Getting better at it

Seven follow-up films which edge out the original ones.

MOVIE sequels are tricky things to get right.

If you stick to the same formula as the predecessor, it becomes boring, but if you come up with something completely different, it could ruin the legacy of the original.

While most sequels turn out to be weak follow-ups, some films, such as the recent Marvel movie Thor: Ragnarok, starring Chris

Toy Story 2 (1999); Toy Story 3 (2010)

Directors: John Lasseter (Toy Story 2); Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3)

Stars: Voices of Tim Allen, Tom Hanks

Why they are better: The original Toy Story (1995) was sweet and heartwarming – with all the right elements for a successful Pixar animation film. The computer graphics employed in the film were also considered revolutionary at the time. So, while the original was a tall order to beat, Pixar managed to make not Hemsworth as the golden-locked God of Thunder, buck the trend.

Many even say that the funny and light-hearted film, which is directed by New Zealand indie film-maker Taika Waititi, who is known for his quirky films, is a lot better than the two much more serious and dreary films that came before it.

Which other movies have managed to beat the sequel curse and edge out even the originals? Here’s a look. just one, but two, more superior films after it. Both sequels are moving because they are more than just about the adventures of a bunch of cute toys. They captured the bittersweet feelings of having to grow up and leave behind the innocence of childhood.

The films sealed the triloas gy’s position a series not just for young kids, but also for the entire family.

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Director: George Lucas

Stars: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher

Why it is better: Many Star Wars fans say this is the best film in the entire franchise (which continues to churn out new instalments every other year). While the original film, A New Hope (1977), introduced audiences to the colourful characters and worlds of the Star Wars universe for the first time, this one upped the ante by daring to go darker – hero Han Solo is captured at the end in a major cliffhanger. Also, who can forget that shocking twist that Darth Vader is, in fact, Luke Skywalker’s father? The iconic scene is so intensely referenced and parodied even to this day, for good reason.

Before Sunset (2004)

Director: Richard Linklater

Stars: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy

Why it is better: If you have the patience for it, all three films in Linklater’s very talky and intimate Before Sunrise trilogy are pretty fantastic. But this one raises the stakes from Before Sunrise (1995) because of the emotional maturity in the budding romance here, compared with the light-hearted vibe of the first film when they just knew each other. They are finally married in the third film, Before Midnight (2013), but there is something sweeter and more romantic about the second film that makes this one feel the most special of the lot.

Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)

Director: Alfonso Cuaron

Stars: Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint

Why it is better: The first two films directed by Chris Columbus were competent but safe adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s best-selling novels, sticking closely to the source material. After Oscar-winning Mexican director Cuaron took over the helm for this third film, he changed directions by daring to snip the book generously and making everything a lot darker. His take on the Dementors is truly terrifying compared with the ghostly spirits in the first two movies. The lead cast members have also passed the awkward puberty phase and grown into their young adult selves here, and are clearly more confident in the wa they carr