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I was watching the 'prequel' trilogy the other day and started reflecting on this. Alot of people say your favorite installments in this series depends greatly on which generation you came from. I guess there can be some truth to that, but I think artistically, the films can be measured universally rather than just blind loyalty to one trilogy or the other. Here are my picks:
1) Star Wars: A New Hope - Forever changed the way we see films and remains enchanting to this day. I prefer the theatrical version over the "enhanced" ones. I could go on and on but you get the picture.
2) Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back - If this was Nascar, "Empire" would be artistically drafting the bumper of "New Hope" around every turn. Possibly one of the finest sequels ever created. And I wish Lucas had stayed with that treatment. There were no super human feats of heroism as much as raw courage on display here. And no one is safe from injury or possible death. The tension is palpable and forever paints Vader in the manner I will always see him - Unrepenting Evil.
3) Stars Wars: Revenge of the Sith - Watching Hayden Christensen light up like a pack of luckies makes this film redeeming on principle alone. But seriously, I enjoyed his fall from grace and I liked the fact his demeanor did become so consumed by the "Dark Side" that he could no longer distinguish good from evil. Overall not bad and easily the best in that trilogy.
4) Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - The only thing that keeps this film from plummeting to the bottom of my list is the simple fact it had better casting than the remaining two. Script-wise I hated this film. When we last saw Luke he was in the glutches of defeat, unsure of his place in the world, and feeling the weight of the revelation that Vader could be his father. What a great way to start another installment right? Wrong. Upon first glimpse we find that Luke is now a studly Jedi. His confidence is unexplained and he waltzes into Jabba's lair to rescue Han like he's bored and needs something to do on his lunch break. Jabba looks like a Tequila worm resident and offers little menace as suggested by Han's earlier fears. And don't even get me started on the Rebel Teddy bears...STOP IT! Don't even defend it. I'm not listening Hasbro.
Darth Vader however is tampered with the most. This villian who cut his son's hand off without the slightest hesitation has suddenly developed "heart" and wants to be Dr. Feel with his son. He just kicked Luke's rear but unexplainably concedes, "You are all powerful as the Emperor has prophesized." HUH? Okayeee. Anyway the whole film runs opposite of Empire. Everyone becomes incredibly heroic, even when they don't seem to be trying and to bury the proverbial hatchet in my skull Darth Vader, evil incarnate, is revealed to be...Jonathan Winters.
The real story here is that Lucas gave into the dark side of Hasbro. He completely sold out to commercialism and what should have been one of the greatest trilogies of all time ended with a thud... or is it a crack of plastic? I'm not sure which.
5) Star Wars: Attack of the Clones - Where to start? Well I'll keep it short and sweet with one line from the film - "I am still haunted by your kiss." Can someone just knock him over the head and be done with it? Instead of being on the Jedi Council, he should have been appointed president for the Virgins R' Us society. God, I don't think I ever squirmed in a theater chair as much as I did weathering that horrid dialog. How Lucas could have conceived such a thing, let alone the delivery of it, is almost more than I can imagine. And Yoda fighting like Daffy Duck at the end was more than a stretch. If he can fight like that, can't he concentrate just a little to knock off the limp?
I periodically put the film back in because I want to make sure I saw what I saw. Nothing has changed.
6) Star Wars: The Phantom Menace - I have but one question... How many people, upon leaving the theater after quiting their jobs or getting fired for standing in line to be the first to see this film, located the closest bridge and jumped? Surely it must be in the thousands. Even Lucas squirmed at the revolt against his picture. What can we say? One name - Jar Jar Binks. Only Jay Leno could answer this with a question - "What were you thinking about?" Of course that was never directed at Lucas but it sure fit the consensus of most ticket buyers. Jake Lloyd was as stale as a day old piece of bread left out. And the thought he would get it on later with Padme' made me more than a little squeamish. His abilities were over the top and the acting in general was stilted at best. Two high points - I liked Darth Maul but they didn't give him really anything to do and I thought Ewan McGregor was the best casting choice for Obi Wan. Outside of that, this was easily the most anticipated letdown of all time.
