What is the best Star Wars trilogy? (2023)

Ranking of the bestwar of the galaxiesTrilogy is a monumental task. Movies are as divisive as the Grand Canyon dividing two plateaus. It would be difficult to defend one story over the other without throwing a proverbial tomato in its general direction.

The epic space opera spans nearly four decades as of this writing, with plenty to explore across the eleven films released to date. (Twelve if you're one of the brave few to include thatAmado Star Wars Christmas Special) With many production and story changes over the years, the series has earned its share of praise and criticism.

Needless to say, iAlsoI have my own opinion on the series. WithThe Rise of Skywalkeraround the corner, I feel compelled to share my thoughts on the saga and where each trilogy falls on the official Shanerator spectrum.

* dons his armor and prepares for the upcoming tomato barrage*

Use:In case you haven't seen some of the films, this article contains themSpoilerfor allwar of the galaxiesMovies between Episodes I – XIII.

you have been warned

the original trilogy

Ah yes, the films that started it all. Few could have foreseen the historic and groundbreaking eventA new hopewith their 1977 debut, and even less could they have expected the film series to become what it is.hallo -one of the largest IPs in history and one of the most profitable franchises in almost every market segment in existence. Heck, there's even a perfume inspired by Carrie Fisher's Slave Leia.available for purchase.

But what made these original films so special?WhyWould the risky first film gross many times its tiny $11 million budget and be the highest-grossing film ever made for several years?

Erasanders.

Up until this point in film history, audiences had never seen anything quite like Star Wars. With its memorable characters, stunning special effects, and intriguing premises, the original trilogy has earned its place as one of the titans of modern entertainment.

The professionals

Okay, I'll stop raving and go a little deeper into my personal thoughts on the series. For me, the most important aspect of the first three films that I like the most is the characters and the interactions between them. This may sound blasphemous (although some may thinkanystrong opinions aboutwar of the galaxiesoverall blasphemous) given the myriad other elements that make the original trilogy great, but listen to me.

Without a great cast, the film will likely suffer. The film may have the greatest and most interesting premise in the world, but without solid stars to carry the story, it will fail. the original trilogy had the benefit of not only having a great original premise, butAlsoa strong cast team to facilitate escapism in the space opera universe.

when I think about thatatIn the movies I've seen so far, I remember the interactions between these actors more vividly than in most other movies. And I also mean films outsidewar of the galaxiesUniverse. From Luke Skywalker's upbeat attitude to Han Solo's dark personality to Lando Calrissian's undeniable swagger, the list of memorable portrayals of these characters is endless. Fans are divided intoQualityof the writing George Lucas imbued his characters with, but few can deny the importance of the world he built and the people who inhabit it.

The other big facet of the original trilogy that really appeals to me personally is the element ofIntrigue.Of the three trilogiesThat's itone of them spoke to me the most in terms ofwant to see what happens next.Don't get me wrong, there are many instances in the otherwar of the galaxiesMovies that keep me coming back; but there's an eerie aura to the fictional universe that draws my attention to the first three films more than any of the others.

AStrengthit piques my curiosity, so to speak. (boo dum, tsssh)

Bad puns aside, the biggest light fruit I can provide as an example to illustrate my case isThe Empire Strikes Back. The sequence is widely considered the best in the series, and one of the main reasons is the iconic "I am your father" sequence at the end of the film. I can't even pretend to imagine what the public has been waiting forReturn of the Jedi.

The disadvantages

If there's one gripe I can take away from the first three films, it's the dated special effects, editing, and fight choreography. Some of these aspects show your age. (and fan releaseslike thismakes me wish some items were updated)

That's not necessarily a fair bone, of course, given that it's been over forty years since the original.war of the galaxiesmovie released. So I have to agree with the original trilogy when in doubt.

But fortunately, we made changes to Lucas Special Edition to address potential issues with the original films. (slight sarcasm)

A prequel trilogy

One of the best memories I have of my youth is seeingThe Phantom Menacefor the first time. I still watch the final battle between the Trade Federation and the Gungan Army with childish awe, and the confrontation between Darth Maul and the two Jedi with utter emotion. There's a lot to love about the film and indeed the prequel trilogy as a whole.

let me explain.

