1995's Heat - A Once In A Lifetime Supercast

In 1995, Warner Bros. gave us Heat, a classic crime drama with an exceptional story, great characters and an absolutely top class cast. The story follows a gang of top level thieves who botch an armoured truck robbery, impulsively killing several armed guards. The LAPD's major crimes unit quickly become involved led by a tenacious detective to hunt the criminals and bring them to justice.

The film was written and directed by none other than Michael Mann, the mind behind Manhunter and Last of the Mohicans prior to Heat, and since then has given us Ali, Miami Vice and Public Enemies as a writer and director. Mann will also be directing the upcoming 2019 biopic Enzo Ferrari. The writer, director and producer is a master of historic crime genre of movies and his career is far from over.

The cast of this movie is incredible. Admittedly, some cast members have found themselves considerably more famous here in 2019, but retrospectively, it's still a highly respectable lineup. Leading the bill are Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Val Kilmer with support from Tom Sizemore, Diane Venora and Jon Voight. Following behind are Ted Levine (Shutter Island), Amy Brenneman (Fear), Ashley Judd (Double Jeopardy), Mykelti Williamson (Con Air, Forrest Gump), Wes Studi (Last of the Mohicans), Hank Azaria (Godzilla), Dennis Haysbert (24), Martin Ferrero (Jurassic Park), Henry Rollins (Bad Boys II), Tom Noonen (Robocop 2), Jerry Trimble (The Flash), Tone Loc (Ace Ventura) and Jeremy Piven (Smokin' Aces, Entourage) as well as Danny Trejo, a very young Natalie Portman and of course, everyone's favourite that-guy actor, the mighty William Fichtner. 

The cast list is a bottomless Christmas stocking of awesome actors and actresses and the film itself is extremely well made, well edited, well directed and particularly well written and scripted. The movie was made on a budget of $60m and pulled down over $187m worldwide. It's an absolute must-see for fans of the crime genre movie and an absolutely essential addition to any DVD collection.

Death Note - A Critically Pounded Netflix Remake

Netflix' live action adaptation of Death Note (2017) has been the subject of some strong opinions by critics and outrage by fans. The film was heavily anticipated particularly by fans of the manga series by Tsugumi Ohba and the 2006 anime series but unfortunately, was not received well at all. 

The plot differs somewhat from the anime, following Light Turner (originally Light Yagami) and his girlfriend Mia on a supernatural killing spree in Seattle. Light accidentally finds himself in possession of book known as the Death Note. Once the user touches the book, he or she becomes the keeper of the Death Note and summons a Shinigami; a Japanese god of death. When a name is written in the book, they will die by a method of the keeper's choosing. A gifted detective, known only as "L", has been drafted in to hunt for Light, known to him as Kira (killer in Japanese).

Death Note is directed by Adam Wingard, the shot-caller behind 2016's Blair Witch and the upcoming Godzilla vs. Kong with a screenplay by Fantastic Four writer Jeremy Slater and music by Leopold and Atticus Ross. Warner Bros. acquired the rights to an American remake of Death Note back in 2009 but after the idea was pushed around from studio to studio through various writers and directors, the distribution rights were repurchased by Netflix in April 2016 and the production companies involved (LP, Lin, Vertigo) were offered a budget of $50m. Several producers were involved in the project including Japanese-born producer and actor Masi Oka (Heroes) who cameos in the film as a detective in Tokyo.

The cast features Nat Wolff from harrowing romantic drama A Fault In Our Stars as Light, Margaret Qualley (The Leftovers) as Mia, Lakeith Stanfield (Selma, Get Out) as L and the fantastic Willem Dafoe as the voice of the Shinigami known as Ryuk. Death Note also features a well known that-guy actor many viewers will recognise from various movie bit parts and TV spots, Shea Whingham as Light's father Detective James Turner who teams up with L to catch Kira, unaware that he is chasing his own son.

The R-rated remake is packed full of odd, unexpected plot twists and quickly turns to a sinister psychological drama about an anti-hero who believes in his own cause and his twisted, psychotic girlfriend. The dialogue is a little ropey in places, the editing even more-so. The choice of music (i.e. 80's power ballads in the ferris wheel scene) is downright cringe-worthy. However, all that aside, it really is a good film, particularly considering that it's a remake of an anime classic.

Alpha - An Ice Age Epic

Later in 2018, Sony will be releasing Alpha, a story about the first bond between human beings and canines. The film is due for release on September 14th and is set 20,000 years ago during the last ice age. The trailer paints a picture of a historic epic focusing on the lead character's relationship with a wild wolf.

