by Anthony Chatfield

Created on: January 24, 2007   Last Updated: May 09, 2007

I'm treading in dangerous waters, some of the more dangerous nerd infested waters around. I'm familiar to the dangers that lurk, but I still must be wary. And so, looking over both of my shoulders and all around, I step out and ponder the question of which is the best Star Wars film. Let's start from the top.

It definitely isn't Episode I. Ironically of all the films, I've seen this one the most, because I was a 13 year-old kid when it was released and thus entirely engrossed in the goofy antics of a computer generated stereotype and a 10-year old delivering the stilted lines of Mr. Lucas. It's just not that great of a movie, though. George Lucas managed to suck the energy and life out of the original trilogy, replacing it with beaurocratic rambling and pod races. The characters are unfamiliar and not entirely interesting in the first place, while the layover on Tatooine feels like a not-so cleverly crafted plot device to bring everything together. A lot of coincidences, along side a lot of poorly written dialogue, topped with a pretty cool lightsaber battle make this a disappointing movie that still entertains on a basic popcorn munching level.

Bringing us to Episode II. Attack of the Clones is a better made film, but still a little too attached to its governments maneuverings. Lucas created a plot point that required a whole lot of filler in the middle to complete, and because of that the first two films were stuffed with all the Trade Federation, Counts, Dukes, Viceroy mumbo jumbo that none of us really paid any attention to. The thing he forgot is that in the original films, all the politics were safely presented in the classic rebellion plot. Two important things come out of those plots; bad guys and good guys. In the prequels' political maneuvering we have insurgency and splinter factions, shady dealings and back alley wars. They're boring as we wait the entire film for the big battle. Episode II does a better job of introducing the familiar elements that we know and love so well, Boba Fett, Obi-Wan as a Jedi Knight, Anakin with a lightsaber. Unfortunately, one of the worst love sequences in the history of popcorn cinema sits in the middle, alongside a completely unnecessary factory escape sequence, and all those political dealings. Of course, the end of this film really kicks things into gear and almost salvages the entirety of the film. One of the most exciting scenes in the entire series (Yoda can move) brought the theater to its feet, and a whole lot

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>