The professionals

What I absolutely lovemostabout the second series of films from Star is theUniverse.Narratively and visually, the prequel trilogy took Star Wars to a whole new level; a level that simply could not be reached in the original trilogy due to budget or technological constraints.

From a narrative point of view: Star Warsfeellike a true space opera in these three films given the robustness of the universe presented. I understand that one of the many criticisms of the prequel trilogy is that it relies too much on political undertones, and the 8-year-old in me agrees. All he wanted back then was more lightsaber combat. But I really appreciate what Lucas tried to do to fill the world. Featuring the exciting mix of new alien races, planets and rival factionsquitewas integrated into the Star Wars universe, populating it with a rich and interesting story.

Visually, one could say a lot about the prequel trilogy.The Phantom MenaceWe were treated to the vast underwater world of Naboo.attack two clonesdelivered exciting combat sequences in the arid wastes of Geonosis. The long-awaited confrontation between Obi-Wan and Anakin took place on the fiery surface of MustafarRache der Sith. While much of the original trilogy is pretty bland in looks and color, the prequels almost go in the opposite direction. Some would say this is detrimental to the series; I, on the other hand, appreciate the effort to expand the universe in this way. Even if some things aren't CGIperfect.

The disadvantages

But unfortunately not all changes to the series were necessaryparts listchanges. If you've seen a few Star Wars prequels, you're probably aware of some of the lackluster aspects of the films. I agree with many of them. The most problematic of these for me personally are partly the below-average acting in the films, especially from theDirectorCharacter: Anakin Skywalker himself.

Too bad the two actors who played Anakin Skywalker before Vader (Jake Lloyd and Hayden Christensen) aren't exactly Oscar material. It's hard to find good child actors, and Jake Lloyd for meThe Phantom Menacedid not fit the definition well. your screen interactions withGreatActors like Ewan McGregor aren't that convincing. Not to mention how badaspectlike its adult counterpart. But I digress.

Likewise, Hayden Christensen's performance is adequate at best and downright ridiculous at worst. In some of the most moving moments of the prequels, the dead delivery of his lines can make it hard for me to stay invested from moment to moment. Most fans of the series consider Jar Jar Binks disgraceful, but I can get over his childish behavior due to the ridiculous alien race he belongs to. The Gungans are part of the Star Wars universe, and I might as well swallow that pill for the sake of the plot. But when it comes to core elements of the cinematic experience, like thatPerfomance -TheI can't easily miss it.

While it may appear so, this isn't meant to be another explanatory "Hayden-Christensen bash" tune. Apparently he had somegreat films of the past, and some critics would argue that Lucas' script was responsible for Anakin's divisive portrayal. I'm not here to say whose fault it is. But the main point is thisEvadeThat's important to me as a theatergoer. And that level of emotional involvement can be hard to sustain when the protagonist isn't believable.

However, there's no denying the quality of the memes that saw the light of day through the prequels.

Continuation of the trilogy

surprises no oneThe Force Awakenswas announced shortly after Disney's historic acquisition of the Star Wars intellectual property in 2012. Since then we've seen several parts of the series, which consists of no less than two additions to the "Skywalker Saga" and two re-releases anthology series. At the time of writing this article,Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalkeris only a few months away with tickets on saleranked even higher than Avengers: Endgame.

To say all this: whether you like it or not,war of the galaxiesis here to stay. But where does that place the sequel trilogy in the spectrum of other films? While the box office potential is undeniable, the recent wave of films has garnered some of the harshest reviews yet.

To supplement my personal observations so far, I'll break down some of the positive aspects of the more recent films. (Use:impostorThe Rise of Skywalkerstill has to hit theaters, I'll cheat a bit and include the anthology films in my review) No doubt there will be some naysayers that put me off; But still, I think these recent films have some redeeming qualities that make them worth seeing.

The professionals

In my breakdown of the prequel trilogy above, I assumed what Lucasfilm did in expanding the Star Wars universe. Different homeworlds like Kashyyyk and Naboo have been explored in depth along with their unique inhabitants, creating the fantasy of the universe. However, from a strictvisualScenes don't always age well. For me, the most glaring example of this is the epic Jedi Master vs. Apprentice battle on Mustafar – the use of green screen and CGI sticks out like a sore thumb.

