Your light speed guide of the ‘Star Wars’ saga from worst to first
On May 25, 1977, cinematic history was made when the original “Star Wars” was released. The film turned from a troubled production into a cultural phenomenon. With its legacy spanning several TV shows, cartoons, video games, comics and novels (not to mention a wide variety of rip-offs, homages and parodies), the franchise took on a life of its own. The characters, quotes and even set pieces have permeated every crack and crevice of our lives to the point that even if you haven’t seen “Star Wars,” you’re bound to recognize at least a few images and names from the franchise. To say the least, “Star Wars” has taken over the world.
There are, of course, the films that have made the biggest impact. With the newest entry, “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” set to hit theaters this upcoming weekend, its that time again that we take a light speed jump into this mega franchise to see which entries truly have the force with them.
9. “Episode II: Attack of the Clones” (2002)
The second film in the highly divise prequel trilogy, “Attack of the Clones” may not be as famously disliked as “Episode I: The Phantom Menace,” but hardcore fans and critics often agree that it is by far the most dull of the entire saga. While the visual effects received an upgrade from “The Phantom Menace” and Jar Jar’s involvement has been drastically lessened, most of the problems from that entry remain while birthing some new ones of its own. From Hayden Christensen’s atrocious acting, the overabundance of computer-generated imagery (CGI), the weightless action set pieces and the laughably terrible romantic dialogue, this is a 142-minute long trainwreck from start to finish. It provides little in the way of a true “Star Wars” experience outside of a few noteworthy moments.
8. “Episode I: The Phantom Menace” (1999)
In 1999, ultra-hyped up audiences everywhere left theaters trying denying the mess they had just witnessed — only to come to the sad realization of the atrocity that is “The Phantom Menace.” In what could have been a potentially compelling tale of Anakin Skywalker’s origins before becoming Darth Vader, we are instead treated to a boring experience full of government treaties, trade disputes, heavily dated CGI, acting that ranges from wooden to Disney channel movie performances and the death of comedy himself, Jar Jar Binks. The film does have some decent elements, such as the appearance of Darth Maul, John Williams’ exciting score and some fun action sequences. However, it’s still not able to save the rest of this borefest.
7. “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (2016)
“Rogue One” is the first installment of the new series of “Star Wars” anthology films slated to come out that focuses on different stories taking place in the beloved galaxy. While this entry does do some good to intrigue us of what this new series has to offer, the film itself is sadly forgettable. Despite containing some impressive action, effects work and nice homages to “Episode IV: A New Hope,” the rest of the film suffers thanks to the poor pacing and underdeveloped characters. “Rogue One” ultimately lacks the same kind of rewatch value as other “Star Wars” films and can quite honestly be skipped without much regret.
6. “Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” (2005)
The conclusion to the prequel trilogy may still be a heavily flawed film, but it’s often considered to be the best of this trilogy — and for good reason. The film does what the entire prequel trilogy promised — allowing us to dive deep into the past of Anakin Skywalker to see what made his turn to the Dark Side occur. In doing so, this entry delivers some of the most emotionally powerful moments of the franchise. The tale of Darth Plagueis the Wise sequence is a major highlight, as well as the final battle between Obi Wan and Anakin. Despite still containing a lot of the same wonky acting, dialogue, pacing and effects work of the other prequel films, this is still a worthwhile experience.
5. “Episode VI: Return of the Jedi” (1983)
While most third entries usually spoil any film franchise, “Return of the Jedi” is one of the rare exceptions that proves just as powerful as its predecessors. Despite it having some pacing, tonal and characterization issues that prevent the film from being a complete masterpiece, this is still an entry that contains that classic sense of “Star Wars” excitement and magic. The outstanding practical effects, musical score and drama between Luke and Darth Vader are amongst some of the series’ best. “Return of the Jedi” is a finale that perfectly wrapped up this legendary saga … or so we thought.
4. “Episode VII: The Force Awakens” (2015)
When it was announced in 2012 that Disney had bought the rights to Lucasfilms and would be creating a new “Star Wars” trilogy, fans were excited, yet nervous for what was to come. However, all those worries went away when “The Force Awakens” hit the big screens. This all-out epic may have borrowed a bit too heavily from previous films in the franchise, but the classic feel that fans had been missing for decades was back on full display. On top of that, the compelling cast of characters, both old and new, worked wonders as we got to see more corners of this galaxy. For audiences everywhere, the “Star Wars” hype was on again and it hasn’t died down since.
3. “Episode VIII: The Last Jedi” (2017)
While the latest entry into the Star Wars franchise has its share of issues, the good here far outweighs the bad. This film takes the time for us to get to go deeper into the development of these characters, as well as further widening the mythos of this world without ever seeming forced. It is a grand cinematic venture that perfectly balances its own tone while still respecting the world of “Star Wars” through some heartfelt callbacks that never felt manipulative. It is a film that took risks to give us an unexpected journey that is sure to not be forgotten anytime soon.
2. “Episode IV: A New Hope” (1977)
A cinematic game-changer if ever there was one, “A New Hope” is a beloved classic for a reason. Not only is the film historically important for the massive legacy it would leave behind, it also stands as a solid adventure on its own. “A New Hope” took countless classic stories and genres to create a world that is fresh yet recognizable, giving the film its timeless appeal. The characters, music, story and individual scenes are all so beloved that there’s practically nothing more for them that can be said. If you still have not yet seen this classic, do yourself a favor and finally give it a watch.
1. “Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back” (1980)
So, what can beat out a game-changing film like the original “Star Wars”? Only a film that changed the game just as much, if not more, for film sequels everywhere. What more can be said about this A+ piece of cinema that hasn’t already been said? On a technical level alone, “The Empire Strikes Back” has remained timeless. With the stunning cinematography, beautiful set design, expertly crafted effects and John Williams’ most complex musical score standing out. Narratively, this sequel gave us a much darker tale that we weren’t expecting while still keeping the heart of the first film intact throughout. Every returning character from the scruffy Han Solo to the menacing Darth Vader reveals a new side while the new cast, including the lovably smooth Lando Calrissian to the legendary Yoda, get their time to shine. It’s no wonder why this has, for many, remained as both the best of the “Star Wars” saga and the best sequel of all time.
The “Star Wars” franchise has had its shares of ups and downs, but there’s no denying the impact these films have left on pop culture. Will “Solo: A Star Wars Story” prove to be as disappointing entry as many have predicted, or could it surprise us all? Only time will tell, but nonetheless, the force will stay with us always.
