Top Five better sequels
August 8th, 2008
Everyone says that a sequel is never quite as good as the original and for a lot of franchises I would agree. But there are a growing number of sequels that are not only equalling but surpassing their predecessors. This week’s top five takes a look at those sequels. Unfortunately Speed 2 will not be on the list.
- Terminator 2 - I love the original film but T2 is so much better. The first film is raw and gritty and ground breaking but the sequel is so much more well rounded and fun. The film is simply more entertaining and watchable. A valid point though is that it is only so good because it builds upon the groundwork set down by the original. Sarah has grown and really is the pivotal character a problem faced by T3 with her absence.
- The Dark Knight - Another film that built upon the foundation of an excellent previous entry, The Dark Knight isn’t bogged down in the origin story and therefore can really stretch the characters and story. Again at the end of the day the film is just better.
- Empire Strikes Back - An easy choice, clearly the best of all the Star Wars films. It was almost like the actors were just warming up in the first and are truly comfortable come the second. Who doesn’t love Han shooting at Vader? Or the epic ‘I am your father’ scene?
- Spider-Man 2 - Generally I dislike origin films anyway and as good as Spider-Man was the sequel is so much more well rounded, better villain, established hero, not too heavy, not too light… just right.
- Wrath of Khan - Compare it to the original theatrical release of Star Trek: The Motion Picture (the re-released Director’s Cut was much better) Star Trek 2 is light years ahead. The pacing, the battles, the uniforms!! It was a much more personal story, the V’Ger storyline is just too huge and sweeping, we are never in any doubt that Kirk is going to kick the space cloud of boredom’s arse. It’s just a matter of when. In WoK there is real tension and of course not everybody makes it back safely.
Now I know there are those of you who are are howling about the omission of Aliens and The Godfather 2. Just settle on down, I didn’t put them in because I consider them equals to their predecessors. Alien and Godfather 1 are excellent films on par with their sequels.
So apart from those two what other sequels are better than the first?
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Categories: Top five | Tags: dark knight, empire strikes back, Friday top five, speed 2, spider man 2, terminator 2, Top five, wrath of khan
Hmm… you just may have the perfect list there.
Some could argue for Superman II, or even Superman Returns, but neither is as clear-cut a winner as your five.
I’m actually having a hard time thinking of others that could even be contenders. There must be some.
Jeffs last blog post..Review: Stargate: Continuum
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By Lee on August 9th, 2008 | Reply
Superman is a grey area for me, as I probably prefer 2 and Returns but I wouldn’t call them better as such.
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Nothing to add or disagree with there!
Bettinas last blog post..What do you mean you don’t eat vegetables?
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The Road Warrior perhaps?
What about Dawn of the Dead?
MCs last blog post..Wrestling: Those were the good old days
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By Lee on August 9th, 2008 | Reply
I think both of those suggestions could be fair choices - I really love the first ones though especially Night of the Living Dead.
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this list gets me thinking..are there 3rd movies which top the former 2 (without the first two being really awful)?
Arjans last blog post..Blog meme: Age That I Wish To Go Back To.
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By Lee on August 9th, 2008 | Reply
John just emailed me one and that would Army of Darkness - superior to the two previous films, not that they aren’t cool because they are but Army of Darkness is shit hot.
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I have this theory that all superhero sequels with a 2 in them (or ones that don’t actually have a 2 but should have) are ALWAYS better than their predecessor… and I’ve yet to see it disproved.
Spider-Man, Batman (Burton), The Dark Knight, X-Men, Superman… all better with a 2 than the original origin story.
3s though are generally a big let down.
Oh, hang on, I just thought of one that bucks the trend. FF2 wasn’t as good as its predecessor - and it had to aim pretty low to achieve that.
Rols last blog post..Shakespeare
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By Lee on August 9th, 2008 | Reply
I think this is generally a good theory, X-Men I might have to give a little more thought to though as I quite like the first and are unsure of the second whether it’s better or not.
But yeah good theory.
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Ooh… I got one…
A Fistful of Dollars < A Few Dollars More < The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
MCs last blog post..Wrestling: Those were the good old days
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By Lee on August 9th, 2008 | Reply
Yeah that’s very valid, although I wonder if we’re not in Godfather territory where one is as good as two?
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By MC on August 10th, 2008 | Reply
I think with those three films it truly is a case of good, better, best.
MCs last blog post..Week 13: Pageant of the Transmundane
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I quite liked gremlins 2. a different movie sure, but it was good.
Also arguably the last crusade was better than raiders of the lost ark.
X2 was good
but to be honest I think you nailed it there with your list.
Dans last blog post..Oughtershaw to Whernside Manor
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By Lee on August 9th, 2008 | Reply
Dan normally I agree with you but I can’t on Gremlins 2, I really hated it and Raiders is the best.
Again with the X2 I’m going to have to sit and watch it again because everyone says it’s better!
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