Pt 3/3 of the Trilogy Blog

The conclusion of something that lasts 3 parts should recap the purpose of the story, introduce new components, and, well....conclude.
Trilogies exist because for every story there is a beginning, a middle and an end. Every movie in a trilogy is just a microcosm of this, featuring typically, an Act 1, (introduction) Act 2, (conflict/confrontation) and Act 3 (climax/resolution). Typical moviegoers cannot sit for more than about two hours and visually or intellectually consume something that they are not actually interacting with. So. You get this breakdown of about 20-30 minutes of introducing the material, then it turns a major corner for about an hour, and just as we are ready for something final to happen, it concludes. Most film stories must exist within this orbit of time and classification, unless telling a very specific historical event, such as in a documentary.
Thinking about the previous 5 movie trilogies listed: Spiderman, Austin Powers, X-Men, Bourne, Godfather...they all live in this orbit, but waiver/falter within either the three act structure as individual films, or as a full story being told from beginning to end. Here, the last five prevail.

5. Back To The Future: This, along with my #4 choice are almost interchangeable or a tie. The reason it ranks slightly lower is that BTTF Part 2 is generally regarded as a slight downgrade, as it appealed to a less diverse (in age, specifically) audience, became a bit too entangled and honestly, had such a high bar set by the predecessor that portions seemed silly rather than fun, except for hoverboards, something I'm praying are somehow invented by 2015.
The first film (which I would still rank the highest of the three) was so much fun, such a jab at what was cool, what is cool (as of 1985) and the notion of how the slightest event can influence everything, that you forget you're watching a movie about time travel by a possibly crazy old man with wild white hair that has befriended a teenage boy. Watching Michael J. Fox, who is perfect as the hero, squirm away from his teenage mother when he visits his hometown 30 years earlier is a blast. Every character is accessible, familiar, or identifiable and that is the key. If you can't see yourself in their shoes, there's very little interest in watching them take each step on their journey. A great soundtrack, wonderful bits of nostalgia and a concluding film that is a notch above Part 2, with several nods to Spaghetti Westerns that pleased a more adult crowd, Marty McFly, Doc and Biff's backwards punchlines will go down in the history....errrr...future books. Letter grades, A-, B, B+.

4. Toy Story: I am a sucker for these movies. I know that it seems ridiculous to have this ahead of the Godfather on the list, though again I remind you that the 3rd installment in Coppola's series was good, not even great, as opposed to the first two which were truly epic. While I was not as impressed with the third Toy Story film as many others were, including critics and award nominators, I appreciate the film's relevance and timeless message a decade after Toy Story 2 was released and that is what the Godfather conclusion lacked.
The original Toy Story (1995) made a permanent mark on how animated films would forever be made. Aside from its contributions to cinematic technology, it was a tender story about friendship, the feeling of being replaced, and a journey back home. There's your three act structure perfectly crafted. In the second film, we meet more characters struggling with the same issues, and somehow it works equally well, even feels fresh and brand new. And yep, by the third one, it's happening again. Maybe it's because they're willing to call a spade a spade. That things don't last forever. Toys break and get discarded, donated. Loved for an instant and set away to be forgotten. The brilliance in Disney's marketing strategy here cannot be dismissed. They get us to remember our own real life toys long displaced that gave us lasting memories.
Audience members shed tears during at least one, if not all of these touching films. The same cannot be said for the Godfather, or honestly, any of the other films on this list.

3. Star Wars (episodes IV-VI): I will not spend more than two sentences to acknowledge and ultimately dismiss the farces that made up the prequel trilogy. George Lucas didn't have the right technology to make that story in 1977, and by the time he did have it, it wasn't the story we were hoping for, or with characters...nor even actors we wanted to tell us the story. So, instead we focus on when he absolutely reshaped the sci-fi genre...and the entire cinematic world by making A New Hope. Beginning "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away" with the world introduced to us as one where Wookiees and Banthas are commonplace, we are instantly engrossed with what is about to transpire. Plus, there's the music which is the catchiest and most immediately recognized score ever written.
There is a powerful force of evil spread everywhere and only a small contingent of those who would dare oppose it. Some of it is destiny, some of it is choice, all of it is pure magic. It features two of the greatest villains of all time and a series of so many good one-liners, they're almost tripping over themselves. Borrowing heavily from general theology, mythology and many classic novels (note my foreshadowing), Lucas captured our imaginations as well as our hearts.
It is one of only two series on this list where the second film is considered to be the best of the trilogy. The darker content of the Empire Strikes Back was gritty and left the audience wondering if maybe the bad guys had finally won. There seemed to be no chance for the Jedi and the rebels to bounce back, and who can forget the first time they watched when Vader dropped that huge bomb on us as audience members? The last movie, Return of the Jedi falters by being a bit too formulaic, and gosh darn those fuzzy little Ewoks. Still, up until about 10 years ago, this series was no doubt the best trilogy going. I would also assert it is the most memorable to the widest audience. From 6 years old to 76, everyone knows, the Force will be with you, always.