Director Albert Hughes (From Hell, The Book of Eli) is going solo for the first time after usually working alongside his brother Allen. The screenplay has been penned by first-time screenwriter Daniele Sebastian Wiedenhaupt who's previous film experience extends to just a handful of production and miscellaneous crew credits. The film will be produced by relatively new enterprise Studio 8 Productions, a company which, so far, has only been associated with two other movie releases; harrowing post-war drama Billy Lynn's Halftime Walk featuring Vin Diesel and Kristen Stewart and White Boy Rick starring Matthew McConaughey. The release has been delayed twice, initially slated for September 2017. The date was moved to March 2018 and then again to a final date this coming September.

The story surrounds a boy on the cusp of manhood on his first hunting expedition with the elite hunters from his village in Europe during the Upper Palaeolithic era. He suffers an injury and is left for dead, struggling for survival in the harsh frozen wilderness. He discovers a wild wolf separated from its pack and over time, they form an unshakeable bond, helping each other survive as the boy finds his way home. The story illustrates how the first relationship between man and canine may have come to be. 

The film stars Australian-born actor Kodi Smit-McPhee who will no doubt be recognisable to many moviegoers as young Nightcrawler from X-Men: Apocalypse. Also appearing will be Natassia Malthe (Elektra, Lake Placid) and Leona Varela (Blade II) as well as a handful of other semi-famous faces... Better have the IMDb app at the ready!

Alpha features a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog to play the lead character's faithful canine companion, a fairly new breed developed in the 1950's. The dog, now accepted as a purebreed, was originally bred from German Shepherds and Carpathian Wolves in order to create a dog with the temperament of the shepherd and the pack instinct, hunting ability and body strength of the common wolf. A little controversy befell the movie when it transpired that five Alberta bison were slaughtered to display during a scene showing a carcass being butchered. Unfortunately as such, the film cannot carry the usual post-credit announcement stating that no animals were harmed during its production.

Controversy aside, this film is a must-see for dog lovers and will surely deliver a powerful and dramatic glimpse into the history of the human/canine relationship. With a solid cast, a fresh writer and a director who has proved his metal in Hollywood, It's difficult to see any way that this film won't be good!

Bond 25 - What We Know So Far

The James Bond series is the fourth most successful movie franchise of all time behind the MCU, Harry Potter and Star Wars and has grossed a total of over $7 trillion worldwide since the release of Dr. No in 1962. The powerhouse of a franchise has had its ups and downs but I think we can all agree that we are currently living in a good age for the exploits of 007. The 25th instalment is due to begin filming at Pinewood Studios in December of this year and so far, only a handful of information is currently available about the movie. 

Daniel Craig will return as James Bond for the last time before the character is recast again, meaning the film will almost certainly be a monumental finale to the current continuity. Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle (127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire) will direct the blockbuster with some help from Craig after he requested a more hands-on creative role in the film's production. The screenplay has been penned by John Hodge, writer of both Trainspotting movies.

In terms of supporting cast, although only Craig has been announced so far, it's probably safe to assume that Ralph Fiennes, Ben Wishaw and Naomi Harris will all return to reprise their iconic roles as M, Q and Moneypenny respectively. Unfortunately, Christoph Waltz will not be returning as Blofeld in Bond 25. This will come as sad news to many Bond fans who enjoyed Waltz' spectacular performance in Spectre, playing a role he was clearly born for and of course surviving the events of the movie, left marked by the classic scar across his eye. Waltz has stated that because the tradition in the franchise leans towards Blofeld being portrayed by a different actor in each film, he will not come back. This could, of course, be a red herring to throw the press off the scent. There may indeed be, at the very least, a cameo by the quintessential villain.

A few rumours have been floating around concerning the possible addition of world renowned actress Helena Bonham Carter as the main villain in the movie. An unnamed inside source told the Daily Mirror that Angelina Jolie was being tipped for the role but the producers preferred Bonham Carter. Other actors allegedly being eyed for roles in the film include Benedict Cumberbatch and Scottish star of the Kingsman movies, Mark Strong.

