This is a new category of post, entitled "Into The Fray." It takes a topic and pits films, as an example, against each other with criteria to score each to declare a winner, at least in my opinion. Before we get into the fray each time, I will state two sets of criteria. The first is to pick the contenders, and the second will be to grade each. Oftentimes, there will inevitably be some overlap of the two sets. Finally, I will write a passage about each film, scoring it in each category, and score it overall.

Into The Fray: Sequels

What makes a great sequel? I am sure that question has nearly as many answers as people who would answer. For me, it is simple and threefold. First, the original film must be good. Second, a sequel must logically follow the previous film(s), including warranting being made in the first place. This can, of course, include an entry in a planned series of films, but the right story can follow a film that previously stood alone. The main thing is it adds to overall story and/or puts characters in position to develop further. Third, the level of enjoyment must be at least equal to that of the original film. To pick contenders for this edition of "Into The Fray," I added that the level of enjoyment must be considerably greater than any preceding film, and probably any following. Legacy sequels, those released ten or more years after its previous entry, were automatically disqualified, meaning I did not consider them at all. Lastly, if applicable, it must have been released prior to it becoming a large franchise. Grading criteria is as follows: quality of a film in itself- how well it stands with only the basics of its predecessor(s), greatness as a sequel- how natural the entire film serves as a follow-up, advancement of characters- development of old and introduction of new, and level of enjoyment- how much better it is than the initial film and/or how well it stands up long after release. Into the fray!

The Empire Strikes Back (1980): If I get to talking about Star Wars for very long, you will eventually hear me say, "If it depended on that first film (later dubbed Episode IV: A New Hope), I would not be into Star Wars quite as much as I am (or more appropriately, was)." Empire is in fact the film that is mostly to blame for my fandom. Quality: With some basic world-building knowledge from its 1977 forerunner and by benefit of the opening crawl, it tells the tightest and most intriguing story of the entire Star Wars saga (several films and TV series over its 40+ year history) with room to breathe. On the negative side, it ends on a note that there is more to come. 4/5. Sequel: Retaliation from the Empire (just like the title) is the expected turn, including that things are in some ways worse for the Rebellion, having to set up base on an ice planet. With Darth Vader now the primary antagonist, its revelation carries the full weight, earning what is considered by many the greatest one in cinematic history. 5/5. Characters: We see Luke Skywalker's further steps to becoming a Jedi, Han Solo has continued his less self-centered, more noble actions, and Leia Organa softens her hard exterior in response without losing what makes her great. Two characters to instantly love, Yoda and Lando Calrissian, are introduced. Less impressive and a testament to the trilogy's overall story being fleshed out on the fly, we are also exposed to the most uncomfortable (in hindsight) onscreen kiss of all time. 4/5. Enjoyment: Empire has an appropriate tonal shift towards the dark creating gaps for the bright spots to shine. After multiple watches, I still get excited when Yoda uses the Force to pull Luke's X-Wing from the swamp on Dagobah, when Lando gives up his mining operation in Cloud City to attempt to save Han, and Luke versus Vader is still my favorite lightsaber duel of all time, even in "light" of the flashier ones in the prequels (depending on my mood, a possible exception is Obi-Wan versus Anakin in Revenge of the Sith). 5/5. Overall Score: 4.5/5.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991): Terminator is one of the two great time travel film franchises, in my opinion. It holds this distinction based on the first two films alone, and more so in this sequel. Quality: It is helpful going into T2 to know the essential plot of The Terminator (1984) and importance of the in-universe future, but this sequel eventually provides the basics via dialogue. This provides space to flesh out the lore through the deepest and most emotionally gripping story of any other franchise entry, one that concludes on a note of guarded optimism satisfyingly enough that it does not beg further films. One minor thing that might be missed: It is supposed to be presumed that Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s T-800 is the antagonist again until revealed otherwise, but this revelation was ruined by trailers. 5/5. Sequel: The Terminator resolves its immediate conflict, but its open-ended threads (in fact those that did not make the cut, as seen in deleted scenes on the Blu-ray) make up the premise of T2, which are effectively followed to their end. It has a change in style that fits the material better, as well. 5/5. Characters: The only truly returning character is Sarah Connor, and her actions, as established as occurring between films and those during T2, are logically progressive. Welcome additions are the reprogrammed T-800, a scenario copied again and again, the other best Terminator performance to date with Robert Patrick’s T-1000, and the early version of the John Connor discussed in the first film. A trivial point in the other direction is Edward Furlong was aged thirteen playing John at ten; the timeline should have been adjusted to better match the character's age with the actor. 5/5. Enjoyment: The great special effects of T2 still dazzle 30+ years later so the illusion is not lost, and its quotable one-liners are still quotable. Much of what transpires is seen through the eyes of John, and despite his age, it presents a mostly everyperson point of view of very grand events. 5/5. Overall Score: 5/5.

