Attention Christopher Nolan: Here’s A List of Good Third Movies

Posted by Mister Hand (misterhand@filmschoolrejects.com) on November 3, 2008

Speaking to The Los Angeles Times about the possibility of directing a follow up to his smash hit The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan makes it clear he is not sold on the idea.

I have to ask the question,” he says, “How many good third movies in a franchise can people name?

The article doesn’t say that Nolan then leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms with a smug smile, but I can picture it. The guy makes a billion dollar-grossing movie and all of the sudden he’s the sequel expert. Just because he crafted possibly the greatest superhero movie of all time, he thinks he’s all that.

I’ve got news for Christopher Nolan. There have been plenty of great third movies. I mean, there’s…

Well. Come on. Rambo III. I mean, that wasn’t… so bad.

Okay, it was. But hey! Who gave us Mr. T? That was Rocky III, my friend! And that was…

I don’t care what anybody thinks, Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift was one helluva… I mean, it was… a…

Hey! How ’bout that Home Alone 3?! Come on… Ebert liked it.

Maybe I’m not making the strongest case here. The fact is, we really, really want Nolan to make a third Batman movie, right? So putting aside the nonsense, here’s six good “third movies” to inspire Nolan and give us the Dark Knight follow-up we so desperately crave:

6. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

Yes, it had Ewoks. But it did wrap up the original trilogy story nicely, and even the most staunch Jedi haters can’t deny that the film has some slam bang moments. Furthermore, unlike the new trilogy, Return of the Jedi has Han Solo going for it. And let’s face it: the best thing about any Star Wars movie is Harrison Ford playing Han Solo. Think back to A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. Recall the best scenes from those movies. Tell me that Ford isn’t in all of them.

5. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

As if Indiana wasn’t bad ass enough, they decided to throw Sean “Drop Your Panties” Connery into the mix, and every scene the two are in together is somehow both hilarious and action-packed. It’s intelligent, deals with the real threat of Nazis attaining the Cup of Life, and almost every line is quotable. Plus, the movie had the classic sensibility to show four heroes riding off into the sunset to tie up the entire franchise. Did you hear that Spielberg? It TIED UP the franchise.

4. The Bourne Ultimatum

If someone were to ask me what’s the best of the Bourne movies, I’d be hard pressed to find a favorite. I consider Ultimatum to be every bit as good as its predecessors. So far, these films have been the most even in quality of any series I’ve ever seen. There’s talk that this might become a James Bond-type franchise, and if past success is an indicator, I hope it’s true.

3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

As far as I’m concerned, the first two Harry Potter films don’t deserve to be called movies. They’re just glorified PowerPoint presentations: soulless, artless, fan service crap. So I was very surprised when I was dragged to see Prisoner and enjoyed every minute of it. I believe most of the credit goes to director Alfonso Cuarón, a masterful storyteller, who later gave us the excellent Children of Men. Regarded by many Harry Potter fans as the best of the series.

2. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

The worst you can say about the conclusion to Peter Jackson’s LOTR trilogy is that it’s too long. Otherwise, it kicked ass critically, commercially, and was the darling of Oscar night. People were engaged in this whole “third movie curse” talk prior to its release as well

1. Goldfinger

By far the greatest “third movie” ever made. Not only is it a great Bond film, but it’s a treasure trove of cultural touchstones. “I don’t expect you talk. I expect you to die!” From Russia With Love was the film that ensured the Bond franchise was viable, but Goldfinger was the movie that made Bond an icon.

Please, Mr. Nolan, Make a Third Batman Film

So Chris, take notes, suck it up, and make that third Batman movie. Batman fans like us will never forgive you if you don’t do it. And if you fail? Well, because we are rabid fans, we’re bound to register our disgust all across the internets.

But we believe in you, Chris. As much as we loved Tim Burton’s Batman, we saw the chinks in his armor–his narrative discontinuity, his penchant for raising style above substance. If you have any weaknesses as a filmmaker, it’s in defining spatial relationships during action scenes. There’s not a single fight scene in either Batman Begins or Dark Knight where we can tell what the hell is going on through all the fast cutting and micro-editing. It’s a small point, and the films are so good, they overcome that weakness.

That’s all beside the point anyway. Make the movie. It’ll be fine. Oh, and we guess the answer to your question, or at least our answer, is six. But we’re sure there might be more. Most directors couldn’t handle it, but you’re not most directors, and we have full faith in you to create an incredible third film.

Editor’s Note: It should be known that Mister Hand actually hates The Last Crusade, and I had to write that small portion. Feel free to send him death threats or, even better, long emails explaining in excruciating detail why The Last Crusade is one of the best films ever.


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  • Curtis F
    I thought Nolan was in contract to do a 3rd batman movie? Good article though.
  • @ Curtis

    Technically, he's not, and he often speaks as if he's highly reluctant to make one. Goyer said recently that they had a theme and a villain in mind, but nothing is concrete, and Nolan doesn't have to make one if he doesn't want one.

    Sadly, if he doesn't, the studio might want to make one anyway, and we all know what happens when a new director is brought in on the third installment....

    As far as this list, I noticed that it has several consistencies:

    1) Sean Connery
    2) Harrison Ford
    3) Fanboy flicks

    Since Nolan's Batman films already adhere to #3, it seems obvious that the only way to make the third a guaranteed winner is to higher both Sean Connery and Harrison Ford. Possibly as Robin and Barbara Gordon, respectively.
  • J
    Arguably, the greatest scene from Empire Strikes back did not feature Solo.

    You named 6. I know some specially equipped people who could count that on one hand.
  • Curtis F
    Ah, okay, thanks for the info. Makes sense.

    PS - If anything could bring Sean Connery out of retirement, it'd be playing Robin. Definitely.
  • Harold
    you can't blame the guy - tdk was awesome but if the studios fuck with his batman
    the way spidey got fucked with, then we'd have a disaster. bear that in mind.
  • Nolan can do whatever he wants to. He knows the emphasis has to be on story and isn't going to make a bad third movie to please everyone. I would say that the Bourne Ultimatum and Return of the King are the only legit "third" movies on this list. The fact is Return of the Jedi had ewoks and is out of consideration. I thought the Goblet of Fire was the best Potter so far too.
  • Nish
    "Alfonso Cuarón, a masterful storyteller, who later gave us the excellent Children of Men. Regarded by many Harry Potter fans as the best of the series."

    Childfren of Men had Harry Potter in it? Are we thinking of the same movie?
  • Ooh. Nice catch there, Nish.

    Oh well. What's done is done.
  • Nevernude
    The only real 3rd good movies in that list...and of all time..are Bourne ultimatum and Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade. LOTR-ROTK is way way too long. All the Harry Potter films suck and Goldfinger isnt really a 3rd film...come on you know it isnt!
    I believe Chris Nolan is more than willing to come back for a 3rd one however i would prefer that he spend the next 2 or 3 years making other less mainstream movies..experiment a bit more with action sequences because those tend to be his only Achilles heel. Then, when he feel ready, he comes back to deliver. I am not sure exactly how much pressure the WB will place on his shoulders as time moves on, but surely the billion dollars from TDK should be more than enough to fill the deep pockets of the high up executives for sometime.
  • I'm sure I'll get shit for this but Godfather 3 is a good film. Not great and if were talking keeping quality at masterpiece level it fails but it is still a damn good movie.

    I also have no doubt whatsoever that Pixar won't knock it out of the park with Toy Story 3.
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