Only 2 sequels were any good in the 70's. The Godfather and The French Connection. French Connection 2 may have bombed at the box office but it's an absolute gem. Hackman is awesome. The scene where he burns down the drug house where he was held captive and turned into an addict is as satisfying as any cinematic experience I've ever had. The ending is perfect, too. As great as the first French Connection was - this one holds up better over time. Although the first one had Roy Scheider - another great actor who was the original pick to star in Apocalypse Now but had agreed to act in Jaws 2 - a stinker. Also checkout Scarecrow with Al Pacino and Hackman. Another one that few people saw but it's powerful as hell. That may have been Hackman's best performance ever - and Pacino was great, too.
Review of French Connection II
