Why Bourne is the best American film trilogy ever made

[Howard Alan Treesong]

http://www.filmwad.com/why-the-bourne-series-is-the-best-american-film-trilogy-ever-made-4105-p.html

Interesting read, and I can't say I disagree. Sure, individual movies of Godfather, Star Wars, etc. could be easily argued as superior, but I think that Bourne is the only one that works as a complete trilogy. I mean, the third movie is being universally hailed as the best--how often does THAT happen? The author also explicitly points out a lot of the concordances between the first and third movies that I noticed, as well as explains how and why Bourne's character and ass-kicking works on a higher level than Bond and Bauer.

BOURNE

[Mr. Gundam]

I really liked the first two films, hopefully I'll have time to see the third one this weekend, along with Rocket Science.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

Also, Extreme Ways is better than any Bond song of the past 20 years, even if Moby is a vegan skinhead douchebag!

[CajoleJuice]

FUCK YEAH

[JJR]

Oh I'm there.  I'm seeing it.  I've seen the other two.

I'll probably see it with my nuclear bomb uncle and have a lengthy discussion about the whimpering propoganda of the weak. 

[tiesto]

Also, Extreme Ways is better than any Bond song of the past 20 years, even if Moby is a vegan skinhead douchebag!

 

Although truth be told I'm a sucker for Moby's take on the James Bond theme, too.

[Solo]

I am a fan of the series, but no, just no.

[MrAngryFace]

Bond sux. Bourne rox. Casino Royale was teh snore after he got to the casino.

[Solo]

Well, thats lovely. Not sure what that has to do with Bourne being mislabeled as the "best American trilogy" though. We havent even had time to see if Bourne will pass the most important test of great movies, the test of time. Wait a decade before making such claims. If the Bourne movies are still relevant and loved at that point, then such a discussion could begin.

[Robo]

Should be "most consistently shaky American film trilogy ever made." 

[Solo]

 

[MrAngryFace]

I think it has a lot to do with bond sucking

[Solo]

Oh MAF, YOU are teh snore.

[FlameOfCallandor]

"Return of the Jedi ruines Star Wars" 

Reminds me of a dude I met recently who said Attack of the Clones is better than Jedi because of the Ewoks. Jesus get over the fucking Ewoks people. Yes they were lame, but the movie is amazing, and when Luke and Vader fight its fucking the best ever!

[TakingBackSunday]

Not really.

[MrAngryFace]

I think if I were to want to watch the worst movie ever, most of the bond movies would be in the running.

[Solo]

Well, you are a Godzilla fan, so chances are you've already seen the worst movie ever.

[MrAngryFace]

That would be true only if Godzilla was a guest star in one of those horrible bond movies.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

not giving things their props just because they're new is super bullshit
when I saw Fight Club opening night in the theater I said it was going to be the movie that defined the 90s
when I played BoFV Dragon Quarter I said it was the best RPG the PS2 would ever see
I was right then and I was right now and I'm not gonna wait ten years to start pointing out I'm right just cause you have your panties in a bunch

feel free to suggest alternative trilogies instead of just knocking down Bourne

EDIT: GODZOPUSSY

[MrAngryFace]

bond fans are like nintendo fans, cant reason with them.

[FlameOfCallandor]

when I saw Fight Club opening night in the theater I said it was going to be the movie that defined the 90s

 :tbslol :tbslol :tbslol :tbslol :tbslol

[TakingBackSunday]

when I saw Fight Club opening night in the theater I said it was going to be the movie that defined the 90s

 :tbslol :tbslol :tbslol :tbslol :tbslol

Okay, what movie defined the 90s?  Phantom Menace?

Here's my stance on the thread at hand:  All Bourne movies are fucking ace, and the best of the Bond series are just as good.  From Russia with Love, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and Casino Royale are all about as good as the Bourne movies.

[Solo]

not giving things their props just because they're new is super bullshit

Not really. Just because you went out and saw it a few days ago and are currently in the jizzing phase, doesnt mean it will stand alongside The Godfather, Star Wars, or even Indy Jones in 10 years.

when I saw Fight Club opening night in the theater I said it was going to be the movie that defined the 90s

Fight Club came out in 1999, at the close of the decade, and its hardly the definative 90's movie. Thats probably Pulp Fiction or Goodfellas.