Other rumours surrounding the movie have tipped Beyonce and Dua Lipa as possible contenders for the much coveted job of performing the film's title theme. The as-yet-untitled movie will be distributed domestically by relatively new-to-the-scene Annapurna Pictures, the production company that brought you Detroit, Phantom Thread and American real-life war drama Zero Dark Thirty. International distribution of the film has been secured by Universal Pictures. With any luck we'll see the usual return of the Walther PPK, a new Aston Martin and maybe a couple of new gadgets courtesy of Q Branch. Bond 25 is set for release in November 2019.

Mowgli Movie Grabbed By Netflix

Mowgli has been bounced around all corners of Hollywood for the last few years and now it seems there are finally some solid plans. Warner Bros. originally had the movie slated for release in October 2016 but kept pushing the date back amid concerns about rushing the visual effects process and having to compete with Jon Favreau's live action retelling of The Jungle Book (2016). This week, Netflix has officially announced that they have purchased the rights to the movie and will release it on their online streaming platform in early 2019.

Unfortunately this news means that Mowgli will not be released theatrically but following the success of Favreau's 2016 remake which grossed nearly $1bn worldwide, it's unclear whether audiences will rush to cinemas to see another one quite so soon. There are some advantages, though! A Netflix exclusive release will mean the film won't be compared to its predecessor, or indeed any other film, in terms of box office success. Viewers who aren't fond of the cinema experience will be able to see the film for the first time from the comfort of their own homes.

The film directed by Andy Serkis has been produced through his own production company The Imaginarium which he co-owns with Bridgett Jones producer Jonathan Cavendish, a company that has contributed heavily to the recent Star Wars movies and the modern Planet of the Apes series. Several high-profile names are featured in the cast lineup including Benedict Cumberbatch, Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Naomi Harris and of course, Serkis himself.

The director has made it quite clear in interviews that Mowgli will feature a much darker and more gritty take on the story. The trailer appears to show a strong dramatic epic with a deeper story and certainly a much more graphic and potentially bloodthirsty depiction of Rudyard Kipling's classic jungle tale. The characters appear to be much more emotionally driven and multi-dimensional which could perhaps sway the sympathy of viewers somewhat.

Mowgli has been in the works for a long while now. The project has gone through various directors, cast members and studios before finally settling this year. Not much is known of the specifics of the story yet but it will certainly grab the attention of Netflix users worldwide upon release. Serkis stated that at one point, the production of this movie was running neck-and-neck with the production of Favreau's 2016 hit, but they wanted to take more time over principal photography and make sure the film was in the best shape in which it could be. This perhaps is a strong testament to the quality of the film!

Demolition Man - 25th Anniversary

Futuristic action classic Demolition Man turns 25 this year. The movie, directed by Hollywood first-timer Marco Brambilla, was released in November of 1993 and is often hailed as one of Sylvester Stallone's all time best movies. 

The plot follows a punch-throwing renegade cop named John Spartan (Stallone) who is cryogenically frozen in prison following a botched operation to rescue a group of hostages from the clutches of evil career criminal Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes). Phoenix is released from cryoprison in the year 2032 and immediately causes mayhem, murdering his way out of custody with a new set of deadly skills subconsciously taught to him during his incarceration. Spartan is then brought out of cryo to track down and stop the maniac, as the police department have found themselves pathetically incapable in a society where crime is virtually extinct. 

The film features an extraordinary (if a little mismatched) cast. The role of John Spartan was originally offered to martial arts legends Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal but both turned it down. Jackie Chan was originally cast to play Simon Phoenix but turned it down as he didn't wish to play a villain. Supporting cast members include Sandra Bullock and Benjamin Bratt as Stallone's police sidekicks. Antagonist and society leader Raymond Cocteau is portrayed by British actor Nigel Hawthorne, easily recognisable to many sitcom aficionados as Sir Humphrey Appleby in the early 1980's BBC series Yes Minister. Bob Gunton of The Shawshank Redemption is also thrown in the mix along with Denis Leary (The Amazing Spider-Man, Ice Age), Bill Cobbs (Oz The Great And Powerful), esteemed voice actor Glenn Shadix and even a little surprise appearance from comedy legend Jack Black before he was famous.

Warner Bros. afforded Demolition Man a budget of around $57 million. The film pulled down a modest $58.05m in domestic box office takings and $159m worldwide, ranking it at No.1 at the time. It was released on VHS in March 1994, on DVD in 1997 and eventually on BluRay in 2011.

Demolition Man remains one of the best action movies of the 90's and has aged extremely well. The contrast between the dark world of law enforcement in 1996 and the bright utopian/dystopian future has been the subject of so many sci-fi greats and this portrayal is undoubtedly the best. It's a top scoring card on the records of several key cast members as well as directors and writers. Give it a watch to celebrate its 25th birthday!