Sequel Trilogy largely fixes that and features some of itimproveVFX I've seen over the last few years.the last jedi, for example, features stunning environments and beautiful cinematography in multiple sequences. One of my favorite visual moments in the film involvesAdmiral Holdo's Last Stand: Performing a maneuver in which the Rebel flagship was intentionally hurled onto Snoke's own ship in order to save the Rebel fleet. While the behind-the-scenes narrative merits themselves are up for debate, the jump into hyperspace has been scrapped.twelve,both visually and audibly (through the use of aLackAudio).

a villainIt's on par with some of my favorite Star Wars films, and the expert camerawork and visual effects play a big part in that preference. In his few appearances, Darth Vader has never looked scarier. Using cinematic techniques such as forced perspective and overhead shots, the Sith Lord controlled his inner fear and anger in his interactions with Orson Krennic and the Rebel Alliance, respectively.

Similarly, the pivotal fight at Scarif put the viewer right in the heart of the action. For the first time I felt like I was on the battlefield with foot soldiers and witnessed first hand the looming threat posed by the AT-ATs as they cast their intimidating shadow over us.

While the visual effects and cinematography are certainly mineFavoriteAspects of the sequel trilogy, there are other elements that I really liked like the fight choreography and the deliberate pacing. However, these are largelyvisualAttributes Where does the trilogy stand in relation tosatisfied¿va?

It depends who you ask. Many fans despised the films ever sinceThe Force Awakens, with complaints about the franchise's "Disneyification" as well as major changes to the popular lore (thanks largely to director Rian Johnson).

Overall I agree with the tonal shift that went into the series. It's really hard to condense every objective change into a few statements, but that's what it boils down to for meThat's it:

the movies aloneI don't feel the same

The disadvantages

I won't go into the political implications of the Mouse House for the vision of the franchise as a whole, but rather the scope and essence of what I know.war of the galaxieslook significantly different than before.

One of the main complaints I have about the last two films is the narrow focus on the ragtag band of rebels made up of the likes of Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron. My reservations aren't necessarily with the characters themselves, but with the howkleinWe see from other fascinating angles of thewar of the galaxiesGalaxy. One could argue that the original trilogy did the same thing: only focused on the core group and their individual motivations.

But what I felt was necessary for the development of the series was more or less achieved in the prequel trilogy with its expansion of the universe. We met several alien races, encountered intense political intrigue and witnessed the culmination of several events leading up to itA new hopeand his later companions. With the start ofEpisode VII: The Force Awakens, I feel that the series started from a timeregression,and removed the broad epic scope that spilled over into Episodes I through III. And the feel of a true space opera: a sense of wonder, mystery, and melodrama that all seems to be suppressed in the later chapters.

For me, that epic feeling has largely been replaced by something moreaction-oriented approach.

I can't tell if this is oneparts listthing as it is a matter of personal opinion. But I will say: I miss that childlike wonder when I see something newwar of the galaxiesmovie for the first time. Since the debut ofThe Force AwakensI felt that in 2015war of the galaxiesIt became more of a fun popcorn experience than a deep dive into a galaxy far, far away.

Maybe I'm getting old.

Diploma

so whatesthe bestwar of the galaxiesTrilogy?

Elements from all three trilogies can be found at a high levelwar of the galaxiessaga that I personally find very entertaining. As such, I consider it a futile effort to sort them into a definitive order, as each set of films is vastly different from the next. Like apples and oranges, each trilogy is cute in its own way and appeals to different demographics.

I find it easy to play salon critic and point out the shortcomings of films. It's even easier to go along with the zeitgeist of the mob mentality and let the vocal minority sway my opinions about films. But looking through the many vociferous comments, something occurred to me:

The other side of the coin, a bit too critical to look at, is the fact thatCautious so much for that.

Regardless of how I feel about the general directionwar of the galaxiesup, I look forward to the new trailer every time it comes out. Although the level of satisfaction I getRise of SkywalkerRemains to be seen, I'm still looking forward to the discussions and impact the film is having on the franchise as a whole.