And MAF, I have said time and time again that about 75% of the Bond movies are garbage, so I really dont know what youre on about.

[CajoleJuice]

Yea, I'm gonna go with Pulp Fiction.

[bud]

i'd go with pulp fiction, too. i mean, fight club is an AMAZING movie --the best s.e. (packaging)-- but it's by no means the movie that ''defined the 90s.''

[Howard Alan Treesong]

To clarify: Pulp Fiction is certainly the movie that will be remembered more as "the movie that was a product of the 90s." But it wasn't about the 90s. Fight Club was, and when people 50 years from now are trying to understand the pre-9/11 mindset of what it meant to be an American it's gonna be Exhibit A.

[MrAngryFace]

BOND IS WEAK OMG

[MrAngryFace]

TEMPLE OF DOOM SUXXORS

[FlameOfCallandor]

Fight club is trash.

Pulp Fiction is an excellent choice for a movie that defined the 90s, even though I'm not a fan of it.

It's hard to find a movie that defined the 90s. So much happened that decade. I'll have to think about it.

[FlameOfCallandor]

What about American Beauty?

[Howard Alan Treesong]

What about American Beauty?

American Beauty is the shittiest piece of shit that ever shat out of a shitty butt. I can't even begin to articulate how much I hate that overrated piece of saccharine fortune cookie hypocritical irrational nonsensical overloaded heavy-handed GODDAMNED MOTHERFUCKING PIECE OF CRAP!

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU BROUGHT IT UP! AAAAAAH!! NEVER MAKE A FILM AGAIN!!!!

[Oblivion]

What was so good about Fight Club? (never saw it, btw)

[MrAngryFace]

lol flying garbage (american beauty tm)

Kevin Spacey rocked tho!

[Phoenix Dark]

Goodfellas>Pulp Fiction

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

[TVC15]

not giving things their props just because they're new is super bullshit

Not really. Just because you went out and saw it a few days ago and are currently in the jizzing phase, doesnt mean it will stand alongside The Godfather, Star Wars, or even Indy Jones in 10 years.

None of the three series you mentioned are in the running for best American trilogy.  What would you say is the best American trilogy?

[Phoenix Dark]

Why not The Godfather? Yeah the third is not great, but the first two won best picture oscars and are considered two of the greatest films of all time.

[TVC15]

Why not The Godfather? Yeah the third is not great, but the first two won best picture oscars and are considered two of the greatest films of all time.

In the case of The Godfather, the third movie is terrible.  Maybe the best first two movies of all time, but not trilogy.

[demi]

What was so good about Fight Club? (never saw it, btw)

Bob

[MrAngryFace]

I dunno how popular blockbusters are being called out as fantastic. Indy as a trilogy is really hit or miss, and this isnt even including the new one coming up.

[TVC15]

I dunno how popular blockbusters are being called out as fantastic. Indy as a trilogy is really hit or miss, and this isnt even including the new one coming up.

For Indy:

Raiders is a 10
Temple is a 5
Last Crusade is a 7 or 8, depending on how I feel


The first movie feels the most like a cohesive movie.  The other two, I remember them for their bits.  It's like for the first film, they sat down and wrote a complete movie, whereas for the other two, they thought of cool set pieces first and worked a plot in around them. 

[MrAngryFace]

I can agree with that

[CajoleJuice]

I dunno how popular blockbusters are being called out as fantastic.

Oh don't pull that shit, MAF. You're better than that.

[AdmiralViscen]

not giving things their props just because they're new is super bullshit

Not really. Just because you went out and saw it a few days ago and are currently in the jizzing phase, doesnt mean it will stand alongside The Godfather, Star Wars, or even Indy Jones in 10 years.

None of the three series you mentioned are in the running for best American trilogy.  What would you say is the best American trilogy?

So what is the best American trilogy for you? It's not like there are tons. It sure as fuck isn't Alien, POTC, Terminator, or Matrix.

