Honorable Mentions:
Pirates of the Caribbean: A powerhouse of a franchise that gradually got worse as it went along.
Jurassic Park: Only gets a mention because of the first film. In all honesty the next two films would only ever ruin the legacy of the first.
Jason Borne Trilogy: All the films in this one were decent. Nothing special, but a good trilogy of films.
The Matrix: Another trilogy celebrated solely for the first film. The other two films do little to add on a very one sided trilogy that could only ever improve on the special effects of the original.
Alien: Sorry, the third one ruined it with its shockingly bad execution. The first two were so fucking good as well.
#10 Back to the Future (1985-1990)
Ah yes, who can forget these charming classics. The 'Back to the Future' series turned the already cool concept of time travel and made it into one of the most entertaining film franchises to date. All three of the films were more than just solely entertaining, managing to be engaging to the viewers despite being incredibly silly at the same time. The whole charm of the film came from its lighthearted approach to everything, and a lot of that stemmed from the quirky performances of Marty McFly and Doc Brown, who both had such great chemistry together.
The characterisation was arguably the star of the show in these films, with even the DeLorean car being given a personality of its own, and has become a legend in cinema ever since. The plot too is now something of legend, and a good example of how such a good idea can be taken to that next level if executed well. Every little detail about the future is so well drawn out that the plot is still believable despite being so ridiculous and exaggerated in every aspect. It's no surprise that this series has been a big hit for pop culture, and last October there was even a special 'Back to the Future Day', which was the same date for the future segments in the original film.
#9 Dark Knight Trilogy (2005-2012)
This trilogy is how you make superheroes relevant to a modern audience. Gone where the old days of cheesy cliches, because now there was a new darker edge to the superhero genre, making a lasting impact that almost made the Batman films of old obsolete, looking wimpy and pathetic in comparison. These new films eclipsed the old in terms of popularity, earning in total almost 2.5 billion dollars worldwide, and giving superheroes a new dynamic that now transcended through far more than simply punching bad guys in the face. Christian Bale was such a breath of fresh air in his role as Batman, and although I'm not a huge fan of his portrayal of the caped crusader, I will admit that he was a great choice for a grittier hero.
Arguably it was the villains that were allowed to prosper the most in Christopher Nolan's trilogy, exemplified by the extraordinary performance of Heath Ledger as The Joker. There's been some good villanous performances over the years in the Batman franchise, but Ledger's role in 'The Dark Knight' was a cut above the rest. Trust me, I hate superhero films, and this trilogy still has many scenes of just pointless violence and stupid plot points, but there's also segments that are actually very meaningful, taking comic books to realistic places that people gave a shit about. The ending of the franchise left me on a very sour note, and in fact 'The Dark Knight Rises' almost ruined it for me by just being completely stupid, but overall this trilogy was fun whilst it lasted, and is certainly the standard which any superhero film has to aspire to be.
#8 Die Hard (1988-1995)
'Die Hard' was a huge trilogy for the action genre, telling the tale of one New York Police officer who for some fortuitous reason always ends up in the middle of some serious shit. All three films are full of explosive sequences and over the top plot points that audiences had never seen anything in the same league as before. This fast paced style cemented Bruce Willis as an action hero legend, and paved the way for many other plots revolving things blowing up. The 'Die Hard' franchise may now have reverted to a very cut and stick formula, but the original trilogy really blew away the margins of what makes an exhilarating film, providing a suspenseful and climactic experience that very few action films replicate.
Aside from the first film, which was by far the high point of the franchise, the others in the trilogy just proved that nothing was out of bounds for police officers to blow up in style. It's not all about Willis, as he gets some help from some greatly worked in villains, and I'm specifically referring to those in the first film, who gave the narrative a gritty edge that fitted in nicely with the rest of the full on testosterone fest. Unfortunately past the original trilogy the rest of the 'Die Hard' films are just absolute crap that has no brains or logic behind it, but for a taste of what the tales of detective John McLane are all about then the original trilogy is a must for any action flick fan.
