Simply – Listorati https://listorati.com Fascinating facts and lists, bizarre, wonderful, and fun Thu, 06 Feb 2025 07:03:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://listorati.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/listorati-512x512-1.png Simply – Listorati https://listorati.com 32 32 215494684 10 Sequels That Simply Repeat the First Film https://listorati.com/10-sequels-that-simply-repeat-the-first-film/ https://listorati.com/10-sequels-that-simply-repeat-the-first-film/#respond Thu, 06 Feb 2025 07:03:42 +0000 https://listorati.com/10-sequels-that-simply-repeat-the-first-film/

Sequels already have a reputation for creative bankruptcy. They continue the stories purely for profit, often leading to uninspired plotting and character assassination. That’s what happens when you create something out of obligation instead of passion. However, some examples reach new heights of laziness.

Certain sequels are shameless retreads of their predecessors. Sure, they might swap the names or upscale the set pieces, but the narratives are eerily familiar. Such recycled structures usually result in diminishing returns, sending a clear message that the filmmakers are bereft of ideas. This, in turn, prevents the series from growing. Granted, a few examples admittedly turn out well, but they pale in comparison to the disappointments. Originality is just too much to ask.

Related: 10 Things Famous Filmmakers Regret About Their Classic Movies

10 Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990)

Fans lament the Die Hard series for turning a normal protagonist into a glorified superhero. The original 1988 film sees disgruntled cop John McClane (Bruse Willis) visit his wife during Christmas. Unbeknownst to either of them, a band of terrorists seizes their building and takes hostages. McClane must then sneak through the complex, fighting off crippling injuries to stop the bad guys and save the day. Little did he know that this would become a regular occurrence.

Die Hard 2 once again takes place during the holidays. While trying to pick up his traveling wife, McClane witnesses the airport being taken over by another gang of thugs. The hero narrowly avoids the villains and begins gradually picking them off. Like last time, he uses stealthy ingenuity to overcome impossible odds. The ordeal cements the series’ Christmas reputation, but it also makes McClane less relatable, which completely misses the point.[1]

9 The Hangover Part II (2011)

The appeal of The Hangover (2009) is how unexpected it is, but that novelty wears off on repeat. The movie centers on three guys who come together for their friend’s wedding. After drinking a little too much at the bachelor party, they wake up with no memory of the previous night and no idea where the groom is. They frantically retrace their steps to find him, but they also learn just how insane they were while under the influence. You’d think they’d learn their lesson, but no.

The Hangover Part II takes the three idiots to another crazy bachelor party. They inexplicably black out for a second time and wake up in Bangkok. Only by piecing together the preceding evening can they hope to find their missing friend and make it to the wedding. The journey either recycles the same gags or replaces them with more outrageous ones. Suffice it to say, this series should sober up.[2]

8 Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (1992)

Christmas seems to be a common factor in recycled sequels. Home Alone (1990) centers on young Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin). Angry with his huge family, he gets his wish when they accidentally leave him behind during a vacation. He now has the whole house to himself. Although that’s fun for a while, he soon grows to miss his annoying family. Amid that loneliness, he must thwart a pair of bumbling bandits trying to plunder his home. The resulting film is a bizarre mix of wholesome joy and brutal slapstick. The same goes for the follow-up.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York looks different on the surface, but it’s just a new paint job. Although this oversized family embarks on a Christmas vacation together, Kevin boards the wrong flight and winds up in New York City. His dad’s credit card provides some temporary enjoyment at a ritzy hotel, but it’s not enough to stave off the inevitable sense of isolation. Compounding the problems are the same two crooks whom Kevin must outwit with another house of pranks. Given these incidents, the parents need to keep this kid on a leash.[3]

7 The Incredibles 2 (2018)

People laud The Incredibles (2004) for its unique take on superheroes. The film presents a world where these powerful do-gooders are outlawed due to their immense damage. Mr. Incredible, now a disillusioned family man, stumbles on a chance to recapture his former glory when a mysterious organization requests his help. He embarks on several secret missions for these shadowy individuals, unaware that their true goal is to eliminate supers entirely. They’re not the last ones to attempt such a purge.

