Sequels better than Originals - No. 5 - Batman Returns

It is debatable among whether this sequel is better than the 1989 Batman film by Tim Burton. It is really a matter of preference. Some people prefer, the first film because of Jack Nicholson as the Joker and consider this film bittersweet compared to the original's triumph. People also didn't like the Penguin, but I like how they made something disgusting and evil so sympathetic. I prefer this because it is darker, more gothic and Tim Burton upgraded his style, I love bittersweet. Michelle Pfeiffer steals the show as Catwoman, and has great chemistry Michael Keaton who plays Batman. 

Sequels better than Originals - No. 6 - Superman 2

The pacing is much faster the first. The chemistry between Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder is stronger. Terence Stamp is amazing as General Zod and the battle of Metropolis is great.

Sequels better than Originals - No. 7 - Shrek 2

The humour is more smart than the first. The relationship between Shrek and Fiona is less cliched and more believable than the first. The fairy Godmother is more interesting villain than Farquard. This also introduces Puss in Boots my favourite character.

Sequels better than Originals - No. 8 - Eclipse

I know Twilight is stupid. Sparkly vampires, is Stephenie Meyer insane? So it’s almost impossible that a ridiculous film series has a watchable sequel, Twilight was mediocre and New Moon was a load of crap! Eclipse does surprisingly good qualities such as the slick direction by David Slade (who also directed Hard Candy and 30 Days of Night) the newborn vampires was an interesting idea.

Plus my future wife Bryce Dallas Howard takes over as the sexy and evil Victoria.

Sequels better than Originals - No. 9 - Aliens

Another obvious, James Cameron’s Aliens is far better than Ridley Scott’s Alien. Granted the original is very suspenseful and has the scariest version of the chest-bursting. But Aliens has a lot of action scenes, a much stronger performance from Sigourney Weaver and best of all, the Queen Alien!

Hereafter – Review – 5/5 stars

This film has met a mixed response mainly due its subject which is very take it or leave it. Mainly due to different opinions on the afterlife, but you don’t to believe life after death to enjoy this film. The film even grounds us in reality by setting these characters during the events of 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2005 London bombings. This a film about three different characters who each have a different experience involving death, loss and afterlife, this is more of a character study than a film about the afterlife.

It opens with a brilliant recreation of the tragic 2004 tsunami, which causes French journalist Marie (Cecile de France) to have a near death experience. The images of her experience in the afterlife don’t seem any more unrealistic than real-life claims from people who had near death experience: white lights, blurry people etc. The second character George (Matt Damon) who can commune with the dead but is trying to escape trying to have a normal life. The other is a young English boy Marcus who lost his twin brother Jason (played by Frankie and George McLaren) and is trying to communicate with him.

Matt Damon is good as always and is surprisingly believable when doing psychic readings; he leaves it ambiguous enough for the audience whether he’s really having these visions or just works it out picking up vibes (remember his character explained he had brain surgery). Cecile de France is great as a character trying to discover what happened to her, although most her lines are in French. The McLaren twins are good for child actors with no experience. Then there’s the lovely Bryce Dallas Howard (I don’t care what anyone thinks, one day she’ll be mine!) in a small role as a girl Damon tries to start a relationship with, she starts off sweet and likeable then she discovers his secret.

It’s almost impossible to see a bad film by Clint Eastwood or with Matt Damon. Don’t expect this to be a huge a action packed thriller just because it’s big opening sequence. This film is not for everyone, try not to afterlife parts too seriously if you don’t believe and get to learn about the characters and will be more enjoyable (at least for me).

Sequels better than Originals - No. 10 - The Dark Knight

Counting down from 10

The Dark Knight

I thought I I’d start off the obvious. Batman Begins was a fantastic film but The Dark Knight is Epic, all actions are completely jaw-dropping, storyline pulls us in and of course Heath Ledger as the Joker.

What made Heath Ledger stand-out so well is that nobody thought he could do it (don’t say you did!) he was funny, he was scary and just completely insane! The best version of the best Batman villain ever, the real downside is that is will be only time we Ledger as the Joker.

With great acting, great story and epic action sequences, the next film The Dark Knight Rises is going to be hard to beat even for Christopher Nolan, could be easy if Batman has sex with Catwoman.