#7 Toy Story (1995-2010)
Often overlooked as a trilogy, and that's a shame considering the 'Toy Story' films all have the distinction of being brilliant films in their own right. This is as good as animated films get, and although this set the standard for many more great animated flicks, there would never be another franchise that could compete with these now legendary tales. The material used for all three films is simply sublime, and is one of the few trilogies that never relies on anything else other than that raw material to carry the franchise. The original 'Toy Story' was the first ever fully 3D animated feature film, so not only was it a milestone for film in general, but also one for storytellingdue to its wide appeal.
The stars of the show all throughout the trilogy are the range of characters we get. They're all brilliant and so lovingly put to life. Their various relationships are so well explored that we actually care about the grand adventure happening before our eyes, and it's rare to say that about every single film in a trilogy. The craziest thing about these films was that they were for children, yet were so well made that anyone can enjoy them. It's no surprise that they ended up grossing a total of almost 2 billion dollars when the storylines are so simplistically fun that they call to the big kid in all of us, and then simultaneously reduce us all to tears; and yes that was a reference to how the trilogy ended. Holy fuck that was some ending. I still haven't recovered.
#6 Dollars Trilogy (1964-1966)
If you're a fan of westerns then this is the gold standard of any trilogy. Even though all three films received mixed reviews when originally released they have since become classics, and the perfect example of how to turn an oversaturated genre on its head. The trilogy is arguably most famous for the role of Clint Eastwood who's just brilliant in his now iconic lead role as 'The man with no name'. Eastwood's role just fits the film's narrative so perfectly that he's almost the perfect poster boy for the western genre. Just look at that expression in the picture above. With acting and cinematography like that you almost don't need any dialogue to tell a good story. It's for these reasons that it became clear you didn't need John Wayne to carry a western anymore, because here was a reinvigorated western formula that has since become the standard.
The thing about these classics was that the formula was based on Japanese samurai films of old, told through the eyes of an Italian director in an order that isn't even chronological, which somehow just works in an American style film. The prime example of this is 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly', which is the real highlight of the trilogy. Just a perfectly paced and atmospheric narrative that masterfully encapsulates the feelings of the American West, adding a bit of stimulated drama for full effect. It's such a great sendoff for a series that created the spaghetti western genre, which isn't a bad legacy to leave at all.
#5 Terminator (1984-2003)
'The Terminator' franchise is based around Arnold Schwarzenegger at his iconic best blowing shit up in an ultimate battle between men and machine. Sounds bloody good to me. In reality it sounded good to a lot of people, as this franchise is what created the legends that are now Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Cameron, which isn't surprising considering the effect this film had on pop culture. The first two films were in my opinion some of the best the action genre has to offer. They both looked ridiculously good, had great fast paced plots, and just felt properly epic.
The second film in particular is a personal favorite of mine, flipping the foundations set by the first film but still keeping the same style. There's quotable lines everywhere, some mesmerising sequences, and one hell of a battle between two Terminators to top it all off. I'm amazed at how the heroes and villains could be so interchangeable, but the basis behind this film's quality is the high standard of characters. There's plans for a new trilogy for this long lived franchise, although after how 'Genisys' turned out I can't say I'm too hopeful that it's going to be any better than these classics.
#4 Indiana Jones (1981-1989)
Please just don't mention the fourth film. I can see what they were trying to do with that one, but the execution was just shocking, and that film ended up tarnishing the reputation of this classic trilogy. The original three films were just perfect for the eighties, all being great in their own special way. All three films are full of charm and charisma, that's just great fun to watch. The second film has even got some mature themes going on, which at least made up for the less than satisfying plot, but I'm glad there was some variety in the trilogy that went against the feel good nature of the other two. However what all three films love to do is give viewers a fantastic adventure, never taking the subject too seriously despite the high magnitude plots.
It's an almost magical formula for any adventure film, and was always destined to be instant classics. Watching the three films now is like a ball of pleasing nostalgia. It's such a great way to open your mind about diverse places in the world, even if those places rely on being heavily eccentric. But even when you ignore the grand adventures there is still a great cast to fall back on, and it's always great seeing Harrison Ford at his best. This trilogy proved that Indiana Jones was the perfect role for the man, and he owns the film in every damn scene. He even got some help from Sean Connery in the third film, but even then Ford was the charismatic main man, and director Steven Spielberg never lets us forget that. And as for that score. Well, is there a more famous score in cinema history? It certainly has the ability to put a smile on your, but then just about everything does in this brilliant trilogy.
