Here’s the truth: Most sequels don’t turn out to be on par with “The Godfather: Part II” or “The Empire Strikes Back.” So it’s not surprising that a sequel to one of the greatest movies of all time, according to the American Film Institute, would draw controversy.

On Tuesday, MGM Studios filed suit to stop the making of “Raging Bull II”, a sequel to the critically acclaimed, Oscar-winning 1980 film “Raging Bull,” which told the story of the rise and fall of boxer Jake LaMotta.

According to court documents, LaMotta was supposed to offer MGM the rights of first refusal for a film version of his 1986 book, “Raging Bull II.” The studio says LaMotta breached that contract when he entered into an agreement allowing RB II Productions to produce the sequel. MGM said in its complaint that RB II refused to comply with its demands to stop production.

The studio believes the sequel will “irreparably tarnish” the value of the first “Raging Bull” film, and it calls the second film a “low-budget B-movie.”

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In a related development, Alan Moore, the creator of the Watchmen comic miniseries, whines about DC’s use of its characters in a prequel,  Before Watchmen, which will expand on the back stories of its characters. Moore wants to stop it, to censor it: “I don’t want money. What I want is for this not to happen.” Well at least he doesn’t want money. He just want to stop it. This is rich given that Moore is now finishing up the final installment of his League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which includes past characters like Mina Harker from Dracula, Captain Nemo, and an evil version of Harry Potter… All art is derivative, and all innovation is incremental. For some reason it’s okay for Moore to borrow from the cultural commons, but others can do it to him.