Now that the Skywalker saga is as the end of the road, I've decided to take a look back at the beloved franchise.
Just plain ol' Star Wars
11. Attack of the Clones (1)
Eh, where does one begin? Just a boring mess of a film filled with scenes that really amount to nothing. The dialogue is full of cringe, the main romance is dull, the plot threads are devoid of intrigue. All of this results in a climax that just exists, and barely at that. When I first started describing this one, I thought I would have more to say, but I guess it's really dissolved in my memory.
10. The Phantom Menace (1.5)
The prequels get off to a bad start with this film, although I will concede that is not completely without merit. Anyways, I find The Phantom Menace to be rather thinly-written in that Lucas decided to set up the world & characters of the prequels and call it a day. For starters, Jake Lloyd was miscast as the young Anakin Skywalker, in that there really isn't a sense of who he would be later in his life. In regards to the rest of the cast, Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor are rather wasted in mentor roles that may as well have been named "Mentors", despite McGregor playing the iconic Obi-Wan Kenobi. Jar Jar Binks is also a swing-and-a-miss as the comedic relief, although for some reason, I don't hate his character as much as many seem to.
The world that Lucas creates here doesn't have much, if any, a life of its own, and it seems that he really just wanted to test out some new visual effects here. Most of the action scenes are rather forgettable, though I don't think the pod race is completely awful. Besides that, the film does have a solid score, especially "The Duel of Fates" and Darth Maul looks exactly like a Star Wars villain should. The film isn't completely disposable, but overall, just rather lame.
9. The Rise of Skywalker (2) (SPOILERS)
The disappointing conclusion to the new trilogy. TROS follows Daisy Ridley as she and her fellow ragtag group of friends chase...something...to defeat Emperor Palpatine (?) once and for all to conquer evil...or something like that.
*Sigh* To be frank with you, I'm not completely sure how to begin with this. The film has descended in my memory ever since I watched it; even while I was driving home from the theater. The film is incredibly overstuffed, the editing is very choppy AND rushed, the action scenes are just there, the lightsaber duels aren't anything noteworthy. Even some of the fan service moments are a swing-and-a-miss (the Endgame "everyone shows up" scene, a couple of the cameos).
Past that, the implementation of Carrie Fishers' deleted scenes from previous films is very stilted. Also, although I will admit that I don't have an encyclopedic knowledge of Star Wars lore, the decision to bring back Palpatine is very baffling, as it negates the climactic scene of Return of the Jedi in terms of Anakins' sacrifice. Speaking of Palpatine, the choice to make him Rey's grandfather (SERIOUSLY?!) was...not a good one, as it implies that the only people in Star Wars that are worth a damn are those who were born in the main families, so to speak.
Aside from that, Daisy Ridley does a good job of anchoring the film, and I don't have any complaints about her, since she does try to make something out of the material. Driver is also decent here, although it's a true shame that his story ends the way it does, since with better planning & execution, Kylo Rens' arc could've been something memorable.
When I first started writing these thoughts, I was planning to give the film a 2.5, but the more I think about it, I have no choice but to lower it.
8. Revenge of the Sith (2.5)
Indeed the best of prequels, but that's not saying too much. This one at least does have a semblance of a plot, as we see Anakin Skywalker truly become evil, or the attempt to do so anyway. Besides that, the film really isn’t much to write home about, but I’ll at least it give credit that it does feel more like a film compared to Attack of the Clones. I also found the film less difficult to get through, so props there as well.
I thought I was going to have more to say about the prequels. I guess not.
7. Solo: A Star Wars Story (3.5)
Alright now on to the...better stuff. While I would've LOVED to see the Lord & Miller version as originally planned, I honestly wouldn't call this a bad film, but rather one that's just overstuffed. Alden Ehrenreich is good as the young version of Han Solo, as he does make his own stamp on the character. The rest of the cast is solid as well, with Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson and Donald Glover in supporting roles. The action is actually pretty good, as the train heist and the main chase scene towards the end are quite memorable.
That said, I do think the film tries to cover a LOT of ground in one film, which is probably the franchises' biggest recurring problem at the moment. A lot of sections in the film could've made for a good film on their own, although they're at least watchable. I also think that the cinematography, while not terrible, is oddly-fitting for a Star Wars film, as the film just has a very hazy look to it that makes the film seem more drab than intended. Still enjoyable to be sure, but I think there could've been something special with a young Solo spin-off.
