Worst2First: My Top Ten Sequels That Were Better Than the Original
Worst2First:
My Top Ten Sequels That Were
Better Than the Original
When a film is released and earns a load of money, they almost immediately spearhead a sequel in hopes of re-kindling that same monetary outcome. Most sequels end up falling flat and tarnishes the reputation of the original, but there's some sequels that not only match the original - but even exceeds it.
Here are my personal top ten sequels that were better than the original, worst2first...
For the purposes of this list, I only included the immediate sequel to the original.
**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**
#10
X2: X-Men United
So what made "X2" better than the original? The characters have all been introduced so we get to see much more action, we see the combining of Charles Xavier and his X-Men with Magneto to combat a mutual enemy, Kelly Hu's spot-on performance as Lady Deathstrike, and one simple word: Nightcrawler. Alan Cumming took on the daunting task of body makeup to play the teleporting religious mutant who captivated the screen from the opening sequence in the White House to the end.
#9
Mad Max: The Road Warrior
What makes this better than the original? It seems like a wholly different character, as Max has now lost everything he fought for, and is now roaming the post-apocalyptic land with no one but his trusty dog, and helps a band of survivors against a roaming army of marauders. The action is amped up, the vehicles are insane, and the characters are compelling and memorable.
#8
Spider-Man 2
The original "Spider-Man" works like a Batman film - we see his Uncle Ben get murdered (much like we see Batman's parents get shot every time), we see a man who comes to terms with his abilities, and everything else that typically signifies a superhero origin story. With "Spider-Man 2," there's no need for the origin story, but there's still one there. Peter Parker deals with being a reluctant hero - knowing that it's going to be the ones he cares about who always pay the price, the love of his life being engaged to another man, and struggling to keep his identity secret from his friends and family. Plus Alfred Molina delivers a powerful punch as Doc Ock - easily Spider-Man's greatest nemesis - in a way that only the polished actor could deliver. Plus that train action sequence was pretty impressive even today.
#7
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
The first film was alright, but was more dramatic than action - plus it wasted one of Marvel's most compelling villains in Red Skull. With the sequel, we're taken back to modern time where Cap battles an old friend an works at uncovering a hidden enemy within. We see Steve Rogers struggling with duty versus friendship, and the tale is reminiscent of great spy capers. Not to mention the addition of Black Widow and the introduction of Falcon, as well as Nick Fury getting more screen time than in any previous Marvel outings, and the action sequences are intense and unrelenting.
#6
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
The first film made a household name out of Jennifer Lawrence, and is still regarded as one of the best Young Adult adaptations to date. How is the second better than the original? Because it fully establishes Katniss Everdeen as the no-holds-barred warrior she is. In the first, she's somewhat sheltered and learns as she goes, but here she's hardened, she's determined, and she's a powerhouse. President Snow is so afraid of her that he creates an All-Star edition of the Hunger Games, sending Katniss and Peeta back in hopes of ending her before she can start a rebellion. The game itself is more cutthroat and violent, and yet still has some heart to it with the additions of Sam Claflin's Finnick and Lynn Cohen's Mags (who is the sweetest older woman to ever fight in the games), as well as Katniss's equal in Jena Malone's feisty Johanna.
#5
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
James Cameron is an interesting director, as you'll see him on this list again for pretty much the exact same reason. The first "Terminator" was more a horror movie than action, and with the sequel, he turns the horror into action, resulting in a blockbuster action epic filled with memorable lines and Arnold Schwarzenegger's career-defining character turning from a bad guy to a good guy. Also much like another film on this list, Cameron gives us a femme fatale in Sarah Connor, one of cinema's most powerful female heroes.
#4
Aliens
The first film was one of the finest horror films in outer space. Who can forget the iconic chase through the vents, and that ending? In James Cameron's sequel, he once again turns the horror tale into an action epic, with bigger explosions, more guns, and more fighting. He also firmly established Sigourney Weaver's Ripley - who was once just a survivor - as the go-to female hero that's revered even today.
#3
The Dark Knight
Christopher Nolan turned the Dark Knight from a laughing stock (remember Clooney's bat-nipples?) to a revered hero who has internal struggles. Christian Bale epitomized the character, but it's Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker that truly stands out in this stellar sequel. Much more than just a lunatic, Ledger plays The Joker as a highly intellectual mastermind who wants to watch the world burn. The blend of humanistic story and comic book heroes blends perfectly, never patronizing one or the other, but instead working in tandem to produce a film that's much more than just another superhero movie. Plus it's the only superhero movie to win a major Academy Award for Ledger's iconic performance.
#2
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
#1
The Godfather: Part II
Francis Ford Coppola re-defined the mobster movie with the original "Godfather," which swept the Academy Awards and is still heralded as one of the biggest cinematic classics ever. It's a high bar to pass, but the second somehow managed to do just that, focusing on Michael Corleone's rise to power from a loving family man to cold-blooded killer that would make Vito proud. Al Pacino dominates the screen in a film that cannot find its equal, as well as a younger Robert De Niro playing young Vito. The film set out to tell not just a continuing story, but also a prologue as well, and somehow managed to do both perfectly.
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