10 Reasons Why The Phantom Menace Isn't That Bad

As Star Wars movies go, The Phantom Menace (1999) isn't the best by any means. Fans, however, seemed to have completely lost their minds complaining savagely about the movie's quality. Jake Lloyd (Anakin) was bullied so badly over his role that he made the decision to retire from acting at just eleven years old. JarJar Binks actor Ahmed Best fell into a deep depression and considered suicide after receiving buckets of hate-mail about his character. For the sake of the cast and crew involved, and by way of an apology for the way they were treated by brutal, obsessive fans in the wake of its release, we have to at least try and see the good in a film which, to all intents and purposes, really isn't all that bad! In the true spirit of this blog's mission statement, let's cast aside the negative and examine a few things that this movie does well...

Liam Neeson

He trained Obi Wan, he trained Batman, he chased his daughter's kidnappers all over the planet! Liam Neeson is not to be messed with! His monk-like character, the Jedi Master Qui Gon Jin, is a font of wisdom and dramatic dialogue right from the get-go. His calm yet firm training style towards Obi Wan is reminiscent of the scenes on Dagobah that we all know and love as Master Yoda teaches the impatient young Luke Skywalker the ways of the force. Although the existence of his character creates a continuity error in Empire (i.e. "There you will learn from Yoda, the Jedi Master who instructed me" - Ghost Obi Wan), we wouldn't want him omitted from the franchise.

Ewan McGreggor

Young Obi Wan Kenobi's shoes are bound to be difficult to fill. The prequel trilogy tells the backstory of the iconic character and his relationship with young Anakin Skywalker before he becomes the infamous villain Darth Vader. At this point in the story, Obi Wan is headstrong and still has much to learn but he has the makings of a strong and fearless Jedi Knight. The Phantom Menace provides us with a realistic insight into the character's personal development. 

Samuel L. Jackson

Jackson is clearly a little out of place in this movie. He's not quite the "F"-bomb dropping badass we're used to in other movies. On the other hand, having Sam Jackson in a movie always improves it, regardless of the subject matter.

JarJar Binks

Okay, so the less said about JarJar from an adult point of view, the better... That being said, I, like many other people of my generation who grew up on the prequels, watched Episode I as a child and personally, I thought he was brilliant. Maybe it's just me. Let's park that and move on.

Better lightsaber action

The prequels swapped out the slower, steadier fighting style in the original trilogy for a fast, martial arts formula. Advanced complex choreography gave these films a real edge when it came to lightsaber combat. The Jedi and Sith alike are clearly utilising a much faster paced and more precision-based fighting style which, in the continuity of the story, may be seen as a dying art-form, explaining why it is no longer present in the original trilogy.

Important backstories

It's not only Obi Wan that gets a strong backstory from the prequel. The first meeting between R2D2 and C3P0 occurs, beginning probably the most important relationship between two characters in the entire saga. Yoda makes his first chronological on-screen appearance, as well as the Emperor, Jabba the Hutt and of course, Anakin Skywalker, later to become Darth Vader. The film also provides a good view of the Skywalker family's home planet Tattooine and some insight into Padme Amidala, future mother of Luke and Leia.

The droid/Gungan battle

It's a little cheesy but this battle scene is strongly reminiscent of epic historic battles seen in films such as Gladiator and Braveheart. In film, that level of carnage and destruction will always go down well in any room.

The Pod Race

This scene doesn't need a whole lot of explaining. George Lucas introduced a sporting event into the film to kick things up a notch. When the queen's ship breaks down over Tattooine, they must rely on gambling on a pod race in order to obtain the parts they need to repair the ship and to free young Anakin. The race scene is incredible.

The Score

It's difficult not to be fan of John Williams. The main Star Wars theme is easily the most famous film score of all time (among others by the same composer) and in this movie, we have a couple of added extras. A new score surfaces during the pod race scene as well as a few added bits and pieces in the shootout scenes and the droid/gungan battle. The best bit, though, we all must agree, is during the final fight scene. Epic chorus-driven composition Duel of the Fates (available on the Phantom Menace soundtrack) is one of John Williams' absolute best creations. The theme music is all conducted by the man himself and performed by the legendary London Symphony Orchestra.

