I bloody love me some Star Wars. It is a franchise that has had a huge role in my love of film but it had been quite a while since I had sat down and watched any of them, not including the more recently released ones of course. Well today happens to be May 4th, which means it also happens to be Star Wars day so I thought what better to do with my time then go back and watch the whole franchise. So that's what I did. This past week I made a point to watch all 11 theatrically released, live-action Star Wars films and today I present you with my ranking of said films. I have based my ranking on quality and enjoyment and I have tried my best to look at the films on a standalone basis. Of course this is nearly impossible when it comes to a movie franchise where the story continues on film from film, but that is how I have tried to do it. This is also just my opinion and I am sure most people will disagree with me, especially as I have a couple quite controversial placements in there. So, without further ado, here is my ranking of the Star Wars franchise, May the fourth be with you!
#11: Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
I don't think anyone who knows me will be surprised to see this film here. Before I absolutely rag on 'Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones' lets point out the positives. Ewan McGregor is great and that death sticks joke is funny. Okay I'm done, lets get to ragging. This film sucks balls. It is almost irredeemable. There is so much here I hate, not just as a film critic but as a Star Wars fan. On a critical level this film is horrendous. The CGI has aged horribly and the fact the film is almost entirely CGI means that you might as well be watching a fucking cartoon. The script is also horrific, especially in the love scenes between Anakin and Padme. These scenes have some of the most laughably bad dialogue you will ever hear and I genuinely laughed out loud on more than one occasion. The acting, apart from my boy Ewan and Christopher Lee, is lifeless and monotone and this is down a lot to the terrible script these actors have to work with. But most of all this film is dull as dish water. I hear people argue that the final battle scene is cool but I totally disagree. The final battle scene is just faceless CGI clones against faceless CGI droids. There is no emotional weight to it and the previous 2 hours had killed off my interest to a point that I was just waiting for it to be over. It is also proceeded by the droid factory sequence which might as well have been a level in Super fucking Mario. And yet it is not these aspects that push this film into hate territory. The elements of the film which do that are much smaller. The first is one I only noticed this time around and it was a blink and you'll miss it thing. When Anakin and Obi-Wan are in an underground club on Coruscant there is a screen on the wall showing robots playing American football. I'm not kidding. American. Fucking. Football. Are you shitting me with this? Now, you could argue that this was meant to just be a little visual gag in the background and it is not meant to suggest that these real earth things belong in the Star Wars universe, but then Obi-Wan goes to an AMERICAN STYLE DINER! This scene grates me every time. Are you fucking kidding me George Lucas? Not only that, but the owner of this establishment, who is a four armed scaly alien, has a fucking moustache. Just fuck off will you. I hate it so fucking much. Fuck this movie. I think I have a developed a hernia just by writing about it.
#10: Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
First in the chronology comes 'Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace'. I'm not going to be contrarian with this one, it is pretty bad. But it is not so horrible that it is unwatchable. I never found myself completely bored. Yes there are some horrendously dull moments, but there is enough here for me to enjoy. The pod race is a lot of fun and the whole Darth Maul fight is a favourite of mine across the whole series, mainly down to the awesome 'Duel of the Fates' theme by the evergreen John Williams. After these moments though it is pretty much just 'meh'. The CGI effects have not aged well, especially regarding the use of green screen which is 95% of this film. When the film uses practical sets, like on Tatooine, it looks great but these moments are so few. The main problem with this film is the writing and performances. All the performances, except maybe Ian McDiarmid as Senator Palpatine, are so lifeless and dull. Every line delivery is monotone and it means that all the characters almost sound the same. Even Ewan McGregor who I think is a tremendous Obi-Wan Kenobi falls into this trap in this film. Overall, this film is just a whatever film. Its one I can sit down and watch without really being filled with any kind of emotional response. I kind of just turn my brain off and veg out for two hours. An almost perfect hangover film come to think of it. And before I forget, Jar Jar Binks can fuck off.
