Three’s Company: 5 Perfect Movie Trilogies

……The dictionary defines a trilogy as a series or group of three works that, although individually complete, are closely related in theme, sequence, or the like; Hollywood, on the other hand, defines a trilogy as a series of three works that can make a crap ton of money, for when one film performs modestly among critics and at the box office, there’s nothing like making two more to maximize additional profits. Unfortunately, however, studios’ hunger for revenue often leads to trilogies that begin promising and end horrendously, a trend that has lead to what the industry refers to as the “threequel curse”. From The Godfather Pt. 3 to Spider Man 3, X-Men: The Last Stand, and more, Hollywood just can’t seem to craft trilogies where each installment works just as good as the next. Even legendary franchises like Indiana Jones and the iconic Star Wars end up underwhelming at the finish line (sorry, but dancing Ewoks is not how you end a trilogy as daring as this one!). There are exceptions, however, and with The Dark Knight Rises currently finishing up Nolan’s Batman trilogy in spectacular fashion, I thought I’d take a look at 5 perfect movie trilogies:

“The Dark Knight Rises” (2012): An Epic Ending To A Masterful Trilogy ★★★½

……I’ve long wondered if my generation would ever see the coming of a definitive visual artist; The Renaissance had da Vinci, the Impressionists, Monet, The Modernists, Pollock, and the transition to film gave us Hitchcock, Chaplin, and more. But what about here and now? Who, decades from now, will people remember as a true artist of our current time? From a film standpoint, who is our Kubrick? Who is our Scorsese? Who is our Spielberg? It’s with great excitement that I seem to have found an answer: Christopher Nolan. From Memento to The Dark Knight and Inception, Nolan has proven himself not only a visionary but also one of the only working directors capable of delivering one ambitious epic after another; not since David Lean has a filmmaker been able to tell intimate, engaging stories on blockbuster scales so powerfully. Nolan’s latest, The Dark Knight Rises, his third and final installment in his Batman trilogy, excitingly continues this trend – not only is it a bold, brutal, and thrilling piece of filmmaking, but it’s also a satisfying grand finale to one of the most masterful trilogies in movie history.

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I was going to write something up about the horrific tragedy in Aurora, Colorado but this article by Anthony Breznican of Entertainment Weekly sums up my thoughts perfectly

“The Dark Knight”: Why It Truly Matters

……Four years ago, Christopher Nolan stunned the world with The Dark Knight, his blockbuster follow-up to Batman Begins that broke the opening weekend record (at the time) with $158 million and ultimately grossed over $1 billion worldwide. To say that The Dark Knight was the film of 2008 would be an understatement, for in many ways it was the film of the decade as well as the groundbreaking film for my generation. With a hypnotically dark sense of dread permeating through every frame, The Dark Knight redefined the superhero genre by being a haunting, realistic crime drama (think Heat) instead of a pulpy, humorous thrill ride (think Spider-Man, Avengers). More importantly, however, The Dark Knight did something even more monumentous: it reminded me why I love the movies in the first place. To this day, The Dark Knight remains one of my most beloved films not only because of its ambitious nature, its incredible performances, and its breathtaking cinematography, but also because it proved what the movies really are: a place where, even in just 2 hours and 30 minutes, a group of strangers can truly become a solid community.

Christopher Nolan: A Mind Bending Power Ranking

……Widely considered one of the most brilliant working directors in Hollywood, Christopher Nolan’s rise to legendary status is made all the more astonishing when you realize that he’s only made 6 major feature films. Yup, believe it or not, but this weekend’s The Dark Knight Rises marks only the 7^th major film from director Christopher Nolan; how remarkable? Through just 6 films, Nolan has not only become a definitive director of my generation but he’s also become one of cinema’s most reliable sources for sensational entertainment. While he hasn’t crafted as many masterpieces as Scorsese or Spielberg, many would argue that Nolan is equally as potent and masterful and it’s easy to see why: he’s a true visionary who knows how to tell an intimate, engaging story on an ambitious, blockbuster scale. With his latest, The Dark Knight Rises, out this weekend, I thought I’d take a look back at Nolan’s short but powerful filmography and rank his movies from least to greatest triumph. Here, then, is the Christopher Nolan power ranking:

