Which Star Wars movie is your favorite?

[Kodos]

Yet another poll. It's like the old times!

[Kodos]

For me, it's a toss-up between A New Hope and Empire, with The Force Awakens getting a strong third place. I went with A New Hope because it was the first one, and introduced us to the whole Star Wars universe. Could just as easily have picked Empire. The Force Awakens might some day get in the conversation, but it doesn't have nostalgia on its side yet.

[flere-imsaho]

For me it's close between 7, 5 and 4, which I'd probably rank in that order as my top three. All three are great in different ways, but 7 is just overall the best executed movie of the three.

Then there's a small gap to 6 (which is good, but pretty one-dimensional, and suffers a bit from some tangents). Then there's a big gap to 3 and 2, which are good in different ways and terrible in different ways, and then a yawning chasm to 1.

[ISiddiqui]

Empire.

Here's my list (I just did a rewatch a month ago, so they are fresh in mind):

1) Empire
2) A New Hope
3) Revenge of the Sith
4) Return of the Jedi
5) Force Awakens
6) Attack of the Clones
7) Phantom Menace

Also on rewatch... the prequels aren't all that bad. Especially when you compare them to the 'average' sci-fi film. I mean they are all better than, say... Jupiter Ascending.

[Kodos]

My titles probably give away my feelings more than a little. Ones I like the best get to keep their real title.

[Kodos]

There is simply no way that Revenge of the Sith beats out Jedi, even with the Ewoks. I rewatched most of it about half a year ago with my son. It is terrible, except for Ewan McGregor. It made me root for Natalie Portman to die. And I LOVE Natalie Portman.

[larrymcg421]

1. Empire Strikes Back
2. A New Hope
3. Force Awakens
4. Return of the Jedi
5. Revenge of the Sith
6. Attack of the Clones
7. Phantom Menace

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

1. Empire Strikes Back
2. A New Hope
3. Force Awakens
4. Return of the Jedi
5. Revenge of the Sith
6. Attack of the Clones
7. Phantom Menace

This is pretty close to me. Really, the top three are so close that it hardly matters how I rank them. All are superbly enjoyable.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Kodos

There is simply no way that Revenge of the Sith beats out Jedi, even with the Ewoks. I rewatched most of it about half a year ago with my son. It is terrible, except for Ewan McGregor. It made me root for Natalie Portman to die. And I LOVE Natalie Portman.

I liked it better than Jedi when I first saw it in the theater, and I liked it better when I rewatched it a month ago. It's simply a far more compelling story and quite well done. McGregor is great, but the star of the film, by far, is McDiarmid.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by Kodos

This is pretty close to me. Really, the top three are so close that it hardly matters how I rank them. All are superbly enjoyable.

I agree with that ranking, but I am pretty much a coin flip between Revenge of the Sith and Attack of the Clones. And both of them are probably much closer to Jedi in my rankings than you would agree with, Kodos.

[Kodos]

I think there is an age divide. People who saw the originals in the theater view the prequels much more dimly than those who didn't.

[molson]

(Favorites, not what movies I think are the best.)

1. Return of the Jedi
2. A Force Awakens
3. A New Hope
4. Empire Strikes Back (it just didn't connect with me as a kid the way the others did)
5. Revenge of the Sith
6. Attack of the Clones
7. A Phantom Menace.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by Kodos

I think there is an age divide. People who saw the originals in the theater view the prequels much more dimly than those who didn't.

Definitely. I think that's why I have such a gap between Empire and A New Hope as well - it doesn't have that same trailblazing aura for me, because by the time I was around and cognizant of the world around me, all three of them were out already.

[General Mike]

4, 5, 7, 6, 3, 1, 2

[Shoveler]

I forget where I read it, but someone had a viewing order that really made sense regardless of which movies you like the best.. It went, 4, 5, 2, 3, 6 and I would imagine now you toss 7 to the tail end of that. And #1 you just disregard entirely.

That's my plan anyhow when my kids are old enough to actually watch and understand the plot of the series.

[AnalBumCover]

Originally Posted by Shoveler

I forget where I read it, but someone had a viewing order that really made sense regardless of which movies you like the best.. It went, 4, 5, 2, 3, 6 and I would imagine now you toss 7 to the tail end of that. And #1 you just disregard entirely.

That's my plan anyhow when my kids are old enough to actually watch and understand the plot of the series.

Google "Machete Order"

[Warhammer]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I liked it better than Jedi when I first saw it in the theater, and I liked it better when I rewatched it a month ago. It's simply a far more compelling story and quite well done. McGregor is great, but the star of the film, by far, is McDiarmid.