Alright now on to the...better stuff. While I would've LOVED to see the Lord & Miller version as originally planned, I honestly wouldn't call this a bad film, but rather one that's just overstuffed. Alden Ehrenreich is good as the young version of Han Solo, as he does make his own stamp on the character. The rest of the cast is solid as well, with Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson and Donald Glover in supporting roles. The action is actually pretty good, as the train heist and the main chase scene towards the end are quite memorable.
That said, I do think the film tries to cover a LOT of ground in one film, which is probably the franchises' biggest recurring problem at the moment. A lot of sections in the film could've made for a good film on their own, although they're at least watchable. I also think that the cinematography, while not terrible, is oddly-fitting for a Star Wars film, as the film just has a very hazy look to it that makes the film seem more drab than intended. Still enjoyable to be sure, but I think there could've been something special with a young Solo spin-off.
6. Rogue One (4)
An entertaining heist film that successfully expands on the world of Star Wars besides the Skywalkers. We get a closer behind-the-scenes look at how The Rebel Alliance works, as we see Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) along with Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) attempt to steal the engineering plans of The Death Star. Jones is great in the lead role, as she makes for a likable action lead, which is more impressive since this is the only film she gets to work with.
Most of the rest of the cast is great in supporting roles, with Diego Luna as a devoted officer of the Rebel Alliance, Riz Ahmed as a cargo pilot, Alan Tudyk as a just-delightful droid, Mads Mikkelsen as Jyns father, and Donnie Yen & Chow-Wun Fat as two memorable warriors. All of them manage to create a vivid life to them, and they do suggest that they lived a life outside of the frame that we see them in.
I'll admit the villain here isn't great, as Ben Mendelsohn is just sort-of-there as the main antagonist of the film (not a knock on him btw), the CGI is...not great, and Forest Whitaker is...not good. Darth Vader's first appearance is questionable, however his second is a true knockout. Past that, the film has many intense scenes throughout its running time, and its last thirty (30) minutes are a home run, with the beach planet also being a great addition in terms of scenery and place. Not a flawless film, but a rather entertaining one.
An entertaining heist film that successfully expands on the world of Star Wars besides the Skywalkers. We get a closer behind-the-scenes look at how The Rebel Alliance works, as we see Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) along with Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) attempt to steal the engineering plans of The Death Star. Jones is great in the lead role, as she makes for a likable action lead, which is more impressive since this is the only film she gets to work with.
Most of the rest of the cast is great in supporting roles, with Diego Luna as a devoted officer of the Rebel Alliance, Riz Ahmed as a cargo pilot, Alan Tudyk as a just-delightful droid, Mads Mikkelsen as Jyns father, and Donnie Yen & Chow-Wun Fat as two memorable warriors. All of them manage to create a vivid life to them, and they do suggest that they lived a life outside of the frame that we see them in.
I'll admit the villain here isn't great, as Ben Mendelsohn is just sort-of-there as the main antagonist of the film (not a knock on him btw), the CGI is...not great, and Forest Whitaker is...not good. Darth Vader's first appearance is questionable, however his second is a true knockout. Past that, the film has many intense scenes throughout its running time, and its last thirty (30) minutes are a home run, with the beach planet also being a great addition in terms of scenery and place. Not a flawless film, but a rather entertaining one.
5. The Last Jedi (4)
Alright, I'll start off by saying that I do appreciate the risks that Rian Johnson with the second installment of the new trilogy. He does attempt to take the franchise in a new direction, with the main focus being with Mark Hamill reprising his iconic role. Here, we see Luke take a hard look at how far the Jedi have come, and make the argument that the best way to move forward is to look farther away from the past. I do understand where Rian Johnson is trying to take the character, and it's really helped by Hamills' best performance as Luke in my book. The best scenes in the film are in the more intimate ones, particularly with Luke/Rey and Rey/Kylo.
Past that, the film is very well-made on a technical level. The cinematography is quite stunning in my view, with many shots of the sky being picture-worthy, the island has a life to it that suggests Luke has been there for quite awhile, and the action scenes are well-done. Several scenes in the film are quite memorable, particularly Rey/Kylo/Snoke, the tunnel scene with Rey, and of course, the final showdown between the Rebels and the First Order, with "Luke" and Kylo at the center of it.