“Savages” (2012): An Oliver Stone Mess ★½

……What in the world has happened to Oliver Stone? For over a decade (1986-1999), the outspoken and controversial director stunned Hollywood with one intense hit after another thanks to films like Platoon, Natural Born Killers, Any Given Sunday, and more. Beyond just great performances and engaging stories, these films were so vibrant, so alive, and so memorable because Stone knew how to craft a movie with an unpredictable and unflinching pulse. Platoon, for instance, remains a gripping masterpiece because in addition to those great performances from Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, and William Defoe, there’s an unnerving energy that Stone creates that’s truly horrifying – in the film, you never know what’s going to happen and when it will, and it’s that unpredictability that made Stone such an enthralling presence coming up. Nowadays, however, that Stone spark appears to be gone, and in his latest film, Savages, it’s not even close to being relit. Between retched performances from its three young leads and a frustrating clash of tones, Savages is a sloppy mess that not even Salma Hayek, Benicio del Toro, or John Travolta can save.

“The Amazing Spider-Man” (2012): A Rushed Reboot ★★

……Nearly a decade after Sam Raimi brought Spider-Man to dazzling, pulpy life on the big screen, and five years after the miserable third installment, the masked web-slinger is back in theatres in the misleadingly titled The Amazing Spider-Man. Whether anyone was actually craving a new Spider-Man story or not, Sony couldn’t pass up the chance to make millions with a new, flashy reboot, so despite fond memories of the first trilogy another origin story is what we get, albeit with a new director (500 Days of Summer’s Marc Webb) and a new star (The Social Network’s Andrew Garfield). The Spider-Man films have always been home to extraordinary action sequences, and in that regard, The Amazing Spider-Man doesn’t disappoint, but not even great special effects and solid lead performances can save the film from its greatest enemy: time.

“Moonrise Kingdom” (2012): A Dream Cast. A Dream Director. A Dream Movie. ★★★★

……Every once in awhile there comes a film that’s so visually alive, so vibrantly acted, and so vivaciously charming that you can’t help but smile thinking about it and wish that you could see it again instantly; that, my friends, is Moonrise Kingdom. From his early masterpiece Rushmore to his later successes The Royal Tenenbaums and Fantastic Mr. Fox, director Wes Anderson has become a powerful and unique voice of contemporary American cinema. In many ways, Anderson is one of the most potent working auteurs, and between systematic camera movements, the use of primary colors, and a reliance on classical music, Moonrise Kingdom bears all the Anderson trademarks. This time, however, Anderson directs with such determination, such control, and such prowess that the film hooks you from its very first frame and never lets go. There’s really no other way of saying it – Moonrise Kingdom is a Wes Anderson masterwork in every sense of the word and, as of this writing, the best film of 2012.

July Movie Preview

……Thanks in large part to genre fare (Snow White and the Huntsman and Prometheus), family films (Madagascar 3 and Brave), and a month capping pair of R-rated films (Magic Mike and Ted), June continued to impress as far as the 2012 box office is concerned. What’s even better is that when you throw in the added success of May and the record-breaking run of The Avengers (it has earned over $600 million), you’ll see that this year’s summer movie season is truly sizzling, no pun intended. With July upon us, however, the summer movie season is half way over, but in no way does that mean that things are slowing down. Between a web-slinger’s return to the screen, another sequel in a mega-successful animated franchise, and arguably the most anticipated film ever made, July will most definitely continue the 2012 box office’s remarkable stamina and strength. For a full breakdown of the busy month ahead, continue on:

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“Ted” (2012): When “Family Guy” Meets A Hard R Rating ★★★

…….When I first saw the red band trailer for Seth McFarlane’s directorial debut Ted, I was just as much intrigued as I was cautious; a pot-smoking, booze-drinking, potty-mouthed stuffed teddy bear? This could either be a hilariously original R-rated comedy, I thought, or a premise that wears out and drags after the first couple of times we see the bear in all of his R-rated glory. If McFarlane’s TV phenomenon Family Guy has taught me anything, however, it’s to never underestimate the sick and twisted mind of its creator, and with Ted, MacFarlane has taken everything we love about Family Guy and has injected it with hard R-rated steroids. While it may be a bit too formulaic to be hailed a classic, Ted is still dynamite summer entertainment – an extremely crude and outrageously vulgar comedy that left me crying of laughter and gasping for air on multiple occasions.