Sequels better than Originals - No. 1 - Return to Oz

A very unlikely choice. The 1939 film The Wizard of Oz is a classic musical starring Judy Garland. While it was sugary sweet, with cute little munchkins, colourful sets, musical numbers. And the occasional darkness, the forest and the witch's castle.

Return to Oz is nothing like the original. This film is dark from beginning to end. It starts out with Dorothy being sent to clinic, because of her obsession with Oz, but she escapes after they try to do an illegal experiment on her with shock treatment. She finds herself back in Oz, but everything is different the yellow brick road is destroyed, the emerald city is gone and in it's place are ruins and everyone (including the Tin Man and Lion) have been turned to stone and the Scarecrow is missing. Dorothy encounters more scares, including Wheelers (men with wheels for hands and feet), Princess Mombi who constantly changes her head (literally, she has a rooms with 30 talking heads) and the Nome King. Joining Dorothy on her quest this time is Jack Pumpkinhead, the Gump (a green deer-head with a couch for a body), Billina the talking chicken and a mechanical man called Tik-Tok (by far the best character).

Dorothy is more 3-dimensional than in the first film, she's feels more heroic and more developed. She is a lot more involved in the action, it is up to her to save her friends this time and coming up with plans. Here she is played by a young Fairuza Balk, who makes the role her own and is noticeably younger than Judy Garland was, which makes her more vulnerable but also stronger in her situation. The Nome King is a great villain, very threatening but makes out that he's reasonable. And his motive for stealing the emeralds and revelation of how he was able to do it is very clever.

It being a sequel to the 1939 film is debatable. It looks nothing like the original, the sets and character designs are completely different, Dorothy is clearly younger and she makes some references about her first journey that happens in the book, not in the film. This is also not a musical. It's considered more of a sequel to the book than the film. However there are nods to the 1939 film, the ruby slippers (they were silver in the books) and characters in Kansas mirroring characters in Oz.

This is an 80's film so no CGI, so instead clever use of stop-motion and mechanics. Seeing the post-apocalptic version of Oz is effective, the landmarks of Oz being destroyed. The background music is rich and more pleasant to listen to than all the musical numbers of the first film.

This film did badly on its release due to complaints of it being too dark and scary for children. Although there are a lot more scarier films targeted at children. I think a lot of children like being scared because it does get them invested. This is an underrated film, and it appears more people are starting to appreciate this film for what it is.

Sequels better than Originals - No. 2 - The Bourne Ultimatum

This film brings the perfect trilogy full circle. The action is sequences are bigger especially the car chase/crash scene. Very on-the-edge-of-seat moments including the Waterloo Station scene and the chase scene in Morocco. There are some very clever nods to the first two films and the last scene mirrors the beginning of the first film. The ending very emotional. Matt Damon is at his very best (I'm surprised he doesn't get enough Oscar buzz). Julia Stiles role is expanded from the first two films, as Nicky she's very likeable. Instead of romance, it's implied a romantic past, they mirror the relationship Bourne had with Marie, you can sense romance just by the way they look at each other knowing it would be dangerous if they stay together.

Not looking the fourth chapter: The Bourne Legacy starring Jeremy Renner. If it's not Matt Damon, it not Bourne.

Sequels better than Originals - No. 3 - X2

This film raises the stakes from the first film in an unexpected way. Instead of the X-Men VS Magneto, like in the first film, this time they are working together against a human who found a way to kill all mutants. This film Wolverine feels even more 3-dimensional when he discovers a connection to his past. Jean Grey, who was boring in first film, becomes a lot more interesting with her powers expanding foreshadowing the Dark Phoenix. The fight scene between Wolverine and Lady Deathstrike is brutal. Rogue trying to start a relationship with Iceman while trying not to kill. Iceman revealing to his family that he's mutant, their reaction is similar to parents finding out their child is gay. The sacrifice one of the characters makes at the end is powerhouse.

Sequels better than Originals - No. 4 - Toy Story

The addition of Jessie the cowgirl is a big plus, Joan Cusak is great doing the voice. Buzz is no longer delusional like in the first film, it was hilarious seeing him interact with another delusional Buzz. The theme is stronger, in the first film Woody fears of being replaced while in this he's scared of being damaged and not loved anymore. The character Jessie and Stinky Pete (voiced by the great Kelsey Grammer) help represent that.

My Family

Middle-aged parents grumpy dentist father Ben and control-freak mother Susan who is a terrible cook. Their three children: eldest son Nick who is an idiotic lay-about always between jobs and scams; daughter Janey who is fashion-money-boy obsessed who eventually gets pregnant and young geek Michael who always up to schemes against his parents wishes. Later joining the family is dumb-blonde cousin Abi who steals the show with her with clumsiness and dimwittedness, Ben’s co-worker Roger who is stupid and gullible and struggling musician Alfie.

This is a very funny sitcom, it did come under criticism for an American style of humor. However this does target a similar audience as Friends, which was very popular when this show started. So if you love Friends, you’ll love this.

Series 1 - Serves a great introduction to the dysfunctional family. The standout episode is “Farewell to Alarms” where they buy a burglar alarm that won’t stop going off.

Series 2 - Continues the antics of the main characters with even more laughs, such as Nick’s ever changing jobs. The standout moments include Ben hiding in the house while Janey has a party, Ben and Nick in hotel room together and Nick getting whiplash after a motorcycle stunt.

Series 3 - With Janey gone to university, Abi has moved in and breathes new life into already funny sitcom. Standout moments include Ben and Susan role playing as stranger, smoking cannabis to teach Michael a lesson, Nick moving into a flat and Abi’s introduction.

Series 4 – Janey is absent however gives birth to baby Kenzo off-screen. The standout moments include the Halloween special “Friday the 31^st”, flashbacks of Susan giving birth to Nick, holiday in Spain and Abi singing Get This Part Started when she thinks no one is watching.

Series 5- Nick is gone and Janey is back, despite feeling weird buy this change the series does manage retain its humour. Nick does come back for 1 episode “My Will Be Done” working at a funeral place while Ben makes his. Other standout moments include Susan hiring a cleaner and gets jealous of her and Abi learns long words for a job at the library.

Series 6 - Must’ve suffered behind the scenes, 2 year gap between series 5, Nick leaving the show and only has 7 episodes and Ben is absent for 2. It’s still funny but there is no real standout episode, however the love story involving Abi and Roger is cute and funny and ends with a hilarious proposal.

Series 7 - Is a huge improvement over 6, with more standout moments involving the revelation of Kenzo’s father, the family going on The Weakest Link, Ben and Susan renewing their vowels and Roger and Abi get married.

I stopped watching the show further because series 8 was not funny and Abi was wasted and then written out ruining the love story with Roger, also Michael became almost a series of different characters going from geek to rebel to ladies man to gay? The last episode “Life Begins at Fifty” of series 7 while not the final episode, it is for me though while not perfect but the last scene does all the main characters (except Nick of course) together having a toast.

Forget the complete DVD boxset, buy the Series 1 -7 boxset. It is however missing the Christmas specials that have plot revelation so I recommend you buy this boxset with the “Four Christmas Specials” DVD. For continuity the episode “Ding Dong Merrily” takes place after series 3, “Sixty Feet Under” takes place after series 4, “Glad Tidings We Bring” and “And I’ll Cry If I Want To” both take place after series 5.