E-Top: 5 Best Trilogies

You won’t believe this, but there was once a time in Hollywood where you made one film’s story and went onto another project. A sequel to a film was relatively unheard of (outside of the comedy movie realm, such as the Andy Hardy movies, and the famous Bing Crosby/Bob Hope “Road” movies). Later, Sergio Leone made his “Man with no Name” trilogy of films with Clint Eastwood, ushering in the western’s submission into serialized cinema. The first sci-fi/fantasy film to buck that trend was “Planet of the Apes” in the late sixties.

Nowadays, the sequel is a forgone conclusion for a blockbuster. If it makes more than $200 million and there’s a story to be told, a sequel will be made. And if there’s enough hype, you’ll get the mother lode. A trilogy.

So, what are the great trilogies in film? This is why you have E-Nirv. Here now is the E-Top for this week: the five best trilogies.

#5. (Tie) The Matrix/Pirates of the Caribbean. They make it into the top 5 on the basis of their first installments. The original Matrix was so original to American cinema and left the door open with such potential, it ranks as one of the best sci-fi films ever. Its combination of pure action and deep thinking philosophy made it a sleeper hit in 1999, and spawned a billion dollar franchise. The next two installments, however, while flashy and brilliant to look at, did not impress to the extent of the original.

The “Pirates” franchise falls into a similar mold. A quality swashbuckling buccaneer film has too long been absent from theaters. When word got out that Disney was making a full-length feature film based on an amusement park ride, critics were understandably skeptical. The result was one of the more enjoyable action films of the last decade. All thanks to Johnny Depp. His portrayal of the always flamboyant but equally addled Jack Sparrow (“CAPTAIN” Jack Sparrow) made this film sing with character. The next two chapters seemed to get too big for their britches and the story too weighty and complex. Still, Depp made these films entirely watchable.

4. Indiana Jones Trilogy. For now, it’s still a trilogy, though a fourth installment will be released next summer. “Raiders of the Lost Ark” was revolutionary. As sci-fi flicks (E.T., Star Trek, Star Wars) dominated the cineplexes in the early ’80s, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Harrison Ford brought to us something new, or rather something old. Inspired by the Saturday morning serial films of the 1930s, Lucas created Indiana Jones, a battle weary treasure hunting professor doing battle with the Nazis, an Indian Cult, and still yet more Nazis. The dialogue snappy, the plots compelling, and featuring a hero who occasionally gets the snot kicked out of him, the films’ staying power is undeniable.

3. The Godfather Trilogy. The first two Godfather films should rank in the top 25 of anyone who considers themselves a movie fan. They are both filled with such memorable images and themes, hardly a week goes by when you don’t hear a quote from these films. The first and only film and sequel each to earn an Academy Award for Best Picture. Conversely, the Godfather III is a flawed yet still serviceable film. Sophia Coppola’s “performance” ruins her scenes with unmitigated bad acting (word was Winona Ryder or Julia Roberts were both wanted for this movie…just imagine). Still, the film is effective in showing Michael Corleone’s final descent into personal hell. For all of the power he wielded and his ability to “pull the strings” in an effort to preserve a future for his family, he sees too late that which really matters in life, and dies old and alone, perhaps the worst death a mobster can have. There are some great moments in this film, and if you can shut Sofia Coppola out, it’s a nice finish to the trilogy.

2. Original Star Wars Trilogy. What makes the first three Star Wars so fantastic is their simplicity. The downtrodden rising up to usurp their oppressors. A galactic battle on a huge scale, told through the eyes of three individuals: Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo. Luke, the naive boy suddenly thrust into a King Arthur like role. He is the chosen one, yet must learn on the run as his enemies attempt to destroy him and all that he loves. Princess Leia, the eternal optimist and conscience of the Rebellion. She is the weathervane for the resistance. Eloquent and battle fierce at the same time, Leia engenders loyalty from all around her. Han Solo represents the cynic in all of us. He’s given up wanting to change things by the time the first film begins. Instead of fighting the system, he skirts around it, carving out his own niche as a smuggler. His is a tale of learning how to trust and believe again.
Finally, the Star Wars trilogy came upon its brilliance really through the use of Darth Vader. The uber-evil and mysterious leader of the Emperor’s forces is among the most intimidating of any movie villain. He can kill with a thought and often kills without thought. His minions mean nothing to him, merely means to an end. Through one of the truly surprising moments in cinema, he reveals himself as Luke Skywalker’s father in the second film. From there, the trilogy becomes about something more than just earning freedom. It becomes a story of redemption. Luke believes there still to be good in his father, even when no one else does, even Vader himself. Luke’s perseverance earns that redemption for Vader, and here Lucas ties the liberation of an entire galaxy into the redemption of one man. Great, mythic stuff.

1. Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Making JRR Tolkien’s epic series into films was once thought impossible. The books are too detailed, the characters too numerous, the plot too confusing. But Peter Jackson proved them all wrong. The story about the least among us being the savior of all is not original, but it is told in fantastic fashion as Frodo Baggins and best friend Samwise Gamgee alone enter Mordor to destroy the Ring that could destroy everything. Jackson masterfully edits Tolkien’s opus into a brilliant three acts, while taking away little if any of the wonder that Lord of the Rings generates. The films are perfectly cast and acted, the scenery of New Zealand as Middle Earth breathtaking, and the effects and sets mind-blowing. The trilogy earned more than 20 Oscars, with a record-tying 11 for the last film alone. Wonderful film making and a truly special experience.

Happy Friday from E-Nirv!

 

Bill Clinton earns Praise

It’s not too often you’ll see me throwing props to former President Clinton, but here it is.

I was astounded to read last week that nearly 20% of Americans believe that the attacks on 9/11 were orchestrated as an inside job. Perpetrated to embroil this country in a fake war on terror.

20%. I’m looking around my office area at about 50 people, and it sickens me to think that 10 of those people think the US government allowed nearly 3,000 of its citizens to be wiped out.

That belief is mostly held by the far left wing, so it isn’t really news if a Republican or conservative dismisses them. But when the country’s most famous Democrat does, it’s worth noting.

Bill Clinton Takes On 9/11 Conspiracy Protesters

Now, even though I’m a self-proclaimed conservative, you won’t see much bashing of Bill Clinton on this website. He wasn’t the best president, to be sure. His personal choices with regards to morality are among the dumbest around. However, he’s an extremely intelligent individual who realized that in order to get elected, he needed to ride the middle of the road and win the moderate vote. Consequently, his presidency was neither all the Democrats could dream of nor all the Republicans could dread. It was….meh. He enacted a lot of laws that were actually Republican ideas (to his credit) while trying to keep his fellow Democrats happy.

I said all that to say thanks to Bill Clinton for getting it right on this issue.

 

Yes, but can your Spy do THIS???

The London Times is reporting that the GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters) of Great Britain will begin recruiting through video games, most notably Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Double Agent. The GHCQ is the surveillance arm of the British Intelligence Service.

The adverts won’t be written into the games themselves but will appear when PC and XBOX 360 users play their game online. They’ll come in the form of billboards and other media fitted into the cityscapes during play.

According to some GHCQ officials, they believe it is time to use some “non-conventional” means of recruiting new talented individuals.

I’m not sure how to react on this one. On one hand, it shows that the Brits understand the “market” (if you will) of people they’re trying to draw from. Just about everyone aged 18-34 plays video games of some type. Combine that with the vast number of those who play first person shooters and spy games. To not tap into that market would be foolish.

You may remember a couple of years ago that the US Army put out a first person shooter that it created based on itself, for the purpose of recruiting soldiers to join up.

Still, some might think it’s sad that we have to resort to such lengths to find people willing to serve their country. Are the days of recruiters at our schools and the ROTC drilling on the football field things of the past?

I guess I’d have to conclude that it’s really just a sign of the times. Historically, governments have often gone to populist methods to encourage recruitment. Look at the war films of the late 30s and early 40s, stirring up patriotism. Heck, even the cartoons of that era were utilized by the US government to portray the Nazis and Japanese as evil.

The one difference here that has me concerned though is finding a recruit who’d sooner lay on the couch, eat potato chips and play Halo 3 than go out and catch real life bad guys. To the point, if you die in the real world, you don’t get to replay from your last save.

This is worth watching. More updates as I get them.

You can read the London Times original article by clicking here.

 

Halo 3 Blamed for Box Office Bomb

According to an article in Advertising Age magazine, movie industry executives are blaming a dismal month in box office receipts on everyone’s favorite meta-human soldier, the Master Chief. Due to the nearly $300 million it has taken in already in the 3 weeks since its release, key demographic movie goers (men 18-34) have been noticeably absent from the cineplex.

The article goes on to say that this trend will most likely continue, as “Grand Theft Auto IV” is expected to hit stores next month.

I happen to now fall just beyond that key demo (at 36, I guess I’m officially old), and I haven’t gone to any movies in, well, about a month (3:10 to Yuma was my last flick…. I went to it (*snicker*) 4 days before Halo came out). But having Halo isn’t what’s kept me from the theater. It’s been the schlock they’ve been putting up there. I mean, The Rock’s film’s the #1 movie in America? What else should I see? Chuck and Larry? Mr. Woodcock? Rush Hour freakin’ 3?

Ok, so maybe I’m not in your demo, movie studio execs, but I’d like to think I’m as immature as the next guy. I like action flicks, sci-fi, comedies. I’m right in your wheelhouse!

You want to get me back into the theater? Start by making some decent movies! That might just work.

You can read the Gamespot article by clicking here.

 

Keep your Ring fingers crossed

You may have heard that New Line Cinemas had been having a war of words with director Peter Jackson for the past couple of years over royalties from the Lord of the Rings films. In short, Jackson feels that he was shorted millions of dollars; yet, while New Line disagrees, they won’t turn over their books for an audit. The whole thing has been going back and forth in court.

