By Ray Chang and Henry Hansen
**SUBTLE SPOILERS AHEAD** Prior to writing this article, we were nervous that a fellow writer on The Shield had already ranked the SIX Star Wars movies. To our surprise, no one so far has actually ranked the six Star Wars movies, so here is our official ranking of them. (We rewatched them in chronological order, not by order of release date)
The Phantom Menace: 8/10
The Phantom Menace marks the start of the Prequel Trilogy. It is the first time that we see a young Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Palpatine. This story centers around Qui Gon Jin finding a young Anakin Skywalker and attempting to have him accepted into the Jedi Order. This movie has strong dialogue, but has a smaller amount of action compared to the other movies in the trilogy.
Attack of the Clones: 7/10
Attack of the Clones is a movie with an amazing story accompanied by masterful effects. It is the second installment of the Prequel Trilogy, telling the story of how the Clone War begins. The one thing holding this movie back is its wooden dialogue. Moments of high emotion are sometimes confused with characters openly and bluntly expressing their feelings. Overall, this movie is worth watching, but the dialogue leaves much to be desired.
Revenge of the Sith: 10/10
Revenge of the Sith is a masterpiece in cinema. It is the Climactic end to the Prequel Trilogy, and carries as much grandeur as any movie in history. Revenge of the Sith is the final part in the tale of the origin of Anakin Skywalker and his descent into darkness. This movie is a must-watch, a necessary staple of any movie guru.
A New Hope: 9/10
A New Hope is where the magic of Star Wars begins. Although the visual effects may seem rather awkward and antique at times, the movie still deserves kudos for its iconic characters. Revolving around Luke, Leia, Han, and Vader, A New Hope incorporates the endeavors of these characters with arcane planets, creatures, and lightsaber choreographies that really spotlights the movie as a timeless work among many others.
The Empire Strikes Back: 10/10
The Empire Strikes Back serves as a bridge between the first and third movies of the original trilogy, and oh boy was this a fun bridge to walk on. This movie is the culmination of the entire saga, dare I say. With its legendary plot twist, surrounded by emerging themes of Luke’s identity and complex relationship with his allegedly deceased father, The Empire Strikes Back holds the original trilogy in high regard. George Lucas really went above and beyond with the unforgettable, brilliant, and cohesive plot of this movie, which surpasses its predecessor by far.
Return of the Jedi: 8/10
Return of the Jedi is a brilliant movie, to say the least, but the film just feels less suspenseful as its predecessors. The conflict between the Rebels and the Galactic Empire seemed to have been alleviated in this movie. Namely, the furry Ewoks was sort of like the movie leaning towards a more playful attitude, if that makes sense. Although The Return of the Jedi does not do a great job emulating the captivating storyline of the previous movies, the film perfectly embodies what a “good ending” should be like. Thus, The Return of the Jedi still ranks high because of its heartfelt and satisfying closure, bringing about the relationship between Luke Skywalker and his mysterious father to full circle.
In summary, the SIX Star Wars Movies all deserve a high ranking. Although the films were produced as trilogies in extremely different time periods of filmmaking, they do not fail to establish a firm storyline that the audience can resonate with. Star Wars will forever exist as both a timeless yet repetitive franchise of adventure, but that repetitive aspect of Star Wars is what keeps the audience glued to their seats and eager to find out what Skywalker will do next.