Ranking Movies: Star Wars

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1) Star Wars Episode V The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

2) Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope (1977)

3) Star Wars Episode VI Return of the Jedi (1983)

4) Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith (2005)

5) Star Wars Episode II Attack of the Clones (2002)

6) Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace (1999)

I know I'm in the minority, but I like Star Wars more than The Empire Strikes Back, so:

1. Star Wars
2. The Empire Strikes Back
3. Return of the Jedi

As for the prequels, they're all f***ing miserable, even Revenge of the Sith, but I guess I would rank them this way:

1. Revenge of the Sith
2. Attack of the Clones
3. The Phantom Menace

[/b]Jory says[b]

Does anyone else besides me like both Episode III and the Originals?

1. RotS
2. RotJ
3. ESB
4. ANH
5. AotC
6. TPM
7. TCW

A lot of people. If anything, I'm in the minority in disliking Episode III. It's baffling to me how it got so many positive reviews, and how so many people think it's even better than Return of the Jedi or A New Hope. I think it's just as awful as the first two prequels. Everyone seems to like it simply because it's darker and more serious, but the writing and acting are still a total joke. It's a minor step up at best.

Palpatine especially. "POWWWERRRRRR!! !! !!" Yeesh! Awful, just awful.

I'm not as tough on Revenge Of The Sith as everyone else seems to be - it's definitely the best of the prequels, though admittedly that's not saying much.
I absolutely agree, though; The Empire Strikes Back is by far the best Star Wars movie, ever.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

I watched Phantom Menace in the theater with my grandmother when I was 12. I absolutely loved it at that time, and while I haven't seen the full movie ONCE afterwards, I can't hate that movie. Part of it was also aimed at children, I enjoyed the racing scene more than I cared to admit back then, I failed to notice the racial stereotypes in Jar-Jar, Watto, Sebulba, the merchants, and all tha uthaz until somebody nitpi- I mean pointed them out.

And I like Jar-Jar. I like Jar-Jar better than C3PO. There, I've said it.

I'm sure Phantom Menace is not a perfect movie, but to be honest, neither was the original trilogy. Star Wars was never Shakespeare. It's a movie you go watch and enjoy, leaning back in the theaters or on your couch, with a bag of crisps and a tall soda. 'Cuz it's got lasers, and laser swords, and funky aliens, and weird-looking space fighters, and a badass cyborg in a black cape, and enormous walking robot-vehicles, and Tauntauns. That's what Star Wars is about. Contrary to popular belief among geeks nowadays, Star TREK was always the philospophical one, even if (or maybe because) the world of Star Trek is much more drenched in the rational and the (pseudo-)scientific. Star Wars is just a fairy tale in outer space.

I think that's also the two points on which the prequels (including Phantom Menace) fail so hard. The movies are taking themselves to seriously. Honestly, I'm hardpressed to find a moment of fun or adventure in Clones or Sith that doesn't feel forced, shoved in your face. Here, this is adventure: enjoy it. I thgink RedLetterMedia said it in his reviews of the Star Wars prequels; the prequels tell you when you're supposed to feel a certain emotion, like you're a dummy. Applaud, cause the sign that says 'applause' lights up.

This all having been said, I only want to add that
1) the romance scenes in Attack of the Clones were EXCRUCIATING
2) the only saving grace of Sith was Ewan McGregor as Obi Wan Kenobi. His fight with Grievous was da bomb diggity, and he was thed only actor who bothered to try and act. Sith also tried to tie up the loose ends way too fast. I was completely unconvinced of Anakin's motivation to go over to the dark side.

Also, you guys MUST watch RedLetterMedia's reviews of the Prequels, because he tears those things apart in ways I wouldn't have thougfht possible, shedding some light on aspects of the film that make you go 'Huh.'
He does the same for the TNG Star Trek movies, but as Generations and First Contact weren't half bad, your mileage may vary.

The more I hear the “it’s not Shakespeare” defense, the more it pisses me off. It’s like defending the taste of rotten pizza by pointing out that it’s not an expensive steak. It’s a true statement, but it’s a weak attempt to equate rotten pizza with something that might not be expensive steak but is still a lot better than rotten pizza. The original Star Wars films are silly family adventures and they certainly aren’t Shakespeare, but they’re good at what they are. The prequels, on the other hand, are just embarrassing. They have some of the worst acting, writing, and directing seen in any popular film. They’re failures at art and failures at entertainment. It’s silly to demand Shakespeare, but people should be demanding far better than the fan fiction quality crap they’re being given.

Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi: B+

Episode I The Phantom Menace, Episode II Attack of the Clones, and Episode III Revenge of the Sith: D+

Last edited by imbatshitcrazy on 11 Aug 2011, 4:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.

1. Empire
2. Star Wars
3. Sith
4. Jedi
5. Clones
6. Menace