[DJay23]

I'm a Star Wars geek from way back. My first action figures as a child were star wars, and I loved the movies as a kid. Once I got old enough to understand what was going on, I loved them even more.

The first movie was ground breaking for it's time, a well told story with decent dialogue (You can tell Lucas worked on that script for a while) and SOME good acting (Hammil and Fischer were pretty over the top and corny at times. Ford, of course, IMO was dead on). The story was great too. To me, Star Wars: A New Hope gets the number 2 slot in the overall trilogy.

The Empire Strikes Back. This has long been my favorite movie of all time. Not because it is necessarily a better movie than my runners up (Braveheart, Saving Private Ryan), but because of how it continued the story of the first movie, and pushed into a dramatic direction. The acting in this one was much better IMO (because of Kershner's direction) and the dialogue was about on par with the first. This movie was more "fun" too. You had a battle on an ice world with huge walking transports, battle in an asteroid field, trouble in a giant space worm, learning the ways of the force on a swamp planet, and action on a city in the clouds. The romance between Solo and Leia was well done too, IMO. Empire Strikes Back is the best of the 6 movies for me.

The Return of the Jedi. This was my favorite of the original trilogy for a long time, simply because it was the first one I remember seeing in the theater. I think the story here is still good, the redemption of the father, the son as the savior. The rescue of Han Solo was a good way to mesh Episode V to Episode VI, I liked the whole act. The scene on Dagobah where Yoda dies was good too, but after that, this movie lost me (in my more mature years). There could have been more time taken to think of another way to defeat the Empire once and for all than to destroy ANOTHER Death Star. You've done that already, try something else. And need I even mention Ewoks? The direction left something to be desired to me. I think it was clear that Marquand was out of his element. But what do i know, I'm no film student. The Return of the Jedi is my 4th favorite of the saga.

The Phantom Menace. Horrible. The beginning of the end of the franchise. I'll admit I was excited as anyone when it came out, and like the loyal boy I am, I tried to defend it in the years following it's release. But damnit, I can't take it. George's impatience (with actors, with finishing stories, with finishing scripts) really sunk this movie and started the tarnish on his once sparkling creation. I like the story well enough, it's just that it wasn't executed to screen well at all. This is the worst of the Star Wars movies.

Attack of the Clones. Only slightly more stomachable that the Phantom Menace. Lucas' impatience again turns what could have been a good story into a poorly done film. The choice of Hayden Christenson as a brooding, whining teenager was perfect for this particular movie. I've always loved Natalie Portman, I feel that she is a wonderful actress. However, whatever spark was supposed to be there between them couldn't light a gasoline soaked stick of dynamite. Lucas should have asked for help with the whole love story (maybe Kershner who managed to do a decent job in Episode V?) I really like McGregor as Obi wan, I think he played it well through the second trilogy in spite of George Lucas' direction. I also think George went a little TOO crazy with the CG. CG is supposed to enhance live action to be effective IMO. Lucas tried to do the opposite. Attack of the Clones is number 5 in the sextilogy (is that word?) for me.

Revenge of the Sith. Of the three prequels, by far and away the best. I liked the story again, and I thought it was at least a little better executed. Still, plenty of bad acting and no chemistry between Christenson and Portman. Like Gaz said, Hayden was a poor choice for this film. Though you want continuity, you also want someone who commands your respect as a hero. He just doesn't do it. Still seemed like the whiny bitch he was in the last movie, only now he's trying to pretend like he's tough. I loved the Emperor in this movie. I completely believed what he was doing throughout. McDiarmid is a fine actor. McGregor did a good job again I felt. What many people don't understand when they say he seems so bland and unemotional is that, that is the character. Obi wan is not emotional. He is the consummate Jedi. However, McGregor allows emotion to take over near the end of the movie, and at the right time, when everything starts to go wrong. I thought it was well done. This was my third favorite of the series. That may change with time and distance.

Overall, I love the whole story. The "Chosen One" who is not to be trained, is then trained, but seduced by evil because of his forbidden emotional attachment. He's then saved by his own son, fulfilling the prophecy. The execution of the story was flawed. The over use of CG, that constant tinkering and changing by Lucas of the originals, and the horrificly bad scripting and directing by Lucas in at least 3 of the 6 films has tainted the trilogy. It will long be remembered for it's impact on movie making and popular culture, but as movies, works of art, they are not the gold standard many Star Wars geeks would have us believe. These have been my opinions, but I'm sure the opinions of others have slipped in there. I'm not a movie critic after all, just a fan.