But 5-3 is one of the best "levels" ever in a videogame? I'd say it's the peak of the game, possibly tied with the Verdugo fight and the first time you get to the village.
5-3 literally has the Krauser QTE fight (which was mindblowing at the time), the laser hallway, It, and the actual Krauser fight all in succession. It's untouchably good.
Preceeded by the truck set piece (at the end of 5-2) and followed by the chopper Mike section (start of 5-4) too. In terms of 2-3-ish hour long sections of gameplay I'm not sure there is much out there that can even hold a candle to it.