Join film critic The Critical Drinker as he dives into the Star Wars universe with a captivating ranking of the films. They share their nostalgic views on the original trilogy and their mixed feelings on newer movies, notably praising 'Rogue One.' The duo humorously critiques lower-tier films like 'Attack of the Clones' while analyzing complex characters like Count Dooku. They express their disappointment with the sequel trilogy, particularly the portrayal of beloved characters and storytelling missteps, igniting a discussion on the franchise's legacy.
The guest ranks 'Empire Strikes Back' as the best Star Wars film for its emotional impact and connection to the original series.
The guest criticizes the Kathleen Kennedy era of Star Wars movies for their treatment of established characters, lack of respect for franchise lore, and dismissive attitude towards the audience's investment in the series.
Deep dives
Ranking the Original Trilogy and Rogue One
The podcast episode begins with a discussion about ranking the Star Wars movies, starting with the original trilogy. The guest starts by naming 'Empire Strikes Back' as his number one, followed by 'A New Hope' as his number two. They both agree on these rankings. The guest's number three fluctuates between 'Return of the Jedi,' 'Revenge of the Sith,' and 'Rogue One,' but he settles on 'Rogue One' because of its emotional impact and connection to the original series.
The Downfall of the Prequel Trilogy
The guest acknowledges that the prequel trilogy has its flaws but considers 'Revenge of the Sith' as the best of the prequels. He appreciates the darker tone and the portrayal of Anakin Skywalker's transformation into Darth Vader. The guest also highlights the impressive lightsaber duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan. However, he acknowledges the issues faced by all the prequel movies.
Criticism of the Kathleen Kennedy Era
The conversation then takes aim at the Kathleen Kennedy era of Star Wars movies. The guest criticizes the decision to kill off Han Solo in 'The Force Awakens' as unforgivable, presenting it as a betrayal of the character's legacy and a sign of incompetent writing. He expresses disappointment in the treatment of Luke Skywalker in 'The Last Jedi' as a regressive character arc that undermines the core of the original trilogy. The guest also emphasizes the lack of respect for the franchise's lore and the dismissive attitude towards the audience's investment in the series. He suggests that the sequel trilogy should be decanonized, and either recasting or exploring different periods of the Star Wars universe would have been better alternatives for the franchise.
When it comes to Star Wars, every fan has an opinion on which is the best film, and which is the worst. In this discussion, Ben was joined by The Critical Drinker to break down everything Star Wars, including Ben's definitive ranking of the movies from best to worst.
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