With that said, the film does have several flaws that hurt the film for me, although not to a huge level. The humor here gets tiresome after awhile, as the execs for Star Wars take the humor from the MCU and bump it up to 11, as EVERY character gets a quip...it seems. For example, I don't have a problem with Kelly Marie Tran's performance as Rose, yet I feel that her character could've been written out and nothing would've changed. Laura Derns' character is an intriguing addition, although it does feel rushed and it would've been better off if she had been introduced in TFA. Also, the three lessons that Luke imparts to Rey aren't fully explored, as we only see him teach two of them. I don't mind the side quest of going to Casino Blight, though I think it could've been a highlight of the film instead of just being a side quest.
Nevertheless, I'm part of the generally positive camp in regards to The Last Jedi. I would describe it as a "good, messy" film, as there many decent-to-good-to-great elements in the movie.
Alright, I'll start off by saying that I do appreciate the risks that Rian Johnson with the second installment of the new trilogy. He does attempt to take the franchise in a new direction, with the main focus being with Mark Hamill reprising his iconic role. Here, we see Luke take a hard look at how far the Jedi have come, and make the argument that the best way to move forward is to look farther away from the past. I do understand where Rian Johnson is trying to take the character, and it's really helped by Hamills' best performance as Luke in my book. The best scenes in the film are in the more intimate ones, particularly with Luke/Rey and Rey/Kylo.
Past that, the film is very well-made on a technical level. The cinematography is quite stunning in my view, with many shots of the sky being picture-worthy, the island has a life to it that suggests Luke has been there for quite awhile, and the action scenes are well-done. Several scenes in the film are quite memorable, particularly Rey/Kylo/Snoke, the tunnel scene with Rey, and of course, the final showdown between the Rebels and the First Order, with "Luke" and Kylo at the center of it.
With that said, the film does have several flaws that hurt the film for me, although not to a huge level. The humor here gets tiresome after awhile, as the execs for Star Wars take the humor from the MCU and bump it up to 11, as EVERY character gets a quip...it seems. For example, I don't have a problem with Kelly Marie Tran's performance as Rose, yet I feel that her character could've been written out and nothing would've changed. Laura Derns' character is an intriguing addition, although it does feel rushed and it would've been better off if she had been introduced in TFA. Also, the three lessons that Luke imparts to Rey aren't fully explored, as we only see him teach two of them. I don't mind the side quest of going to Casino Blight, though I think it could've been a highlight of the film instead of just being a side quest.
Nevertheless, I'm part of the generally positive camp in regards to The Last Jedi. I would describe it as a "good, messy" film, as there many decent-to-good-to-great elements in the movie.
4. The Force Awakens (4)
The official start of the new trilogy kicked off by JJ Abrams, The Force Awakens follows the young Rey as a young woman who is struggling to make a living in a desolate planet, where she encounters a droid that has a message about a rebelli...alright, I know it's pretty similar to A New Hope.
Nevertheless, I still find The Force Awakens to be a pretty entertaining film, even if it does evoke A New Hope a bit too much. It does stick to the previous template, however, it does have enough "new" to at least try to create its own stamp on the universe. One of these is the young villain Ben Solo, better known as Kylo Ren. Adam Driver delivers a great performance that has many risks, with these including the voice that he uses to suggest the history and struggle of his character, while the physical aspects really add in adding depth to his inner conflict. Domnhall Gleeson as General Hux and Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron both add to the film as the young power-hungry bureaucrat and the old-school hotshot, respectively.
Another new addition that I like is Finn (John Boyega), as Boyega plays a young stormtrooper who decides to go rogue and leave the First Order. This creates a new perspective to the Star Wars franchise, as we get to see how a "cog-in-the-machine" on the villain side would experience the general adventures one does in Star Wars. He encounters Rey and they both go on an adventure to find and destroy the Starkiller Base (and find the self-exiled Luke Skywalker). The action scenes are pretty well-done, and Abrams does bring a sense of fun to the film.
Besides the new cast members, the old gang is back, as Harrison Ford returns to one of his most iconic roles AND delivers one of his best performances as Han Solo, Carrie Fisher is good in her reprisal as Leia, and of course, good ol' Chewbacca. I don't have much negative things to say, besides the film aping A New Hope too much and pretty much playing things safe, but will admit that it is a good film.