The Incredibles 2 opens by reinforcing the superhero ban, leaving the family without purpose. One day, a mysterious company contacts them with a proposal: send one of them out as an active agent and use the positive PR to make supers legal again. This time, though, the one in the field is Mr. Incredible’s wife, Elastigirl. She also loves reliving past thrills, but that fun is cut short when the company reveals its true colors. The CEO’s sister wants to forever tarnish superheroes’ image so that they’ll be permanently outlawed. Illogic aside, the plot is just a gender-flipped version of its predecessor.[4]

6 Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

Mary Poppins (1964) introduces a magical nanny in charge of two neglected children. With the help of a chipper chimney sweep, she takes them on a whimsical journey of discovery. The party traverses both 1910s London and a fabulous wonderland of 2D animation, complementing the quirky scenarios with a slew of songs. Along the way, Mary (Julie Andrews) brings the children closer to their parents with the calm confidence of an old hat.

The belated sequel, Mary Poppins Returns, makes her miracles a regular occurrence. This follow-up sees the kids from the first film have children of their own. The mystic nanny reappears to heal their strife through song. As expected, the process involves exploring the period setting through both live-action dance numbers and animated romps. The group even has a cockney escort, albeit a lamplighter instead of a chimney sweep. The creators go through all the familiar beats, musical or otherwise. Think of a popular song getting an inferior cover, and you have this film.[5]

5 Escape from L.A. (1996)

Way to ruin a good idea! Escape from New York (1981) is a dystopian tale where the major city stands abandoned, at least by the law-abiding populace. The sprawling metropolis now functions as an oversized prison for the world’s worst criminals. That becomes a problem when an abduction strands the U.S. president in this dangerous den. The rescue operation falls to a convicted soldier named Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell). If he saves the president from the hellish jail and the psychos within, then he receives a pardon. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance, but the sequel nixes that notion.

Escape from L.A. separates Los Angeles from the rest of the country. After a series of tyrannical laws by the president, the place becomes a convenient storage area for crooks and anyone unwilling to support the new regime. Snake Plissken is back on the unlawful roster, but he gets another chance for freedom by infiltrating the city and retrieving a stolen piece of tech. As if the premise wasn’t predictable enough, this tool is in the hands of the president’s daughter. Although the specifics are sillier, both the job and the reward are the same.[6]

4 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

In trying to revitalize Star Wars, Disney hearkens back to what fans love. The 1977 classic—retroactively titled Star Wars: A New Hope—introduces a vast galaxy oppressed by an evil Empire. Plucky farm boy Luke Skywalker stumbles into the conflict when he receives a mysterious droid with plans to the villains’ devastating new weapon. Luke must get this bot to the Rebels so that they can destroy their enemies’ terrible tool. Along the way, an aged mentor teaches Skywalker his lineage as a peacekeeping Jedi. The whole ordeal is the classic hero’s journey, but that doesn’t mean Disney has to copy it.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens takes the galaxy forward in time. Despite the Rebels’ victory in the original trilogy, the Imperial remnants regain control thanks to a planet-sized weapon capable of destroying solar systems. An unassuming scavenger named Rey proves to be the heroes’ best hope for success, as she rescues the very droid with the weapon’s schematics. With those plans in tow, the Rebels can scrap the bad guys’ new toy. All the while, Rey gets her own mentor, who opens her eyes to the wider world of the Jedi and the Force. The creators clearly respect the source material, but maybe a little too much.[7]

3 Desperado (1995)

Humble beginnings breed a bombastic follow-up. El Mariachi (1992) is a low-budget gem about an unlucky guitar player. A misunderstanding makes this musician a target for drug dealers. Inadvertently armed with a guitar case full of guns, the hero must quickly learn to kill or be killed. He finds unlikely love along the way, but both she and his livelihood fall victim to his pursuers. The conflict culminates in an explosive shootout at the villains’ fancy villa. Writer-director Robert Rodriguez pulls off the action flick with a shoestring budget, and its success put him on the map.

He later used that stardom to craft Desperado. This sequel continues the guitarist’s crusade as he pursues the man in charge of the criminal enterprise. While the crooks try to kill the singer, he swiftly mows them down with his newly acquired arsenal. His private war eventually lets him find love again, soothing his pain. However, that doesn’t stop him from confronting his quarry at another high-end villa. The entire scenario is familiar yet fresh, thanks to Rodriguez upping the blockbuster ante and refining his skills. Plenty of directors remake their own work, but rarely as a sequel.[8]

2 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

How ironic that a time-traveling franchise recycles its storylines. James Cameron’s The Terminator (1984) is a tense chase revolving around Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton). Her son, John, will eventually lead humanity to victory in a cataclysmic war with intelligent machines. To avert their loss, the malevolent mechs send a cyborg assassin back in time to wipe Sarah from history. Countering that threat is a human soldier sent to protect the unsuspecting woman. The premise paves the way for a harrowing action flick where the human heroes outrun an unstoppable adversary. Sadly, good ideas breed copycats, and many examples are close to home.

