Breakdown II The Galactic Civil War
Today we look at what might be one of the greatest set of trilogies ever assembled, and that is the Star Wars that started an entire fanbase of millions. Doing these in actual order may seem a bit weird by the hardcore fans, but just go along with it. Now with the bomb that was the Clone Wars, let's take a look at the not two private armies of the Emperor in this world of actual humans rage war with one another, but how?A New Hope
Let’s backtrack this a bit, in Rogue One (a movie far forward to this) explained how Lord Vader would want the Death Star Plans created by the head engineer. The story starts off with Darth Vader pretty much taking every rebel enemy down along with capturing Leia back to the Death Star. Meanwhile the droids are on planet Tatooine where they find a man named Luke Skywalker. He is later greeted by a much older Obi Wan Kenobi telling Luke ‘’use the force.’’ Back then nobody knew what was what as a perfect sci-fi film everybody was all into. Making for a massive dive burst into crammed story elements. Journeying the main area of Tatooine where we see the famous Cantina place where we meet Han Solo and Chewbacca. A famous smuggler who is always a wanted man everywhere he goes. Chewbacca the wookie that’s been in almost Star Wars movie it would appear. A perfect example of how great Solo’s character is when he meets bounty hunter named Greedo who wants the bounty early in the movie, but instead is talked out of it for just a few seconds only to find himself on the receiving end.
Not to get too detailed in the episode alone, but where I'm going in the fact that George Lucas had a great identify of such strong dynamic characters in this one movie alone. For many their favorite character spawned from this one movie alone. Almost all the main ones have a very good trait. Music like many Star Wars movies I like classical tone John Williams score here in these films really drives into the sci-fi effect brilliantly. Many memorable scenes the only thing for me that’s tough to watch is in its original and edited versions of this episode alone. The other ones it does not bother me as much as this one you can see the very minor differences. Whichever you prefer is on you. Overall its a great way to start off the franchise that it would become today, and how would a sequel follow up to many’s expectations?
Pros:
- Great strong main characters, Great Story, wonderful score as always.
Cons:
- The different versions to sit through is tough to watch, the little tiny edited details are incredibly bothersome.
A-, 9/10 (If you are A Star Wars fan more newer and literally just joined start with this one. Experience the true star power here.)
________________________________________________________________________________________
Empire Strikes Back
Awe yes now we have arrived at what many say is the most known Star Wars movie in the entire franchise. If not the first theoretical one than its sequel was right up there. On the planet Hoth finds our protagonist in the cold tundra having to flee where Lord Vader has found their coordinates. Luke finds a way to take down a large vehicle killing machine to its knees (AT-AT), and slay a Wampa that was coming to eat him. Now unlike the last episode where Luke hardly used the lightsaber. He ends up continuing his training thanks to Obi Wan’s now deceased spirit guide telling him to travel to Dagobah. He does a bit of training with Yoda only for Vader to somehow connect in the force as he ended up stopping to save his friends from impending doom. To which case Lando was their as bait originally before changing heart eventually seeing his friends go into the carbonite (Han Solo). We finally get a real lightsaber duel. Unlike Lord Vader vs Obi Wan that was hardly a fight and more of a distraction to get them outta the Death Star. Here after a good long period Luke is nearly defeated and hand literally cut by only for Lord Vader to reveal that he is indeed Luke’s father. Giving one of the greatest No lines in cinema history… ‘’NOOOO! THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE!’’ Refusing to turn he jumps to the depths of the Bespin facility, and holds on until Leia sees Luke. With a patched up hand Luke will be ready again.
The story unlike A New Hope is a lot slower, and Han Solo was actually what brought the movie down a bit. Many will say its the traveling to Dagobah that was what dragged sure, but then while I do like Han Solo. This is where he might be at his weakest. Where Solo is basically trying to bail the entire way only to be an example to be frozen instead. Yeah its a great way to showcase a sequel that can be done right with great material going for it.
Pros:
- One of the greatest twists in cinema history, Great balance of pace, Another great score, More diverse cast of new side characters (Lando, Boba Fett, Yoda technically, the other Bounty Hunters etc.)
Cons:
- Han Solo throughout the entire movie just wants to back out the whole way through.
A, 9.5/10 (One of the better and stronger sequels to recommend. Give this a shot if you love great plot twists alone. While maybe a tough watch if you don’t like a certain tempo of the movie. This movie will leave you with something of quality to admire.)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Return of the Jedi
The final one in the Galactic Civil War where our protagonists must go back to Tatooine to rescue Han Solo. Came up with a risky plan to Jabba’s palace along the way they are being fed to the Sarlacc. In which case que the awesome John Williams score again, and our heroes found ways to kill everybody in the middle of this beast in the process. The rebels all go to Endor while Luke goes back to dagobah where Yoda is nearly dead. Yoda utter the final words that yes Lord Vader is Luke’s father all confirmed. I’ll admit this part of the movie would put anybody to sleep, but that should not make it bad. If were going there than put on your favorite movie 100 times what does that say? To speed things up with almost 25 minutes wasted of prepping Luke and Vader meet once again. Luke willingly gets captured, and he sees Vader’s master Palpatine for the very first time. Three different battle scenarios all occur at the same time. The Saber wielding generals, a battlefront assault on the planet Endor, and a space battle near the Death Star itself. Where new character Admiral Ackbar uttereled exactly what we all would think… ‘’IT'S A TRAP!’’ Both Vader and Palpatine try so hard to get Luke all angry. In which case did actually work as he ended using that to defeat Vader. He does resist killing his father though and didn’t realize what power Palpatine was capable of electrocuting his victims. Vader has a change of heart in which the Emperor is thrown off and what many believed was dead? Taking off the mask as his dying wish Luke gets to see how messed up that face ended up being up close. Generators down, and Death Star completely obliterated once more the Rebels eliminated the Empire for good. Now the one interesting little edit they had for this was the switch for Anakin’s ghost from the old actor to the then current who I already mentioned last trilogy. At the time it was controversial, but overtime it doesn’t bother me too much than others. Its a movie that is still solid for the most part, but its one you gotta stay awake for appently for those wider audience feels.
Pros:
- The Beginning and Ending are good, Score epic as always, Admiral Ackbar’s magic
Cons:
- Mid portion of the movie gets pretty mundane, Han Solo is kinda dud-ish in that same frame, I never had the appeal for Ewoks
B-, 8/10 (A memorable lightsaber fight, lightsided turn, and it had a great one and done character that actually worked out pretty well near the climax.)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
There you have it the golden years have since lived up stronger overtime, and now having to wait another 10 years for a new line of Star Wars films to actually come out. Much change throughout the decades. There was the Clone Wars throughout the 2000’s, and with the last decade saw its release from disney’s J.J Abrams working on it for the most part. How did he do with the justice of this new trilogy you’ll just have to wait and find out next time on Breakdown.
Comments
Interesting. I think Empire Strikes Back is the best. - 2storm
My favorite film is The New Hope. Good post, by the way. - Kevinsidis