In Defense of Movie Sequels

In the November 24, 2008 issue of Newsweek magazine, there was an awesome (in every sense of the word) breakdown of all 23 James Bond movies with lists of which actor starred in each one, Bond girls in chronological order, box office results, theme song singers for each entry, vehicles, and villains. The coinciding review of Quantum of Solace (2008) was also awesome in that critic David Annsen explained in detail how the newest movie fits or doesn't fit with all the others. It was a negative review though, and I disagree with his summation of Quantum as lackluster. The same things he discredited were the things I enjoyed most: "the action picks up right where Casino Royale left off . . . we don't even get a flashback glimpse of his lost love . . . at 105 minutes, this is the shortest Bond ever, and probably the most action-packed" (even if it was very remniscient of the Bourne series). Movie sequels in general get a bad rap but the Bond movies shouldn't be included. Roger Moore was by no means a better Bond than Sean Connery, but his Bond movies weren't as plodding. Timothy Dalton, who had much too wild a look in his eyes to play Bond, still saved us from Roger Moore. The action was real again and then Pierce Brosnan became the "real" Bond in my opinion. Daniel Craig may not look the part to me, but I do enjoy the seriousness of his sequels.

And here is a list (big surprise) of my top ten movie sequels that actually improve on the originals, starting with the most personally significant:

1. The Color of Money (1986) Scorsese's return to Newman's The Hustler
2. Before Sunset (2004) in this case, you still have to see the original first
3. Toy Story 2 (2000) seems to be the popular consensus
4. Crocodile Dundee II (1988) back to Australia plus drug traffickers
5. T2: Judgement Day (1991) I wanted to be Eddie Furlong
6. Return of the Jedi (1983) better than Empire; there, I said it
7. Superman III (1983) no Lois and II is not better than the first; take that!
8. Rocky Balboa (2006) reminded me more of Clint Eastwood's current movies
9. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) answers plus a new romance minus sex
10. Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) old dude's way scarier than clowns

Honorable Mentions (which may or may not improve on the originals, but definitely maintain quality): Addams Family Values (1993), Aliens (1986), Back to the Future II & III (1989 & 1990), Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), The Godfather II (1974), Live Free or Die Hard (2007), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989), Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987), 3 Men and a Little Lady (1990)

Honorable Mentions (series which are NOT MY favorites but admittedly improve with each sequel): Mission: Impossible 2 & 3 (2000 & 2006), Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987), Spider-Man 2 & 3 (2004 & 2007), Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), X3: The Last Stand (2006)