TOP TEN TUESDAY: The Holy Trilogies

This weekend is a huge weekend for movies, and it very well may be the last big weekend of the summer. The big, upcoming horror hit You're Next promises to be this year's most talked about horror film and is still holding steady at 90% fresh on RottenTomatoes.com a few days before its release. I have advanced screening passes to go check it out tomorrow night, so I'll have to let you know how accurate that figure is. It didn't look all that great to me when seeing trailers but from what I hear it sounds like a gruesomely good time and pretty promising. Also, for the non-adult crowd and probably more likely tween girl crowd we have the highly anticipated release (for said crowd) of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, which is the latest young adult novel adaptation that is all the craze. I expect it to be yet another mock-Twilight that is trying to capitalize on the success of previous films based on teen novels that drive the girlies crazy. I'm not entirely sure what the attraction is to these films, based off of book after book that appear to be highly overrated (I'm a librarian, I know these things). There are a handful of limited release films like the kung fu entry The Grandmaster which looks pretty intense and dramatic, as well as Nicolas Cage and John Cusack's The Frozen Ground, which proves that neither can find much else to do. The movie that I'm extremely ecstatic about coming out this weekend is The World's End which is the final entry in the Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy. If this is your first time visiting the site, you may have question as to why I would be so excited for such a thing but those of you who are familiar with my tastes know why. Fans have been waiting quite awhile for this third film from writer/director Edgar Wright, writer/actor Simon Pegg, and buddy Nick Frost to follow up their well-respected first two films Shaun of the Dead (my favorite movie ever) and Hot Fuzz (which is equally great). I can't hardly put into words how excited I am about The World's End and how well it's being reviewed thus far, so I've decided to count down the top ten film trilogies of all-time, or at least the ones that I've seen all three films to. There is a huge list of trilogies that are worthy of this list, and obviously the trilogies wouldn't exist if at least one to two of the movies were amazing. However, I have narrowed it down and so I present to you, my holy trilogies of film.

10. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

 

This is a trilogy that is probably up much higher on the list for most but because I was introduced so much later in life, it doesn't hold quite as special of a place in my heart as it does for other fans of film. Obviously, Indiana Jones is a very popular character because he became part of the title after the first film. Most people don't even know that Raiders of the Lost Ark did not have an "Indiana Jones and" attached to the beginning, and it wasn't until the creative team saw the power of the name Indiana Jones, did they begin attaching it to the beginning of the movie titles. Kind of similar to how First Blood turned Rambo into a sensational franchise character, and thus ended up becoming part of the rest of the titles. Matter of fact, why didn't that end up on my list... Anyways, Indiana Jones became an iconic character for two reasons that I can see. One, the outstanding acting of Harrison Ford as a hero with an attitude was proven yet again in these films as he became probably the greatest action/adventure character ever created. Doctor by day, adventurer by night and if it wasn't for Ford's incredible ability to create a character that's as funny as he is serious, it could have easily been a flop. The second reason this trilogy works so well is because of the big creative mind behind it, Steven Spielberg. The guy is a film legend for a reason, and this trilogy is one of the many examples brought to attention when recalling his prolific career in filmmaking. I'm not the biggest fan of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom but it is still pretty entertaining, and the other two films are just classic. Raiders of the Lost Ark is easily one of the greatest action/adventure films ever made.



9. Back to the Future (1985)

Back to the Future Part II (1989)

Back to the Future Part III (1990)

 

Another trilogy that I wasn't really introduced to until much later in life, though I had seen the first film a couple of times growing up because of my parents showing it to me and loving Michael J. Fox. When I received the Blu-ray trilogy box set for my birthday though a few years ago, I was able to watch all three films and I was instantly in love. At the time the gift giver knew my obsession with all things nerd, and of course Blu, so it was a wise choice and I suddenly discovered how much I was a fan of Back to the Future. These are some films that are just downright fun, and even watching them today they for some reason don't feel all that dated. Not to mention the strange coincidences like the Star Wars film playing in the background in the future of Back to the Future Part II and other things. These movies are a little corny but they have earned their place in popular culture due to notable scenes and the famous DeLorean, and just being downright entertaining and fun. Also involved in this trilogy is Steven Speilberg, but not as a director who would be Robert Zemeckis that is also known for fun and usually family films. This is one of those classic trilogies that just has to be introduced to your children when you have them, or your family when it's completed. It's a truly magical experience that I believe will stand the test of time for years to come. Marty is going to continue being McFly until someone else makes as fun of a time travel movie as these ones.