#9: Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
I am really unsure if this is a surprise placement or not. Oh boy what a mess. I do have a little bit of sympathy for the film-makers of this film. 'The Last Jedi' was such a polarizing film that they were kind of on a hiding to nothing with this film. They had to make a film that pleased both the fans who disliked 'Last Jedi' and the people who liked it while also managing to make a coherent story with a satisfying ending and it means that the film is just a pure mess. There is just so much thrown at you that you can never buy into anything that is ever happening and as a result I had so little of an emotional reaction to anything going on. They will bring up a conflict and either solve it almost instantly or never solve it at all. They don't allow anything to play out and let you get involved in them and it seems like they're hoping that by throwing all this at you and by having huge action set pieces you will just kind of forget about it and not question stuff. There are also a handful of new characters introduced in this film that become integral to the plot moving along but I honestly could not tell you their names. I literally finished watching the film about 10 minutes ago and I have no clue. Of course it isn't all bad. I still really like the whole Kylo Ren and Rey relationship and all their scenes are the most interesting part of the film. And of course the film looks fantastic. There is nothing bad I can say about the technical or production side of this film. The special effects are stellar, there is not a bad word I can say about them. The action sequences are all shot exquisitely and do a brilliant job mixing these special effects with the practical. And the production design, as it is across the whole sequel trilogy, is some of the best production design across the whole franchise and this film is no different. Also there is not a bad word I can say against the actors. They all do a great job despite the absolute mess that is this script. And all these elements effectively make this film a decent visual treat but a completely non-consequential viewing experience which you may love if you are able to just turn your brain off from any coherent story telling. But here is the thing. Despite the problems with this film and despite the fact that I don't think as a whole product it is very good, I did enjoy watching it. I wasn't bored and I did get pulled into the action scenes. But I felt no emotional connection to it and for the final film in a saga of films that is a big problem.
#8: Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
This is the first Star Wars film that I saw in the cinema. My Dad took me and a group of my friends to see it for my 9th birthday and I remember being silly excited. And I know a lot of this comes through rose-tinted glasses but I do kind of love this film. Yes it does have the same problems as the other two prequels. There is a lot of dull down time and the dialogue and acting is still very, very off even if it has improved on the first two prequels (which says a lot about the other two). The CGI has definitely improved from the first two prequels even if the green screen effects are still horrendous. However, there are enough really fun moments in this film that means I am happy to sit through the shit. The final Obi-Wan vs Anakin battle is great (despite it feeling super choreographed), the whole Order 66 scene is superb, General Grievous is a fun villain and the first 25 minutes of the film is non-stop fun. Yes this film on the whole is not very good but I will always have a soft spot for it. Even if it does have that really, really dumb Darth Vader 'Nooooooooooooo' at the end. Honestly that bit is horrendous. Easily the best of the prequels and I do like it, but I do understand it is actually not all that good.
#7: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
The first spin off film for the Star Wars franchise and I reckon Disney did a very solid job with it. It is a film with problems but overall is a very solid Star Wars film. What 'Rogue One' lacks in storytelling and character development it more than makes up for with some of the best action in any Star Wars film. The narrative is a pretty simple one, but the structure of the storytelling is a bit of a mess and all over the place. A great example of this in happens in the first 25 minutes of the film where we are bounced around 5 different planets. This is the biggest problem with the film. It bounces around set pieces without really giving any of them time to breath before it wraps up and moves onto the next one. This is a problem with the characters as well. There are interesting character traits in there, but they do not fully explore them and the relationships between all the characters feel really rushed. This mixed in with the messy storytelling means that I never felt fully emotionally invested with the characters or their plight. Instead I just found myself waiting for the next moment of action which meant that the film does drag a little at times. Luckily for me when these action scenes do come they are spectacular. They are shot and choreographed brilliantly and the mixture of CGI and practical effects makes all these scenes have weight and feel extravagant and real. The final battle on the beach towards the end of the film is superb and easily one of the best battle scenes in any Star Wars film. The film also manages to capture the feeling of Star Wars brilliantly. Yes, we are bounced around planets far too much but each planet seems like a real place where life is going on. It is the inclusion of small background details and great production design that make the film a visual treat. It is also this film that gave me possibly my favourite moment in any Star Wars film ever. I won't spoil it here but if you know you know. That scene alone is worth watching this film over again, that is how good it is. A bit of a messy product overall but with enough passion and brilliant action to make it a worth while watch.
#6: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
The first step into Disney's Star Wars and it definitely started with a bang. This may have been the most excited I have ever been to see a film. I remember watching the trailer countless times and reading up on it before it came out. I had never done that with any film before. And after I saw it for the first time I loved it. I didn't think it matched up to the original trilogy but I was very, very impressed. Now, I have seen it twice since and I think my hype may have boosted my opinion of the film first time around. Do not get me wrong, I still really enjoy it and it is a very good film, but it does have problems that I overlooked first time around. The most obvious one is that the film is effectively just a remake of 'A New Hope'. I didn't really notice this first time around but second and third time it is quite glaring how similar this film is to that one. My second issue with the film is that it drags a little in the second act and I found myself a little bored. This issue is a much more personal one than the first problem but it is still an issue none the less. But on the whole this is a very good Star Wars film. The production design is superb, and the world building the film does through its sets and alien designs is brilliant. The special effects are also fantastic. The mix of practical with CGI blends almost seamlessly, especially during the action scenes which are all brilliantly directed and are exhilarating to watch. I also really like all the new characters and the casting for all of them is spot on. There is not a bad performance in this film. Even Harrison Ford, who I was a little worried might just phone it in, is superb. Yes, the film is basically just 'A New Hope' all over again and it does drag at times, but the new characters alongside the top notch production design, special effects and action sequences make it a fun ride and a film I will keep coming back to.
