The expectation of a movie sequel more often than not, despite what movie trailers and posters might tell you, is that they’re basically going to be greedy cash-grabs, keen to shove the same product down the viewer’s throat for a second, third, fourth, even fifth time for a quick buck.
One need only look at the hilariously overplayed glut of Saw sequels, or recent action follow-ups like Taken 2 and A Good Day To Die Hard to see how bad things can get, though on a very odd occasion, there will be a sequel that will manage to outdo its (already great, even brilliant) original.
It’s a rare feat, and takes a special kind of directorial ingenuity, usually going in a completely different direction and simply offering up an alternative experience for viewers rather then rehashing the same narrative.
However they managed to achieve it, here are 10 movie sequels that did the seemingly impossible and outdid the original…
10. X2: X-Men United
The first comic book film to really break with the assertion that they couldn’t be dramatically engaging and fun at the same time, X-Men 2 thrilled us right from its opening scene, in which Nightcrawler invades the White House in an attempt to assassinate the President.
What’s really great about the film compared to the original, though, is the emotional depth of the characters; take Nightcrawler, who could simply have been a garden variety baddie, but we come to know him as a character and so his motivations and actions gain our sympathy.
Also, forcing Magneto and his team of mutants to team up with Professor Xavier’s was a master-stroke, creating an uneasy pact in order to fend off William Striker’s untoward advances.
With exhilarating set-pieces and well-developed characters, X2 helped to shift perceptions about this type of movie, and easily tops the original, which was a fun film if stuck in the unfortunate rut at the time that comic book movies needed to be a little goofy (Storm’s Toad line, anyone?).
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14 Comments
I haven’t found anyone who doesn’t love Terminator and Judgement Day, but never found anyone who realises the whole thing is completely impossible. Metaphysical paradoxes aside, the Machines sending Arnie back in T1 ensured their own creation as well as Judgement Day (his remains from the compressor were the basis of the reverse-engineering programme that started Cyberdyne Systems, then Skynet and finally the war).
Ironically the human race would have been better letting Arnie kill Sarah Connor (and subsequently John), but letting The Terminator survive, he wouldn’t have been needed in the Revolution since there would have been no war…..
My question is, what does the terminator do once his mission is over? Say he kills Sarah, what’s next? Does he move to Miami, get a condo? Does he go to community college, get a degree in computer science? How would he even pay for school? He certainly wouldn’t qualify for any loans.
No idea, but I think a Condo is out of the question, he seems more suited to Alpen skiing in a wooden cabin.
What is certain is that if you really roll the franchise back and give it some serious thought, John Connor is the most self-absorbed character in the history of the world. If we assume Christian Bale remembers all the previous events, he must have known that Cyberdyne were using the remains of the T1 to create the artificial intelligence that leads to Skynet and Judgement Day (heck he tries to destroy Cyberdyne himself). He also knows from Sarah that it’s Kyle Reese that destroys T1.
Ergo, he knows that he is sending Reese back to a) ensure Sarah Connor’s survival; b) do the procreation deed himself; and c) start the chain of events to lead to Judgement Day. Yet he does it anyone, causing the deaths of billions of people. Sure if he’d sent no-one back, T1 would have easily killed Sarah Connor and John would never of existed.
He wasn’t the saviour of the resistance, he was the wilful destroyer of the world.
Well, you found him now. Terminator 2 is dull retread of the far, far superior original.
Star Trek 2 – The Wrath of Khan?
I must agree with Ironite. Terminator 2 presents a contradictory theory of nature, incompatible with the one which makes the plot of The Terminator work. Put simply, it breaks the narrative. I’m all for bending the rules of storytelling, but being unable to present an internally consistent story is – to me – a cardinal sin! The Terminator very clearly presents a fixed timeline. John Connor is the son of Kyle Reece. He could not exist without Reece travelling back in time which wouldn’t have occurred if JC hadn’t sent him. Anyway… that’s that.
The point about the arm remnant being the basis for Skynet’s developments is actually something picked up in Terminator 2. So then, the film isn’t only logically impossible as part of the series but also within its own story…
And everybody says the T-1000 is a scarier, better villain. I used to agree, but having rewatched The Terminator tonight I have to say… the design of the Terminator (the T-101) is something which took artistry. It is a marvellous creation. The T-1000 by contrast is just a blob of grey goo.
Well said Thom.
By the way, “Ironite” and “Chris” are both me in case you didn’t gather. No idea about the reasoning behind the name change, it was late.
This list is clearly missing Troll 2… ;)
I agree totally with number 3, but I like Alien and Aliens equally and (don’t judge me) Spidey 1 was the only film of the three I actually enjoyed.
Mad Max 2, Star Trek 2, Dawn of the Dead?
The list is good. Toy story, and Wrath of Kahn are probably list worthy as sequals. Maybe Kill Bill vol 2.
Agree the Bourn movies only got better each time (a rare achievement).
Of the razor thin margins of some listed: alien and aliens are really two very different types of movies, therefore hard to judge. T2 was jaw-dropping when I first saw it, but you can not think about it much, b/c it just really doesn’t make sense.
Only thing I do not quite understand is, in my opinion Batman Begins is a nearly flawless film start to finish. I don’t understand how it doesn’t get the recognition of being utterly amazing (it was oscar worthy for a best picture nomination IMO), and due to some issues, albeit minor issues of plot/timing I had with TDK, I would almost argue it’s superiority. TDK is great (thanks Heath/Nolan), but Begins is seamless in story and delivery, and that in itself is a rarity for something of it’s genre.
Regarding the Alien vs. Aliens debate, I’ve watched them both in the last two days and for me its obvious that while both wonderful exhibitions of terror (especially for their time), the sequel definitely tops it.
Alien is all about suspense, its a slow build-up strategically to hide the true extent of both the Xenomorph’s brutal capabilities, and the extent of Weyland Yutani’s corporate greed and does so to such an extent that there isn’t actually a main character, just one that survives the longest.
But Aliens goes deeper in every respect, you already know the capabilities of the aliens from the off, but you also know that the LV-426 colonists don’t have a clue and there’s more of them, so potential for hundreds more aliens. The Marine’s are cocky and arrogant, ignorant to the extent of their conquest making the viewer almost grateful at their inevitable massacre, plus Weyland Yutani are much more sadistic (they use a human as a puppet instead of manipulating a robot).
For me it all comes down to shock value….Alien has the factor of the unknown for most of the movie. Aliens is knowing what’s coming, but it still has the ability to shock/terrify/refuse you from taking your eyes off for a second. Plus Ripley is finally a 3-D character, the inclusion of missing her daughter’s death plus adopting Newt adds some much needed heart.
Gremlins 2 is awful and I still think Batman Begins is the best Batman film.
“You know what? You guys are right about the Terminator franchise. The whole thing doesn’t make the least bit of scientific sense. What’s that? Another royalty check? Just put it on the pile with the others that I haven’t bothered to cash yet.”
- James Cameron
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