Star Wars: Andor

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by listopencil

It's my favorite of the entire franchise, and I watched the original movie in a drive in theater while I was still in fourth grade.

When it comes to Star Wars movies, I judge them by the way they made me feel after the first viewing. While most people generally say ESB is the best movie, and perhaps it is, it left the 14-year-old me confused and depressed; it was definitely not what I was expecting or hoping for. Despite being annoyed by the teddy bears, 17-year-old me was thrilled by the ending of ROTJ. The cheer that erupted when Vader chucked the Emperor down the shaft that June night in 1983 at the long since demolished Kennedy Theater in Kirksville was the loudest I've ever heard - damned near Arrowhead loud. The jaded old fart me was similarly thrilled by the ending of Rogue One and, to a lesser extent, Solo. But none of them can top how exhilarated 11-year-old me was pretty much from end to end of the '77 original. As I've said many times, younger generations spoiled by decades of special effects advancement and CGI will simply never be able to appreciate what a game changer that was. That was the moment science fiction movies changed forever, and you had to be there. I can still watch a clip of the opening and remember how I leaned back in my seat with my jaw agape in utter amazement when the imperial cruiser slowly crossed the screen, after basically having to be dragged to see it by a friend because I thought it would be nothing more than "another stupid space movie."

So while I rank Rogue One right up there with the original, it didn't top that, because it's simply impossible to top. And of course, none of the numbered movies that came later even register.