#5: Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Here we get to what I feel is the first controversial pick in this list (don't worry, it isn't the last). This is a film that upon in it's initial release I did not care to see in the cinema due to the fact that I was concerned that it would ruin the character of Han Solo. But when I did come to watch it I had a really fun time with it. It did have it's problems and if you want to read about how I felt about it after my first viewing I have a full review on this blog (be warned it is a grammatical atrocity). Upon second viewing I was curious to see if my feelings towards the film would stay the same or if my initial low expectations had meant that my immediate reaction after seeing it first time was too high praise. I can confirm that my feelings remain pretty much in the same place. This film has its issues and some of the narrative choices in regards to Han's character still rub me the wrong way, but this film is an unbelievably good time. One thing that has changed from my first viewing is my opinions of Woody Harrelson and Emilia Clarke's performances. Looking back I think I was a little to harsh on them as they both do really good jobs. But apart from this I would say my original review is pretty much how I feel about the film now. The effects in this film, both practical and CGI, are absolutely stellar and some of the best across the entire Star Wars franchise and all the actions scenes are a ton of fun and have real weight to them. It has some narrative problems that shouldn't be overlooked, but the script on the whole is great with some brilliant comedic moments and an emotional depth as well. Alden Ehrenreich puts in a really great performance but unfortunately does not fully capture the character of Han Solo, but I genuinely don't think any one could so this is not all that much of a criticism. But mostly it is just an absolute riot. If you're looking for a film that delves deep and develops the Han Solo character this probably isn't it. But if you are looking for a fun, rip roaring adventure that feels like a Star Wars film then this absolutely hits the spot.
#4: Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
Talk about a controversial placing. I really enjoyed this film the first time I watched it, and yet there was a lot of people who absolutely hated it and continue to hate it. After discussing the film with people I could definitely understand where they were coming from, but I continued to champion the film. However, I was doing this having only seen the film once and so coming into it the second time I wondered whether my judgement had been clouded by my overall love for Star Wars. The answer is no it was not. Second time around I still really enjoyed this film and maybe even liked it more. There are some really dumb moments in the film, and we will get to them, but overall I think this is a great film and one that I see myself coming back to time and time again. Firstly I do want to mention the scene of Leia flying through space. I may like this film but even I can agree that this is one of the dumbest moments in Star Wars history and I do kind of hate it. But this moment is not so heinous for me that it completely overshadows all the stuff I love about this film and there is much more stuff I love than dislike. This film is one of the most interesting Star Wars films in terms of themes and it's visual style. There are so many really interesting visual choices which I think really work. The scene in the cave is the best example of this. It is a beautiful scene to look at and has brilliant sound design and it is one of the most intriguing scenes in any Star Wars film. The film also carries on from 'The Force Awakens' with its visual scope and spectacular special effects. The final battle is a visual treat as well as being an exciting action set piece filled with emotion. Yes it has the silly Rose and Finn kiss which seemingly comes out of nowhere, but again it doesn't overshadow the entire scene. The strongest parts of this film for come in the scenes between Rey and Luke. I love this whole relationship and every scene involving these two. I know a lot of people felt like they butchered Luke's character, but I actually really like the changes and I feel like they explained these changes well and I believed that Luke would have become this character. Kylo Ren also continues to be a brilliant character and once again has some of the best scenes in the film, including that kick ass lightsaber fight. I did like and still do like, 'The Force Awakens' but after that film I was clamouring to see something new and interesting and 'The Last Jedi' absolutely delivers on this, both narratively and visually. I really, really enjoy this film and I see it becoming the one film of all the sequels which I will come back to the most.
