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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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?
  4. 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.
  5. 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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