Darth Maul

It's time to address the horned, red-and-black-painted elephant in the room. Darth Maul is a classic villain shrouded in mystery and weirdness, only speaking when absolutely necessary. His double ended lightsaber definitely put smiles on the faces of viewers everywhere, introducing a higher standard of cool weaponry to the proceedings. The fight scene between Maul and the two Jedi is undoubtedly one of the best in the whole saga.

Compared to the rest of the saga, The Phantom Menace is by no means a stand-out classic, it may indeed be the worst film in the franchise. Although, being the worst film in the Star Wars franchise is much like being the worst chocolate in the box. You may not like it that much but if you've got a sweet tooth, it will still satisfy the craving. The film is full of important information that provides valuable backstories to key characters that come later, explaining their actions in more detail and indeed, shedding a sympathetic light on Darth Vader, perhaps the most iconic villain in film history. Try watching it again from a purely non-cynical standpoint and maybe you might find it more of a worthy addition to a Star Wars marathon.

The Meg - Jason Statham vs. Giant Prehistoric Shark

New action horror The Meg is slated for release on August 10th and so far, it looks like it could be a ferociously entertaining watch. The film starring Jason Statham carries a budget of $150 million and will be distributed by Warner Bros. in the US and Gravity Pictures in China.

The Meg is based on a series of novels of the same name by Steve Alten and centres around a deep-sea diver and palaeontologist named Jonas Taylor (Statham) who is convinced of the existence of a sixty-five foot prehistoric shark called a "Megalodon", thought to have been extinct for two million years. The giant sea monster resurfaces and attacks an underwater research centre off the coast of China, leaving the crew stranded. Protagonist Jonas Taylor is called in to rescue them and stop the giant shark from attacking the mainland.

Weirdly reminiscent of Steven Spielberg's 1975 hit Jaws (but on a much bigger scale), the trailer paints a picture of an adrenaline-fuelled thrillride of a shark horror with lots of suspense, chaos and somehow a giant squid (obviously) appearing from nowhere just to kick things up another prehistoric/mythical notch. There will be some panicked pandemonium as the shark terrorises the beach, presumably eating a few people and causing more than a little distress to locals and holidaymakers. The music in the trailer, however (starting at around 1:25) suggests that this film is a clear parody of itself and is not something to be taken overly seriously - thankfully.

The film has been a long time coming. Disney purchased the rights to Alten's novel back in 1997 and since then, the movie has been kicked around between a few producers and production companies. The project was pitched to a few foreign distribution moguls at the Cannes Film Festival in 2005 and New Line tried to fast track the film's release to summer, 2006. Editor Jan De Bont began assembling a production team to start building the project adding Jurassic Park producer Colin Wilson and production designer William Sandell (Total Recall, The Perfect Storm). With the film's price tag edging further out of reach, New Line abandoned the project and the rights to the novel were returned to its author.

Warner Bros. re-acquired the rights to the novel in 2015 and brought in horror director Eli Roth. Roth wanted to retain a budget of $150 million for the project, retain the R-rating and according to some sources, he wanted to play the lead in the film. Warner decided that the creative differences between them and the director were insurmountable and instead hired National Treasure director Jon Turteltaub who would then cast Statham as well as Australian actress Ruby Rose (Orange is the New Black) and Rainn Wilson (The Office).

Make no mistake, this film will be utterly ridiculous. It seems like a typical retelling of another silly shark story with loads of suspense and screaming and teeth... Yes, that's right, it's going to be brilliant and audiences all over the world are going to love it. Watch this space for a review when it comes out!

New Joker Origin Movie Casts Joaquin Phoenix

A new (as yet untitled) movie is primed to begin filming in September featuring the origin of notorious Batman villain, The Joker. Very little is known so far about the plot of the stand-alone movie but a few details have been released to keep fans happy until shooting starts. Here's what we know so far...

Warner Bros. have confirmed that Her actor Joaquin Phoenix is stepping in to portray The Joker and the movie will be purely a stand-alone with no sequels or spin-offs. The film will be produced by legendary director Martin Scorsese, directed by Todd Phillips (The Hangover, War Dogs) with a screenplay penned by 8 Mile writer Scott Silver reportedly on a modest budget of around $55 million. The studio settled on Phoenix for the lead after considering James Franco, Bradley Cooper, Jake Gyllenhaal and even Star Wars actor Adam Driver. Leonardo DiCaprio was also strongly considered but turned down the role. With Quentin Tarantino's new production Once Upon a Time in Hollywood slated for release in 2019, DiCaprio is rushed off his feet as it is.

