"Shrek 2"(2004)
The public may be all Shreked out, but in 2004 we just couldn't get enough of this not-so-jolly green ogre. DreamWorks Animation's greatest asset became a box office juggernaut that summer, ultimately becoming the third highest grossing film of the decade(behind "Avatar" and "The Dark Knight"). His pop culture reference-laden trip to Far, Far Away may not be as timeless as the original, but there's still some big laughs to be had, thanks to the awesome vocals of Mike Meyers and Eddie Murphy, while Puss In Boots(hilariously voiced by Antonio Banderas) is a welcome addition to the line-up. It's a shame the subsequent installments only proved that old adage about having too much of a good thing.
"The Bourne Supremacy/Ultimatum"(2004, 2007)I'll be cheating quite a bit here, but it's my blog and I'll do what I want. I'll admit that I was slow in embracing this series and this is my chance to make amends. Doug Liman's 2002 original was a serviceable spy flick, but Paul Greengrass ramped up the action in two kinetic sequels with fight scenes and car chases that were just too good to ignore. Jason Bourne is the Rambo of the '00s
"Before Sunset"(2004)
Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy did something remarkable when they reunited nine years after their refreshing yet largely forgotten 1995 romance "Before Sunrise". They talked. And talked. Then they talked some more. Richard Linklater's bittersweet stroll through Paris struck a nerve with hopeless romantics and such dazzling wordplay is the real special effect in today's marketplace. Like all good sequels do, it made the original even better and the critical groundswell meant we would meet up with Jesse and Celine for a third time in 2013's "Before Midnight". One of modern cinema's greatest couples was officially born.
"Rocky III, IV"(1982, 1985)
I should probably just come right out and say it- I'm a huge "Rocky" fan. The 1976 original won Best Picture, but there's no denying the entertainment value of these two particular sequels. Sylvester Stallone's ridiculously ripped physique, a snarling Mr. T, those bone-crunching boxing scenes, Hulk Hogan and "Eye of the Tiger" took the series in a whole new direction in the summer of '82. Sly then pressed all the right emotional buttons when he sent his dauntless heavyweight champ to Russia to face the massive and deadly Ivan Drago. If you don't feel like running through your living room wall to go train somewhere after the "Hearts of Fire" montage, I have to seriously question your masculinity. If you're not pumped before the final fight, you're probably dead.
"Die Hard with a Vengeance"(1995)
"Lord of the Rings: Return of the King"(2003)
"Spiderman 2"(2004)
"Lethal Weapon 2"(1989)
The last twenty minutes is an '80s action film lover's nirvana. Diplomatic immunity?! Aryan Rudd must have been joking.
"The Road Warrior"(1981)
"Batman Returns"(1992)
Tim Burton let his twisted imagination run wild in this arguably superior sequel to his game-changing blockbuster that set the template for all modern superhero movies.
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| "What do you mean, my acting career is over?" |
10. "Return of the Jedi"(1983)
The thrilling conclusion of the original "Star Wars" trilogy had all the action, humor and creativity that one could hope for. It's not hyperbole to say that George Lucas' saga captured the imagination of an entire generation and there wasn't anybody in this galaxy that didn't line-up to see his beloved cast of characters take their final bow, making "Jedi" the second highest-grossing film of the decade(behind "E.T").
9. "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"(1989)
Steven Spielberg crafted the perfect finale to his classic adventure series as his intrepid archaeologist searches for the ultimate artifact- the Holy Grail. Oh, if only this WAS the finale, but that's a discussion for another blog. Harrison Ford was born to play this role and casting Sean Connery as Indy's dad was an inspired stroke of genius. Watching these two bickering icons trapped in a Nazi castle hideout and a nose-diving plane is about as much fun as you can have at the movies. We get to see a teenage Indy, nicely played by River Phoenix, in the flashback opening and there's one memorable action set piece after another. With the most humor and heart in the franchise, if "Last Crusade" is you're favorite outing with Dr. Jones, you've chosen wisely.
What more needs to be said about the most revered superhero movie ever made? I can already hear the so-called Nolanites throwing a fit about it's 'low' placement on this list, but there's some damn fine follow-ups still to come. Heath Ledger's towering portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime is one of those performances that becomes permanently engrained in the public consciousness like Brando's Vito Corleone and Pacino's Tony Montana. The Best Supporting Actor Oscar seems insufficient. You almost feel sorry for the rest of the cast because they never had a chance of making a huge impression, but Maggie G is a better actress than Katie Holmes and Aaron Eckhardt gives us a proper rendition of Gotham's tragic DA Harvey 'Two Face' Dent. Christian Bale's Batman has no limits and Chris Nolan refused to stay within the limits of a normal comic book movie when he made an epic tale of crime and corruption with real world drama and an unexpected level of darkness. The result was a staggering $533 million domestic box office total that Marvel/DC will spend the for-seeable future chasing, starting with 2012's ridiculously hyped "The Dark Knight Rises".
7(tie). "Toy Story 2, 3"(1999, 2010)
How do you choose between two sequels that are both just as hilarious and heartwarming as the original? I won't because that's such a rare and incredible feat. "TS2" almost went straight to video before it became clear that it was way better than most theatrical releases in 1998-99, and the magic was recreated more than a decade later in "TS3". The animation is ever improving but the solid story and sharp characterizations are always at the forefront as Woody, Buzz and the gang confront their mortality and struggle to escape Al's Toy Barn and the prison-like Sunnyside daycare center. Joan Cusack, Wayne Knight, Kelsey Grammar, Michael Keaton and Ned Beatty joined the stellar voice cast headed by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. Tears were shed during "Jessie's Song" and when the toys nearly met their fate in an incinerator. The third film's final scene suggests a new beginning, but let's hope Pixar maintains their integrity and never produces a fourth. As it stands now, "Toy Story" has to be considered one of the greatest trilogies of all time.
