The Before Trilogy (1995-2013)

[James Luckard]

SO excited for this set!!!

Sunrise is an unquestioned masterpiece.

Sunset, however, may be an even greater masterpiece, in my mind. It's one thing to produce a one-off masterpiece, it's completely another to re-engage with that film, when nobody is crying out for a sequel, and find a way to elevate the work done in the original and add a HUGE amount of tension and intensity to it. I am not lying when I say that Sunset had me more on the edge of my seat than any thriller I have ever seen. Until the very last line of dialogue, it's unclear whether these two achingly lonely souls will have the courage to admit their feelings and allow themselves to connect. Their desperate need to confess their love, at war with their crippling fear of rejection by the other, makes this a wrenching emotional ride. I have never felt higher stakes in a film than in the final scene of this one. Forget asteroids on a collision course with earth, forget crazed maniacs with nuclear weapons in a Bond film, two people in a room, listening to a CD, straining to find the words to admit they love each other, is the pinnacle of cinematic engagement for me, and puts Before Sunset among my top five films ever made.

[hYPE]

so happy!

[phoenix47]

I'm beyond excited, ecstatic!

Originally Posted by James Luckard

SO excited for this set!!!

Sunrise is an unquestioned masterpiece.

Sunset, however, may be an even greater masterpiece, in my mind. It's one thing to produce a one-off masterpiece, it's completely another to re-engage with that film, when nobody is crying out for a sequel, and find a way to elevate the work done in the original and add a HUGE amount of tension and intensity to it. I am not lying when I say that Sunset had me more on the edge of my seat than any thriller I have ever seen. Until the very last line of dialogue, it's unclear whether these two achingly lonely souls will have the courage to admit their feelings and allow themselves to connect. Their desperate need to confess their love, at war with their crippling fear of rejection by the other, makes this a wrenching emotional ride. I have never felt higher stakes in a film than in the final scene of this one. Forget asteroids on a collision course with earth, forget crazed maniacs with nuclear weapons in a Bond film, two people in a room, listening to a CD, straining to find the words to admit they love each other, is the pinnacle of cinematic engagement for me, and puts Before Sunset among my top five films ever made.

I agree, Sunset is my personal favorite of the three. You describing it as a thriller is actually quite accurate.

[sea2000]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

SO excited for this set!!!

Sunrise is an unquestioned masterpiece.

Sunset, however, may be an even greater masterpiece, in my mind. It's one thing to produce a one-off masterpiece, it's completely another to re-engage with that film, when nobody is crying out for a sequel, and find a way to elevate the work done in the original and add a HUGE amount of tension and intensity to it.

I agree with you. It's amazing that lightning struck twice. I knew it was too much to expect the third film to be as spectacularly good, but what a letdown. I absolutely hated it. To me, it poisoned the well unnecessarily and seemed highly contrived, with the two actors improvising endless, pointless arguments.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by sea2000

I agree with you. It's amazing that lightning struck twice. I knew it was too much to expect the third film to be as spectacularly good, but what a letdown. I absolutely hated it. To me, it poisoned the well unnecessarily and seemed highly contrived, with the two actors improvising endless, pointless arguments.

But there was a point to the arguments.

Whether you think they were well written or not is another matter.

Midnight was destined to be less enjoyable than the first two imo.

It's so much fun to watch two people first meet, fall in love, then reconnect and cement that love.

Not quite as fun to watch what happens later.

...when the magic dies and the love begins to crumble.

[demonknight]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

But there was a point to the arguments.

Whether you think they were well written or not is another matter.

Midnight was destined to be less enjoyable than the first two imo.

It's so much fun to watch two people first meet, fall in love, then reconnect and cement that love.

Not quite as fun to watch what happens later.

...when the magic dies and the love begins to crumble.

Midnight is actually my favorite from a human level. It's the most realistic portrayal of a fight between a couple on film. That said, Sunset is, I believe, the best from a filmmaking & story standpoint. Which is the better film in my eyes remains to be seen, as it changes regularly, but I find them both more enjoyable than the first, not to say that the first is bad.