[bud]

fwiw, the potc trilogy is the most consistent one.

[CajoleJuice]

fwiw, the potc trilogy is the most consistent one.

Consistently SHIT?

[AdmiralViscen]

fwiw, the potc trilogy is the most consistent one.

Fuck no, have you seen the Bourne movies?

[Ichirou]

Jesus Christ, who gives a fuck what the best American trilogy is?  Next thing you know, you guys will be arguing who's stronger - Superman or Goku?!

[TVC15]

not giving things their props just because they're new is super bullshit

Not really. Just because you went out and saw it a few days ago and are currently in the jizzing phase, doesnt mean it will stand alongside The Godfather, Star Wars, or even Indy Jones in 10 years.

None of the three series you mentioned are in the running for best American trilogy.  What would you say is the best American trilogy?

So what is the best American trilogy for you? It's not like there are tons. It sure as fuck isn't Alien, POTC, Terminator, or Matrix.

There aren't many good trilogies, American or no.  I'd have to think about it.  All I can say now is that the best trilogy would be 3 movies of equal or ascending quality, which rules out Indy, Star Wars, and Godfather.  Especially Godfather.  Whatever trilogy I would pick would likely not match the quality of the best movies in the aforementioned trilogies, but I think when you are judging as a trilogy, you can't be willing to throw in the towel and say "Well, yeah, Temple of Doom was terrrible, but the other two were great."

[Gay Boy]

Indy as a trilogy IS hit or miss but Raiders is one of the all time best films in cinema history, and for that alone despite temple of doom I don't think it's fair to put the bourne movies on a pedestal next to jones, trilogy or not.

Same logic for Godfather. I & II as just SO good ameircan classics its unfair to even try to put bourne above it, despite III's weaknesses. Raiders makes up for any failings in the later Jones films out of being basically universallly seen as the greatest action-adventure film of all time. And well Godfather is the fucking Godfather.

I don't care if either had weaker entries than bourne, when godfather/indy are at their best bourne's 3 consistant solid-to great films can't compare.

[AdmiralViscen]

not giving things their props just because they're new is super bullshit

Not really. Just because you went out and saw it a few days ago and are currently in the jizzing phase, doesnt mean it will stand alongside The Godfather, Star Wars, or even Indy Jones in 10 years.

None of the three series you mentioned are in the running for best American trilogy.  What would you say is the best American trilogy?

So what is the best American trilogy for you? It's not like there are tons. It sure as fuck isn't Alien, POTC, Terminator, or Matrix.

There aren't many good trilogies, American or no.  I'd have to think about it.  All I can say now is that the best trilogy would be 3 movies of equal or ascending quality, which rules out Indy, Star Wars, and Godfather.  Especially Godfather.  Whatever trilogy I would pick would likely not match the quality of the best movies in the aforementioned trilogies, but I think when you are judging as a trilogy, you can't be willing to throw in the towel and say "Well, yeah, Temple of Doom was terrrible, but the other two were great."

I think you can make that case for Godfather, since two of them are among the best films of all time, period. Most trilogies are lucky to have one awesome movie in them, and one that doesn't totally disappoint.

[TVC15]

not giving things their props just because they're new is super bullshit

Not really. Just because you went out and saw it a few days ago and are currently in the jizzing phase, doesnt mean it will stand alongside The Godfather, Star Wars, or even Indy Jones in 10 years.

None of the three series you mentioned are in the running for best American trilogy.  What would you say is the best American trilogy?

So what is the best American trilogy for you? It's not like there are tons. It sure as fuck isn't Alien, POTC, Terminator, or Matrix.

There aren't many good trilogies, American or no.  I'd have to think about it.  All I can say now is that the best trilogy would be 3 movies of equal or ascending quality, which rules out Indy, Star Wars, and Godfather.  Especially Godfather.  Whatever trilogy I would pick would likely not match the quality of the best movies in the aforementioned trilogies, but I think when you are judging as a trilogy, you can't be willing to throw in the towel and say "Well, yeah, Temple of Doom was terrrible, but the other two were great."