Agreed. The only bit they screwed up, which was a big deal, was Anakin's fall. The hell of it was, all they needed was a extra minute or two of Anakin and Palpatine discussing it. Palpatine could have done a minute talk of you cannot go back, etc. etc.

My list:
1). Empire
2). Star Wars
I cannot quibble with either, these are really 1 and 1A. Star Wars was the more important movie, I feel Empire was better executed.

3). Revenge of the Sith
4). Force Awakens

5). Return of the Jedi
6). Phantom Menace
These are very close in my mind. I actually do not mind Phantom Menace and think it has a bad rap. If you took out Jar Jar, it really isn't that bad.

7). Attack of the Clones

[Warhammer]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Definitely. I think that's why I have such a gap between Empire and A New Hope as well - it doesn't have that same trailblazing aura for me, because by the time I was around and cognizant of the world around me, all three of them were out already.

This still boggles my mind, I saw TESB right after it came out. Then, a month or so later, I saw Star Wars at the movie theater with my mom and a friend. Star Wars was still in the theaters 3 years after it came out!

[molson]

Originally Posted by Warhammer

This still boggles my mind, I saw TESB right after it came out. Then, a month or so later, I saw Star Wars at the movie theater with my mom and a friend. Star Wars was still in the theaters 3 years after it came out!

I think Star Wars left and would come back over the summer and holidays, and in conjunction with the release of the other Star Wars movies. It was a very different world pre-widespread home video.

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by Warhammer

Agreed. The only bit they screwed up, which was a big deal, was Anakin's fall. The hell of it was, all they needed was a extra minute or two of Anakin and Palpatine discussing it. Palpatine could have done a minute talk of you cannot go back, etc. etc.

You still would have needed Christensen to convey some sort of descent, which was possible with the material, but isn't particularly realized by the plot or the acting.

Compare to Kylo Ren, who's descending deeper into the Dark Side. We see someone who's not entirely in control of himself and his descent, who is struggling with himself, whose doubts are being preyed upon, etc....

The closest we get to this with Anakin is in his final fight with Obi-Wan, where essentially McGregor provides enough acting for two in an attempt to lend proper gravitas to the scene. It's ridiculous. So many missed opportunities.

[Kodos]

And the fight scene was so ridiculous, what with the surfing on lava and all that crap.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

You still would have needed Christensen to convey some sort of descent, which was possible with the material, but isn't particularly realized by the plot or the acting.

Compare to Kylo Ren, who's descending deeper into the Dark Side. We see someone who's not entirely in control of himself and his descent, who is struggling with himself, whose doubts are being preyed upon, etc....

The closest we get to this with Anakin is in his final fight with Obi-Wan, where essentially McGregor provides enough acting for two in an attempt to lend proper gravitas to the scene. It's ridiculous. So many missed opportunities.

Did we ever learn why Kylo turned to the dark side in the first place?

I thought plot-wise the prequels were fine in explaining and showing why Anakin turned to the dark side. The acting on the other hand...

[Suicane75]

Jedi for me, and I'm sure a lot has to do with the fact that although I saw Empire in the theater, I was only 5 or 6. By the time Jedi came out I had seen the first two at bunch of times on TV and going to see Jedi was an event. Every kid in our apartment complex went to see it together, it was a happening. All that being said, people shit on it for the Ewoks, but the first and last acts of Jedi are fucking awesome. Luke avenging Han, killing fuckers on that desert ship, then taking down Vader and the Emperor at the end. I spit in the direction of people who hate on Jedi.

[Kodos]

Yeah, there is plenty of good stuff in Jedi. The ewoks detract from it some, but not enough to ruin the movie.

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Did we ever learn why Kylo turned to the dark side in the first place?

Yep.

I thought plot-wise the prequels were fine in explaining and showing why Anakin turned to the dark side. The acting on the other hand...

Yes, absolutely. Plenty of material, plot-wise, and completely unrealized by the acting and direction.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

All that being said, people shit on it for the Ewoks, but the first and last acts of Jedi are fucking awesome.

But that's the main problem. The first and last arcs of RotJ are good. The middle is relatively useless. Also, while the light saber battle between Luke and Vader in front of the Emperor is fantastic, the whole "we need to take down the rebuilt Death Star" plot was silly (same reason I rank TFA low - its basically the 3rd let's destroy the Death Star plot).

[stevew]

All of the prequels are really bad. Even Sith is pretty awful. Of the 3 prequels, TPM actually has the most "good" stuff in it. That's because Neesons and McGregor are both great actors. Natalie Portman and the teen Darth were both wretched in 2/3

[NobodyHere]

My first order is 4,5,3,6,2,1.

I waiting on ranking episode 7 until I see it a few more times.

