Sequels seem to be more and more ubiquitous these days but never really amounting to the first film in which they are based. In this edition, I’m attempting (not loosely) to point out the rare occurrences where a sequel does actually improve upon the original (or is just as good).
Franchises are built on solid foundations where it ‘should’ make sense to expand upon a story (love it or hate it but Hollywood is a business that needs to sustain itself). Whether you are the type of person that thinks Rocky is better than Rocky II (you’re wrong by the way) or the one who’ll fight that Terminator 2 is the ultimate sequel, this list should probably piss you off. (Sorry, you won’t find any Air Bud sequels here!)
14. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Hail HYDRA!!
I absolutely adore this film. So far, this is my favorite of the Marvel films (ok, tied with Guardians of the Galaxy) and a far cry from the crazy boring first installment, Captain America: The First Avenger. Steve Rogers tries to adjust to modern times and after an attack on a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague, is forced to evade the government that once supported him. This event brings Rogers to try to expose a conspiracy while a new threat emerges with the Winter Soldier.
The film is full of action, cool supporting characters (Black Widow and The Falcon), and a bad ass villain in Robert Redford’s Alexander Pierce. A must see for any super hero movie aficionado.
13. Before Sunset
Celine: Memory is a wonderful thing if you don’t have to deal with the past.
Most are not aware of the insightful relationship drama, Before Sunrise. No, that’s not a fancy way of me saying ‘chick flick’. Actually, the films, which all three were directed by Richard Linklater (you may remember him for Boyhood and School Rock), chronicle two people with their chance encounter that would go on to define their future lives. I must admit that this film isn’t for everyone but it comes across as a very organic, very real exploration of life and love. The three films that comprise the series include: Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight. The reason I mention this 2nd film in the series is because it involved a difficult decision between two people that loved each other but find it almost impossible to be together.
12. Evil Dead 2
Ash: ….Groovy.
I will say that this film is extremely similar to the original but with a bigger production and tighter story telling. Ash is again battling demons (not figuratively….well, maybe) at a secluded cabin as his girlfriend becomes possessed by evil spirits from the Book of the Dead. This is hilarious a lot of the time while also leaving room for you to be a little creeped out. Bruce Campbell (Ash) is perfectly cast and owns this movie (and the one that came after – Army of Darkness). Now that we’re on the topic, Bruce Campbell is set to reprise his role in the Ash vs. the Evil Dead TV series on the Starz Channel on Halloween this year.
11. Star Trek: The Wrath of Kahn
James T. Kirk: KHAN!!! (echo) KHAN!!! (echo)
Two of Starfleet’s officers are kidnapped by Kahn, an enemy Kirk never thought he’d never see again. This sets up an intergalactic battle that will have dire consequences. Khan, as you may know, is a genetically modified superman that blames Kirk for the death of his wife (as Kirk exiled Khan and his supermen 15 years prior for attempting to take control of the Enterprise). Kirk exiled Khan and company to the planet Ceti Alpha V but later its ecosystem collapsed. This sets up a battle that involves a Genesis device that reorganizes matter to create habitable worlds for colonization.
With most feeling that the first film in the franchise, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, was a letdown, filmmakers booted series creator, Gene Roddenberry, from production and built a new script (that was completed in 12 days) for the sequel. The rest, as they say, is history as ‘The Wrath of Kahn’ remains one of the most treasured of the film series.
10. Spider-Man 2
[man steps into elevator. Spider-man is in the elevator]
Elevator Passenger: Cool Spidey outfit.
Spider-Man: Thanks.
Elevator Passenger: Where did you get it?
Spider-Man: I made it.
[pause]
Elevator Passenger: Looks uncomfortable…
Spider-Man: Yeah, it’s kind of itchy…
[pause]
Spider-Man: …and it rides up in the crotch a little bit, too.