I think you can make that case for Godfather, since two of them are among the best films of all time, period. Most trilogies are lucky to have one awesome movie in them, and one that doesn't totally disappoint.

Two best movies of all time plus one turd does not equal a good trilogy.  It equals two good movies and one bad one.

It doesn't help that Godfather 3 feels so inessential.  There wasn't a good reason to do a third movie.

[AdmiralViscen]

not giving things their props just because they're new is super bullshit

Not really. Just because you went out and saw it a few days ago and are currently in the jizzing phase, doesnt mean it will stand alongside The Godfather, Star Wars, or even Indy Jones in 10 years.

None of the three series you mentioned are in the running for best American trilogy.  What would you say is the best American trilogy?

So what is the best American trilogy for you? It's not like there are tons. It sure as fuck isn't Alien, POTC, Terminator, or Matrix.

There aren't many good trilogies, American or no.  I'd have to think about it.  All I can say now is that the best trilogy would be 3 movies of equal or ascending quality, which rules out Indy, Star Wars, and Godfather.  Especially Godfather.  Whatever trilogy I would pick would likely not match the quality of the best movies in the aforementioned trilogies, but I think when you are judging as a trilogy, you can't be willing to throw in the towel and say "Well, yeah, Temple of Doom was terrrible, but the other two were great."

I think you can make that case for Godfather, since two of them are among the best films of all time, period. Most trilogies are lucky to have one awesome movie in them, and one that doesn't totally disappoint.

Two best movies of all time plus one turd does not equal a good trilogy.  It equals two good movies and one bad one.

It does when there are only a handful of trilogies in the first place and most of them have a movie as bad or worse than the Godfather pt3.

Name one American trilogy that's even close.

It doesn't help that Godfather 3 feels so inessential.  There wasn't a good reason to do a third movie.

Most of the time this applies for 2s as well as 3s.

[Gay Boy]

not giving things their props just because they're new is super bullshit

Not really. Just because you went out and saw it a few days ago and are currently in the jizzing phase, doesnt mean it will stand alongside The Godfather, Star Wars, or even Indy Jones in 10 years.

None of the three series you mentioned are in the running for best American trilogy.  What would you say is the best American trilogy?

So what is the best American trilogy for you? It's not like there are tons. It sure as fuck isn't Alien, POTC, Terminator, or Matrix.

There aren't many good trilogies, American or no.  I'd have to think about it.  All I can say now is that the best trilogy would be 3 movies of equal or ascending quality, which rules out Indy, Star Wars, and Godfather.  Especially Godfather.  Whatever trilogy I would pick would likely not match the quality of the best movies in the aforementioned trilogies, but I think when you are judging as a trilogy, you can't be willing to throw in the towel and say "Well, yeah, Temple of Doom was terrrible, but the other two were great."

I think you can make that case for Godfather, since two of them are among the best films of all time, period. Most trilogies are lucky to have one awesome movie in them, and one that doesn't totally disappoint.

Two best movies of all time plus one turd does not equal a good trilogy.  It equals two good movies and one bad one.

It doesn't help that Godfather 3 feels so inessential.  There wasn't a good reason to do a third movie.

Here is the proof. Despite temple of doom's quality, ToD will far outlast the 3 bourne movies amongst movie goers and dvd/etc owners. Purely due to raiders (and the last crusade to a certain extent). The amazing other entries carry doom along, farther than the "better" bourne movies can or ever will.

Apply the same logic to godfather but replace doom with III.

I/II alone make the godfather trilogy much more memorable and drags III along with it, farther than any bourne movies can ever go.

[Ichirou]

Indy isn't a fucking trilogy, there's a fourth one in production.  It's not even like Star Wars where you can split them up into OT and PT.

This is such a stupid argument...shouldn't movies be taken as movies instead of just having some "who's got the longest dick" type competition by having trilogies face off against each other?  What do the Godfather series and the Bourne series have in common aside from being trilogies?  Absolutely nothing.