2. The Dark Knight: Forget what you know about the old TV series and forget everything that happened after Michael Keaton donned the cape the first time around. Batman Begins was the universe that comic book fans had been searching for. Christopher Nolan powerfully delivers the goods, and throughout the entire 3 films I only have two complaints. The gravelly voice of the main character never fully translated and made him somehow secondary in a series about himself.  The other critique is that there are moments, specifically in the second film, where the dialogue is ill-fitting. Members of elite SWAT teams are panicking at ensuing danger "I did not sign on for this!" like they were grade schoolers. But the good news is that these two things are barely a pimple on what is otherwise a perfect complexion. Let's run down the list.
Christian Bale is the best Bruce Wayne, cocky billionaire-but-haunted playboy, ever. Cillian Murphy is a delight. Morgan Freeman is a no-brainer as a wise-cracking but seasoned assistant. Michael Caine portraying Alfred serving as a Bruce's moral compass, has some of the most touching and insightful moments in the series. Gary Oldman is Jim Gordon, plain and simple. No one else could have done it. The cinematography soars. The effects and gadgets are immaculate. Sound is spectacular. Here will I speak again about the second film being the best in the series for one very specific reason.
Heath Ledger gives one of the most captivating performances that has ever or will ever be caught on screen. I cannot imagine how anyone will ever do anything that will compare to his magnificence as the Joker. Jack Nicholson gave us a funny, but rules-oriented iconic Joker in 1989. But as Ledger clearly points out, his take on the Joker, who is a sociopath, pure and simple..."You have all of these rules and you think they'll save you. The only sensible way to live in this world is without rules." His purpose is to unwind the world. To watch it burn, by lighting his own match, but seeing good people supply the fuel, when bad things start to happen to them. It becomes a morality tale not a comic book story, and the Joker is the "agent of chaos."
He's the Joker we as fanboys wanted and deserved. May he rest in peace.
So now, onto the concluding film. And it does just that. Concludes. In fact, I will go on record as saying I believe that The Dark Knight Rises is the greatest movie trilogy conclusion ever. It meanders and clumsily so if only for a few moments, but it dares not try to replicate what had transpired before. That is what is so special about it. Tom Hardy as the sinister Bane was not trying to outdo Ledger's Joker. He wanted to play a character that would UNDO all that Batman had done, all the piety that Gotham considered itself to be, force him to watch it all, and break his spirit before destroying him. I know Hardy's muffled voice was a deterrent during initial screenings. The blu ray copy was clear as a bell, and it was pointed out to me that his voice is almost soothing, and yet he speaks of desolation. It's a nice character choice and his eyes are truly engaging.
The film pulls in every element of the whole story, from every Act, taking us all the way back Bruce's roots, it moves us through with secondary interests, like Anne Hathaway as a Cat burglar and Joseph Gordon Levitt being an incredible protege, and my oh my, it seals off what needs to be put forever away, and leaves open what must remain. Hope. So to clarify, even though I consider the second movie to be the best of the series, I contend that the third film is the best conclusion ever made. Bravo to Christopher Nolan.

1. Lord of the Rings: Honestly, was there ever doubt in your mind? I won't spend a lot of time here, because I think you knew it to be true. You take what is considered to be the best 20th century work of fantasy fiction ever written, something that every sci-fi fan in the world knows of or has seen unofficial spawns of (You didn't really think Obi-Wan was the first mysterious old man to mentor a young innocent apprentice did you?), you spend nearly $300 million to film all the installments together as one cohesive story, you develop an even newer technology that will stun your viewers, you get 30 Oscar nominations for acting, editing, writing, directing, effects, makeup, costumes, music, film and win 17 of them, including Picture and Director for Return of the King, and you gross over $3 billion. You win, man. You win. You've made the most complete grouping of three movies to tell one story in the 100+ year history of cinema.
I still enjoy the innocence of the first film the most, though many contend that the second and third films are a more accurate interpretation of a doomed Middle Earth. I find the silliness of the dialogue spats between Legolas and Gimli a bit overdone, but again, nothing is perfect. The last installment is too long by about twenty minutes, but had more than one story to conclude, and admittedly I wouldn't have known which one to "end with" either. Bottom line it goes down in history standing on its own in the respective field, as does the written series as the best in its class.