It is a truth universally acknowledged that all sequels are not created equal. Some, as we're about to discuss here, are really great; others, like "Jaws 2" or even "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and ...

It used to be an accepted altruism that all sequels stank, with only the rarest exceptions. We're past that now, thanks in no small part to an entertainment industry that doubled-down on franchises ...