The films themselves are only a small part of the puzzle. part of what he doeswar of the galaxiesThe fandom is so much fun and the pop culture paradigm changes with each new issue. I understand youhe can notThe new changes are welcome changes, but at least we're seeing efforts to increase IP rather than letting it stagnate. Each trilogy has a very different feel. and like someonelooking for unique experiences, it's exciting for me as a viewer not to know exactly what to expect.

It's never been a better time to bewar of the galaxiesFan.

Update from 12/22/19:

After visiting our websiteRise of SkywalkerPremiered a few days ago, I've been reflecting on my thoughts on the film and series as a whole now that all three trilogies have been fully released.

I left with some new discoveries.

One of the biggest in recent memory is that theRise of SkywalkerIt didn't up the last trilogy for me. I know I'm in the minority within my immediate sphere of influence (and perhaps beyond), but I contend that he did moreincorrectIs correct. right in the middledivisive critical consensusI went to the premiere with an open mind as some of my absolute favorite films have been directed by critics I know and respect.

Having seen the film myself, I tend to side with the critics.

The final highlight of the trilogy was undoubtedly a fun and entertaining film. But I'm not convinced it wasGreatStar Wars movie. There wasmanyMoments in the film that I felt were undeserved, rushed, or dazzled by its presentation. comedian, nerd etcwar of the galaxiesThe enthusiastic Christian Spicer captured my feelings perfectly when he said:

"BelieveThe Rise of Skywalkershare a lotThe Dark Knight rises. Both were probably hurt by the untimely death of an actor who was set to play a lead role, both had moments I LOVED, both tried to do too much for a movie, both were the underdogs in their trilogy.

Perhaps later viewings will soothe my hardened perception of the film, but my first impressions were not positive. But for me, believe it or not, there were a number of good things that happenedThose onescome out of the movie, one of which is being able to compare and contrast the movies in the Skywalker saga and all are now officially released.

In my previous post, prior to the original update, I moved away from the idea of ​​definitively sorting setswar of the galaxiesMovies instead of saying "They're all great!" getting closer. Don't get me wrong, I still hold on to this ideology:All three trilogies have elements that make them great in their own way.. But with at least one ad fromeveryrealwar of the galaxiesfilm of the current saga on my resume, I've changed my mind.

I now have a formal Shanerator ratingwar of the galaxiestrilogies. Here it is:

1. Prequel-Trilogy

2. Original trilogy

3. Sequential Trilogy

let me explain. That is, if you haven't already stopped reading because of my earlier personal feelingsRise of Skywalker.

The prequel trilogy has been criticized for poor acting (or writing, depending on who you ask), uneven CGI, and questionable decisionscertain elements of action.When comparing parts of thewar of the galaxiesTriptych, I continue to land the prequel trilogy as my clear winner.

"Why?" you ask?

It all boils down to two main factors:Nostalgiajworld building.

I have good memories ofThe Phantom Menacelike my first real onewar of the galaxiesCinematic Experience Iconic sequences like the Darth Maul duel and Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon left an indelible mark on my memory. The many hours I spent researchingwar of the galaxiesUniverse was then synonymous with the release of the prequel films. Something about watching these films again, despite their flaws, evokes a sense of childish wonder that harks back to my first viewings.

I LOVE good sci-fi because it makes it easyEvade.So I always appreciate any franchise that manages to break with the mold and feed my imagination. Outside ofanysentence ofwar of the galaxiesMovies, I think the prequel trilogy achieves thatthe best. I've talked about them at length beforeworld buildinglook achieved with this series of films, which is a key reason (along withNostalgia) why the prequel trilogy narrowly beats the original trilogy for taking the cake in my book.

* * * * *

It's crazy to think that the Skywalker saga officially came to an end with the release ofThe Rise of Skywalker. While I obviously have mixed feelings about how things ended, what George Lucas and his franchise have accomplished over the course of 40+ years is truly remarkable.

There's so much in therewar of the galaxiesUniverse. I, for one, am excited to see how far it has come and where the galaxy far, far away will end up in the next 40 years.