Bypass Avenue

Star Wars will always be a fun experience for long time fans and casual viewers.

Happy May the 4th! As a lifelong Star Wars fan who was blown away by A New Hope in 70mm Dolby stereo at the Cinerama theater in Honolulu back in 1977, here’s my ranking of the top 10 Star Wars movies:

1. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope: The original remains the best. Its epic story, characters, action, sound, visuals, and soundtrack were revolutionary. Nothing like it had ever been seen before, instantly making Star Wars my favorite space-based science fiction movie, and my favorite film of all time.
2. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980): Often cited as the greatest, Empire had the same “wow” factor as the original, amplified by the shocking “I Am Your Father” reveal. It solidified Star Wars as a sprawling epic that would endure. It’s a brilliant film that left you craving more.
3. Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983): This epic conclusion to the original trilogy brought Luke, Leia, Han, and even Darth Vader’s redemption full circle. I loved the introduction of Ian McDiarmid as the evil Emperor in this film. 
4. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005): The dark and epic final chapter of the prequels, showcasing the Emperor’s grip on power and Anakin’s tragic fall to the dark side as Darth Vader after his devastating duel with Obi-Wan. His redemption in Episode VI made this tragedy all the more poignant.
5. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002): My only Star Wars IMAX experience at the now-closed Waikiki IMAX theater, enhanced this movie’s awesomeness. This film marked the beginning of the Clone Wars as Padmé, Anakin, and Obi-Wan faced the Separatist threat.
6. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999): This highly anticipated prequel revealed Anakin Skywalker’s Force-sensitive origins and his mentorship under Obi-Wan. The looming dark side threatened the Republic, and Anakin’s epic podrace showcased his exceptional piloting skills and his destiny as the Chosen One.
7. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016): A solid bridge film explaining how the rebels obtained the Death Star plans, seamlessly leading into the original Star Wars storyline. The use of A.I. actors was a notable aspect.
8. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015): I appreciated how this film began to expand the Star Wars narrative beyond the original saga of the Skywalkers and Han Solo.
9. Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017): This film felt somewhat confusing, particularly the portrayal of Luke Skywalker. Perhaps a rewatch would offer more clarity.
10. Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019): A messy conclusion that supposedly ended the Star Wars movie saga as we knew it. It’s interesting that Episodes VII-IX diverged from George Lucas’s original storylines, with Disney opting for different narratives to conclude the Skywalker saga, a decision that was a mistake.

Ultimately, while Star Wars remains beloved, it has become a different universe since Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm. The expansion into numerous movies and TV shows, primarily aimed at driving subscriptions to Disney Plus/Hulu/ESPN, doesn’t make the series special to me. The sheer volume of content behind the Disney paywall, lacks the special quality of the original six films, has diminished my interest.

The Fan Force is no longer strong with me.