Most of the Terminator series reuses the first film’s setup. It starts when Cameron essentially remakes his classic as Terminator 2: Judgment Day. True, the killer is a more advanced machine, and the protector is a reprogrammed robot. However, the plot itself proceeds in much the same manner, complete with both futuristic visitors dying at the end. The other sequels also fit that mold, tweaking certain aspects while maintaining the narrative foundation. The only exceptions are Terminator Salvation and The Sarah Connor Chronicles. The rest might as well be part of a time loop. Speaking of James Cameron…[9]

1 Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

Avatar (2009) is an alien story with earthly themes. As humanity scours the universe for resources, the explorers come upon Pandora, a planet rich in precious minerals. Of course, the forest-dwelling natives don’t want their sacred environment pillaged for profit. Enter Jake Sully, a soldier recruited to occupy his brother’s alien avatar and convince the inhabitants to stand down. The plan has the opposite effect, though, as Jake soon feels more at home with these extraterrestrial felines, ultimately aiding them against the human invaders. The experience is essentially an overproduced knockoff of Dances with Wolves, but the sequel is somehow more blatant with its copycat antics.

Avatar: The Way of Water shifts its setting while keeping the plot. The humans return to Pandora in a second attempt to exploit its resources. They repeat their prior strategy to undermine the natives through avatar infiltrators. However, Jake and his family head them off yet again, leading to another destructive battle between the natural world and the imperialistic colonizers. Aside from the larger cast, the only major difference is the focus on underwater natives rather than woodland ones. If this movie proves anything, it’s that James Cameron loves repackaging his work as sequels.[10]

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10 Unique Restaurants: From Simply Fabulous To Downright Bizarre https://listorati.com/10-unique-restaurants-from-simply-fabulous-to-downright-bizarre/ https://listorati.com/10-unique-restaurants-from-simply-fabulous-to-downright-bizarre/#respond Sun, 30 Jul 2023 23:44:57 +0000 https://listorati.com/10-unique-restaurants-from-simply-fabulous-to-downright-bizarre/

“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the ‘Titanic’ who waved off the dessert cart.”? Erma Bombeck

Travelling goes hand in hand with trying out unfamiliar exotic cuisine. And while you’re at it, why not try it in a unique restaurant? On this list are some of the most unusual restaurants in the world, ready and waiting to serve locals and tourists and provide a memorable experience.

See Also: 10 Iconic Movie And TV Restaurants That Are Actually Real

10 The Catacombs: Pennsylvania


If you don’t suffer from claustrophobia, then dining at The Catacombs inside Bube’s Brewery in Pennsylvania might just be for you. After joining the host and going on a tour of Bube’s Brewery, you must descend 43 feet underground to get to the cellar that makes up the eatery. The menu has fantastic offerings that include gourmet options and Grade A steak.

What’s more, it is said that Bube’s Brewery, which contains the cellar, is haunted. Ghosthunters have investigated the brewery and allegedly found evidence of ghostly activity. Because of this, the brewery has decided to hire a paranormal investigation team to entertain diners with spooky tales of supernatural activity.

9 Soneva (Treepod Dining): Thailand


If you’ve ever wanted a bird’s eye view while enjoying a gourmet meal, then look no further than the Soneva restaurant in Thailand. You will be hoisted up amongst the trees in the Koh Kood rainforest while seated in a ‘bird’s nest’ or bamboo pod. The bamboo pod can hold 4 people and was woven by a local craftsman.

Once you are settled, your personal waiter will use a zip-line to get you your food and drinks while you enjoy the spectacular view of the ocean and boulders in the distance. Additionally, the cozy atmosphere of the pod itself is said to ease the minds of those who are afraid of heights.

8 El Diablo: Spain


Withstanding the heat or getting out of the kitchen, is taken quite literally at the El Diablo restaurant in Spain. This eatery sits on nine layers of basalt rock on the island of Lanzarote and incorporates a giant grill laid across a hole in the ground, which just happens to lead down into a dormant volcano.

6 feet below the grill, lava bubbles at 400 degrees Celsius which generates the desired temperature to cook delicious meals. While you wait for your food, you can enjoy the view of Lanzarote’s Timanfaya National Park and the Fire Mountains which consist of around 100 volcanos.