Robert DeNiro is reportedly also being eyed by the studio for a role in the movie. Given the legendary actor's flare for portraying historic mafiosos (and if the story is set in Gotham), could the role be Salvatore Maroni or Carmine Falcone? It remains to be seen.

The Joker has been portrayed by several great actors over the years. The character was originally played by Cesar Romero in Adam West's Batman TV series from 1966-68 and in 1966's Batman: The Movie. In Batman (1989) The Joker was portrayed by Jack Nicholson, then again in The Dark Knight (2008), with a legendary performance by the late Heath Ledger and finally by Jared Leto in 2016 movie Suicide Squad. Star Wars star Mark Hamill voiced The Joker in Batman: The Animated Series from 1992-1995 (as well as in the Arkham game series). A character named Jerome Valeska, thought by many viewers to be The Joker, was portrayed by Cameron Monaghan in Fox TV series Gotham (2014)

Related: The Dark Knight - 10 Years On

Joaquin Phoenix carries a reputation for being very picky about projects in which he chooses to involve himself. He's turned down multiple comic book roles, most recently of which was Doctor Strange, a role ultimately taken on by Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch. With Phoenix accepting this role, the implication is that the screenplay is of a high quality and the project is exciting and interesting enough to grab the attention of the fastidious actor. Perhaps a more interesting and certainly psychopathic character holds more appeal to his acting style.

A drastic rethink has almost certainly been on the cards for DC since some recent films have been tragically underwhelming and have left fans feeling sorely disappointed (except Wonder Woman, obviously). It looks like the new Joker movie may be a really exciting new project and may breathe some new life into the DC movie franchise; a series that has somewhat stagnated in recent years, unable to hold a candle to Christopher Nolan's powerhouse Dark Knight trilogy.

Related: Second Time Lucky - A Countdown of the Best Movie Sequels

Second Time Lucky – A Countdown of The Best Movie Sequels

Sequel movies tend to be renowned for being poorly made, poorly thought out and just generally known for being released solely to milk some extra cash out of a franchise. Although this is most often the case, there are a few surprise exceptions, some that proved to be even better than their predecessors! Let’s have a look at some of the best second instalments in movie history and one honourable mention of a third that just couldn’t be left out.

10. Hot Shots: Part Deux (1993)

The first Hot Shots movie, a 1991 parody of 80’s classic Top Gun (1986), captured audiences’ laughter with Charlie Sheen’s flawlessly straight-faced delivery of a fantastically funny character supported by the brilliant Lloyd Bridges and Valeria Golino. The sequel featured the return of the same stunning comedy style, this time, a parody of 1982 action hit Rambo with plenty of other hilarious references thrown in for good measure.

Better than the first one? Not quite.

9. X-Men 2 (2003)

The follow-up to 2000’s X-Men featured the return of the original cast of heroes for a new challenge against Wolverine’s nemesis William Stryker, hellbent on the genocide of all the world’s mutants. Some new characters added to the appeal of the movie including the insanely cool Nightcrawler played by Alan Cumming first seen in the incredible opening sequence, as well as Lady Deathstrike portrayed by Kelly Hu.

Better than the first one? By a narrow margin, yes.

8. Mission: Impossible II (2000)

Directed by Hollywood action mogul John Woo, M:I-2 remains a franchise favourite. Tom Cruise returns as the furtive IMF agent Ethan Hunt, ready to take down the next megalomaniac who threatens civilisation. In this case, it’s Scottish rogue agent Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott) who has stolen a deadly bioweapon; an accelerated virus named Chimera, after the notorious monster in Greek Mythology. Ving Rhames returns to the cast and some new additions are added including Thandie Newton and classic “that-guy” actor Richard Roxburgh, a face that will be more than vaguely familiar to many viewers.

Better than the first one? Most definitely.

7. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

Universal’s second instalment in the Jurassic Park franchise adds a whole new dimension to the story. Ian Malcolm along with a team of widely skilled explorers embark on a falsely advertised mission to Site B to find a host of power-crazed bureaucrats hunting dinosaurs for sport and hatching a plan to capture them and ship them to San Diego as zoo exhibits. This obviously all ends in tears when they attempt to ship home a T-Rex which inevitably marches a path of destruction through central San Diego. New faces include Julianne Moore Vince Vaughn, Pete Postlethwaite and Peter Stormare.

