Greatest Trilogies: #1 Star Wars (The Original Trilogy: Episodes IV to VI)

Just like what IBM is to computers, what Sputnik is to space exploration and what Mickey Mouse is to animation – the original Star Wars trilogy is to blockbuster filmmaking. (not to be confused with the at-best mediocre new prequel trilogy Episodes I to III). The original SW trilogy (A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi) is the one that started it all. We have seen blockbusters, big and small, but there is yet to come a movie that has so grabbed the collective consciousness of millions of people as Star Wars had.
Think about it – the first SW earned $790 million way back in 1977. That amount would mean BILLIONS of dollars if converted to today’s worth – no modern-day movie even comes close. Think about the concept of merchandising movies that was born out of it. Think about that great John Williams soundtrack that still rouses today. Think about children playing with pencils and going “voom” with their imaginary lightsabers. Think about how many millions of people have tried to imitate Darth Vader saying “I am your father”.
Well, there are just too many things to think about, but we perhaps can never measure the impact the Star Wars had on pop culture as a whole. Take a bow, George Lucas, take a bow. May the Force be with him.

Greatest Trilogies: #2 The Lord of the Rings

A lot of you may argue that this deserves to be #1 and I had to do many rethinks before I came to this conclusion.
I have lived through the LotR phenomenon, and I can safely say that this was the last time in memory when I have really enjoyed myself in the cinemas. This masterpiece by Peter Jackson quite simply puts to rest any competition that there is when it comes to book adaptations, period. I have read the epic, and only when you read it to you understand how difficult it must have been for Jackson to convert a dour 1000 paged book into cinema’s greatest triumphs. Apart from at least 2 visits to the theatre (for each movie), I have watched the trilogy so many times on DVD, and every time I am surprised at its sheer ingenuity – the seamless blend of cutting edge CGI with brilliant storytelling like you have never seen before. For all that we know, this might have been the last movie to have combined blockbuster sensibilities with Oscar winning glory. Weren’t we so lucky to have been through the unforgettable ride with Frodo and co.

Greatest Trilogies: #3 Back to the Future

The child in me wants to place this at the #1 position and I nearly did. There is hardly any movie around these days that I have enjoyed more than the Back to the Future series. And here’s why.
BTTF was, and still is, one of the most cleverly written works of blockbuster entertainment ever made. The other 4 movies on this list are mostly works of extreme fantasy – even though they may have realistic characters, their stories were so… what’s the word… “far away.” BTTF on the other hand, was about a typical teenager, with typical problems, and a typical life who just gets wrapped up in a quirky sense of fate. And how wrapped up!
Every installment of this trilogy is so intertwined with the other that they just can’t stand alone – that’s what a trilogy is all about. With rollicking humour, convoluted science, and once again I repeat, the most intelligently written screenplays in movie history (a salute here to Bob Gale), BTTF is one of those movies you never get tired of. Though I was too young to watch this trilogy in the cinema (I was born in 1985 J), I have watched these movies so many times over on tape and later on DVD and love it each time. It’s also got what I feel is one of the best endings ever – in BTTF II when Marty meets Doc after having just been sent back into the present. A cliffhanger ending or what?!
There is also one other aspect where BTTF beats the other 4 on this list hollow – its great soundtrack. Yes, I know the others have even more famous, triumphant theme tunes, but BTTF had actual songs that the others cant claim – my favourite love ballad “Earth Angel”, “Back in Time”, and of course, Marty’s rendition of “Johnny B. Goode”.
I so wish I could go back to 1985… just one more time.

Greatest Trilogies: #4 Indiana Jones

Ace director Steven Spielberg has done it all in his illustrious career. What would stand out as one of his greatest achievements is inarguably Indiana Jones. Here was a character that was symbolic of everything that “Swashbuckling adventurer” stood for. Its old fashioned stylized action was what big screen movie watching was all about – treasure, conspiracies, secrets, tombs, death traps, snakes… et all. Spielberg might not have got to direct a Bond movie, as was his childhood dream, but his partnership with visionary George Lucas did get him to work with Sean Connery instead. While Raiders of the Lost Ark will always remain the greatest of the three for sheer spunk, the trilogy as a whole is worthy of every movie buff’s collection.

Greatest Trilogies: #5 Pirates of the Caribbean

(This week we shall be looking at some of the greatest movie trilogies of all time. Although many would think that the Godfather trilogy is a given in any list worth its salt, I am very consciously omitting it from this list because it does not qualify as a full fledged “popcorn” movie. Its one of the greatest no doubt, but it doesn’t have the mass commercial appeal that my list has. So here goes…)

I know what you’re thinking. Yes, Pirates of the Caribbean is only two films old, however I have no doubt whatsoever that At World’s End would be just as exhilarating as the other ones where. Taking a completely new and original story, with a cult character, a mandatory rousing theme track, and large parts of surrealistic fantasy thrown in, Pirates has all it takes to become one of the world’s most beloved trilogies

Keep the change, yeh filthy directors!

