Columns, Opinion

Flick Critique: Best sequels of all time

Oftentimes, when movies are successful, movie executives try to use the same formula to churn out a sequel — or several. However, there are seldom any that are as loved as the original movie, leaving audiences disappointed. Nonetheless, there are a select number of cases where a sequel is as iconic and loved — if not more so — than the first movie. Here are five films that live up to their first movie’s success and prove that not all sequels have to be awful.

First off on the list is a sequel from one of the best-made trilogies of all time, “The Godfather Part II.” Regarded by some as the best sequel of all time — and the first sequel to earn an Academy Award — “The Godfather Part II” is also often seen as superior to the first movie in the trilogy. This significant achievement is due to Francis Ford Coppola’s sophisticated character and plot development. Additionally, the superb acting further contributes to the beloved movie’s fame and recognition. Through the sequel, audiences gain a deeper look into characters’ motivations and how their lives led up to the events seen in the first film.

Second on the list is a game-changer for the science fiction genre, “Aliens.” The sequel to “Alien,” the movie that gave audiences the iconic alien popping out of a man’s chest scene, “Aliens” took on the feat of following one of the best-made films of all time. This time, however, the movie’s most remarkable scene is with the main character is fighting a killer alien with a robot mech suit. This movie uses suspense in a different way than the first movie — rather than leaving viewers on the edge of their seat wondering what creature is in the spaceship with the scientists, they’re wondering: “Where the heck is the alien, and how is anyone making it out alive?” By taking on this new approach to a key feature of the film, “Aliens” provides a story that is both familiar and entirely new.

Next on the list is debatably the most iconic of all “Star Wars” movies — “Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.” This movie gave audiences perhaps the most recognizable scene and line of all time as Darth Vader tells Luke, “I am your father,” right after chopping off his own son’s hand. Additionally, most main roles have major character development, both with themselves and in their interactions with other characters. For example, this movie is where we see Princess Leia and Han Solo come together, with Leia telling Han she loves him, only to get Han’s other iconic line, “I know.” Evidently, while the first “Star Wars” movie was a landmark film in its own right, becoming the onset for such a beloved and influential saga, it is with the sequel that “Star Wars” truly cemented itself at the top of science fiction and fiction genres alike.

Another film that has become more memorable than its predecessor has to be “Terminator 2: Judgement Day.” Not only is the title significantly more intimidating than the first film’s, the sequel is also more intense and Adrenaline-filled. In this film, the Terminator has to face a more advanced cyborg in order to protect the young boy he tried to kill before. Not only is the reversal of roles interesting in this movie, the overall plot and its many complexities is also vexing. Rather than trying to kill a human, the Terminator now has to kill an advanced version of his own kind. While this new added level of intricacies could have likely failed for many other sequels, for “Terminator 2,” it proved to be widely successful, as this movie is widely considered one of the best sequels of all time.

Finally, the last film is a two-way tie between two sequels that came from the same series — “The Bourne Supremacy” and “The Bourne Ultimatum.” While the Bourne Series has a whopping five movies, the last two are not even in the same realm as the second and third movies in the saga. Both of these films escalated Jason Bourne’s thrilling and Adrenaline-filled adventures. With each of these films, Bourne continues discovering a bit more about himself, and audiences continue gaining more sympathy for the extremely well-trained and highly sought-after C.I.A. agent.

As Jason Bourne learns more about his true identity and past missions to earn his place in the CIA, audiences realize that the Bourne series is not just about a man with amazing instincts and unparalleled skills, it is about a man who will do anything to learn more about himself and his unknown past. The second and third movies do an amazing job at developing Bourne’s character and helping audiences gain a deeper insight into his complicated world.

Evidently, not many sequels are as well-received as their predecessors, for the simple reason that audiences want novelty, not repetition. Nonetheless, some movies have been able to not just tell the same story with a larger budget, but rather, cleverly build on the previous foundation and deliver an impactful story that leaves audiences content.

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My name is Victoria Lara and I am a sophomore Biomedical Engineering student on the Pre-Medical track. I love watching films and I am passionate about social change. Follow me on Twitter @victoriaa_lara.

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