The Skywalker Saga is about to end late this year with the upcoming episode IX. Seems like the perfect time to review over 30 years of pop culture and see where the bar was raised and where we kind of wished the movie would’ve stayed in a galaxy far, far away.
It’s time to do the impossible and put all the Star Wars movies in a list, from best to worst.
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
In terms of world shaping and evolving the story, this movie was the best bar none. We saw Yoda train Luke, we saw Luke confront Darth Vader, we saw Han Solo get frozen – but not before having Leia confess her love. Every character got some development time in this one, and it’s still a classic film until this day.
Episode IV: A New Hope
This movie was responsible for creating a universe that has amazed people of all ages for over 30 years. While the first movie didn’t really do anything special story-wise, it was worth a watch and has held up great after all this time.
Episode VII: The Force Awakens
In terms of originality, this movie probably should’ve ended up a lot lower on this list since it’s just episode IV in a more modern setting. That said, it was probably the best Star Wars movie in over 20 years.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Honestly, this was quite a breath of fresh air! The fan service was a bit much at times, but the movie was a solid spy movie and we finally got to see Darth Vader go to town on some rebel troopers. Also, we learn a lot more about the Death Star which is always a good thing.
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Despite the train wreck that were the prequels, this movie did what it could to fix what was already broken and end the prequels in a meaningful manner. It wasn’t a perfect movie, especially not when looking at the camera work or some of the dialogue writing, but it did have heart in it. Watching the Emperor seize control of the galaxy and Anakin fall to the dark side righted a lot of wrongs.
Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi
I know, I put an original trilogy movie behind a prequel movie. But look at episode VI again. The Emperor gets beaten like a chump after practically no screen time (less than Snoke got, so remember that) and Ewoks. So many Ewoks. Also, the story is about destroying a second Death Star. Honestly, this movie could’ve been an hour shorter and we wouldn’t have missed anything.
Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
Sure, the movie had its flaws, but it wasn’t *that* bad. I don’t understand some of the story choices that were made here and I hope JJ Abrams manages to somehow explain some of them in episode IX but I’m not holding my breath. I guess this is what you get if you let someone else write the second episode of a trilogy.
Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Darth Maul was the only redeeming factor of this movie, and the Gungans nearly ruined it anyway. Especially Jar Jar Binks. Also, kid Anakin was kind of annoying, but at least we had that amazing lightsaber battle at the end.
Episode II: Attack of the Clones
CGI Jedi fighting CGI droids in a CGI arena until CGI clone troopers jump out of CGI ships to save them. Let me know if I’m missing anything here. Oh, Anakin gets his arm cut off and CGI Yoda fights not-CGI-and-therefore-not-quite-mobile Count Dooku. I swear this movie’s set was just one big green screen. And they weren’t even trying to hide it.
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Han Solo gets his last name from an imperial officer. Han Solo knows the Wookie language despite having lived on Corellia his entire life. Tony Stark’s butler has lightsaber knives despite not knowing the Force. Emilia Clarke has no dragons. Yeah no, this movie was awful. Don’t watch it.