7 The Great Viking Feast: Canada


The Great Viking Feast Dinner Theatre is located at Fishing Point, St. Anthony, Canada and is only open between June and September. Here you can immerse yourself in Viking culture and enjoy a buffet of food believed to have been eaten by the Vikings. The restaurant itself is a 100-seat Viking sod hut.

You can also join in the fun of ‘presenting’ a court case to the Lawspeaker (as a customer) and deciding on the fate of the Vikings or other customers. At the end of the evening you will have become an honorary Viking and receive a special certificate.

6 Mermaid Lounge: Las Vegas


There are a lot of things to do and a lot of fine dining experiences in Las Vegas. One of the most unique restaurants off the Las Vegas Strip is Mermaid Lounge. The restaurant & lounge offers excellent food, while customers can enjoy the 117,000-gallon aquarium that houses 4000 tropical fish as well as mermaids.

The mermaids can be seen on Thursdays through Sunday and are usually in the tank for about 2 hours at a time. They are trained water dancers and love interacting with kids and posing for pictures with them. What’s more, on Saturdays, there is a Mermaid School for children between the ages of 7 and 12 that teaches them how to swim with mermaid tails.

5 The Lockup: Japan


The Lockup is referred to as an izakaya and is focused on drinks and food is a side item. In this restaurant you can order individual items off the menu and pay full price or select an eat/drink package that you can enjoy in a ‘dungeon’ room.

Before you sit down however, you must walk through a corridor where things basically ‘jump out’ at you to scare you. When you arrive in the actual restaurant, a waiter dressed as a police officer will come over to ‘arrest’ you after you ‘confess’ to your crime of choice. If you are in a group, only one will be handcuffed and the whole group led to a table.

At some point during the meal, sirens start wailing and lights start flashing before ‘escaped prisoners’ start running through the restaurant. You then get to watch the police officers run after and catch them and lock them up again while you finish your food.

4 New Lucky Restaurant: India


If you want a spooky atmosphere while eating, the New Lucky Restaurant in Ahmedabad, India specializes in exactly that. Considering that the restaurant is built within a cemetery, they didn’t have to do much to bring the creepy factor.

Owner, Krishnan Kutti, decided to build his restaurant ‘around’ the graves instead of over them. It is believed that the graves belonged to Muslim followers of a 16th century Sufi saint and steel bars have been erected around them for protection. The green coffins (12 in total) are cleaned daily and flowers placed near them as a sign of respect.

The restaurant is very popular especially since Kutti claims that eating among the dead brings good luck.

3Redwoods Treehouse: New Zealand


The Redwoods Treehouse restaurant in New Zealand started out as a marketing stunt by the Yellow Pages. All the parts and services used in the design and construction of the restaurant were found in the yellow pages. It was originally named the Yellow Treehouse and was open for casual dining between 2008 and 2009 before changing ownership and name.

The entire restaurant is in the shape of a chrysalis and hugs a redwood tree 10 metres up. There is a tree top walkway that leads to the restaurant which can hold 30 guests at a time. These days the restaurant is only open for private functions such as parties and corporate dining.

2 Dans le Noir: London


Following in the same trend as sign language restaurants, Dans le Noir in London offers a sight deprivation experience. Food is served in a room dark enough that guests can’t see their hands in front of their faces and the wait staff are visually impaired.

The first restaurant was opened in Paris in 2004 with the aim of allowing those who have sight to experience what it would be like to be blind. Another goal was to create more employment opportunities for the blind.

When guests arrive at the eatery, they are instructed to leave their phones and cigarette lighters in a locker and then get in line with their hand on the shoulder of the person in front of them. The line is then manoeuvred into the dark eating area, with the assistance of the waitrons.

The best part, according to several patrons, is the opportunity to let go of conventional table manners and eat food with your hands or drink your beverage straight from the bottle.

1 Cabbages and Condoms: Bangkok


Walking past Captain Condom and seeing a Santa Claus sporting a condom beard, is just the beginning of the educational experience patrons have while dining at Cabbages and Condoms in Bangkok. There is even a Christmas tree bedazzled with condoms as decorations.

The restaurant was opened by PDA (The Population and Community Development Association), who believe that birth control should be as easily accessible as cabbages in a market. The proceeds go towards community HIV/AIDS outreach programs and safe-sex awareness. The entire restaurant buys in to the concept with the wait staff wearing inflated condoms as hats. If you look closely, you will also see condom-shaped light fixtures in between the regular ones. At the end of your meal, guests receive a condom as a gift instead of the usual mint. Also, should any of the male patrons feel the need to have a vasectomy after their meal, they can undergo the procedure for free in the family-planning clinic next to the restaurant.

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