The official start of the new trilogy kicked off by JJ Abrams, The Force Awakens follows the young Rey as a young woman who is struggling to make a living in a desolate planet, where she encounters a droid that has a message about a rebelli...alright, I know it's pretty similar to A New Hope.
Nevertheless, I still find The Force Awakens to be a pretty entertaining film, even if it does evoke A New Hope a bit too much. It does stick to the previous template, however, it does have enough "new" to at least try to create its own stamp on the universe. One of these is the young villain Ben Solo, better known as Kylo Ren. Adam Driver delivers a great performance that has many risks, with these including the voice that he uses to suggest the history and struggle of his character, while the physical aspects really add in adding depth to his inner conflict. Domnhall Gleeson as General Hux and Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron both add to the film as the young power-hungry bureaucrat and the old-school hotshot, respectively.
Another new addition that I like is Finn (John Boyega), as Boyega plays a young stormtrooper who decides to go rogue and leave the First Order. This creates a new perspective to the Star Wars franchise, as we get to see how a "cog-in-the-machine" on the villain side would experience the general adventures one does in Star Wars. He encounters Rey and they both go on an adventure to find and destroy the Starkiller Base (and find the self-exiled Luke Skywalker). The action scenes are pretty well-done, and Abrams does bring a sense of fun to the film.
Besides the new cast members, the old gang is back, as Harrison Ford returns to one of his most iconic roles AND delivers one of his best performances as Han Solo, Carrie Fisher is good in her reprisal as Leia, and of course, good ol' Chewbacca. I don't have much negative things to say, besides the film aping A New Hope too much and pretty much playing things safe, but will admit that it is a good film.
3. Return of the Jedi (4)
A pretty good capper for the original trilogy, and that one that I like. The cast returns to finally trump over the Evil Empire & Darth Vader. Once again, the film is well-made, I actually quite like the Ewoks, as well digging the overall look of the forest planet.
Besides that, I find Return of the Jedi to have one of the best acted moments in the series, if not the best, and in turn one of the best scenes. That scene being where Darth Vader takes his mask off and seeks redemption for/from Luke. It is a very well-acted scene, and it works to cap both Luke and Anakins' arcs: Anakin sees the light at the end of his tormented road and saves Luke, while Luke fully understands his origin and discovers his place in the world.
I'll admit it's been a long time since I've seen the film, so maybe a re-watch will allow me to go into further detail about the film, but otherwise, it's an effective conclusion to the beloved original Star Wars trilogy.
A pretty good capper for the original trilogy, and that one that I like. The cast returns to finally trump over the Evil Empire & Darth Vader. Once again, the film is well-made, I actually quite like the Ewoks, as well digging the overall look of the forest planet.
Besides that, I find Return of the Jedi to have one of the best acted moments in the series, if not the best, and in turn one of the best scenes. That scene being where Darth Vader takes his mask off and seeks redemption for/from Luke. It is a very well-acted scene, and it works to cap both Luke and Anakins' arcs: Anakin sees the light at the end of his tormented road and saves Luke, while Luke fully understands his origin and discovers his place in the world.
I'll admit it's been a long time since I've seen the film, so maybe a re-watch will allow me to go into further detail about the film, but otherwise, it's an effective conclusion to the beloved original Star Wars trilogy.
2. A New Hope (4)
Where it all started. The brainchild of George Lucas (among others), the Star Wars franchise kicks off with the story of young Luke fighting against the Evil Empire. The film successfully introduced Harrison Ford to the zeitgeist, as he is great here as the beloved hotshot known as Han Solo. Carrie Fisher also breaks out as Leia Skywalker, as well as the aforementioned young Mark Hamill, as Luke. On top of that, Alec Guinness brings the required gravitas and then some as the sage Obi-Wan Kenobi, in what has become one of his best-known roles by modern audiences.
The story is relatively simple, but it works as a solid template for one of the most technically-advanced films of its' time. On that, the visual effects here are outstanding, and they really haven't aged much. Say what you want about Lucas, but one must not hand wave his contributions to the technical side of things when it comes to modern film making.
Past the visual effects, the world that Lucas & co create is quite unique and is fairly memorable. The costumes, for example, have an idiosyncratic touch to them that helps in distinguishing each character and where they are in life, with special mention to Darth Vader. The production design of the film is honestly terrific, as even though it is obviously set in space, it never feels as something that doesn't exist. All the sets and location shoots really feel like they're actual places and not something that someone just called it a day on. Many of the action scenes are thrilling, and have earned their place in pop culture history, to be sure.