Shrek 2 (2004): I will be honest; I did not overly like 2001's Shrek the first time I watched it, but have since come to appreciate it much for what it is. Its popularity with what I believe was an unintended audience led to this sequel that really finds its stride by aiming at that younger demographic. Quality: It is enough to know two things about the first Shrek before watching 2: Fiona was a cursed human, but now permanently an ogre after she and Shrek fell in love, and their world is populated by humorous takes on fairy tale characters and creatures. Though also the primary theme of the preceding film, the motif continues to be struggles with identity, further reaching this time around and thus relatable to most anyone. While not a negative in the sense of film quality, it also deals with prejudice in a very tongue-in-cheek manner. 5/5. Sequel: If you have any question at the end of Shrek, it would have to be, "What do Fiona's parents think about all this?" and this sequel builds its plot around answering it. But, that is not complete enough to necessitate a new story; I find the concept of the business arrangement for Fiona's rescue a bit forced, though very enjoyable once past this why. 4/5. Characters: The film follows the previously single Shrek as he adjusts to married life, the in-laws (legends Dame Julie Andrews and John Cleese) who did not expect him to marry Fiona, and she caught in between. A good addition is Puss in Boots, very much a nod to a previous Antonio Banderas role, Zorro, though a bit underdeveloped. Donkey, while still very funny, does not overly move beyond "the position of annoying talking animal," as he calls himself. 3/5. Enjoyment: Shrek 2 subdues targeting adults and older children in comparison to Shrek, but the farcical humor is even better. Aside from that, its slight twist at the end is the rarely disappointing redemption arc. Sure it's only around four minutes, but Jennifer Saunders' cover of Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out for a Hero" is almost worth the price of admission in itself. 5/5. Overall Score: 4.25/5

The Dark Knight (2008): Batman in visual media outside of the comics has a history nearly as long as the character, mostly with success. The Dark Knight trilogy is the first series of films planned ahead of time, but the centerpiece is this middle entry. Quality: Without breaking continuity, Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight can almost stand separate from each other, but the sequel's plot is deepened knowing what all Bruce Wayne sacrificed in the first film. This nearly standalone characteristic is aided by the fact that each film in the trilogy has a key theme; chaos in The Dark Knight. The third and final film, The Dark Knight Rises, serves better to wrap up loose ends in regards to story from both films. 4/5. Sequel: Despite it being mostly standalone, The Dark Knight has a strong connection to Begins in both tone and being grounded in reality, while also concluding the earlier film's most immediate unresolved story thread, that the Scarecrow is still at large. The deepest ones, however, are in character progression, mentioned here since the entire trilogy is so driven by them. 5/5. Character: We see Bruce struggle with his duality in an individual right to happiness versus the city's need for Batman and the contrast in that Rachel is moving on, recognizing the latter will never happen. This subtext of duality is paralleled in the character of Harvey "Two-Face" Dent. But, the real star, the epitome of the film's chaos theme, is Joker, the role an argument could be made that Heath Ledger sadly died for. He is the first actor to win an Oscar for portraying the character, conceivably paving the way for Joaquin Phoenix eleven years later, since the Academy clearly long had and still has a prejudice against comic book films. 5/5. Enjoyment: The best compliment I can give a film that is two and a half hours or more is I do not feel its runtime. From the opening bank robbery sequence to the final moments seeing Batman chased as a criminal, not a minute is wasted. 5/5. Overall Score: 4.75/5.

Conclusion: The winner for the best sequel is... Terminator 2: Judgment Day! T2 is a near perfect sequel: its predecessor is a good, leaning to great, film, it improves largely upon that predecessor, it progresses returning and introduced characters, and it is enjoyable through and through. In a close contest, the runners-up in order of rank are The Dark Knight, The Empire Strikes Back, and Shrek 2. Just as important to establish what this "Into the Fray" means what it does not. It is not picking the best film or even film series. The latter would be unfair as three genres are represented, easily four as one gets slightly more specific. I simply used measures of what makes a great sequel. I realize the paradox between two of the grading criteria: quality of a film in itself and greatness as a sequel. Yet, none of these films are lower than a 4/5 in either, which is a testament to each of their distinction to be in the fray.

Next week... Holy Bat-Trivia! (Batman '66 Stats and Trivia)