Summer Sequels

Last summer saw the release of an unprecedented number of movie sequels – 2 Fast 2 Furious, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, and a host of other films seemingly intent on driving the fun reputation of their predecessors into the ground. Bad Boys II was twice as dumb as the original, while Terminator 3 ultimately seemed like a tired prelude to Ah-nuld's gubernatorial campaign. Given the poor box office results of most of these efforts, we will most likely be spared further regurgitations of these particular films, though we are by no means safe from summer sequels in general.

This year, however, strange things have been happening: the major studios seem intent on releasing quality sequels. Gone are the slap-dash, celebrity-laden marketing machines of the variety that nearly drove the Batman series to extinction, and in their place are thoughtful, well-crafted films that often complement – if not surpass – their originals.

This is not to say that the summer has been without its turkeys – The Chronicles of Riddick [the sequel to 2000's Pitch Black], for instance, didn't exactly set Vin Diesel's long-stagnant career on fire. Still, by and large this summer's sequels have succeeded both critically and financially.

This unlikely trend kicked off in early June with the release of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Despite being accompanied by the inevitable marketing juggernaut, the movie struck a chord with jaded critics, most of whom were impressed by the imaginative energy brought to the table by director Alfonso Cuóron.

Much to everyone's relief, the host of celebrity voices added to the mix in Shrek 2 only added to the film's warmth and humor, and Spider-man 2 garnered praise for once again paying heed to the "man" part of the title as well as Spidey's special effects-laden stunts. The upcoming Bourne Identity sequel, The Bourne Supremacy (helmed by Bloody Sunday director Paul Greengrass), has enjoyed a similarly strong word-of-mouth.

Although these are all impressive accomplishments, the film that seems to be drawing the most critical praise is Richard Linklater's Before Sunset. Linklater has joked that the film, which follows the lives of the two lovers (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy) from Before Sunrise nine years after their initial meeting, is the "lowest-grossing film to ever spawn a sequel." Still, what both films may lack in box-office grosses they more than make up for in heart, with the latter movie providing one of the most emotionally satisfying denouements in recent memory.

Summer Sequels: Then and Now 2003

American Wedding
Bad Boys II
Charlie's Angels 2: Full Throttle
Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (prequel)
2 Fast 2 Furious
Freddy vs. Jason
Jeepers Creepers 2
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
X-Men 2

2004

Before Sunset
The Bourne Supremacy
The Chronicles of Riddick
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Shrek 2
Spider-man 2