Today, Variety is reporting that the judge in the case has ordered New Line to pay a $125,000 sanction and turn over their records immediately for audit.

What does this mean? It means that a deal will most likely be struck between the two parties.

But what does THAT mean? It means that tensions between the two will soften, allowing for a deal to be struck that will have Peter Jackson directing a film version of “The Hobbit”, the prequel to LOTR.

You can read the Entertainment Weekly article by clicking here.

 

Britney becomes the “bad” parent…

A judge has just ordered that Britney Spears must give up custody of her two children to the father, one Kevin Federline.

Can someone tell me what kind of kooky fun house world are we living in where KEVIN FEDERLINE is considered the more responsible of two parents???

 

REVIEW: “3:10 to Yuma”

The last great Western was “Unforgiven”, with “Tombstone” running a close second. Why has the genre so left our consciousness as an entertainment form? It could be because we (this author included) have recently been obsessed with comic books and adapting them for the silver screen. Westerns aren’t flashy. They don’t have CG explosion, flying beings of fire and silver, hot hi-tech jets, and adamantium claws. Westerns are gritty, they’re faded, they’re real. At least the good ones are…

So, along comes “3:10 to Yuma”, not only a Western, but a remake of a Western based on a short story by Elmore Leonard. It stars Christian Bale and Russell Crowe, and it is one hell of a great movie, Western or not.

Russell Crowe plays Ben Wade, ringleader for a gang of outlaws. Wade is charsimatic, educated, but above all a skilled killing machine. However, sometimes being the best makes you complacent. And Wade makes a mistake following a stagecoach robbery that gets him caught.

Christian Bale is Dan Evans, once a sharpshooter in the Civil War (but which side???), now transplanted to Arizona to etch out a living as a farmer. He is trying to buy the land he works on, but has come upon hard times. With no money in hand and none in the foreseeable future, he stands to lose his stake. Evans is in many ways (physically but more important mentally) a broken man. His two sons look upon him as a coward. His wife won’t look upon him at all. Yet still he does what he thinks it will take to keep his family afloat.

Through a set of circumstances (highly plausible but ones I won’t divulge), a posse is assembled to take Ben Wade to the jail in Yuma via a train that leaves the town of Contention (a day’s ride away) at 3:10. Ben is given the chance to join the posse and earn the money needed to buy his land.

I won’t give any more of the plot away because I truly feel the best part of this movie is watching how the story unfolds.

“3:10″ is a great movie about the struggles a man faces as he tries to redeem himself, to his family and to himself. What exactly constitutes a hero? What obstacles will you not allow to stand in your way? What obstacles will you decide are too difficult to overcome?

Also, for Crowe’s character, what is the nature of evil? Are people truly good, or truly bad?

Great performances by both lead actors make “Yuma” a movie not to be missed. A fantastic Western. A fantastic movie.

Rating (out of 10) – 10

– Geeksinger

 

Halo 3 Breaks US Sales Record…First Day!

“Halo 3″ sells $170 million in units in its first day on the market, easily outpacing the former record holder, one “Halo 2″, which sold $125 million the first day.

Now, if I could only get my copy to arrive.

 

Bonds’ Record Breaking Ball to Be Branded

Perhaps you’re aware that Barry Bonds recently broke Major League Baseball’s all-time Home Run record, once held by slugger great Hank Aaron.

Bonds has been under a lot of fire in recent years over alleged steroid use.

You may also have heard that the record breaking ball, home run #756, was caught by a 21 year old New York native, who promptly sold the ball for almost $750,000 because he could not afford to keep it and pay taxes on it. The ball was sold to fashion designer Marc Ecko, known for his elaborate pranks and sense of humor.

Ecko wanted a statement to be made with this ball, but he felt that the decision should be made by baseball fans. So he set up a poll for voters to select what he would do with the ball. The choices were:

1. Give the ball to the Baseball Hall of Fame
2. Give the ball to the Baseball Hall of Fame with an asterisk branded into it
3. Launch the ball into space.

In a landslide, choice #2 was the winner. Ecko will burn an asterisk into the ball and then send it to the Hall of Fame.

Many people believe historical objects as something to be kept pristine, unblemished. Others might say history is what you make of it.

What are your thoughts? Should the Bonds ball be branded?

 

Indiana Jones and the……….wha?????

At the MTV Video Music Awards last weekend, an apparently ADD Shia Lebeouf let slip the official title of the last (we think) Indiana Jones movie.

And the title is……..

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

And the world gasps and then….looks at one another and says “wasn’t that a Scooby Doo episode?”

From all accounts, this Indy is shaping up to be one of the best, but the title leaves a bit to be desired in this writer’s opinion.

Still, I think I’ll trust the young guns Spielberg, Lucas, and Ford. They might have a good thing going.