6. "Silence of the Lambs"(1991)
Yes, this classy serial killer thriller technically IS a sequel and it completely obliterates 1986's "Manhunter", Michael Mann's intro to Thomas Harris' world of FBI profiling and grisly serial murders. Anthony Hopkins, then 53 yet largely unknown, only needed twenty minutes to turn Hannibal Lecter into one of the most iconic villains in history. Jodie Foster displays vulnerability and strength as FBI trainee Clarice Starling, and the duo's dynamic exchanges earned them both Academy Awards. Director Jonathan Demme piles one unnerving scene after another on the search for Buffalo Bill(Ted Levine), stunning audiences with a depiction of real horror after a decade of interminable slasher flicks. This film is wholly deserving of it's status as a modern masterpiece.
5. "Aliens"(1986)
When James Cameron, hot off the heels of his instant classic "The Terminator", took the reigns from Ridley Scott for this sequel to 1979's already iconic "Alien", he didn't take things to the next level. He took it a couple levels above THAT. Sigourney Weaver cemented Ripley as one of pop culture's all time greatest heroines on her return trip to planet LV-426 with the rough and ready Colonial Marines which included Cameron regulars Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, and Jennette Goldstein. Stan Winston's Oscar winning visual effects are still amazing 25 years later. The last hour is an exhilarating blast of balls to the wall action. All subsequent "Alien" films never had a chance of measuring up to this.
Here I'm faced with another pair of sequels where I found it impossible to choose one over the other. They were filmed back to back in trend-setting fashion and there's simply no discrepancy in the quality whatsoever as we're whisked from 2015 to a hellish alternate 1985 and then back to 1955 and finally to 1885. Oscar-nominated visual effects, a breakneck pace and brilliant labyrinth plotting makes Part II a dazzler. I love how director Robert Zemeckis and writer Bob Gale threw every crazy time travel concept they could think of at the audience and trusted that they'd be smart enough to hang on through every potential paradox and manic Doc Brown explanation. Part III wisely puts the complexity to rest for an affectionate spoof of the Western genre in which Michael J Fox makes like a pint-sized Clint Eastwood and Christopher Lloyd gets a love interest in the form of the lovely Mary Steenburgen. The train-pushing-the-Delorean finale may be the most exciting sequence in all three films and destroying the beloved time machine was a bold move. This was THE END and the filmmakers meant it. A delightful conclusion to an excellent trilogy.
"Aliens"(1986)
3. "Empire Strikes Back"(1980)
There's a reason "Empire" has the least amount of changes and alterations in the seemingly endless re-releases of the OT. It's because there's only one thing that hardcore fans, casual observers and critics seem to agree on- this is the darkest and best of all six "Star Wars" movies. You've got a blistering opening on the ice planet Hoth, Han an Leia's budding romance, the marvelous training scenes between Luke and Yoda, and last but certainly not least, Vader's mind-blowing revelation that left audiences reeling in 1980. We thought we knew what Star Wars was about until this singular moment changed the complexion of the saga forever. Believe it or not, "Empire" was the least popular and financially successful film in the series at the time. That's proof that moviegoers don't always know what's best for them until some years pass.
2. "The Godfather Part II"(1974)
Francis Ford Coppola's epic continuation of the Corleone saga won Best Picture and is not only one of the greatest sequels but one of the greatest films period. Al Pacino is brilliant and was robbed of the Best Actor Oscar for his chilling portrayal of a ruthless Michael as he expands his criminal enterprise in 1959, slowly alienating himself from everyone he loves and everyone who ever loved him. Robert DeNiro takes his first step toward screen immortality in the equally riveting flashback story of a young Vito Corleone's rise to power as an immoral immigrant in the New York of the early 1900s. Everyone craves the American Dream and this is the violent underbelly of it. Or maybe it's the REAL version.
1. "Terminator 2: Judgment Day"(1991)
James Cameron is the greatest action director of all time and this relentless, juggernaut of a sci-fi thriller far surpassed the original "Terminator" in almost every respect. Take your pick between any one of the half-dozen breathtaking set pieces- they all could have been the finale of any other movie. Arnold Schwarzenegger was at the peak of his Hollywood powers and was never cooler or more badass than he was reprising his legendary role as a good guy cyborg in a clever reversal of the formula. Linda Hamilton's transformation was startling as Sarah Connor goes from timid waitress to a hardened, gun toting warrior to rival Ripley. The T-1000's groundbreaking morphing effects was the birth of CGI. As great as the first film was, it's unlikely that the Terminator would be so permanently ingrained in the public consciousness if it wasn't for this monstrous follow-up, the mother of all sequels.
Honorable mentions
"Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers"(2002)
"Lord of The Rings: Return of the King"(2003)
"Rocky II"(1979)
"From Russia with Love"(1964)
"Goldfinger"(1965)
"Rambo: First Blood Part II"(1985)
"Die Hard 2: Die Harder"(1990)
"Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith"(2005)
"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"(1989)
"Lethal Weapon 3"(1992)
"Lethal Weapon 4"(1998)
"Before Sunset"(2004)
"Rocky Balboa"(2006)
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