Cinema Challenge #1: Ten Sequels Better Than The Originals

Cigarettes and cinematic deconstruction sessions over coffee can often be a dangerous thing- especially with MY cinephile friends. Case in point- after a nasty and fanatical rant about movie sequels, we could agree that against all odds, there have been some pretty damn fine ones made- Godfather Part II, Last Crusade, Terminator 2.  Good sequels,  like a rare Flor de Pingus, can be pretty hard to come by- yet even more elusive is the Superior Sequel.  Thus, the gauntlet was thrown (and I cannot walk away from thrown gauntlets)- name ten film sequels that were BETTER than their original. Here it is, you bastards...

Cinema Challenge #1: Ten Sequels Better Than The Originals.

#10- The Road Warrior (1981)

George Miller's 1979 Australian action feature Mad Max was shaky, sparse and often incoherent- but then again it was Mr. Miller's first feature. A mere two years later he got it just right- with The Road Warrior, a post-apocalyptic social satire fused with guts and gasoline. Cinematographer Dean Semler's widescreen staging of the Outback combined with costume designer Norma Moriceau's post-punk design were the perfect accompaniment to the sparse dialogue, gritty action and the Stoic ideal that made Mel Gibson a star.