The Star Wars Saga - Ranked (5-1)
After my previous article's bombshell dropping of Return of the Jedi at #7, everyone probably thought that was enough surprises for my ranking list. Well, I'm sorry to inform you I have a few other strange opinions that may floor fellow Star Wars fans. Welcome to my top 5 Star Wars films! Let's get started with #5...
5. Revenge of the Sith
"This is unbelievable! How can a PREQUEL be in the top 5?!" Alright purists, let's settle down and let me explain myself. This film is quite unique for me and many others, as it's the only of the prequel films that manages to lend itself much more to the original films style and overall feel. The relationship between Anakin and Obi-Wan in this movie, while yes still felt forced back before the arrival of the Clone Wars series, was a very huge part of the movie. Seeing Anakin's slow descent into darkness at the hands of Palpatine in that beautiful scene at the opera was fantastic.
The fights in this film are a step above the rest of the prequels, without question the final confrontation being Anakin vs Obi-wan on Mustafar leading the charge. Seeing the pain in the eyes of both of these men as they face off to bring balance is worth the price of admission on its own. The clashing of blue against the molten red world is brilliant and a feast for the eyes. The other huge part of this final act is the battle of Yoda and the Supreme Chancellor. This is the point we realize that Yoda isn't all powerful, that no even the most powerful Jedi can muster the strength to destroy the Sith. Yoda fails, and that is something that reflects his actions at the end of the film, and the Original Trilogy.
Sure many people still believe that being a prequel alone makes this movie bad, and while I won't deny that sometimes the overreliance on CGI does affect my overall enjoyment of the film; I just can't stop coming back for more. My childhood attachment to this movie just creates an atmosphere of pure joy when I see Revenge of the Sith. This was my trilogy, this is what I grew up with. For me, this is the epitomy of what Star Wars was as kid, I didn't see the flaws, just the downfall of one of the greatest Jedi Knights ever known. Sure that's cheesy, but that's what makes me love this film so much.
4. The Empire Strikes Back
This is where those fans of the Original Trilogy exit this post and never return to The Open Theater again. I recognize that The Empire Strikes Back is without a doubt the best made film of the entire Star Wars saga. But, this is a list of my favorite Star Wars movies and when I think of favorites I think of enjoyment and excitement to sit down and watch each movie. Empire for me, isn't a movie that when I think of Star Wars is the one I will turn on and just watch. Empire for me is an experience and something that I need to set aside time to digest, and that can be a good or a bad thing.
What this film does so well and does for the entire franchise of films is create sympathy for what, at the time, was the most terrifying villain ever to hit cinema. Darth Vader was the essence of pure evil and viewers were told that he killed Luke Skywalker's father. This led to what I would call the most famous scene in the history of film: The reveal that Darth Vader IS Luke's father. Before the prequels were around, nobody knew this and audiences were shell shocked. It's considered by many to be the greatest twist of all time, and I won't be one to argue against that. This is where I stand apart from many other critics though. I didn't feel that same power of Vader's realization that those who saw the movie upon release did.
Being a member of the younger generation, I grew up knowing that Darth Vader was Luke's father. It simply was a fact of life with Star Wars fans and something you knew going into the films. This severely damaged the impact of the moment for me, resulting in me never truly connecting with that scene on the level that others did. But, even though that scene didn't hit me, that fight and the entirety of the movie are absolutely stellar. The pure fact though that this film's true power and draw is in that special moment from Vader and Luke means that if you don't feel that same raw emotion and shock and connect with it then the entire movie suffers. Again, I understand why people LOVE this film, but it simply doesn't do the same thing for me.
3. The Last Jedi
Being a divisive movie means that there are going to be those who love and those who hate a movie. I completely understand those of you out there who think The Last Jedi has a lot of problems and isn't a good movie. But, I truly believe that The Last Jedi did more things great for the world of Star Wars than any other film to this point. Looking back on the previous films, there's something new in every one of them and I'm sure they all had those fans who built up expectations that ended up being not met or brushed to the side. The Last Jedi manages to do that and create a world that perfectly sets up for closure in Episode IX.
Seeing Snoke be cut down by Kylo Ren in the Throne Room showed that Star Wars wasn't going to follow any set order of plans from anyone. Subverting expectations and creating a story that was different and unique is exactly what Star Wars needed. The Last Jedi also for me has some of the best moments in the saga in Kylo Ren and Rey's fight with the Praetorian Guards, to Yoda and Luke's discussion over the future of the Jedi; there's so much to love. I can't wait to see this movie again and watch it thousands of time on repeat when it releases on Blu-Ray.
