Sequels that are better than the first film
Godfather II of course springs to mind.

As does the Addams Family Values. That said, I'm finding it really hard to think of franchises where the sequels are better than the first film (I'm not including Bond in this btw). Anyone got any others?
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 16:25, 26 replies)

X-men 2
was better than X-men. But then that fucking cuntrag Bryan Singer fucked off and let X3 tun into the inspid pile of wank that it was.

Bastard. And Superman returns was fucking shit. So it's not like he went to do something better.
(Bazongaloid, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 16:33, closed)

For a few dollars more
was better than A Fistful of Dollars. Interestingly I would argue that The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is even better than Fistful of Dollars making it the only trilogy I can think of where the third film was better than the first two.

Also, Mad Max 2 was arguably better than Mad Max, Mad Max 3 of course, not being as good.

Empire Strikes Back was better than A New Hope. Return of the Jedi, wasn't.
(Bazongaloid, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 16:35, closed)

Oh and
Lethal Weapon 2, I personally prefer it to Lethal Weapon, just for the "but, but, but, but your blick!" line.
(Bazongaloid, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 16:36, closed)

Hmm.
I liked Xmen 1 and 2 equally, to be honest. But yes, I saw Xmen 3, being a huge fan of the franchise, and immediately regretted it. It's ruined it a bit for me. Although I'm quite excited by the Wolverine movie they're planning...
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 16:36, closed)

Of course! Star Wars!
The definitive "sequel better than original" film.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 16:37, closed)

Oh, and I thought that "Desperado|
was better than "El Mariachi". But that's essentially a remake of it.

EDITED once I realised I was talking about the 3rd film by mistake, not the 2nd.

Much like I prefer Evil Dead 2 to the first one, even though it's the same basic story.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 16:38, closed)

Bill & Ted
Bogus Journey was at least the equal of, if not better than, Excellent Adventure, I reckon.

Terminator 2 also a very worthy sequel.
(JohabMorelli is spenging merrily away, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 16:40, closed)

batman?
counting the first batman as the one from 2005, i'm pretty sure dark knight will trump it.

I also preffered the 2nd and 3rd Bourne films to the first.
(Bruceh, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 16:43, closed)

Indiana Jones
I = Brilliant
II = Hmmm, great for kids, not so great once you've grown up and realised it's a bit shit.
III = WOOOOO! Sean Connery FTW! Excellent stuff.
IV = monkeywank. Step away from the aliens Spielberg, before I'm forced to kill you.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 16:43, closed)

Evil Dead 2
Is pretty much a remake I always thought, but Desperado is definitely a sequel. I'm not sure if it's better or not to be honest. It's different, that's all I would say. They are made in very different ways.
(Bazongaloid, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 16:45, closed)

Terminator 2
...is the best of the bunch by a long chalk.
( reallywittyname veraciously conspues lexiphanicism on, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 16:46, closed)

Terminator 2
Oh yes.

Aliens was better than Alien. Spider-Man 2 is the best film in that series. Spidey 3 tried to do too much and ultimately got a bit bogged down. It should have lost the multiple villains shtick - that approach killed the original Batman franchise.

I'm struggling to think of others.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 23 Jul 2008, 16:46, closed)

And...
to be fair, Attack of the Clones was better than Phantom Menace. So was Revenge of the Sith. but still, in comparison to the original trilogy...
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 23 Jul 2008, 16:48, closed)

Also
Carry on Screaming was better than Carry on Sergeant - but it's not really a sequel, I suppose....
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 23 Jul 2008, 16:50, closed)

2nd series of Red Dwarf
Betters the first.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 23 Jul 2008, 16:51, closed)

Controversial
Aliens better than Alien? Two very, very different films, one is a gung ho action flick, the other is a scary claustrophobic space horror.

I don't know if I think Aliens is better, but I would prefer to watch it given the choice as I like action films. But I still think Alien is brilliant.
(Bazongaloid, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 16:51, closed)

al
I do think Alien is a classic, but it's very slow-burn in comparison. I also really enjoyed the restored version of Alien 3 - made a lot more sense with the cut bits reinstated. Given the choice, Aliens wins it for me. Although I enjoyed them all. Not seen AVP: Requiem though...
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 23 Jul 2008, 16:54, closed)

Don't sully your brain
with that utter crap.

AVP was drivel, AVP 2 is just so mind numbingly shite that I stopped watching it after about 20 minutes.
(Bazongaloid, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 16:54, closed)

AVP:
is that the one set in some kind of weird underground temple in the Arctic? Seen the last half hour, looks terrible...
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 16:57, closed)

Dawn of The Dead
Is better than Night Of The Living Dead.
( Cawl, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 17:00, closed)

Empress
Yeah, it is. It's OK. Mindless brain fodder, but just about watchable. However, I'l stay away from requiem as it's been universally described as 'not really very good'. I generally don't let reviews sway me, but in this case...

*EDIT*

*Nods and agrees with Kaol*
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 23 Jul 2008, 17:00, closed)

what about
Breakdance 2: Electric Boogaloo?


Actually the first one was better. I just wanted to mention Breakdance 2: Electric Boogaloo.

Sorry.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 17:14, closed)

Breakdance 2?
Electric Boogaloo?
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 17:21, closed)

What about
House Party 2?

No?
(Bazongaloid, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 18:00, closed)

@Empress Bob
I imagined you saying that in a Peter Kay incredulous voice a la 'garlic bread?'

...and what, pray tell, is your issue with Breakdance 2: Electric Boogaloo?

EH?
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 23 Jul 2008, 18:03, closed)

I have no issue with it.
Indeed, I'd never heard of it. It's just fun to type.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Thu 24 Jul 2008, 11:17, closed)