Sequels That Are Better Than The Original
This could get controversial...
The original is just better, right? Well, not always. With major sequels on the way for two of the highest-grossing movies of all-time – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is out this weekend and Avatar: The Way of Water is coming December 16 – we are thinking about sequels that surpassed the original. We’ll play a little game we made up called “Cold/Lukewarm/Hot,” where we each give a cold take (a sequel that most agree is better), a lukewarm take (a sequel that some might agree is better), and a hot take (a sequel opinion that will be controversial).
Which of our takes do you agree or disagree with? Comment below with your hottest take on a sequel better than the original!
COLD TAKE
Billy: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back is better than Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
This is my only Star Wars take of the episode. We have sung our praises of The Last Jedi enough as a hot take and here it is time to talk about one of the greatest sequels of all time. One of the greatest twists of all time, a weird kiss between brother and sister, and a melancholic ending that leaves us uncertain of how the last part of the story will go. Each character is elevated to a more interesting place and new characters such as Yoda are an enticing addition to this captivating world.
Drew: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is better than A Fistful of Dollars
You can’t go wrong with any of the three films in Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood’s Spaghetti Western “Dollars Trilogy,” but the best and most iconic is the third entry. A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More feature director Leone’s effortless style, composer Ennio Moricone’s influential score, and Eastwood as the ruthless “Man with No Name,” but The Good, the Bad and the Ugly scales everything up to epic proportions. The story is set in the thick of the Civil War as three gunslingers race to be the first to find buried Confederate gold. Lee Van Cleef plays mysterious mercenary Angel Eyes (“the Bad”), and Eli Wallach plays opportunistic bandit Tuco (“the Ugly”) – you can probably guess who plays “the Good.” Morricone’s score is elevated to even greater heights in this film, all leading to a final standoff for the ages.
LUKEWARM TAKE
Billy: Skyfall is better than all other James Bond movies (Casino Royale especially)
There are so many great James Bond movies, great Bond performances, and villains. Skyfall just happens to be the best in all of those categories. Daniel Craig is at his best as a sad and vulnerable Bond, an intimate glimpse into a character that is normally just carried by his mysterious persona. He is breaking down and is pushed to his limits against an opponent that is a lot like him. This intensity and our help from incredible supporting characters sets Skyfall apart from every other Bond.
Drew: Toy Story 3 is better than Toy Story
This is nothing against the original Toy Story, which was very important to me growing up and remains one of the best animated movies ever, but the 2010 third installment of the franchise is just all-around richer and better. Toy Story 3 advances the story to when Andy is heading off to college (Billy and I were in the same life stage as Andy, so there’s probably a reason we ranked this as our #1 Pixar film), leaving his toys behind for good. This provides a resonant emotional core around which the movie revolves, but it also has everything you want in a Pixar movie: action-adventure (the “prison break” from Sunnyside Daycare), humor (Spanish Buzz), and nostalgia (callbacks to the original when Andy was a kid). Toy Story 3 also has an absolute tearjerker of a final 20 minutes, as we fear for our heroes’ safety and then are treated to a heart-wrenching reunion. It’s as magical and inspired as sequels can get.
HOT TAKE
Billy: Blade Runner 2049 is better than Blade Runner
I had to really think about this one and make sure I believe it. Both are absolutely wonderful, but despite the impact of the original, I have to go with Blade Runner 2049 as the best. 2049 stars Ryan Gosling as K. There is no mystery with our lead character’s origin this time. He is a replicant trained to be a Blade Runner, a character that has no history besides the world he was brought into and an implanted memory that feels oddly real. Our main emotional connection in this film is through flashes of his ”memories”, but the legitimacy of these memories are in question. If legitimate, a larger conspiracy will be exposed. That crux of our story provides a layer that spoke to me slightly more than the original. Also, the set up for a third movie that never came to fruition weirdly makes this an even stronger story. That mystery of what could have come leaves the audience with a larger connection to “the cause.” Fitting for a Blade Runner story. We shouldn’t have too much resolution.
Drew: Creed is better than Rocky
Rocky is inarguably one of the most inspirational underdog stories ever committed to film. In addition to winning Best Picture, the Sylvester Stallone original made $225 million at the box office, an absurd figure for 1976. So how could Creed, the seventh installment of the Rocky franchise and the first to center someone other than Stallone, top that classic? The choice to extend the Rocky legacy by introducing his old rival and friend Apollo Creed’s son was a brilliant one. Since Stallone is training Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed, this allowed Creed to nod to the previous films, while clearly passing the torch to the next generation. Jordan and co-star Tessa Thompson have an undeniable romantic spark together, and Stallone delivers one of his best ever performances (which almost led to an Oscar). With talented young writer-director Ryan Coogler taking the reins, Creed felt fresh and dynamic even as it was referencing figures and events from decades ago. While he would go on to even more blockbuster success with Black Panther, Coogler nailed everything about Creed, from the electric boxing scenes to the many lump-in-your-throat moments. It all leads to a boxing sequel that transcends the genre and its franchise predecessors.
Mini-review: The Banshees of Inisherin
Drew: I knew I could expect sardonic dialogue and tragicomedy from a Martin McDonagh joint, but I wasn’t prepared for this profound fable-like reflection on friendship, mortality, and despair. It’s the best thing McDonagh has ever done, because he marries his characteristic wit and tone with an enhanced sense of visual poetry. Similarly, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson submit some of their best work, which I don’t say lightly, because I adore both of those actors. And the supporting turns from Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan are indispensable. The Banshees of Inisherin is a soul-shaking cocktail of comedy, sorrow, and unexpected beauty. - 4.5 / 5 Apples