The sequel to Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle opens in theaters today, and you can read my SXSW review of the movie, titled Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, over here. Though I enjoyed it, H&K2 disappointed me for taking on too much plot. But apparently some other reviews are favoring the second installment, and according to Craig Phillips at Green Cine, the matter has critics divided.

Phillips, who marginally prefers the sequel, uses the opportunity to revisit those sequels that improved upon the original. Obviously, the list includes The Empire Strikes Back, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and The Road Warrior. However, surprisingly, The Godfather Part II is not in the top ten, because he considers the first and second films tied, and he claims both Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Gremlins 2: The New Batch are only honorable mentions, because their definite superiority is up for debate (true, I’ve never been able to decide if I like them better than their respective counterparts).

Over at Entertainment Weekly, there’s another list associated with H&K2 in honor of Neil Patrick Harris’ return as “himself”. It’s a list of favorite performances by stars playing themselves, and it features my favorite cameo of all time, Kurt Vonnegut in Back to School. While thanks to Entourage and Extras, it has become too popular nowadays to lampoon your celebrity through exaggeration or false self-representation, I think Harris does rise above in the H&K movies. It’s probably only secondary to John Malkovich’s good sportsmanship in appearing as himself in a film titled Being John Malkovich.

And here’s one more: Cinematical’s Jette Kernion continues the comparisons between H&K2 and Blazing Saddles (which I hear may be turned into a Broadway musical, unfortunately) by coming up with seven “Deliberately Offensive (But Fun) Comedies.”