Better than the first one? Stupid Question

Related: A Timeless Adventure Through Prehistory - 25 Years of Jurassic Park

6. Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) *SPOILERS*

The new Star Trek reboots are all something quite spectacular. The new cast are shockingly reminiscent of the original Enterprise crew in both looks and manner (apart from Simon Pegg, but let’s be honest he’s so good he doesn’t need to be). The first reboot was incredible in itself, but the sequel absolutely blew fans away with the introduction of spectacularly talented British star Benedict Cumberbatch as the infamous Khan Noonien Singh. This film truly is more than deserving of addition to anyone’s list of the greatest movie sequels of all time.

Better than the first one? We didn’t think anything could be, but somehow, they did it.

5. Terminator 2 (1991)

T2 is a classic example of a sequel that surpassed the original. James Cameron’s follow-up to 1984’s The Terminator features the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s iconic character (although a different, identical version) a cyborg sent from 2029 to protect John Connor, the future leader of the resistance (Edward Furlong). The movie introduces another terrifying antagonist the T-1000, a more advanced cyborg capable of dramatically changing its form to anything of a similar relative size. T2 features the usual weird time paradoxes and almost cringe-worthy dialogue but it’s difficult to deny that this movie is one of the most shamelessly entertaining sequels ever made.

Better than the first one? In every way.

4. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

The original series of Star Trek will always be the most iconic section of the franchise with the most memorable set of characters and the best stories. In the episode Space Seed (Season 1, Episode 22. February 16^th, 1967), fans were introduced to a frighteningly real and malevolent antagonist named Khan Noonien Singh. They find Khan in an ancient cryo-pod on a mysterious transport ship and bring him aboard the USS Enterprise. The second movie in the post-series franchise features the return of Khan, seeking his revenge on Captain Kirk and his crew. The sequel is a true science fiction classic.

Better than the first one? Absolutely.

3. The Dark Knight (2008)

Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy is quite definitely a collection of the best movies in the entire Batman franchise, making The Dark Knight arguably the best Batman movie ever made. Focusing more on the story’s villains rather than the protagonist himself sharpens a new point on comic book movies, changing the usual style of popular comic adaptations and making them darker in nature. This movie was a game-changer, bringing in Heath Ledger to portray The Joker… He did not disappoint! The character was so gripping and terrifying, some believe that he infected and killed Heath Ledger, the way a symbiote consumes its often-unwilling host. The film itself is packed with dramatic suspense and multi-dimensional characters. A better Batman movie may never be made again.

Better than the first one? They’re all amazing, but this one takes the gold.

Related: The Dark Knight - 10 Years On

2. Back to the Future: Part II (1989)

Let’s be honest, Back to the Future isn’t a series, it’s a single six-hour movie. That being said, if we absolutely must judge it as a trilogy, Part II has to take a spot in the movie sequel hall of fame. After the events of Part I (1985), Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) returns from the year 2015 in his iconic time-travelling DeLorean to collect young Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) with some grave news about his future kids. The pair encounter a new set of weird time paradoxes when the peculiar Biff Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson) smuggles himself into the time machine and gives his past self a sports almanac that tells the future. Marty and the Doc arrive back in 1985 to find that their reality has been completely altered to a world in which Biff is a billionaire and they must rectify the mistake that changed history. Back to the Future Part II is a beautifully crafted feel-good family adventure that will live on for eternity; a true must-see sequel.

Better than the first one? Not quite, but you can’t blame them for trying.

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

Empire undoubtedly one of the absolute greatest sequels ever made. Most would say that Star Wars is definitely the best and most definitive sci-fi movie saga in film history and they would be correct at every turn. The second instalment in the original trilogy took the story down a new street. The Death Star is gone, but the evil Darth Vader is still hellbent on finding young Luke at all costs. Fans were introduced to a couple of new characters now viewed as integral to the saga, namely Boba Fett, Lando Calrissian and the mighty Yoda. These movies remain an absolute must-own in every DVD collection and the new movies are still (elitist fan-boycott notwithstanding) a must-see at the pictures. The timeless mammoth of a franchise will always be a big part of the lives of sci-fi fans until the end of time.

Better than the first one? Very much down to personal preference. I would say, by just a hair, purely judging it as a more entertaining watch, yes.

Just for an honourable mention: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Okay, so technically Crusade is a third instalment but then again, technically 1984’s Temple of Doom is a prequel set prior to the events of Raiders so you know what, I’m counting it. This movie is fantastic. Harrison Ford’s iconic character Professor Indiana Jones joins another rag-tag cast of explorers and archaeologists (including his dad, played by the marvellous Sean Connery) to find the Holy Grail. Crusade is a top scorer in an already fantastic quadrilogy (soon to be a pentalogy) of great movies. It’s the epitome of the adventure genre.

