With Solo being the 10th movie made for the Star Wars universe, I thought it was time to rewatch and rank this entire series of films. Please be aware, I'm not a fanatic of these films. I will be ranking these based on overall production merits, not based on theories or fan service-based ideas.
Let's get started:
#10: Solo
I'm pretty sure quite a few of you guessed this would be at the bottom (either that or it would be in a tight race with another one). Solo is the least-emotionally engaging of all 10 films, is the darkest (and I say this in a very literal sense) of all 10 films, has the least memorable new characters of all the films, and clearly suffers from a lack of focus (the director change already served a sense of foreshadowing). While the last third of the film does manage to improve on the first two thirds, it overall doesn't do much for everyone in the audience (unless you're a diehard fan that can pick up on every little detail).
#9: The Phantom Menace
I can see why a lot of people don't like this film very much. It's the most tonally-inconsistent of the Star Wars films. And story-wise, its' a mess. There's too much going on, and the acting is pretty wooden and unmemorable. Not to mention, Jar Jar Binks is probably the most out-of-place and unnecessary side character ever created (his scenes and jokes never gel with the tone of the rest of the film). Menace does, however, feature some cool visual effects and a few very well-executed twists, along with a solid introduction to Anakin.
#8: Return of the Jedi
Especially coming off of Episode V, Return of the Jedi can be classified as a mild disappointment. It drags and drags, with not much plot resolve until the very end. The first 45 minutes includes several moments that should have been cut (the opening subplot involving Jabba the Hutt definitely could have been cut much shorter). At the same time, however, Return of the Jedi's ending is far better than the remainder of the film, and ranks among the best moments in the trilogy (when Luke confronts Vader and the Emperor), plus the Ewoks are pretty cute.
#7: Attack of the Clones
A major improvement over Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones has its issues but succeeds as an entertaining entry at many points. The film also includes some of the series' best visual moments, such as the planet Obi-Wan visits. Christopher Lee makes a fantastic addition to the villains gallery as the mysterious Count Dooku, and the ending battle sequence includes one of Yoda's best moments in the entire Star Wars series. On the downside, however, the filmmakers spend way too much time on the romantic subplot between Anakin and Padme, and the overall writing and acting in these scenes alone are very weak.
#6: Rogue One
As a spin-off film trying to connect the dots, Rogue One does a good job. It's not the best-paced of the entire series, as the ending battle scene goes on for way too long, but it does succeed in crafting an emotionally-compelling narrative (the ending definitely is among the series' most emotional moments). Considering at least half of the "Rogue" squadron aren't given enough depth to really become interesting (Chirrut and K-2SO are the best characters of the bunch, while Jyn is given the most character development), that's a pretty interesting accomplishment.
Meanwhile, there was a tie for the 4th spot, I couldn't pick exactly which one was ahead of the other....
A New Hope
The one that started it all is definitely one of the most entertaining and memorable entries of the franchise. For its' time, the visual effects, production design and characterization are all exceptional. There's also some of the most memorable moments from the franchise involved here too, including the Trash Compactor scene, Obi-Wan's fight with Vader, R2-D2 and C-3PO's bickering, and the plan culminating in the Death Star being destroyed. It has its slow and somewhat ridiculous moments. But all in all, A New Hope definitely serves as a nice starting point for anyone giving this galaxy far, far away a try.
The Last Jedi
Last Jedi definitely ranks as one of the more impressive movies in the franchise. For a film series driven by the same plot elements, this entry succeeds greatly in not treading the same waters. The directing is very slick and the script is full of game-changing surprises. Its' also the most distinct in its look and feel among the entire film series (production design, costumes and visual effects might be the best I've seen out of this franchise). That being said, it is weighed down a bit by a few issues. There's some forced attempts at humor, a few out-of-place scenes, and the character development could be better. But elsewhere, this might be the most unique and suspenseful entry of the entire series.
#3: Revenge of the Sith
Admittedly, I was pretty impressed with Revenge of the Sith. Unlike its previous two predecessors, this one clearly stepped up its game. With some truly heartbreaking moments, two well-executed "falls from grace", and a couple of the best fight sequences in the history of the franchise, Sith manages to keep you glued to the screen. It also relies more on its characters and their motivations rather than the visual effects (Anakin's transformation into Darth Vader is definitely loaded with understandable purpose). Now, its no doubt this is the darkest of the entire 10-film series, with a couple of genuinely horrific moments. And Hayden Christensen does have his wooden moments. But, where The Last Jedi was the most surprising and fascinating of the series, Revenge of the Sith is the most emotionally-deep and compelling of the entire series.
#2: The Force Awakens
As a reintroduction to the Star Wars universe and as a stand-alone action film, The Force Awakens is pretty fantastic. It's story feels like an old-fashioned movie, but it has some great things that make it stand on its own two feet. With a great opening, a multi-layered villain (a much-needed departure from Vader), memorable new characters, some funny moments, fantastic practical effects, and the best light saber battle out of all 10 films (in a snowy forest, its pretty unforgettable), it works even better than I expected it to. Yes, some elements do feel like they were carried over from A New Hope, and there are a couple of out-of-place CGI creations. But, Force Awakens succeeds mightily in engaging the audience.
#1: The Empire Strikes Back
Out of the entire trilogy, none of the films engage, thrill, and put you on the edge of your seat like Empire Strikes Back does. It has some of the film's best action scenes and has one of the franchise's best twists. Of course, that iconic moment of Luke finding out his parentage also is one of cinema history's most groundbreaking and memorable moments. There isn't any other moment in this franchise's history that matches that moment's poignancy. It's also one of the most ambitious films of the trilogy, with excellent production design, effects, and a memorable character journey for Luke. Yoda is also given the best lines. In terms of overall entertainment and in the surprise factor, Empire Strikes Back definitely is the master of this series.
And that's it! Next year, the franchise continues to grow with J.J Abrams returning to the directors chair for Episode IX. Can it possibly be the best one yet? We will have to see.
