Besides the already known things like williams memorable scores and the fx, perfect casting, excellent chem between the principal players, and actual characters that were worth caring about... I think it's how tight the first movie is. It's been described as the perfectly carved jem, not a rough edge or loose wire anywhere. which the pt is full of and which many editors thankfully are cutting out. I think that's "it". How'd he do it? I guess it was the lack of money to do a lot of unnecessary stuff like he's doing with the SE.