So, do you love the second Batman film more than the first? Did the second Lord Of The Rings film strike you as more powerful than the first? While the first film in every series always remains solid, there have been many cases in which the sequel has not only matched the brilliance of the original but also exceeded it in many ways. So, here is a toast to the most superlative sequels of all time.
10- The Temple Of Doom (1984)
Everyone hailed Steven Spielberg for rebooting the action swashbuckler genre with style, wit and spectacle in 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark'. The 1981 original will always remain a touchstone for action fans but this turbo-charged sequel is a completely different beast- and for good. Nudging further the Boy's Own zing, 'The Temple Of Doom' is literally one crazy, frequently berserk roller-coaster ride of energy and outrage- leaping from one breathless set-piece to another without so much as a pause. In between, there is little room for emotion or even so much as flirtation, while Steve and his team dole out a story made of sheer pulp- Harrison Ford's Indy pitted against a Thuggee cult in colonial India, headed by Amrish Puri's menacing Mola Ram. Inevitably, overdone stereotypes and racial gimmicks get thrown in in unashamedly reckless quantities but so does the surge of adrenaline and imagination. Unrestrained by even the conventions of the genre, Spielberg lets loose a furious and endlessly hilarious barrage of action- that mine-cart chase will leave you roaring in delight.
9- The Two Towers (2002)
Pick any of the three mammoth films in Peter Jackson's epic take on J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy magnum opus and you will get more than what you bargained for- razor-sharp storytelling bolstered with both solid histrionics and stirring spectacle. And while 'The Fellowship Of The Ring' ranks, in my book, as a truly mesmerizing epic, there is something about the leaner, meaner and darker sequel that makes it so particularly compelling among the three films. Gone is all the visual idyll and optimistic zeal of the first film; in its place is a sense of menace as young hobbits Frodo and Sam confront, finally, the sheer crushing toll of the task that they are entrusted with. Meanwhile, chaos erupts as princes are cast out, heroic warriors are defeated and the dark forces close in for the kill. Also, this is the first time when we end up facing Gollum, up front and personal- with all his demons spilling out and overshadowing every faint trace of hope. The battles are grippingly dank and gritty, the performances stained with greys of vulnerability and disillusionment and that stealthy, menacing cliffhanger of a climax is just unforgettable.
8- Superman 2 (1980)
'Superman 2' might be one of those films with a conflicted parentage. According to sources, Richard Donner, the serious young director of the 70s, had wrapped up 40% of the film and then decided to leave it all in the unlikely hands of Richard Lester, the comic genius who made the evergreen swinging 60s romp 'A Hard Day's Night'. Much of the original crew was on the point of revolt. Gene Hackman even left the sets only to come back again. The end result- possibly one of the finest superhero sequels- is a smooth puree of both the director's styles- the sensibilities of Donner contrasted happily with the cheeky slapstick of Lester. The story is classic comic book pulp- of General Zod and his fellow Kryptonian baddies wrecking chaos- but 'Superman 2' also brought in smarts, spectacle and sophistication in spades, adding welcome touches of both romance- with Superman and Lois Lane finally hitting it off- and darkness to the genre.
7- Toy Story 2 (1998)
Sure, we all love 'Toy Story'. It was a watershed moment of cinema- the first ever digitally animated film that also boasted of everlasting warmth, energy, invention and hilarity that many recent animated films still find it impossible to replicate. And so, nobody expected its sequel to be so bloody refreshing and endlessly fast and funny. The plot is one of incredible sophistication, the gags and one-liners are fantastically well-choreographed and the characters- including the villain of the piece- are superbly etched out but none of the genre-busting intelligence ever comes off as difficult for kids to fathom. Instead, the colourfully wacky characters and fiery wisecracks delight both the children as well as their parents and the emotions are superbly balanced with the breathlessly witty action scenes all around- just watch out for Buzz Lightyear confronting Zurg, only to realize (in a 'Star Wars'-style twist) that the latter is his father.
6- Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004)
Quentin Tarantino might have made one of the seminal action films of this generation with the gut-bursting, blood-spurting Volume 1. But it is when the writer-director starts to write out piles of pulp fiction that the real heady thrill comes to the surface. Also, there had to be a sequel to all the gruesome body count of the first film, something to explain all the chaos and add a streak of nihilistic poetry to the raging fury of vengeance. We see more of the Bride (played brilliantly by Uma Thurman)- as flashbacks take us to her rugged training- even as the forward thrust of the plot takes us to ugly situations that are fraught with the kind of nerve-shattering tension that makes Tarantino such a master of thrills and spills. Most importantly, the script cuts ruthlessly with blazing verbal fireworks that can stun as much as scald the senses. Just listen to him debunking the myth of Superman.