Better than the first one? This one is going to get me killed, but yes. I think it is.

Related: Jon Kasdan Confirms Indiana Jones 5 Script With Hilarious Tweet

Sequels are always fun. We’re so much more excited about going to the cinema to see a movie that we already know about. Some are outstanding and even surpass the original. Some are appalling and should have been scrapped before they were made. However, in the interests of optimism, always remember that these great movies listed here DO exist. A good sequel is possible and happens more often than you think!

A Timeless Adventure Through Prehistory - 25 Years of Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park was first gifted to viewers on June 11^th, 1993 and since then, the franchise that followed has pulled down a colossal $4.6 billion worldwide. The film held the record for Steven Spielberg’s most successful movie until five years later when Titanic beat it to the top spot and it created so much interest in dinosaurs that since its release, record numbers of students have chosen to study palaeontology. It’s a timeless classic with an unbeatable cast and fantastically entertaining story arc.

The first instalment, based on the 1990 novel of the same name by Michael Crichton, could quite easily have been a gruesome horror but with the upbeat, relatable characters and more complex story, Jurassic Park became more of an exciting adventure with teeth. The rights of Crichton’s novel were purchased by Universal for $2 million before it was even published.

After the pre-plot scenes, the story begins when palaeontologist Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and palaeobotanist Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) are approached by eccentric billionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) about endorsing a theme park. Along the way they meet a slimy lawyer (obvious dino-fodder), weird chaotician Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) and Hammond’s two grandchildren. It transpires that the park, based on a remote island off the coast of Costa Rica, is full of living cloned dinosaurs. The gigantic spectacle has been brought to life in order to attract patrons from all over the world to marvel at the power of Hammond’s creation. All goes wrong of course as a fiendish side-plot begins to unfold. Dennis Nedry, a computer technician at the park, tries to steal a handful of dinosaur embryos and smuggle them off the island but falls victim to a tropical storm and never makes it to the boat. In the wake of his sabotage of the park’s system, the island is left without power and is overrun by wild, de-extinct predators.

The second in the series, The Lost World (1997) takes place on a second island named Sorna. The story takes an odd turn as the island is invaded by money crazed bureaucrats, hatching a mad plan to take the dinosaurs back to the States and open a dino-zoo in San Diego, partaking in some light trophy hunting to pass the time. Chased by a family of T-Rex’, they must survive the harsh, predator-infested jungle and find safety. A single T-Rex is brought back to San Diego and obviously escapes into the city, killing everything in its wake.

Jurassic Park III (2001) begins as a young boy and his uncle are trapped on Isla Nublar after attempting to get a close look at some dinosaurs. The boy’s parents hire Alan Grant under false pretences to help them find their missing son, but things become even more dangerous as they discover new dinosaurs that weren’t on the original list. A deadly Spinosaurus chases the survivors across the island from end to end, eventually to find itself pitted against a T-Rex in a dramatic fight to the death.

Eventually after fourteen years of waiting, Universal gave us Jurassic World (2015), the story of a rejuvenated park on the same island on a much larger scale. Dr. Malcolm’s metaphor from the first film about “slapping it on a plastic lunchbox” has become even more of a vivid reality as the park becomes just another frivolous attraction. This time, they switch things up a little with the addition of Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) who has been working on taming a small family group of raptors. Alongside this, R&D at Jurassic World have developed a super-hybrid dinosaur designed specifically to be extra-terrifying to thrill fickle holidaymakers. The new monster escapes and terrorises the island, killing everything in sight.

Finally, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) brings us a new twist on the story as the original island is consumed by a deadly volcano, threatening to kill what’s left of dinosaur population. A few familiar characters return as a sick plan is hatched to “rescue” the dinosaurs and sell them off to the highest bidder, while secretly working on a new, much smaller genetic hybrid designed to be the ultimate weapon.

The Jurassic Park franchise has brought viewers into a unique world of thrilling adventures. We’ve had drama, comedy, romance and horror all in one single set of stories. We’ve had a spectacular cast of regulars and one-offs alike over the years creating both lovable and hate-inspiring characters. The franchise remains a true lesson for humanity, a lesson that they never seem to learn: just because you can do something, it doesn’t mean you should.