Contains Spoilers!!!
So, I can’t call this one ‘I Bet You Didn’t See…’ because I bet most of you have seen The Star Wars saga. Over the next few articles, I will break down the films of this historic and epic phenomenon in cinematic chronological order.
Shall we start?
Which film comes first? Well, that is a little open to debate, I think. According to my internet research it is…
1999’s The Phantom Menace. Apart from any about Dennis, I don’t know any other films with ‘Menace’ in the title! Now this film is even more confusing. Officially set 32 years before A New Hope. I felt this film was the worst by far, at least for the next 20 years. Lots of new aspects are added for this film (midi-chlorians was never mentioned in the original films, nor in the following ones), but we see quite a few returning cast to play their original roles. Ian McDiarmid (Palpatine), Anthony Daniels (C3PO), Kenny Baker (R2-D2) and Frank Oz (Yoda) all reprised their original roles. A young Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) follows his Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) to protect Queen Amidala of Naboo (Natalie Portman). They discover Anakin Skywalker living as a slave and decide to free him and train him as a Jedi (stupid move there, boys!), and they also find that the Sith are making a comeback. There was a lot of hype in the build up to the premiere, given that the original series was such a huge success. While it was the highest-grossing film of 1999 – the hype and excitement for Star Wars fans drove them to the cinemas – it did not meet cinematic standards and is seen as one of the worst films in the franchise. I think it’s awful. The acting is bad, the pacing is bad, there are long scenes that have absolutely no importance to the film and while it sets up the next two films, it’s one of those films that you need to put up with if you are going to binge-watch the saga. And I do… sometimes.
The second prequel film is 2002’s Attack of the Clones. Arguably much better than its predecessor, although it still has significant flaws. Christopher Lee joins the cast as Count Dooku, Hayden Christensen takes on the role of moody, arrogant, and teenaged Anakin and Samuel L. Jackson made cinema folklore by requesting a unique purple lightsabre. 10 years after The Phantom Menace, a series of Clones Soldiers have been built to help fight in a civil war in the Galactic Republic. But, as you know, it was not known about by our heroes, so it’s not going to end well. But that is yet to come. The fighting against a droid army is, visually, a spectacle, but all the CGI cannot hold a candle to the original animation and stop motion usage in the original films. I will concede that Christensen is not a great actor and that his clumsy romance with Padme Amidala is not a highlight of the film. However, Christopher Lee brings an air of class to the film with his portrayal of the villain Count Dooku. Ultimately, there is a good fluidity to the film and the action holds up better than it did in The Phantom Menace.
In 2005, we were treated to the ultimate Jedi betrayal, and witnessed Anakin Skywalker’s final step into that ever-iconic suit that is David Prowse… I mean Darth Vader. Welcome to Revenge of the Sith. We see Skywalker’s motives in becoming part of the Sith, and the conflict that the Jedi and the Sith has. I thought that this one is the best of the three prequel films (titled ‘The Skywalker Saga’, according to my research to do this article). While Christensen is still not much improved as an actor, he certainly seemed a lot freer to release all that anger over the criticism he received from the last film. It’s visually quite stunning to me, and the physical darkness and lighting, while only CGI, is used to great effect to reflect Skywalker’s emotions. It all leads very nicely into the next 20 or so years before we see Luke emerge from Tatooine.
Now, I have some arguing to do here. Solo: A Star Wars Story was released in 2018 as part of Disney’s ‘Anthology’ films after they bought the franchise in 2012 for over $4billion. Alden Ehrenreich stars as a young Han Solo (around 20 years old) in his origin story, supported by a pretty impressive cast including Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Thandiwe Newton and Paul Bettany. We learn how Han meets Chewie (Joonas Suotamo) and Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover), and how he becomes a smuggler in the Star Wars universe before meeting Luke Skywalker. I felt this film start out promising but came to a bizarre ending with a link to The Phantom Menace without making things very clear. However, all my research seems to imply that Solo is set AFTER Attack of the Clones (Episode 2), which makes no sense. SPOILER WARNING: Darth Maul dies at the end of The Phantom Menace, so how can this film be set AFTER if he appears in it??? Things might be made clearer if they ever make a sequel, however, I cannot find any confirmation that anything is happening.
If you want something else to clear up for me, Solo allegedly happens 10 years before the original film (A New Hope) but the maths doesn’t add up. If this is 10 years before Luke appears, then Han is going to be near on 30 when he meets Luke. However, The Phantom Menace happens 32 years before A New Hope, which would make Han nearer 50 when he meets Luke and Leia if Solo happens around then. But how can it all work if Darth Maul is still about… or do we have to go further and all watch the animated series? I don’t know. And to be honest, I may have time to write these blogs, but I don’t all the time in the world to watch everything so… Wikipedia to the rescue!
Oh… umm… well… I think I’ll stick with making pancakes on Sunday mornings than read all of that!
Anyway, this is the end of Episode One. I know you are desperate for my ratings. You may have guessed how much I enjoy these films but here they are:
The Phantom Menace: 2/10
Attack of the Clones: 4/10
Return of the Sith: 5/10
Solo: A Star Wars Story: 5/10
There we have it. Look out for Episode Two!
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