 

8. The Evil Dead (1981)

Evil Dead II (1987)

Army of Darkness (1992)

 

There are several horror trilogies that you could probably include on here, but none of them are quite as successful through the entire run as Evil Dead was. The only other comparable series was the Scream trilogy but the third film just doesn't do that whole series any justice by being a joke of itself. Evil Dead however, progresses from being a truly frightening experience full of demons, evil, and brilliant practical FX work into quite possibly the greatest horror comedy of all-time. Army of Darkness is a cult classic for many reasons, but mainly because of its sense of humor. Horror comedies often have struggle with balancing the elements of both a comedy, and a horror film. Army of Darkness executes on both sides perfectly, and presents one of the funnest adult horror films you'd ever see. It's so corny in a way, but at the same time you recall all that the character Ash has gone through up until that point and know that evil is bound to find him yet again. One of the reasons I love the Evil Dead trilogy is obviously because it's horror, but the amazing use of practical FX back in the 80's and early 90's was just stunning. The witches or whatever you want to call them, from the first two films, are downright creepy and some of the monsters after the first film are insane. There's also a reason they made a remake, and it's because these films were great then and they're still great now, and though it didn't need an update the Evil Dead trilogy is as relevant today as ever.
 

7. The Bourne Identity (2002)

The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

 

There are so many action trilogies out there in the world, but I feel there are few that match the intensity of these films. From The Bourne Identity forward, they continue to up the ante and match the intensity of the previous film by adding more layers to the story and a lot more action. The Bourne Ultimatum in my opinion, may be one of the greatest action films of all-time and though it's not like action films of the 80's, it wallops as Matt Damon cruises through his enemies in the best ways possible. There are a lot of great fight scenes and action scenes throughout this whole trilogy, but there is a lot of well acted drama too and that's what sets these films apart from the rest of the action trilogy canon. The scene in the third and final film where Jason Bourne sets up his followers by making them think he is elsewhere, when he really is in their offices placing the call to them. It's just brilliant hero stuff, and you can't help but root for Bourne as he is easily misunderstood and just wants to be normal. There are a lot of things that you can relate to as a viewer, but when your hero is so relatable it makes it that much easier to get involved and root for the guy. If you have seen The Bourne Legacy but never saw the first three films, or never had any interest in this trilogy, I highly recommend it. It will be regarded as an action/drama classic series of films by the time 15 years have past on The Bourne Ultimatum.
 

6. The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather: Part II (1974)

The Godfather: Part III (1990)

 

I obviously didn't see this classic trilogy until much later in life, other than the horse at the foot of the bed scene on a few countdowns of classic film moments. It's a hardcore drama through and through, and if you don't believe me you can take a look at the total runtime for this trilogy. There are several reasons this trilogy is one of the greatest, and for me there are a few other reasons that make it not the single greatest ever like a lot of people claim it is. First of all, the third movie is so far off the mark of the first two it makes it hard to claim that the entire trilogy is legendary. When anyone thinks of these films, it's usually moments from the first two. Imagine a world where The Godfather: Part III is equally as intense as The Godfather: Part II. The acting of Marlon Brando is most of what makes this classic for most, but take a look at other actors that got their start in the mob here. Al Pacino does amazing work, as well as Robert De Niro, and let's not forget the master director behind all of these films. Martin Scorsese has proved since nearly the beginning of his career that runtime is not a problem, because the film that he makes will be great. His movie can be listed as four hours long, and everyone is still going to see it because Scorsese can craft some of the most epic drama films anyone has ever seen. There is no one that rivals his talent when it comes to hard-hitting dramas, and The Godfather trilogy is proof that even after nearly ten hours of The Godfather goodness, you can leave folks wanting more. Of course, let's not hope for it because if The Godfather: Part III is any proof, a fourth entry would just be really long and good, but not great like these first two films are. Scorsese won't touch it either, unless they make him an offer he can't refuse.

 

5. Clerks. (1994)

Mallrats (1995)

Chasing Amy (1997)

 

I don't know how many regard the first three films of Kevin Smith as a trilogy, but it is packaged and sold as one so I thought it deserved its spot here. Similar to the trilogy that is the reason for this list, Kevin Smith's Jersey Trilogy is comprised of three films that have their own stories and main characters, but all take place in the same fictional universe that Smith has created since making Clerks. back in 1994. They are comedies, and they are rude, crude and most often socially unacceptable but that Kev Smith has always had a knack for writing truly authentic people into his movies. Clerks. was a comedy that no one expected when it came out and despite its lacklusted performance in terms of money, it has become a cult classic and of course began the launch of Smith's wild career that has now landed him as one of the biggest commentators of Hollywood today, at least for us fan boys. When Clerks III finally hits theaters in the somewhat near future, I may have a more literal trilogy to put on a list like this, but for now I felt that Smith's work needed to be acknowledged. These are merely his first three films, and each one touches on a different subject matter while all retaining Smith's unique voice as a writer and director. Chasing Amy may be one of my favorite love stories ever, and the only reason I can't call it a chick flick because it is truly a love story written for dudes to enjoy, and Ben Affleck nails it.
 

4. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

 

Oh my god, I know but please don't kill me. Star Wars not being in the top three trilogies of all-time might as well be a betrayal to my geekdom and status as a film fan. Really, it's one of my favorites as it's sci-fi and action, and I grew up on it but the three above this just really have quality written all over them. Despite the high entertainment value of the Star Wars trilogy, I can't say that they're the most brilliantly written movies and present intense dramas without a little corn. The special effects are amazing, and so is the action and sesne of adventure. Nothing can beat these films, and like I said with Back to the Future, Star Wars is one of those that will be passed down from generation to generation just because of what it is. It's still as relevant as it was more than 30 years ago, if not more so now today than it was then. Kids grow up knowing what Star Wars is, and it's ingrained into their DNA somehow to just love. It's rare that you find a person out in the world that doesn't know who Darth Vader is, or Luke Skywalker. Everyone knows some of the basic stories and characters of Star Wars, even if they've never seen a minute of the films in their life. It's truly a testament to the power of the universe that George Lucas has created, and the multitude of new stories in science fiction novels and the merchandise and spinoffs created for kids are the proof. There is nothing quite like Star Wars and I dare you to find a trilogy that is more well recognized than this one is. Maybe, in a galaxy far, far away.

 

3. Toy Story (1995)

Toy Story 2 (1999)

Toy Story 3 (2010)

 

This is the trilogy that I think of when it comes to my childhood. I pretty much grew up watching these characters and these films, and when the final one came out a couple of years ago it was able to strike me directly in the heart when it looked like it could be the end of all our favorite toys. I was such a little kid when the first one came out, and I loved it because it was a Disney movie and it was computer animated and it was so cool to imagine your toys coming to life and being their own people when you weren't around. It kind of matched the magic of The Indian in the Cupboard which was also one of my favorite movies growing up. The first film is a hands down family classic, and while I don't think the second film is anywhere near as good, it holds its own against a lot of the family film competition. Each one of these films taught a valuable lesson in life, and I think it's truly amazing that even after 15 years they were still able to do that, and to teach something to the same crowd that started out watching Toy Story as a kid. Toy Story 3 had me and about everyone else my age in tears when we saw the film, because it was a group of people that we had come to know and love in these films and we didn't want to see them go. It's a lesson taught to kids and adults alike in the third film, and I really can't think of a trilogy that quite does what Toy Story can. It is as close to magic as you can get, and go figure it's Disney.
 

2. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

 

Definitely the most successful trilogy when it comes to Academy recognition, Peter Jackson's epic take on the trilogy of books written by author J.R.R. Tolkien rung in a new era of film. It was the biggest and most epic adventure since some of the classic trilogies you saw earlier on in this list. This was the trilogy of my generation, and it has the length to show up all the rest. From the beginning, the magic of Tolkien's Middle Earth is woven so perfectly by Peter Jackson. Everything seems to have leapt straight off the pages and created directly from the words of Tolkien, and while I haven't read much of the trilogy of books, I could tell that they were pretty faithful to them. The plethora of characters provides enough choices for anyone to pick a favorite, and it ranges from bad ass to straight up cowardly, and intelligent to moronic. There really aren't too many words that can explain the magic of the Lord of the Rings films without actually seeing them for yourself. There are those who swear by the extended editions but you'd be looking at about a 12-hour day of all Lord of the Rings. But definitely try this trilogy out, and if you've only seen one or two shame on you. This is a trilogy that has to be experienced from beginning to end, because it is the greatest fictionalized adventure of all-time, at least in my opinion. This film series should be listed next to epic in the dictionary, because it is most definitely so.

