Every film in a trilogy has to shine individually.
agree with all EXCEPT
American Pie - Never got it. Landis and co were doing this stuff ten times funnier years ago, with better scripts, characters and cinematography. Put Belushi, Ackroyd and co in there and now your cooking.
Crocodile Dundee - First one was funny and thats it. The third was dire.
The Matrix - the second and third actually minused the brilliant first.
Oceans - the first was average, I got part the way through the second and realised that there was a fatal plot flaw which didnt make sense. Fatal.
Blade. Same again. Whistlers still friggin alive? WTF??
The best -
BACK TO THE FUTURE - in the industry often referred to as the perfect screenplay. If a film underlying structure were likened to a symphony this would be beethoven.
THE MAN WITH NO NAME - not the first filmmaker to do so, but Leone and team took an american staple and showed them how to strip it back to its rawest form. Sure, he copied Yojimbo somewhat (Lucas did kurosawa too) Tame today but when these films came out, people were shocked. Surely Spain never looked so much like the old west.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS - Ive trudged through the book on more than one occasion, and for someone to make a vivid, true and compelling version for the screen is amazing work. That many have tried and failed is a testiment to a great team.