2. A New Hope
As Star Wars fans, we have to recognize and appreciate that there was a time when there wasn't this great franchise we love and enjoy. That time was the 1970s, where this great galaxy was merely an idea in the mind of a visionary in George Lucas. We have him to thank for this world and characters such as Luke, Han, and Leia. While at this point in the time of Star Wars Lucas doesn't have any part of the creative decisions taking place in the franchise, his impression can still be felt. The first endeavor into the greater universe of Star Wars was one of it's best moments: A New Hope.
Audiences didn't realize it then but they were experiencing a critical moment in film history. A film like Star Wars wasn't supposed to be possible. How could science fiction with scale models manage to do well with audiences? The only people who believed it could work were Lucas and one of his closest friends in the film world: Steven Spielberg. A New Hope was beautifully unique and simple, it managed to convey something that everyone was wanting. Luke Skywalker was a boy he wanted more from his life and saw himself doing it. But, like the binary sunset he sees at the beginning of the film, it's just out of reach. This managed to click with audiences right away and crowds flooded to the theaters to see the story of a boy with the magic powers of The Force destroying the Death Star.
For me, A New Hope was a magical experience. I loved this film and everything about it. The character of Luke Skywalker is both unique and simple. I felt myself in Luke and experienced this journey with him. Along with him, Darth Vader is a fantastic villain for Luke to face. He's another simple ideal of evil but it works just so well with the voice work from James Earl Jones. He and Mark Hamill carry this movie with the help of Alec Guinness, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher.
Two moments that make this movie so high for me on this list though are: the binary sunset, and the Battle of Yavin. As I stated earlier, the binary sunset helps to convey the feelings that Luke is having and includes beautiful imagery along with it. Luke wants more for his life, and he doesn't realize he's about to embark on an adventure that will change his life forever. But, that isn't my favorite moment of the movie. The Battle of Yavin is by far the best space battle in all of Star Wars, and my second favorite moment in the history of the saga. Seeing this small group of Rebel fighters attack the Death Star, hoping to make the trench run and destroy it, is just fantastic. The sequence goes for a long period of time and includes most of the major characters in the film. This sequence is so powerful in fact that another film in this saga manages to make something fairly similar to pay homage to it. Simply put, A New Hope is a spectacular film and deserves its place at #2.
1. The Force Awakens
As Star Wars fans, we all have the moment when we're watching these films that solidifies our fandom and journey with these characters. For me, that moment came in The Force Awakens. After nearly 10 years without a film in the franchise, Disney purchased Lucasfilm and all of it's properties. This ignited a hope that Star Wars would return, and it did with it's best film. Before it's launch, fan hype was at astronomical levels and people were absolutely giddy that one of the greatest film sagas of all time was returning.
My Star Wars moment came near the end of The Force Awakens, after two stellar acts filled with great character development and storytelling, there was one moment that made me go absolutely nuts. After the death of Han Solo, Rey and Finn are running away from Starkiller Base as it explodes and are found by Kylo Ren. Quickly dispatching Rey, Finn and Kylo duke it out. Finn is soon overpowered and Kylo is satisfied with the beating he placed on the two of them. He reaches out for the ultimate prize: Luke's lightsaber. But, instead of the saber coming to him, it flies past him and into the hands of Rey. It was at this moment, with The Force theme playing and her igniting her blue blade in the dark forest, I began to shed tears.
The beauty of this moment for me was overpowering and incredible. Rey was born with that same hope as Luke and expected more from her life after her parents left her behind on Jakku. Rey connected with me more than him though, as I was similar to her age. We are at the same point in our lives and that connection was so powerful that I felt the pain and joy she did throughout the film. That's something that everyone else felt when they saw the original trilogy, and why they love it that much.
The other moment in this movie that was shockingly beautiful for me happens at the midpoint of the film. With The First Order having found Rey and her friends on Takodana, they are taking them into custody when a noise in heard in the distance. The water upon the nearby lake is beginning to kick up and it appears that the noise comes from that direction. Next thing we know, the Resistance theme blasts out bombastically and Poe, along with other Resistance pilots, come to save the day. That entire sequence that follows is classic and one of my favorite moments in all of Star Wars.
The Force Awakens manages to create a unique story that uses elements from previous films. This ability to use its history and build new mythology is absolutely stellar. I've never felt the way I did about this movie as I did about any other Star Wars film. The world of the sequel trilogy is fantastic and I love every minute I get to spend in it. I spent the entirety of The Force Awakens run-time smiling for ear to ear and I have no regrets putting it at #1 on my list.
Conclusion
Thank you for checking out my ranking of the Star Wars films. I understand for many this list may differentiate from their own, but that's the beauty of opinions. As Star Wars fans we all are allowed to enjoy it film more than others. We are united as fans in this world, and that's all that matters. Keep your eye out for future Ranked articles of this kind, as after how much I enjoyed writing this one they are sure to return. May the force be with all of you!