 

1. Batman Begins (2005)

The Dark Knight (2008)

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

 

For the second week in a row, Christopher Nolan's trilogy of Batman films tops the list. It really goes to show how much I love Batman, but also how truly great these films are as an entire piece of work. We all have our favorite film from the trilogy, most would say The Dark Knight, but together they serve as one of the greatest Batman stories ever told. Of the heroes rise to the occasion turned into an overwelcome stay in the underbelly of Gotham. No one could have made these films quite like Nolan, and I don't think it could or can be done, any better than it has been here. I hope it's a long time before they try to reboot the character and do something new, and I hope that if they do it turns into an R-rated horror fest like the recent comics have. If you've only seen one of these movies, or if you've never watched them sequentially, you ought to give it a shot. These movies are the definition of quality film. This is what should be studied in schools, because it's one thing when you make a good superhero movie like Marvel Studios has been in recent years. But when you make a hero film that could serve just as well as a police drama or wild action movie, you know you have gold. This trilogy is the definition of perfect, and honestly all trilogies that strive for similar goals should aspire to be what Nolan has crafted.

REVIEW: Evil Dead (2013)

PLOT: Five friends head to a remote cabin, where the discovery of a Book of the Dead leads them to unwittingly summon up demons living in the nearby woods. The evil presence possesses them until only one is left to fight for survival.

REVIEW: The latest addition to the seemingly never-ending list of Hollywood remakes came out this past weekend, in the form of Evil Dead. Hailed as one of the classics of the horror genre, the 1981 original was destined to be remade after all of the success of previous horror remakes over the last 10 years or so. It's rare that you'll see a large group of people in support of a remake (take Rob Zombie's Halloween, for instance), but I felt over the last few months that there were more moviegoers excited for this one, than there were haters for its creation. I think most of this is due in part to the lack of a highly recognizable name attached to the cast and crew, aside from producers Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, who both are responsible for the cult following of the original Evil Dead. This, on top of the wise decision to stick with practical special effects in the making of this film, provided for a potential screamer in Fede Alvarez's 2013 "re-imagining". I, like most horror fans, was beyond excited for this new vision of one of my favorite horror films, but I think this time around the movie appealed to more than just horror-heads.

The marketing campaign behind Evil Dead in 2013 was certainly brazen, touting "the most terrifying film you will ever experience." on its most popular poster for the film. But the box office success of this Hollywood retread of an 80's cult classic, definitely goes to show the power of the media, in all its forms, and promotion through those means. I was amazed that by mid-March I had yet to see a trailer for the new film, and everyone else I had talked to about movies had already in fact, seen the red-band trailer. Even though I managed to get my hands on a pair of tickets to an advance screening, I was completely blown away at the turnout for the screening when I showed up and saw a line nearly wrapped around the entirety of the theater backed up to the additional parking garage, the likes of which I've never seen at an advance screening previously. This is when I knew for sure, that Evil Dead was to be no box office flop, and was going to be a much-needed jolt to the horror genre. No matter where I looked online, on movie websites, or on Twitter, and really anywhere else for that matter, there were early screening reviews claiming the new Evil Dead was a horror film that must be seen by all. These claims though, obviously made by fans of the classic and others who have probably never seen the original, are somewhat bogus in my opinion. As I did not find that this new version of Evil Dead was all that terrifying, I did discover that it certainly was a blood-fueled joy ride that can almost certainly be enjoyed by any fan of the genre.

What I liked most about Alvarez's Evil Dead was the surprising, but brilliant decision to stick with practical FX for the movie's blood and gore. This obviously being a move to honor the original, in which we see some of the best practical FX ever used in horror, but also to honor that of the genre's great usage of these methods in the past. I was so happy to hear the news when it came out that Evil Dead refused to use CGI for its gross-outs, but instead was going to scare audiences with buckets of blood and horrific prosthetic and makeup. I hope that this marks a resurgence of the use of practical FX, as I find it a much more effective way to entertain your horror audience. Though CGI has its benefits of being cost-effective and can sometimes make impossible visions a reality, it really detracts from the realism that a film is trying to communicate. This is more applicable in horror than any other genre, where frightened moviegoers are constantly being told not to be bothered by scary movies after its run-time because in the end it's all fake, yet they're being made more artificial with each passing year. Something about the use of practical FX can really get under a viewer's skin, even though if what they're watching is something of fantasy and they know it, the use of these real-life effects can go a long way in creating a haunting image in someone's imagination. So with that, I applaud those behind the decision to stick with the usage of corn syrup and latex, being that it was one of the greatest artistic decisions I've seen made by a filmmaker in a long while.

