time around he actually has a reason for doing other than his own amusement. I had that "Holy Cow he actually did it!" feeling.
Valeria Golino's character (aside from being smoking hot) was better that Adreinne Barbeau (in fact I think the majority of the secondary characters in EFNY phoned in their performances). And Golino's death was not only completely unexpected- it was very well played. She doesn't cough out some prophetic last words- she just bleeds out and dies. It's very in your face and unforgiving.
Which brings me to the biggest difference- the prison of L.A. is shown as being much more dangerous than NY ever was.
The "crazies" in EFNY are essentially a zombie mob (yes I know they aren't zombies- my point is they are just a faceless mob).
However in L.A. not only do you have to deal with criminals/gangs etc, the "Plastic Surgery Rejects" scene was brilliant! And Bruce Campbell's "Surgeon General of Beverly Hills" was a terrific, creepy character.
The whole scene demonstrated that not only was L.A. dangerous- but that you could die in some unbelievably horrific ways. I just didn't get the same impact from EFNY.
Even the basketball scene was cleverly done. Superior to the hokey typical "gladiator battle" in EFNY (where it was painfully obvious that every strike with the spiked clubs was telegraphed a mile away).
Now don't get me wrong- I don't think EFNY sucks, or is even a so-so film. I still like EFNY.
I just found myself more entertained by EFLA.
Well... Have at me guys! :lol
Kevin
I think I like EFLA better. (ducks tomatoes and lettuce)
I wasn't old enough to watch EFNY in the theater (I was 11), and only saw it when they aired movies on television in the 80s.
I don't think I've ever watched it all the way through from start to finish until the other evening.
I did see EFLA in the theater in '96- and was disappointed with it back then. However having watched it a couple of times on dvd (and now watching the two films back to back), I have to say I've warmed up to this sequel.
(Let me say now that I'm 40, and am not fooled by "big 'splosions/quick edits/lens flare" over plot/characters and direction
).Okay EFNY has some super cool moments- the glider flight and landing on the WTC is still top notch today (although I must admit I always feel strange seeing the WTC in any film).
Ernest Borgnine's "Cabby" character is a thousand times better than Buscemi's "Map of the Stars Eddie".
I could go either way with the "Duke of NY" and "Cuervo Jones". (I think I still give the slight edge to Issac Hayes.)
So I understand that EFLA is not really a sequel... It is essentially a shot-for-shot remake of EFNY. I get that.
There are some pretty lame moments in EFLA- Before the mission, Snake is still wearing the same clothes 16 years later? How would a turbine engine work underwater? The "Bangkok Rules" showdown... Really? They were stupid enough to fall for that? :rolleyes
And the surfing scene with Peter Fonda is worth a double face palm. :rolleyes :lol
(I won't even mention the hang glider attack... No sir I won't. :lol)
However there are some elements of EFLA that are superior (my opinion only of course) to EFNY-
The audio tape in EFNY just doesn't hold the weight it should; it isn't established firmly enough that the tape is as important as it is supposed to be. This in turn lessens the impact of Snake switching, then destroying the tape at the end of the film (it seems no more than a personal big fat middle finger to the "Man").
However the control device and disc in EFLA is clearly established as being able to impact the entire planet. And it is a very cool moment/climax when Snake "pushes the button", which this time around he actually has a reason for doing other than his own amusement. I had that "Holy Cow he actually did it!" feeling.
Valeria Golino's character (aside from being smoking hot) was better that Adreinne Barbeau (in fact I think the majority of the secondary characters in EFNY phoned in their performances). And Golino's death was not only completely unexpected- it was very well played. She doesn't cough out some prophetic last words- she just bleeds out and dies. It's very in your face and unforgiving.
Which brings me to the biggest difference- the prison of L.A. is shown as being much more dangerous than NY ever was.
The "crazies" in EFNY are essentially a zombie mob (yes I know they aren't zombies- my point is they are just a faceless mob).
However in L.A. not only do you have to deal with criminals/gangs etc, the "Plastic Surgery Rejects" scene was brilliant! And Bruce Campbell's "Surgeon General of Beverly Hills" was a terrific, creepy character.
The whole scene demonstrated that not only was L.A. dangerous- but that you could die in some unbelievably horrific ways. I just didn't get the same impact from EFNY.
Even the basketball scene was cleverly done. Superior to the hokey typical "gladiator battle" in EFNY (where it was painfully obvious that every strike with the spiked clubs was telegraphed a mile away).
Now don't get me wrong- I don't think EFNY sucks, or is even a so-so film. I still like EFNY.
I just found myself more entertained by EFLA.
Well... Have at me guys! :lol
Kevin
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