Top 3 Tuesday - movie sequels

I like it when a sequel makes you fall even deeper in love with a film series. I think it's great when a team can come together and not only recreate the magic of the first film, but manage to make the sequel even better! There is a lot of pressure on a sequel and that's why I always cheer when the team gets it right.

So here are my three favourite movie sequels...

3) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - yes I'm aware this third installment saw a new director join the team and it is almost certainly Alfonso CuarĂ³n's influence that made this film stand out against the first two HP movies, but I still have to include it in my list because this movie changed the entire Harry Potter series. It's a lot darker than the first two, it's more thrilling and it's full of scary Dementors. Also Prisoner was, in my opinion, the first time the three leads proved they could act. I cringe watching the first movies for that very reason. But when I saw Prisoner of Azkaban my joy was palpable - I knew that the actors were on form to make the rest of the series an event I would never forget. And they did just that. The Harry Potter Series is one of the best film series out there. And for me Prisoner of Azkaban is my absolute favourite of the eight movies. 

2) The Dark Knight - generally considered to be one of the best sequels ever made, The Dark Knight does everything that a great sequel is meant to - it takes the success of the first film and runs with it to create a far better movie. Batman Begins is a fine film, but Dark Knight surpasses it in every way. There's more action, more Batman, and better villians. Heath Ledger's performance alone is enough to make this film top a whole host of 'Best Lists'. The Dark Knight moves on from Batman's beginnings and gives him some real crazy baddies to fight. Overall, it's simply a more entertaining film and even after the trilogy concluded The Dark Knight still stands as the best Nolan Bat film.  

1) Before Sunset - this is a perfect sequel because I love it much more than the original film. While Before Sunrise was cute and managed to capture those feelings of young love very well, Before Sunset has more depth, more real-life issues, more heart. I think Sunset is a more accomplished film, a better example of director Richard Linklater and actors Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy's talents. As Ethan and Julie co-wrote this one with Richard, I felt this gave the characters more sincerity. Ethan and Julie embody the truth and heart of Jesse and Celine, and their experiences over the nine years between Sunrise and Sunset make the sequel's conversations more emotional and intense. There is a sense of longing and regret in Sunset that brings its own kind of heartbreaking beauty to the film. I adore Before Sunset and I can not wait to see Jesse and Celine again in the upcoming Before Midnight


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