Top Ten Movie Sequels

Superman II has one of the best film villains in history in General Zod and he is the primary reason this sequel finds its way onto this list. With his band of deviant minions he arrives on Earth and begins wreaking havoc. Whether you are a fan of the original cut or the newly released “Donner Cut” I don’t think there are many out there that will dispute Superman II as one of the greatest sequels to every be released and the last time a Superman themed film was actually worth watching.

For me, deciding between Rocky II and Rocky IV was not an easy task. In the end it came down to redemption. What made the first Rocky film so good was the fact that he lost. It went against all expectations and it made it so the ending of Rocky II was earned. It wasn’t cliché. Rocky earned his rematch against Apollo and he earned his victory. While Rocky IV is still one of the most entertaining popcorn flicks I own (primarily for its soundtrack and over the top message), there is no way it beats out Rocky II when it comes to overall quality.

This may in fact be my one dark horse not expected by most. Personally Magnum Force is the best Dirty Harry film above and beyond all others. As interesting as the first film is, it has far too much brawn and not enough brains. The great thing about Magnum Force is that it actually manages to make those that are out there to protect and serve into visible villains. By this I mean a motorcycle cop is no longer looked at as a cop, he’s a bit intimidating by look alone. The scene with the three bikers in the garage is devastatingly intense and the violence in the film is so savage and nonchalant I can’t help but love this film. It elevates the franchise to a height it had never achieved and never would again.

I believe I am in the minority when I say this, but I prefer Ridley Scott’s Alien just a smidge more than James Cameron’s Aliens. However, it isn’t as if that is saying anything derogatory as these are two great films that will stand the test of time when it comes to science-fiction horror. Both Alien and Aliens have never been topped. In my opinion they are the two greatest science-fiction horror films of all-time, due, in large part, to the men behind them. The most shocking thing perhaps is that Cameron’s Aliens is considered by many (if not most) to be the better of the two. I say this is shocking only because the first one was so damned good that to think people could prefer the sequel is a testament to the quality of Cameron’s work. I don’t have to think it is the better film to respect the fact that so many others do.

I had a really hard time deciding whether this one would fall in or out of the top five. The decision basically came down to the fact that I think it is still a little too early to judge this film entirely in terms of greatness and upon second viewing I really started to feel the length of the whole thing. I stand by my “A+” review, but this isn’t a list entirely based on my opinion of a film as much as a film’s place in history as you will see in coming selections. The Dark Knight‘s place in history will be decided over the next five years as superhero movies are sure to turn more to a darker more brooding tone. Should the shift in filmmaking work the effect this film has had on the world of film will undoubtedly put it into the stratosphere. Batman Begins encouraged the more realistic tone of Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk and the films were better for it. The Dark Knight is sure to shape the tone of Iron Man 2, the next Superman film and countless films beyond that. The legacy of The Dark Knight is yet to be determined, but it certainly looks promising.

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