#3 Lord of the Rings (2001- 2003)
In terms of epic trilogies this might be the greatest of them all. The sheer scale of this whole project is just mindblowing. Just how Peter Jackson managed to get the complex world of Tolkien onto the screen in just three films is quite some achievement, and when you consider that the whole trilogy took eight years to complete and needed seven full teams for back to back filming is just astonishing. The finished product was six million feet of film that showcased three films that are each an example of forward thinking and ambitious cinema at its best, bringing to life one of the most diverse landscapes fiction has ever seen. Each character is masterfully portrayed, and although these films might not manage to be faithful to the Tolkien literature at all times, they still give the world a renewed sense of magic and mystery that even the books couldn't conjure.
Each new film in the franchise managed the unthinkable task of improving on the last one, despite the previous installment being as good as anyone could ever imagine. The third one decided to milk that a bit and never end, which isn't a positive thing when the extended cut already goes on for sixteen million years. It's no surprise that the final film received the most academy awards of any film in one evening and helped the franchise make a total of almost 3 billion dollars worldwide, making it the highest grossing trilogy unadjusted for inflation. In reality this franchise deserved every single one of the many awards it went onto win, even if the Tolkien estate actually rejected the idea of the film, as did many Tolkien purists who hated the themes presented. Obviously anyone who shits over these three films doesn't value the art of film making, because let's face it, is there any trilogy as well made as this one. Having watched many trilogies I can safely say that none can match the ambition and execution of this one.
#2 The Godfather (1972-1990)
How can you not include a trilogy that contains two of the greatest films ever created? The third film almost lets the whole trilogy down by not being up to par with the other two, but the truth is that the third isn't a bad film at all. I personally find the tales of the Corleone family so utterly amazing that words can't really describe just how epic these films are. The first two films in particular are made with such care and precision, beautifully pieced together and stupendously executed. The range of characters we find in the franchise is another incredible highlight. The first film in particular is just the pinnacle of characterisation with Pacino, Caan, Brando and Duvall all producing incredible performances that will go down as ones for the ages.
Even past the characters and directing you get the most striking cinematography in these film that like everything else is just so superbly executed. Many of the scenes have now become iconic and standards for modern cinema as has the writing and directing which again is just perfect in every single way and never misses a beat, creating momentum in a way cinema had never reached before. The music as well is something that all three films got just right. The musical composition creates such a stunning atmosphere. That's what this franchise is all about; atmosphere. 'The Godfather' trilogy showcased what it means to create the perfect film, becoming an example where cinema and pure art mould into one beautiful creation that no amount of superlatives can accurately describe. Yes, if it wasn't for that letdown of a third film we could have ourselves a perfect trilogy, but in all honesty I don't care when the first two are as mesmerising as they are.
#1 Star Wars Original (1977-1983)
I don't think there can be any argument that when we're taking into consideration the impacts that film trilogies have on society then the original 'Star Wars' trilogy has to be number one. The 'Star Wars' franchise itself is now estimated to be worth over 30 billion dollars, and that was all kick-started by these three films. The prequel trilogy certainly brought 'Star Wars' to a younger generation, but in terms of quality it was nowhere near the level of these genre defining space operas. The original three 'Star Wars' films are each the gold standard of blockbuster that's never really been beaten in scale. What these three films did for pop culture means they have to be at number one, even if in terms of cinematic quality this space opera might not technically be the best trilogy out there.
What this trilogy did do however is introduce us to such an overwhelmingly complex and imaginative galaxy that somehow is all layered out to perfection in each of the three films. It's just such an engrossing and exciting narrative to be a part of, especially the original film which is now so famous because of just how well its played out. The first two films had some of the most iconic plot points in recent memory, that even to this day have such a great impact on audiences of any age. And as for the characters. Well I'm sure everyone knows the eclectic cast of various life forms that grace the original series, including some of the most amazing figures such as Darth Vader and Han Solo, who have an unbelievable screen presence that I don't think has ever been surpassed. But then the original 'Star Wars' trilogy does have the knack of going far above any other trilogy since in terms of scale.
No comments:
Post a Comment