When is it a sequel?

[sophiamcl]

There's been some discussion about sequels on this list, and can I just say: 
CoS was NOT a sequel, any more than PoA will. Let me explain--it's all to do 
with the definition of a sequel.  Perhaps there are several definitions, 
depending on the context, but in this context, a movie-sequel comes with 
particular connotations. Ever since CoS came out, it's been referred to in the 
press as a sequel, but to me, there's a problem with that, since that means it 
will be considered along with MIB II and Police Academy V and so on. Usually, 
in the movie world, a sequel is a film a producer decides to make when a 
movie already on the market is making such terrific money that it would be 
stupid not to try to extend the hype. Ergo, the same characters and basic 
settings are used to rehash a success. The outcome is rarely up to the same 
standard as the fist movie, which is why people remeber the exceptions to 
this rule so well.
Now, there is money in HP, true, both PS and CoS have the same characters 
and setting (duh), but this "sequel" is not rehashed material out of a "first 
movie"(though some not familiar with the actual scope of the HP-story as it 
unfolds in the books would argue with me, no doubt) but adapted from a 
book. Some might call the books sequels, but to me, they are installments 
(albeit with distinguishable episodes) in one long story. Hence I dislike calling 
CoS a sequel. To me it has very little in common with the movies usually 
referred to as sequels. Am I making sense to anyone?

Sophia