[TVC15]

not giving things their props just because they're new is super bullshit

Not really. Just because you went out and saw it a few days ago and are currently in the jizzing phase, doesnt mean it will stand alongside The Godfather, Star Wars, or even Indy Jones in 10 years.

None of the three series you mentioned are in the running for best American trilogy.  What would you say is the best American trilogy?

So what is the best American trilogy for you? It's not like there are tons. It sure as fuck isn't Alien, POTC, Terminator, or Matrix.

There aren't many good trilogies, American or no.  I'd have to think about it.  All I can say now is that the best trilogy would be 3 movies of equal or ascending quality, which rules out Indy, Star Wars, and Godfather.  Especially Godfather.  Whatever trilogy I would pick would likely not match the quality of the best movies in the aforementioned trilogies, but I think when you are judging as a trilogy, you can't be willing to throw in the towel and say "Well, yeah, Temple of Doom was terrrible, but the other two were great."

I think you can make that case for Godfather, since two of them are among the best films of all time, period. Most trilogies are lucky to have one awesome movie in them, and one that doesn't totally disappoint.

Two best movies of all time plus one turd does not equal a good trilogy.  It equals two good movies and one bad one.

It does when there are only a handful of trilogies in the first place and most of them have a movie as bad or worse than the Godfather pt3.

That means there are likely no great American film trilogies.  You can't win by default when one of the movies is blatantly bad.

[Gay Boy]

Indy isn't a fucking trilogy, there's a fourth one in production.  It's not even like Star Wars where you can split them up into OT and PT.

Indiana Jones is a serial but others brought it up and not me!

Hell, it wasn't even meant to be a trilogy to be honest. Spielberg was trying to get a fourth off the ground in 1993, just 4 years after crusade (shorter time than what passed between doom and last crusade)

[AdmiralViscen]

not giving things their props just because they're new is super bullshit

Not really. Just because you went out and saw it a few days ago and are currently in the jizzing phase, doesnt mean it will stand alongside The Godfather, Star Wars, or even Indy Jones in 10 years.

None of the three series you mentioned are in the running for best American trilogy.  What would you say is the best American trilogy?

So what is the best American trilogy for you? It's not like there are tons. It sure as fuck isn't Alien, POTC, Terminator, or Matrix.

There aren't many good trilogies, American or no.  I'd have to think about it.  All I can say now is that the best trilogy would be 3 movies of equal or ascending quality, which rules out Indy, Star Wars, and Godfather.  Especially Godfather.  Whatever trilogy I would pick would likely not match the quality of the best movies in the aforementioned trilogies, but I think when you are judging as a trilogy, you can't be willing to throw in the towel and say "Well, yeah, Temple of Doom was terrrible, but the other two were great."

I think you can make that case for Godfather, since two of them are among the best films of all time, period. Most trilogies are lucky to have one awesome movie in them, and one that doesn't totally disappoint.

Two best movies of all time plus one turd does not equal a good trilogy.  It equals two good movies and one bad one.

It does when there are only a handful of trilogies in the first place and most of them have a movie as bad or worse than the Godfather pt3.

That means there are likely no great American film trilogies.  You can't win by default when one of the movies is blatantly bad.

The topic is about the best among the trilogies, not the trilogy that is 100% the great straight through.

Although the article uses the latter parameter and says it's Bourne.

[Ichirou]

Pro-Tip: No one will really give a shit about the Bourne movies ten years from now.

[bork]

fwiw, the potc trilogy is the most consistent one.

Most of the "trilogies" released in this decade don't feel like actual trilogies.  They come across as a successful film with two tacked-on sequels.  This would apply to Pirates.

[Gay Boy]

The problem with Bourne is while they are great movies. I love them, but does anyone honestly think people will be obsessing over them 30 years from now? Godfather trilogy will be and the Star Wars trilogy will be, as well Indiana Jones. And hell Die Hard  & Back to the Future probably But Bourne? Not likely. And I say that as someone who thinks all 3 entries are around a 9/10

Will people 30 years from now be telling their kids how they were able to see Bourne when it was first in theaters like it was some big event the way people can talk about Star Wars, Godfather, Indiana Jones...etc? Not a chance.