All “Star Wars” films ranked
11. “The Last Jedi” (2017)
Rian Johnson’s failed film shows what happens when you let someone in the director’s chair the the saga doesn’t even know. Example: In the previous film, “The Force Awakens”, Luke offers to help – here he denies it. And so forth. Silver Foxes, Monte Carlo Casino, Stampede – really, really bad. ★ ½
10. “Attack of the Clones” (2002)
Even in “Threat,” the flirtation between the child Anakin and Queen Padme was unpleasant. Now he was a teenager – and a love story breaks out in which the two frolic across meadows and lust after each other in skyscraper apartments as terrible as Dubai architecture. Lucas’ time seemed to be up. ★ ½
09. “Solo” (2018)
Han in luck? Probably Hans in luck! As a young Han Solo, an overwhelmed Aldenreich stumbles through a heist comedy to which director all-purpose weapon Ron Howard, as expected, can’t add any tips ★★½
08. “The Phantom Menace” (1999)
“The Phantom Menace” (1999) The special effects Oscar as a yardstick: The static “Menace,” staged like a 1940s drama, had no chance at the Academy against the gravity-defying “Matrix.” Lucas demystified his legacy, tried to explain the Jedis with science (cell bodies make us wizards) instead of magic, and the fairy tale of good versus evil with politics: tax wars lead to the rise of the Empire. 16 years without “Star Wars”, then something like that. ★★½
07. “Revenge of the Sith” (2005)
Brave, a trilogy conclusion without a happy ending. The internal transformation of Anakin into Darth Vader is shocking (he murders children), the physical one is bloody – the renegade Jedi is given life-supporting armor because lava deforms him. The narrative stringency of the decline is soapily dramatized by Padme: “I don’t recognize you anymore!” ★★ 1/2
06. “The Rise of Skywalker” (2019)
With its new “United we stand” attitude, “Star Wars” is threateningly approaching the hollow pathos of the Marvel films, in which the superheroes defeat the sheer majority of bad guys thanks to the peculiarity of their outsider nature. The beliefs of these SW Avengers go so far that even small lampshade robots are recognized as valuable soldiers. And a rescue mission is launched for Chewbacca the animal. Nobody believes it. ★★★
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05. “The Force Awakens” (2015)
It cannot be overestimated how wonderfully director J. J. Abrams unites the guard around Han, Leia and Luke with new heroes. Han Solo’s oneliners have never been funnier, but Adam Driver’s sensitive portrayal of the evil Kylo Ren is particularly impressive. He shows a – youthful – conflict that three Darth Vader mimes in six films failed to achieve. ★★★★
04. “Rogue One” (2016)
The first “Star Wars” not tied to a trilogy is dirty, sandy, political – it is read as a commentary on the war in Syria. Gareth Edwards’ story has the look and feel of the 1977 original, is set there in time, rebels capture plans to destroy the Death Star. Spoiler: All the main characters die. ★★★★1/2
03. “Star Wars” (1977)
George Lucas transported elements of “The Lord of the Rings”, the western and Kurosawa’s samurai films into space. He outfitted his characters with costumes, masks and sounds that defied imagination. At the end of their adventure, Luke, Han and Chewie were awarded medals by a princess. Traditional narrative as science fiction. And a perfect fairy tale. ★★★★★
02. “The Empire Strikes Back” (1980)
“I am your father!” If the internet had existed, this would be the biggest spoiler of all time. “Empire” established the principle of the “darker” second film in a series – also because Han Solo’s survival seemed uncertain, Harrison Ford was hesitant to continue in the role. The giant robots AT-AT secured the biggest “madness!” moment of all “Star Wars” works. In contrast to all other episodes, this one does not have a final spaceship battle. ★★★★★
01. “Return of the Jedi” (1983)
The Ewoks were cute dolls, the palace guards grotesque. Was Lucas targeting children as a target group? And if so. This two-act play featured a spectacular “prison break” from Jabba’s fortress and, at the end, the heartbreaking sacrificial death of Darth Vader, who was allowed to see his son just once with his own eyes, without a helmet. ★★★★★