The best (and worst) movie sequels

The best (and worst) movie sequels

Okay, you might as well admit it. Like me you’re fascinated (and sometimes repulsed) when you hear another movie sequel is being made. As much as I enjoy seeing how some of my favorite characters and plots grow and continue, more often than not, I find the sequel is never as good as the original. However, once and a while, I find myself pleasantly surprised. That said, here are a few of the best and worst movie sequels.

THE WORST

Caddyshack II' (1988)

Jackie Mason on a golf course does not compensate for the absence of Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield and Ted Knight. And the lone holdover from the original, Chevy Chase, shows up 

only long enough to cash his fat paycheck. We believe the term for this is "bogey."

'Jaws 3-D' (1983)

Roy Scheider wisely bailed on the franchise before '3-D,' leaving a too-young-to-know-better Dennis Quaid to star as a SeaWorld engineer dodging both an angry shark mama and an endless string of horror-movie cliches.

'Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde' (2003)

Reese Witherspoon's original turn as a ditzy blonde who takes the law profession by storm is funny, charming and empowering. The sequel, in which she goes looking for her pet Chihuahua's birth mother (seriously!), is just embarrassing.

The Exorcist II: The Heretic' (1977)

Oh, that silly demon Pazusu ... how he torments us! His worst trick: letting this movie be made. One of the greatest horror stories ever told should exorcize this godforsaken sequel.

'Speed 2: Cruise Control' (1997)

Runaway cruise ship! Doesn't have the ring to it of "runaway bus," huh? This dead-in-the-water sequel should be sunk.

'Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2' (2000)

How fitting that the plot for this imitation horror movie focused on folks trying to "cash in" on the events of the first film by arranging a 'Blair Witch Hunt' tour. It was just take the money and run time.

 

THE BEST

'Christmas Vacation'

The folks at National Lampoon released this riotously funny third go-round with the Griswold clan that had us squirting eggnog out of our noses. Yes, it’s stupid, but oh, so funny.

'Return of the Jedi' and The Empire Strikes Back

 'Star Wars: Episode VI' is a flawed but absolutely essential piece to the original trilogy.

The Empire Strikes Back starts with a bang (the spectacular battle of Hoth), builds to a fever pitch (Luke's first confrontation with Vader) and ends with our heroes' galaxy in utter tumult. God bless the Empire for striking back.

'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan'

After 10 'Star Treks,' they all start to seem the same -- with the exception of this character-driven classic, in which Kirk's brooding, Khan's evil glee (no one overacts like Ricardo Montalban) and Spock's noble death make for a classic sci-fi action flick.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'

Expectations were high when Alfonso Cuarón signed on to direct the third 'Harry Potter' film, and he did not disappoint. Darker than its predecessors and introducing the splendid Gary Oldman as Sirius Black, 'Azkaban' marks the point at which the franchise, like its young leads, grows up.

'Toy Story 2'

It's Pixar's only sequel -- Disney reportedly pressured the studio to do it, since the first 'Story' was so successful. Good thing: Jessie's song about her owner growing up and moving on still makes us tear up; the riff on the iconic "I am your father" scene is a welcome blast from our movie past.

'Dawn of the Dead'

George A. Romero's 1978 follow-up to the cult classic 'Night of the Living Dead' came out 10 years later than the original -- and it shows. Still as repulsively graphic (in a good way) as the black-and-white 'Night,' the zombie feast that is 'Dawn' is in color, red mostly.

'Kill Bill Vol. 2'

Vol. 1' is amazing, but 'Vol. 2' features the Bride's (Uma Thurman) eyeball-squishing battle royale with Elle Driver and her much-anticipated showdown with Bill. Has there ever been a more badass heroine?

'X2: X-Men United'

 With stronger storylines, a cool new mutant and a dastardly human foe, and deeper themes of prejudice and redemption, the superb action scenes are just gravy.

'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

First there was the fellowship, then the towers, but the final chapter in the best trilogy ever has it all: the eye-popping Battle of Minas Tirith, unrequited love (Eowyn for Aragorn, NOT Sam for Frodo) and the "rest of the story." If you whine about the overly long ending, you must be an Orc.