1) Star Wars: A New Hope - Forever changed the way we see films and remains enchanting to this day. I prefer the theatrical version over the "enhanced" ones. I could go on and on but you get the picture.
2) Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back - If this was Nascar, "Empire" would be artistically drafting the bumper of "New Hope" around every turn. Possibly one of the finest sequels ever created. And I wish Lucas had stayed with that treatment. There were no super human feats of heroism as much as raw courage on display here. And no one is safe from injury or possible death. The tension is palpable and forever paints Vader in the manner I will always see him - Unrepenting Evil.
3) Stars Wars: Revenge of the Sith - Watching Hayden Christensen light up like a pack of luckies makes this film redeeming on principle alone. But seriously, I enjoyed his fall from grace and I liked the fact his demeanor did become so consumed by the "Dark Side" that he could no longer distinguish good from evil. Overall not bad and easily the best in that trilogy.
4) Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - The only thing that keeps this film from plummeting to the bottom of my list is the simple fact it had better casting than the remaining two. Script-wise I hated this film. When we last saw Luke he was in the glutches of defeat, unsure of his place in the world, and feeling the weight of the revelation that Vader could be his father. What a great way to start another installment right? Wrong. Upon first glimpse we find that Luke is now a studly Jedi. His confidence is unexplained and he waltzes into Jabba's lair to rescue Han like he's bored and needs something to do on his lunch break. Jabba looks like a Tequila worm resident and offers little menace as suggested by Han's earlier fears. And don't even get me started on the Rebel Teddy bears...STOP IT! Don't even defend it. I'm not listening Hasbro.
Darth Vader however is tampered with the most. This villian who cut his son's hand off without the slightest hesitation has suddenly developed "heart" and wants to be Dr. Feel with his son. He just kicked Luke's rear but unexplainably concedes, "You are all powerful as the Emperor has prophesized." HUH? Okayeee. Anyway the whole film runs opposite of Empire. Everyone becomes incredibly heroic, even when they don't seem to be trying and to bury the proverbial hatchet in my skull Darth Vader, evil incarnate, is revealed to be...Jonathan Winters.
The real story here is that Lucas gave into the dark side of Hasbro. He completely sold out to commercialism and what should have been one of the greatest trilogies of all time ended with a thud... or is it a crack of plastic? I'm not sure which.5) Star Wars: Attack of the Clones - Where to start? Well I'll keep it short and sweet with one line from the film - "I am still haunted by your kiss." Can someone just knock him over the head and be done with it? Instead of being on the Jedi Council, he should have been appointed president for the Virgins R' Us society. God, I don't think I ever squirmed in a theater chair as much as I did weathering that horrid dialog. How Lucas could have conceived such a thing, let alone the delivery of it, is almost more than I can imagine. And Yoda fighting like Daffy Duck at the end was more than a stretch. If he can fight like that, can't he concentrate just a little to knock off the limp?
I periodically put the film back in because I want to make sure I saw what I saw. Nothing has changed.
6) Star Wars: The Phantom Menace - I have but one question... How many people, upon leaving the theater after quiting their jobs or getting fired for standing in line to be the first to see this film, located the closest bridge and jumped? Surely it must be in the thousands. Even Lucas squirmed at the revolt against his picture. What can we say? One name - Jar Jar Binks. Only Jay Leno could answer this with a question - "What were you thinking about?" Of course that was never directed at Lucas but it sure fit the consensus of most ticket buyers. Jake Lloyd was as stale as a day old piece of bread left out. And the thought he would get it on later with Padme' made me more than a little squeamish. His abilities were over the top and the acting in general was stilted at best. Two high points - I liked Darth Maul but they didn't give him really anything to do and I thought Ewan McGregor was the best casting choice for Obi Wan. Outside of that, this was easily the most anticipated letdown of all time.
-Tallahassee 
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