This sequel doesn’t seem to get enough credit. Everyone seems to be focused on the latest Spider-Man movie. In this outing, things seem to be on the up and up for Peter Parker until Dr. Otto Octavius has an experiment go horribly wrong, leaving him to blame Spidey for his shortcomings. Just as this begins to happen, Peter starts to have complications with his girlfriend, Mary Jane Watson, and best friend, Harry Osborn (who also blames Spidey for his father’s demise). Peter tries to hold onto his personal life (and his super powers) while fending off Doctor Octopus and his tentacles from causing havoc in the city.
9. The Road Warrior
Humungus: I am gravely disappointed. Again you have made me unleash my dogs of war.
Aka Mad Max 2 for all you unfamiliar with the popular franchise on which this last summer’s blockbuster quasi-sequel was based. After avenging the death of his family, Max heads out into the post-apocalyptic world where he comes across a peaceful group of people with oil that he plans to steal. Max ends up becoming their reluctant leader against a band of baddies led by Humungus. Full of action and a sweeping desolate environment to scope out, this remains one of the classics and definitely improves upon the original. This is my favorite in the series (that includes the newest one as well). Some complained that the newest, Mad Max: Fury Road, didn’t have much plot but they failed to remember the originals. The plot was bare as the emphasis was in the action for some straight up visceral entertainment.
8. Rocky II
Rocky Balboa: It’s Apollo.
Mickey: Who were you expecting?
Rocky Balboa: I was hoping he wouldn’t show
Yes, the first Rocky won Academy Awards for Best Film, Best Director and Best Film Editing but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is better than its sequel. When people think of Rocky, they immediately think of either the elaborate training sequences and/or the inspirational sequences. All of these can be found in the sequels rather than the original. Remember Rocky running up the stairs with all of his followers jumping up and down? Remember him chasing the chicken as part of a training regime that Mickey incorporated? Let’s not forget that Rocky actually defeated Apollo this time around!
7. Superman II
Clark Kent: General, would you care to step outside?
General Zod: Come to me, son of Jor-El, kneel before Zod!
Although Superman: The Movie will forever be a classic, this sequel has all the charm of the first film plus a lot more action. Clark Kent reveals himself (his identity sickos!) to Lois Lane as Superman and even goes as far as throwing away his super powers and becoming human for her. Although not explicitly stated, one has to assume he did this so that he could make “the love” without killing her (with his super strength and speed) and so that he could procreate I guess? Getting sidetracked, the movie has some great and ridiculous scenes that include: a potentially fatal arm wrestling match, the storm on the White House, Superman throwing a giant ‘S’ shield at Non, a teleportation game, and the kneeling before Zod scene.
The film was already in the middle of shooting when Warner Bros. decided to play switcheroo with the Director’s chair and replaced legend Richard Donner (Superman: the Movie, Lethal Weapon series) with Richard Lester (Superman III, The Three Musketeers). Fortunately, the story was mostly finished and what was left just needed to be shot. If you’ve seen Superman III, the tone deviates from the first two greatly. You can thank Lester for that.
6. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Luke: All right, I’ll give it a try.
Yoda: No. Try not. Do… or do not. There is no try.
After the destruction of the Death Star, Luke Skywalker, Leia and Han Solo continue to fight the Galactic Empire. Luke begins his training by Jedi Master Yoda (awesome!), while Vader captures Han Solo and Princess Leia. Luke must make a difficult decision and is eventually pitted in a duel with Darth Vader where he reveals (SPOILER ALERT!) that he is his father.
Not only does this space opera/western film raise the emotional stakes, it also has a ton of great one-liners and puts forth more interesting, supporting characters (Boba Fett, Lando, and Jabba the Hut).
5. Aliens
Ripley: Get away from her, you bitch!
Come on. Did you really think this wouldn’t make the list? It really is hard to improve on the masterpiece of Alien, but an early James Cameron would be the man to do it. Cameron was coming off the success of The Terminator at the time and even wrote the screenplay for Aliens. In this story, Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is found by a group of marines and later comes to a spaceship that has all but one survivor left. It is high tech weapons against a colony of aliens. Bad assery and Lance Henricksen!
More recently, it was announced that a spin off from this film was being worked on by Neill Blomkamp. Don’t hold your breath though as that isn’t supposed to hit screens until 2018.
4. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
The Terminator: I need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.
Cigar Biker: You forgot to say please…
A considerable upgrade from the original, T2 takes us on a thrill ride that still leaves its mark today. Not only do we have great special effects but we also have excellent action sequences with an even more engaging storyline. A T800 machine (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent back in time to protect John Connor so that there can still be a resistance to the machines in the future. Meanwhile, a T1000 (Robert Patrick) machine is sent back in time to kill John Connor. This time around, we get more colorful, supporting characters that helps build the mythology of what the other, terrible sequels will later be based off of. T2 is a lot of great things but more than anything, it was a game changer.
3. The Dark Knight
Joker: You wanna know how I got these scars?!
A simple response to the deranged Joker would be “no”. This would likely be at the expense of your life though. Many tout (what a weird word) this as the ultimate Batman film and some may go as far to say this is the best sequel ever. I actually tend to like Batman Begins more so than I did this film. However, it isn’t by much. As ‘Begins’ is about Bruce overcoming his fears, the sequel challenges his morality (directly by The Joker). Don’t even pretend that The Dark Knight Rises stands shoulder to shoulder with these films.
You can’t deny the pure brilliance in The Dark Knight and even though I side with its predecessor (I’m more interested in how he became Batman), they are both on the same level in terms of story, performances and direction.
2. Godfather II
Michael Corleone: I knew it was you, Fredo! You broke my heart!
Yeah, yeah. You’ve likely heard of this movie as the best sequel of all time. It is almost inconceivable that a sequel to a masterpiece would be on par with its original but God gave us Godfather II. The two are about equal in my book. I actually liked Godfather III but it cannot be compared to the first two and definitely isn’t a masterpiece. Anyways, this time around we see the rise of a young Don Corleone (played by Bob Deniro – see how I call him Bob as if I have a personal relationship with him?) as a ‘righteous gangster’ and the fall of his son, Michael Corleone (played by Al “pre- Who ah!” Pacino).
The contrast between father and son is most interesting. Both are living in different times and were brought upon their worlds by different means – Don made himself in Hell’s Kitchen circa 1917 and Michael inherited his father’s ‘legitimate’ business upon his father and brother’s deaths. Both this and the original examine morality while in the mafia. As you are likely to guess, the mafia doesn’t exactly harbor the most noble of intentions.
1. Goldfinger
James Bond: Do you expect me to talk?
Auric Goldfinger: No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!
Ah yes, the quintessential Bond. There are a lot of good James Bond movies and a lot of bad. This film happens to be one of the very best and I’ve seen them all. Many of the stereotypes of Bond began in Goldfinger including pre-credit sequences that have nothing to do with the main storyline, peculiar henchmen, gadgets and a larger scope budget (taking Bond all over the world).
Goldfinger saw James Bond take on Aurich Goldfinger and his gold smuggling business. He comes to find out that Goldfinger plans to contaminate Fort Knox and its gold so that his own gold would go up in value. Perhaps Sean Connery will forever be known as the best overall Bond but maybe it was also because the ‘formula’ to Bond started with him as well.
The reason this film is at the top of the list is because how influential it was, not just with its own series of films but other films that followed its formula (Mission Impossible series, Bourne Identity series). Even stereotypes of ‘spy’ films have much to thank for in the Bond franchise, particularly Goldfinger.
Fun fact: Goldfinger was the first Bond film to receive an Academy Award (Sound Effects Editing).
Honorable Mention
Back to the Future II
Look, I love this movie just like anyone else but feel that the movie does not live up to the original and definitely does not exceed it. Sure, it’s relevant this year because 2015 is the year Marty and Doc Brown traveled to in the sequel and we tend to do a lot of reflecting on what technology has sprouted in the film versus what has come forth in reality. This is a good film but not worthy of this list.
Frank Costello
The dialogue was top notch in “The Departed” but you’d be a fool not to say the same thing for “Goodfellas”. To avoid being too subjective in this category, I’ve referred to the Oscars to save me. Nicholas Pileggi adapted the script from his own book and received a nomination whereas William Monahan won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
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