f Call me conservative, but I don’t think I am the only one who has noticed the huge scarcity of quality family films these days. I’m tired of searching for films at the DVD store which I can see with the entire family in tow, little cousins et all.
Though I’m not a great fan of Chris Columbus (and after what he did to the first Potter movie, aint gonna happen any time soon), but I know things have reached a sorry state when I start looking back at Home Alone with nostalgia. Now that was one perfect example of a clean, feel good family movie – A novel story, good writing and John Williams with a perfect score, Home Alone is a landmark in the family movie genre. And then there were the classic Disney animated films, which reached a peak of creative storytelling in the late 80s and early 90s with such unforgettable movies like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and of course, the pathbreaking Lion King.
What are the options that we have today?
Hardly anything. Sure you have some really great romantic comedies or dramas these days (I personally loved 2004’s The Notebook), but most of us would squirm in out seats if we are to watch them with our families. Sexual innuendo and nudity is everywhere, and just when you thought that you saw a great movie, you know that you can never show it to your cousins to enjoy as well. Comedies are either the adult gross out variety like the awful American Pie series, or the saccharine cutesy pie animal movies that no self respecting adult would wanna see. I cannot spot a single family movie these days that takes the middle path.
Even the blockbuster films these days give far too much screen time on violence, gore and sex. Even Pirates of the Caribbean, one of the most well made action spectacles, are plain eww sometimes, and most 8 year olds wouldn’t take those slimy half dead skeletons too well. Whatever happened to stories that children, teens and adults could equally identify with? Remember Tom Hanks’s Big or That Thing You Do? The wonderfully written Back to the Future trilogy?
Yes, one can say that Disney/ Pixar has always managed to bring the two together very well. Finding Nemo and the Incredibles are modern day classics no doubt – but they are still animated movies aren’t they? It’s been ages since we have had a great live action family movie that everyone can watch together. Looking at the trends of the last few years, it doesn’t look like it will happen soon.

The Summer Report Card

Now that’s what I call the summer blockbuster season. Its been a great year at the movies, with some truly great examples of big screen cinema.
First lets talk about the box office behemoths. Pirates (see below) has been gunning down record after record in its bid to reach the $1 billion mark worldwide. The second spot is held by the very un-inspiring Da Vinci Code which made close to $740 million, despite unanimously negative reviews (any publicity is good publicity?). The sequel to the Ice Age did excellent business with $650 million worldwide. And we are not even into the holiday season yet.
The superhero genre met with middling results. Although both X Men: The Last Stand and Superman Returns did reasonably well with mostly positive reviews, they didn’t meet the expectations, especially the colossal ones of Bryan Singer’s film. Pixar suffered its first “disappointment” – even though Cars did quite well for reaching $350 million, its not even close to its previous big hits.
And then there were some small flicks that hit the bull’s eye. Although I haven’t seen these as of yet (small budget films rarely make it to India), I have heard that The Devil Wears Prada made a neat profit and great patronage, as also Adam Sandler’s Click. Both the films on 9/11, United 93 and World Trade Center have been met with open arms considering its art house status.
As for the failures, “water” seems to be an all-pervading theme. Poseidon sank without a trace with measly returns for its huge investment, while M Night Shyamalan’s Lady in the Water was a huge flop with just about $40 million so far, and undermines his status as an A list director – a title he is in the danger of losing.
As of now, all eyes on the upcoming holiday season.

Dead Man's Chest:Pure Popcorn

If the 70s had Luke Skywalker and the 80s had Indiana Jones, the last decade was extremely shallow when it came to iconic movie figures. Well, that wait is finally over – Captain Jack Sparrow has arrived, and the second coming puts him on that pedestal.

Lets face it. Pirates of the Caribbean is nothing without Johnny Depp. I’m sure even the writers at Disney wouldn’t have imagined how their character would come alive on screen until Depp breathed life into it – and how.

The second in the Pirates trilogy, Dead Man’s Chest, eclipses the original in almost every department. Whenever I watch the first movie in DVD, I have this weird “eyeball fatigue” where by the end of the movie you are exhausted of the special effects and gore. Not this time though. I would never have believed that Chest was over 2 ½ hours long. This action adventure oscillates between cleverly written comedy to full fledged swashbuckling action, a throwback to the Indy days of the 80s. And Hans Zimmer’s score – that guy is coming nearer to John Williams’s quality with every film. Inarguably, the closing scene was a classic cliffhanger, and I for one simply cant wait for The World’s End next summer.

Although the story was a bit convoluted, I was too busy having fun at the packed theatre to look into all those tiny details. And by the looks of it, no one has noticed it as well – As of August, Chest is all set to reach the $1 billion dollar mark worldwide, a feat equaled only by Return of the King and Titanic. So till May next year, all hands on deck for the conclusion of one of the movie world’s greatest trilogies.

Rating: 3 ½ out of 5

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Movies... Who doesn't like them? From blockbuster extravagazas to small budget packages that touched your heart, everyone has been influenced by the movies in unimaginable, yet subtle ways. This blog will be my ticket to express anything and everything I feel about movies -- from reviews to technical analysis to news to nostalgic accounts of those fantastic hours spent in front of the big screen.
May the Force be With us All!