Film

Ranking the Star Wars Movie Prequels so Far

Welcome back to the next installment in our series 7 Days of Solo: A Star Wars Story! If you’ve missed our other features for the series, click HERE to check them all out.

The Star Wars prequels have been a topic for huge debate for most fans. Episodes I, II, and III were huge let downs for most of the fandom, with The Clone Wars movie doing fairly well with the new generation, and spawning its own television show. Finally we have both anthology movies, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Solo: A Star Wars Story. I will be talking about some SPOILERS below, so if you haven’t seen any of the prequels, you might not want to read the ranking!

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6. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace 

This movie just stinks. I really want this movie to be better than it is so much. But the plot isn’t good, and the cinematography doesn’t look right. I understand this movie was one of the first George Lucas did with green screen technology, but nothing really looks right. I’m completely neutral on Jar Jar Binks, he doesn’t bug me, and as a matter of fact, I really enjoyed the character as a kid. The cast is the best part of this movie. I don’t really have anything else positive to say about Episode I, hence why it’s at the bottom of the list.

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5. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

 I love this movie. I love the plot, it has some great action shots, and I just think its a fun movie. But it has some many flaws. I don’t like Hayden Christensen, I don’t think he was a great pick to play the teen-aged Anakin Skywalker. The script in itself is terrible and there are some atrociously cheesy lines in this movie. Like don’t get me wrong, I love me some cheesy lines. But there is a limit and this movie wayyyy crossed that limit. Some of the Kamino scenes weren’t necessary, I think they could have been reworked to flow in the movie better. Personally I liked the third act a whole lot better than the rest of the movie, I thought it was the best part, but I understand why some people have issues with it. This movie also suffers from my first impression of it, seeing it directly after Episode IV, and not understanding these were different characters really can screw with you. xD
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4. Star Wars: The Clone Wars

I really really enjoyed this movie. It suffers to me because the animation is a bit weird at first, but once you get used to it, it gets better. Also not sure about the specific plot line with Jabba’s kid being kidnapped. That was weird to me, but it was a decent connection the Tatooine and helping Ahsoka understand Anakin, so I’ll allow it. Speaking of Ahsoka, I love her. I was so excited to see another female come into Star Wars canon, and anything I’ve seen her in is really great. Ashley Eckstein did a wonderful job portraying her. Matt Lanter was also a phenomenal voice actor for Anakin. I understand, with voice acting you can have more takes, but he just did so much better than Hayden, he really brought Anakin to life for me. Overall, great movie, and it really set Star Wars up for huge amounts of success with the new generation.

3. Solo: A Star Wars Story
 I really enjoyed this movie. It is not without flaws, and doesn’t make much of an impact on the saga yes. But it is a fun movie, and getting to see all the piloting scenes with Han just makes it a ride you have to come along on. The cast is pretty great. I didn’t enjoy Paul Bettany’s villain, but everyone else was intriguing and makes me want to see a sequel.If you’ve only been watching the movies, the cameo by a certain someone(its still a little too early for me to talk spoilers about this movie, I want you to be surprised) will shock you, but if you’ve watched the tv shows, or paid attention to drops in canon media, it wouldn’t come by too much surprise. It’ll definitely push the want for some sort of sequel out of you. 
If you’re interested in reading my full thoughts on Solo: A Star Wars Story, check out my review HERE.

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2. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Really the best movie of the original prequels, we see Anakin become Darth Vader in this movie. The shots in this film are definitely better than episodes I and II, and while there’s not as much action in this movie, there’s more emotion behind the fights, which give them more purpose than the ones in episode II. How they killed Padme off was definitely dumb, I thought they could have done that better, with maybe Anakin killing her to complete his transformation into Darth Vader instead. But honestly, I mean dying of a broken heart? He basically did kill her – but still – could have been done differently and better. Still some overly cheesy lines, and no redeeming moments really for Hayden.

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1. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 
And in the number one spot! The first Star Wars anthology movie, Rogue One! Lucasfilm really learned from their mistakes with the episodic prequels, and turned it around. This movie feels and looks more like Episode IV, and stays with its war theme brilliantly. Its’ characters steal the show, and you bond with most of them, even though you barely know them. It has its flaws yes, but ultimately it didn’t have to do much in my book to outrank the episodic prequels.
If you’re interested in reading my full thoughts on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, check out my review HERE.
Well there you have it folks! Have some different thoughts? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram @WOBAMEnt! And make sure you come back Sunday to see where Solo: A Star Wars Story ends up!

Clemson University Graduate. Lover of all things Star Wars and DC.