Movie sequels: Yay or nay?

Movie Sequels: Yay or Nay?

I don't know about you, but I feel that movie sequels are often at times unnecessary.
Here's my thing. If the first movie was good, why make a second or third?
Just to make money, is probably the most underlying, common answer. Perhaps, to elongate the story, see what happened after 'The End'. Maybe to have a spin off movie of one of the lesser supportive characters.
Whatever reason, there are many movies that have 'add ons' to them that may or may not be needed.

So, let's look at an example:
Shrek, that lovable ogre, as much as I love the first movie I feel that the others were a little unneeded. Let's recap through the whole series:
Shrek: An ogre finds his true love and finds his happily ever after.
Shrek 2: Shrek meets Fiona's family to try to gain their approval while, after a magical mishap, decides whether or not to stay in human form.
Shrek 3: Shrek overcomes the fears of being a father, while finding the next heir to the kingdom of Far Far Away.
Finally in Shrek 4: Shrek ends up in an alternate timeline where he doesn't exist, only to go back to his normal timeline where he still has his happily ever after.
Let's not forget the other spin offs, Shrek's Christmas, Puss in Boots and it's mini movie The Three Diablos.

Here's a few (million) more movies with sequels:

• (Most) Super Hero movies
• Land Before Time
• Lethal Weapon
• Back to the Future
• Borne Series
• James Bond Series
• Die Hard
• Mad Max
• X-Men (Especially Wolverine)
• Fast and Furious
• Saw Series
• Species
• Scream
• Final Destination
• Police Academy
• The Karate Kid
• Legally Blonde
• The Godfather
• Star Trek
• Star Wars
• Lord of the Rings
• Jaws
• Chucky series
• Friday the 13th
• Smurfs

(and so on...)

So which is it?

Yay, Sequels!: It elongates the story. Spin offs happen here. We learn more about the characters. It's a great series!

Nay, Firsts!: It's what made us love the movie in the first place. It's completely original. It's pure! First movies are best movies. It's not dull and repetitive.

Mini Yay or Nay: Movie from a book?
I love books, sometimes I love the movies more, but movies can make or break a book.
Isn't it funny how sometimes the books will be read after the movie is made. Then you think "the book was better".
We forgo the pleasures of reading a book and instead watch the movie because many of us don't have time. Or so they say.... There is always time, no matter how small, to read books.
Since we're talking about books being turned into movies, *cough*HarryPotter*cough*, movies should have the most important elements in the story, or at least a summary.

Cut off 50% of the book, but still tell a good story? Great!
But you are missing a lot of the book itself, so read the book!

But you don't have time to read the book... Then make time!

Oh, or watch the movie!...

but it doesn't look like how it was when you read it in your head...

oh well...

Yay, Movies!: It saves time, it gives you a reference when you actually read the book (if you actually read it) 

Nay, Books!: You're stuck with the characters on the big screen as a reference *cough*twillight*cough*. You miss half of the book, or see things that weren't even in the book.

What did you think? Are sequels that bad? Are movies made from books better than the original book itself?

Comment below!

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