5- Aliens (1986)
In the last 3 decades, the Alien franchise has nosedived with two horrible sequels and one polarizingly ambiguous prequel. It says a lot that there has not been a single equivalent of James Cameron's gritty and gung-ho follow-up to Ridley Scott's solemn science fiction horror. While the original was a simmering, stealthy thriller, the sequel not only amped up the action and monster mayhem but also introduced a new level of blue-collared heroics and finely sculpted heroism as well. We see Ripley (a pitch-perfect Sigourney Weaver) transforming from a vulnerable sole survivor into a rousing action heroine who is now fully aware of the strange and hostile world around her. Cameron displays all his technical craft with a disciplined finesse and also showcases admirable talents for building up a cast of intriguing characters who surround her with their motives. This was a sequel that added a true level of storytelling depth to a standard creature movie template.
4- From Russia With Love (1963)
If 'Dr. No' laid the bare foundations for the James Bond film series, it was this classy and extravagant sequel that set the standard for every other film to try and match up to. Not only was the basic template of the first film given a makeover with glamour, girls and gadgetry; it was also rooted, for once and for all, in surprising political relevance. The practical plot- of espionage, heist and defection- was just what the audiences could understand in a year when the Cold War was just getting increasingly agitated. As a perfect foil to the incisive storytelling, there is a whole lot of genuine sensuality (Daniela Bianchi's Tatiana is a feast for the eyes), a series of genuinely exciting action sequences (that desperate struggle in the Orient Express is something that even Paul Greengrass cannot match) and Sean Connery's affable Scottish charm at its sexiest. This is not just a great sequel- it is also the Bond film to beat. Try harder, people.
3- The Dark Knight (2008)
Will there be another superhero movie so finely tuned, so well-crafted and so perfectly muscled as 'The Dark Knight'? I don't think so, even as 'X-Men: First Class' scores by a hair or something. Today, every subsequent superhero movie sequel tries to match the searing intensity, the emotional weight and histrionic power of Christopher Nolan's powerhouse sequel. Heck, some of them even go suicidal and try to even replicate the sheer unhinged anarchy of Heath Ledger's seminal version of The Joker (just check any of the recent disastrous DC Comics productions). None of them will even come within a meter of the sheer brilliance that this film exudes. Psychologically complex (with Harvey Dent and Christian Bale's Batman himself driven to extreme ends), armed with pulse-pounding stealth and action and layered with both relevance and conventional intelligence, this is a sequel that leaves the original- the fairly intriguing 'Batman Begins'- choking on the dust of its thundering wallop.
2- Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
Take this, fans of 'Titanic' and 'Avatar': James Cameron will never ever make a film as perfect as 'Terminator 2: Judgement Day'. Yeah, you can rave that it is just a science-fiction action film with great special effects and none of the sentimental punch of these films. Watch it again, folks. If the original was a lean thriller on nuclear holocaust, time travel and technology, this is a richer story- in which future resistance leader John Connor (Edward Furlong) is aided by chunky hunk T-101(Arnold Schwarzenegger) to prevent the future even as the liquid metal T-1000 (Robert Patrick) is hell bent to kill him. The characters are superbly etched (Linda Hamilton's Sarah Connor becomes a heroic avenging mother in this) and the strokes of poignancy, camaraderie and soaring heroism also lend emotional power. But this is also a revolutionary, eye-popping action fiesta- with thrills, spills and effects that still amaze and astound today. And long before WALL-E, Schwarzenegger proved to the most lovable juggernaut on Earth.
1- The Godfather Part 2 (1974)
Finally, I come to the greatest sequel ever made- a film that was always going to be a tall order after the original turned out to be such a landmark film and yet one that leaves behind the brilliant original in every way. Has there been any other film that shows how the pursuit of wealth and influence by illegitimate means can shatter the notions of family, love and relationships? While the first film was merely content to introduce a standard layout for mobster movies to follow, 'The Godfather Part 2' was a sad, wistful meditation on innocence lost, morals compromised and relationships sacrificed in one man's bid to keep his world from falling apart. Next to 'Citizen Kane' and 'There Will Be Blood', here was a searing character study of a maeglomaniac; Michael Corleone, played chillingly by Al Pacino, sets out to destroy everything and everyone in his predestined course as the king of an illegal empire and the film nails him as devious as his various opponents. But look out too for the film's faint cry of hope- its sepia-tinted flashbacks taking us back to the days of Vito Corleone. Here he is not quite the all-powerful kingpin on the verge of decadence; rather he is a noble-hearted, revenge-seeking youngster rising up the ranks in dainty fashion, embodied by Robert De Niro's beautifully understated performance. Francis Ford Coppola directs both the cold-hearted alienation and gushing nostalgia with majestic skill and poetic artistry and ends up crafting a film for ages.
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