I don't really have anything negative to say about A New Hope; me not giving the film a 5 has more to do with me not being in love with Star Wars as so many. Either way, I'll admit it's a great film, so I won't complain about it.
Where it all started. The brainchild of George Lucas (among others), the Star Wars franchise kicks off with the story of young Luke fighting against the Evil Empire. The film successfully introduced Harrison Ford to the zeitgeist, as he is great here as the beloved hotshot known as Han Solo. Carrie Fisher also breaks out as Leia Skywalker, as well as the aforementioned young Mark Hamill, as Luke. On top of that, Alec Guinness brings the required gravitas and then some as the sage Obi-Wan Kenobi, in what has become one of his best-known roles by modern audiences.
The story is relatively simple, but it works as a solid template for one of the most technically-advanced films of its' time. On that, the visual effects here are outstanding, and they really haven't aged much. Say what you want about Lucas, but one must not hand wave his contributions to the technical side of things when it comes to modern film making.
Past the visual effects, the world that Lucas & co create is quite unique and is fairly memorable. The costumes, for example, have an idiosyncratic touch to them that helps in distinguishing each character and where they are in life, with special mention to Darth Vader. The production design of the film is honestly terrific, as even though it is obviously set in space, it never feels as something that doesn't exist. All the sets and location shoots really feel like they're actual places and not something that someone just called it a day on. Many of the action scenes are thrilling, and have earned their place in pop culture history, to be sure.
I don't really have anything negative to say about A New Hope; me not giving the film a 5 has more to do with me not being in love with Star Wars as so many. Either way, I'll admit it's a great film, so I won't complain about it.
1. The Empire Strikes Back (4.5)
One of the most beloved films in the franchise, The Empire Strikes Back takes what worked in A New Hope and further develops that. We see our beloved heroes further fight against the Evil Empire, and the writing along with the more confident performances help take the film up to another notch in regards to the acting. Hamill and Fisher are more assured as their characters, while Ford delivers goes full Han Solo in this film.
Besides the acting, the production takes advantage of an (of course) higher-budget than A New Hope. All of the effective elements of the film are found here as well: the visual effects, the production design, the costumes, etc. Of course, the direction also greatly helps the film, as we get a dark (yet, not too dark) sense of atmosphere that creates an urgency/intensity to the crews mission. The film also has many great moments, such as THE iconic scene, the action scenes in general, and many of the intimate moments between the characters.
I would be remiss if I were to not mention the twist at the end of this film. The scene and twist itself have become iconic for a reason, as it adds a whole other layer to the Star Wars lore.
I may sound like I'm not too positive in the film, since my thoughts aren't as long as some of the other films on this list, however, it has been awhile since I've seen the original trilogy. Maybe a re-watch of that trilogy could help me go into further detail, but as it is, the original three have earned their right in film history, and popular culture itself.
What is your favorite Star Wars film? Your least favorite? Answer off in the comments below!
I am not a fan of the new star wars trilogy (7-9). Disney made the film 'cute' with subtle jokes and humor, which is not meant to be Star Wars. It should be super nerdy and geeky! The action and graphics were great (Because its Disney technology), but if you were to read the script or read it as if it were a book, the plot is very basic and rushed. I did not like how the new films center on Rey. It's supposed to be all about Luke. Episode 8 was the absolute worst of them all. Using hyperspeed as a weapon to destroy ships, Lea surviving the blast and using the force to steer her way back to the ship, or even how Luke said that the Jedi should die. Moreover Mark Hamill admitted in interviews that he did not feel like real Luke (Ep. 8 portrays him as a quitter). Overall, if you narrow the scope just to episodes 7-9, they are not bad films. But if you put them in context with 1-6, they are absolutely awful.
ReplyDeleteHi Bryan. It's Francis
ReplyDeleteHi Francis
DeleteI don't mind the humor too much in The Force Awakens, though I do agree with how it's implemented in The Last Jedi, since it felt very MCU-like to me.
I do see what you mean if you put the new trilogy in context with the others, although for me, it's mainly because of how The Rise of Skywalker turned out, which ends the entire thing on a whimper. I attempted to view each film on its own.
I think we can at least agree on TROS, though we're going to have to go to differ in regards to the first two of the new trilogy.
Thank you for commenting though! I appreciate it