[VPI97]

Originally Posted by Warhammer

This still boggles my mind, I saw TESB right after it came out. Then, a month or so later, I saw Star Wars at the movie theater with my mom and a friend. Star Wars was still in the theaters 3 years after it came out!

I did the same thing. I was only 3 when Star Wars came out, so my first experience in a theater with the movies (that I can remember) is seeing Empire. But I distinctly remember seeing the original in the $1 movies with my brother shortly afterwards. It was an old theater and they allowed the kids coming to bring their Star Wars toys and whatnot to the show. There was probably only 4-5 of us kids in that day's matinee and we ran around having a blaster shoot-out in the aisle while the movie was playing. It was awesome for a 6 or 7 year old.

[ColtCrazy]

Empire, Force Awakens, New Hope, Return of the Jedi. I'm with stevew, I don't mind TPM as much as others do. Neeson and McGregor do well with the horrible script, and I like the battle at the end. I ignore Jar Jar. Still, I can take it or leave it to be honest and the other 2 just annoy me with teen Darth.

[BillJasper]

Empire.

[JAG]

Originally Posted by VPI97

I did the same thing. I was only 3 when Star Wars came out, so my first experience in a theater with the movies (that I can remember) is seeing Empire. But I distinctly remember seeing the original in the $1 movies with my brother shortly afterwards. It was an old theater and they allowed the kids coming to bring their Star Wars toys and whatnot to the show. There was probably only 4-5 of us kids in that day's matinee and we ran around having a blaster shoot-out in the aisle while the movie was playing. It was awesome for a 6 or 7 year old.

Empire was also my first experience I can remember in a theatre. I remember my 5-year old self being baffled at the end of the movie...weren't the good guys supposed to win? I remember asking my mother to explain what was happening and being told that they were leaving to rescue Han.

My order is pretty similar to most, 5 and 4 close to each other in that order (would definitely watch again), 6, 7, 3 the next tier down (would watch again), and 1 and 2 at the lowest tier (the 'unlikely to ever see again' tier).

[sabotai]

The question is which one is my favorite, so I go with A New Hope. I think that Empire is the better movie in most respects, but I have a much stronger emotional attachment to A New Hope than any of the other movies.

[CrimsonFox]

3 was so mindnumbingly bad. Such amateurish directing there. and writing...and everything else.
2 was legit the worst of all of them.

For a long time i thought 5 was the best because it had far more interesting things going on. And sure it does. But now I've gone back to 1 being my faovrite just because it is a complete experience. 2 just did more of the same. Granted i love the hoth planet even the the wompah is a little silly. It has some fun lines and stuff but i think starwars geeks in general have overquoted that movie so that i like it less now. even the lando stuff i'm tired of

[CrimsonFox]

incidently the names you've given all of them are hysterical

[Marc Vaughan]

I voted Empire Strikes Back - but Force Awakens was really good and on a par with the other originals imho

[CraigSca]

So far I've only seen the first one. It was good.

[CrimsonFox]

Kinda think I'm at

4 5 6 7 1 3 2

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Warhammer

These are very close in my mind. I actually do not mind Phantom Menace and think it has a bad rap. If you took out Jar Jar, it really isn't that bad.

Kinda agree here. If you just pretend that jarjar is like speaking an incoherent language he is fine. Hayden Christensen however is worse than jarjar ever was. movie one is just setup really. That's why a lot of fluff happens. But Darth Maul and quiconn really are wonderful to watch. movies 2 and 3 have nothing. well...movie 2 has those cool tall white aliens, that's about it.

people really are too generous to the the turd that is 3.

[Groundhog]

3rd might have been better if we didn't know what happened at the end. It was probably better than 2 and definitely better than 1, but that's not exacty high praise. The prequels just aren't very good movies - too much backstory, badly-aged CGI (already, especially when compared to the original trilogy), and nearly cast-wide bad acting, which was as much the fault of the CGI and script as it was the actors.

I don't think episodes 4 & 5 are as good as most people think they are, just enjoyable action sci-fi/fantasy movies. Force Awakens did the same thing much better IMO.

[CrimsonFox]

yeah models, puppetry and ingenuity always seem better than CGI.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by sabotai

The question is which one is my favorite, so I go with A New Hope. I think that Empire is the better movie in most respects, but I have a much stronger emotional attachment to A New Hope than any of the other movies.

Yup.

[stevew]

Attack of the Clones is a really awful movie. There's basically one decent scene in the entire thing(the conversation between Dooku and Obi Wan). I think I'd rank it as the worst. Revenge of the Sith isn't much better. I watched all of the blu rays recently.

[stevew]

Dola-

There's really no reason to watch any of the prequels and I guess I wish they never happened.