George Lucas is one of the strangest figures in Hollywood history. On one hand, he clearly is a film genius. On the other hand, well, everything about Star Wars is obviously made for children, and no one should care too much about it after they become an actual adult. Here is hoping he has spend the final decades of his life secretly making cool films in his basement the entire time that will not be released until he dies.
6. Attack of the Clones [2002]
The second Star Wars prequel captured the very worst of both Episode 1 and Episode 3 while missing all of their positive attributes. The dialogue is once again distractingly bad and devoid of humanity, and the look of the film is just absolutely soulless and only call further attention to the former issue. The biggest knock though is that (unlike the other two prequels), there is really nothing you can hang your hat on about this one. McGregor continues to do his best, and the vague outline of how Palpatine comes to power is good. But neither of those elements are strong enough to really make you feel good about what you just spent your time watching.
5. Revenge of the Sith [2005]
Revenge of the Sith delivers exactly what it promised based on everything that came before it. It is an epic and climatic conclusion to the rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker and the coup led by Emperor Palpatine. It is a fully realized vision of the visual style that Lucas had been aiming for since the prequels started. This film represents all that is admirable and everywhere where Lucas “went too far in a few places.” If you’re sincerely a fan of the prequels, I would imagine you find this film to be great. If not, this film probably is just more of the same frustrations you had been experiencing.
4. The Phantom Menace [1999]
I do not love Episode 1. In fact, I do not even like it really, but much like the prequels in general, the better these film seem the more zoomed out you are. The story of the decline of the republic is great in principle and the tragedy of Anakin Skywalker is laid out mostly well.
This film had another of elements that are not only objectively good but also help in comparison with the two films that followed it. For starters, Liam Neeson does the best job of coming across like a real human being in this prequel series. The film also does not rely nearly as much on terrible green screen sets that cause a suspension of disbelief issue. After Episodes II and III, it is downright refreshing to watch this entry and see actual sets, sand, and shit like that.
The film though has two major weaknesses. Jar Jar Binks and and Little Anakin Skywalker are goddamn fucking annoying. While the film may have been able to overcome the stilted dialogue and lack of dynamic flow to the thing, Jar Jar and Little Anakin basically strangle this movie in the cradle.
3. THX 1138 [1971]
There is a moment relatively early on in George Lucas’ debut film where Robert Duvall is confessing to a hologram of Jesus, and then hologram Jesus tells him to buy more shit that will make him happy. That moment really captures this 1984 knockoff so well because Lucas does not pretend to use any subtext in this film. THX is a film that talks to you in giant neon lettering about how fucked up this world is. The film is less about character and actual plot though as opposed to tone and mood – it’s trying to make you feel how Lucas sees the world and the future we are heading towards. It is a fascinating contrast with Star Wars – Lucas employed subtext there for great financial success. Only there no one understood that the United States was the empire and the rebels were the Vietcong. The contradictions that come from making art under capitalism never cease.
2. Star Wars [1977]
There is one thing that needs to be remembered about the original Star Wars films and the first one in particular: they are really fucking weird. The pacing is bizarre. Some of the sequences are inexplicable. The costumes are hilarious. The dialogue is often trite. But the film undeniably works and is pure magic.
Despite all major studios now subscribing to the blockbuster model, this one still stands out as being far different and far more unique than virtually anything that came after it. There is still plenty to learn from it, and it would be nice if the corporation that now owns Star Wars actually would study it. As infantile as these original Star Wars films are, there is something truly magical about them.
1. American Graffiti [1973]
Growing up, my mother talked about how much she loved this movie all the time. It was a rare film that that she loved that she did not get a chance to show me first as a teenager. It was years later that I watched it on my own. And to my surprise, I think that actually worked out for the best because it is was genuinely stunning to see what a great movie this was and to see how it was a perfect blend of Lucas’ strengths in the non-commercial THX and the infinitely-commerical Star Wars.
I assumed this movie was going to be a hack nostalgia job, but that really could not be further from the truth. The (more) modern film it reminds me of is Dazed and Confused – it weaponizes nostalgia to both capture our attention and then tear it down. In doing so, the film pulls off the classic making the specific universal. It captures the terrifying transition from adolescence into adulthood. Graffiti is about four very stupid teenage boys who are stupid in the ways almost all teenage boys are. They are lost and acting out because they have zero sense of who they are or what they want – let alone how to go about figuring out who they are and what they want without running over everyone in their path on said journey. This is a beautiful and empathetic film.
Past Star Wars Podcasts
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker Podcast Review
Star Wars: The Last Jedi Podcast Review
Past Start Wars Articles
Ranking the Lightsaber Duels in Star Wars Films
5 Questions About the Future of Star Wars After Watching Rogue One
11 Issues with The Last Jedi After Two Viewings
What Can We Learn From Star Wars: The Last Jedi?
How Rian Johnson Finally Moved Star Wars Into the 21st Century
5 Questions After Watching Solo: A Star Wars Story
These Are the Only 4 Good Things About The (Extremely Bad) Rise of Skywalker
The Delicate but Potent Nostalgia of Rise of Skywalker
5 Takeaways from Star Wars Lego Holiday Special
5 Takeaways from the Original Thrawn Trilogy
14 Questions about The Star Wars Holiday Special
The Reel World 