#3: Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
This was the film I was most curious to rewatch. As a child I remember this one being my favourite, but it slipped down the list as I got older. This is also the film from the original trilogy which I haven't seen in the longest time and so I was curious to see if I would still love it or if it would go down in my estimation even more. Yeah this film is still great. It is the weakest of the original trilogy, but it is still a film that just puts a smile on my face. Lets pick out the bad bits first, there aren't all that many but they are there. First of all, the Ewoks. Now, I don't hate these little hairy bastards but the older I get the less interested I am in them, although I still feel they have their place in the film and I don't despise them like a lot of people seem to do. The only other negative I can really think of is in the Special Edition additions. The effects from the original 1983 release still look incredible, but the added CGI effects from the 90s just don't hold up at all. And that added song in Jabba's Palace can literally fuck off. It is one of the worst moments in Star Wars history, and that includes the entirety of 'Episode II: Attack of the Clones'. If you can watch that scene and not want to gauge your eyes out you're lying to yourself. Fortunately, this film is good enough (and that scene is short enough) that this is forgotten almost as soon as it happens. The production design, special effects and direction remain as good as they are in the previous two films and the actors are also still doing great jobs. There aren't many new characters in this film but we are given larger glimpses of characters we were introduced to in the previous two films, with these being Jabba the Hutt and The Emperor. Both are two of the most iconic villains of all time. The design of Jabba is brilliant, and the puppetry on him is incredible. You feel he is a real, living thing. This is helped by the production design in his palace and on his barge. The small details and array of aliens (shout out to my boy Max Rebo) throughout these opening scenes with Jabba makes it one of the most memorable opening acts to a scene I have ever seen. And of course Palpatine is a ton of hammy fun. The greatest strength of this film is the Luke and Vader scenes. Yes the action scenes are all brilliant and a continuation of the whole adventure vibe the original trilogy created, but the Luke and Vader scenes are the emotional heart of the film and they are shot and performed brilliantly. And this film has the best lightsaber fight in the whole Star Wars franchise. It is well choreographed but also feels real and the emotional weight throughout is stunning. The film also has a really satisfying ending and ties everything together brilliantly. Yes, it is the worst of the original trilogy but it is still a superb film and I still love it. Also Luke's green lightsaber is best lightsaber. Fight me.
#2: Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
Here is where it all started. In the year of our lord 1977 George Lucas unleashed 'Star Wars: A New Hope' into our world and changed life forever. This may be a slight exaggeration, but the impact that this film had on the world is almost unmatched in pop culture. It also had an enormous impact on me personally, even watching it now. It has been quite a while since I sat down and watched this film all the way through, and looking at it with older eyes there are some issues. The weird, wooden dialogue and acting that is so prevalent in the prequel series can also be seen here, although it only comes in flutters rather than existing throughout the whole runtime. Also, the new CGI effects that were added in the Special Editions have not aged well at all. They're not horrendous, but they don't look great through modern eyes. The ironic thing about this is that the special effects from the original 1977 release still hold up remarkably well. The use of actual, physical props mean that these effects still look remarkable now and also add so much feeling and emotion to all the action scenes. The characters are all so iconic in this film. Luke, Leia and Han are all are brilliantly written and brilliantly performed and are characters that have never been matched in prequel, sequel or spin off territory. It is also the film that birthed the greatest villain in film history in Darth Vader, a character who I just adore. The films longevity is remarkable and it is one that I could have on repeat constantly. The best thing about watching this film again is just the huge smile that I had right from the opening crawl. Even though I knew almost every beat of the film and was even reciting some lines while watching it despite how long it has been since I saw it, I was still completely swept up in the emotion and action throughout the film. I was laughing, I was fearful, I was sad and I was joyful. It is a film that has had such an impact on me and continues to do so to this day. After gushing about it like this you may be thinking that the series could never be better than this, right?
#1: Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
And to absolutely no one's surprise 'The Empire Strikes Back' is in numero uno. Not only is this film my favourite Star Wars film but it is also one of my favourite films of all time. My god this film is just brilliant. Re-watching this there is almost nothing negative I can find about it. Maybe that some of the green screen effects look a bit dated, but that is really scraping the bottom of the barrel. What can I say, it's just incredible. All the best things about Star Wars are in this film. The production design in this film is brilliant. From the design of the planets to the new alien designs, you get the sense that this is truly an 'alien' universe which has been lived in. The special effects are also still incredible to look at and hold up brilliantly well. The characters introduced in a New Hope are no better than there are in this film, especially Han Solo who is portrayed perfectly by Harrison Ford in this film. The wit and humour of the character is never better, but it is also the most emotional depth the character has except maybe in the sequel films. This is also the film where we were first introduced to Yoda and I would argue that his introduction may be one of the greatest character introductions in all film. It may just be a puppet, but he feels like a real, alive thing with a personality and watching this again made me really bitter about the raw deal that the character got in the prequels. This film also just moves from brilliant scene to brilliant scene. It never lets up and every sequence feels like an adventure and is engaging and enthralling. This film also gets rid of the dodgy writing and acting that appears in 'A New Hope'. It is also the most quotable film of the whole franchise (I am not including meme quotes because fuck you) and also has one of the best lightsaber fights in the whole franchise. Yes, it doesn't involve all the flips and fancy choreography that you see in the prequels, but it is an unmatched moment of emotion and feels far more real than any of the fights in the prequels. And I would be remiss to not mention that this is the film that does have the most famous 'Star Wars' moment of all time. Even if you have never seen a 'Star Wars' film in your life you know exactly what I am talking about. It is a moment that is done brilliantly and has all the emotion and shock you need from it. I just can't praise this film enough. It is one of those almost perfect films and even watching it now I am so enthralled with it. It is a film that makes me feel like a kid again and I can't give it much higher praise than that.Quite easily the greatest Star Wars film of all time.