Another plus with this version of the Evil Dead is the casting of a group of unknown talent. Often times with big-budget horror remakes, there's almost always a star or recognizable name attached to the film (Jessica Biel in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or a misplaced Jared Padalecki in Friday the 13th, for examples). I was really happy to see that with this one, as we did not have Channing Tatum channeling his inner Bruce Campbell, nor a pasty Lindsay Lohan covering for demon duty in the cellar (though it could have been equally as disturbing). Instead, we have a cast comprised of all unknowns, at least to me, and it helped a lot in the feeling that this movie was not a cash-grab, but a true desire to give the experience to a new generation of moviegoers and horror fans alike. Capturing most of my attention was Jane Levy in the role of the first-possessed, Mia. As the film starts out and she's dealing with the struggles of addiction, she brings her friends to the cabin to help her quit cold turkey. At first, I was a bit weary of her performance because of the likenesses I drew to Kristen Stewart in my head. As soon as the evil begins however, Levy is able to showcase what is likely the real reason behind her being casted in the role. Better than the rest of the cast, Levy really captured what to me, is one of the more terrifying parts of the original. Commonly referred to as the cellar witch, at least in my experience, to me was the most important and worrisome task to bring to this remake. Easily the most haunting thing to me after viewing the original, that same eeriness was still present in Fede's take of the film, and I imagine was one of his main focuses as well as her performance essentially drives the entire movie. In talking of this film afterwards, I have constantly referred to a scene in which she is taunting one of her friends into making a very permanent decision, which has stuck with me since leaving the theater late Thursday night.

Levy was not the only one to impress though, as several others rounded out the young cast of victims in the new Evil Dead. I particularly enjoyed Lou Taylor Pucci as Eric, the most interesting person in the group of ho-hum intervention participants. Those who have seen the movie will understand why his character is so likeable, but he is easily the most at fault too when things start to go down in the cabin in the woods. He's really the sole bringer of a sense of humor from the group, and works solely as the film's only silly character, thus making him stick out over the rest. Shiloh Fernandez plays Mia's brother David, who the story seems to warp around after Mia's possession, and does an okay job. At times resembling Bruce Campbell in the original, especially towards the end of the film, but never quite breaks through as the film's star. Also, Jessica Lucas and Elizabeth Blackmore turn in spare, but decent performances as Olivia and Natalie respectively, both getting their shot at being one of the possessed.

While the film had a lot of positives going for it, there were some negatives, or at least observations that I made while watching the film. One noticeable difference between this Evil Dead and the 1981 original was the silliness, or offbeat sense of humor, considering the subject matter. The original sticks out in the long list of horror classics not only because of it's terrific use of practical FX, but also its oddball and sometimes slapstick comedy riddled throughout. This humor was something that eventually took over the franchise by the time Army of Darkness rolled out to theaters in 1992, so it was interesting to see how that would be handled with this new telling. There were definitely moments in the new version that I found funny, or could have been seen as amusing nods to the original, but it never crossed the threshold into corniness. While I think it was a wise decision to leave that out this go around, as it was what turned most people off of the original, it would have been nice to see that aspect of its predecessor acknowledged a little more openly. Also, there were scenes or bits that seemed exactly like the original, just updated, but it oftentimes seemed throughout the movie that Alvarez was trying to make something of his own. While I respect not making a shot-for-shot remake of the original, I wish there could have been a few more subtle nods to Ash and what made this whole project possible in the first place. However, this does not detract from the film in any way shape or form, and though I had my grievances, it never took away from me enjoying the new film.

Hopefully Evil Dead can hold some of its audience from this previous weekend and keep raking in some well-earned dollars for the director and crew. As I understand it, the film has already surpassed its cost in revenues, so anything made from here on out is just proof of the film's quality. Like many horror remakes before it, this looked as if it could go either way once it hit screens this April. Making the bold decision to go without CGI in the making of this movie I think really helped its street cred with the horror fanbase, and also upped the nasty for those just looking for a scary movie to see on a date. I would love to see a whole new trilogy come from this, and maybe evolve itself into something just as zany and entertaining as Evil Dead 2 or Army of Darkness but only time will tell. If the scene after the credits holds any water, I'd like to think we're in for quite the thrill when producers come to the table to meet about getting a sequel made. This film is a must-see for all horror fans, fans of the original, and even haters of the original. I think where Evil Dead fell short in 1981 for some fans, it has been taken into account and rose to the occasion in 2013. But please for all that is good in the world, stay after the credits. I didn't and now that I know what I've missed, I may have to make a trip back just to see this wild ride full of buckets of blood and insane visuals again, just to catch the 20-second scene my eyes missed out on, that I can promise you you don't want to.

ACTING : ( 6 / 10 )

STORY : ( 7 / 10 )

EXECUTION : ( 8 / 10 )

POSTER : ( 7 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 10 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 8 / 10 )