#4 Star Wars

4. The Star Wars Trilogy

The Star Wars Trilogy: is one of the most masterful tales

ever. It is for that reason that I can't name the movies individually

in my top ten list in fairness to the other films of the top ten.

Besides that, the Star Wars Trilogy is one story in three parts

anyway.

I should make the disclaimer that these films are not exactly

sci-fi films in the sense that the others of this page are. "Star Wars"

is a fantasy tale set on a sci-fi background. However, these films

have both done a lot for and a lot to hurt the genre. They are all

incredibly well done and we see a magnificent feel good sort of

story unfold. Unfortunately, they have made theatre goers more

expectant of visual imagery than real content. Many of the other

films of this top ten have many more sci-fi elements than "Star

Wars" and more serious subjects. However, I hesitate to take

"Star Wars" out of the top spots just because it has done so much

good and is responsible for drawing so many people into the sci-fi

genre, even if just for a little while. If this is your only exposure to

the world of sci-fi then I urge you to see these other top ten films.

The THX Letterbox Star Wars: was one of the first

improvements to the Star Wars Trilogy. The graphics were

cleaned up and the wide screen format allowed much more of

the action to be seen. I was lucky to find it as it was produced

in a limited distribution. Now the Special Edition is available too.

The Special Edition: celebrating the 20th anniversary of the

trilogy many changes were made to the three films. These

changes were due to Lucas' perfectionism. All of the sloppy or

inadequate special effects which Lucas was forced to make due

to time or lack of technology have been given to the fans on a

silver platter. Look for the inclusion of old and new footage as

new computer effects added into many scenes.

"Star Wars: A New Hope": revolutionized not only science

fiction movies but changed the way that all movies were made and

how they would be perceived by the public. "A New Hope" was

the first blockbuster movie as it was loved by everyone as not just

a science fiction film but as an epic quest where good battled evil.

The action begins immediately and never stops. We are instantly

thrust into the plight of the rebel Alliance which struggles against

the evil Empire. Drawn into the story is a princess, a farm boy,

a smuggler, a knight, and two droids who struggle to evade the

evil Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith. This is my second favorite of

the Trilogy movies.

"Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back": it is a dark time for

the rebel Alliance. In this second chapter (episode 5) the Alliance

is under constant flight from the crushing power of the Empire.

This is the transition film that most people don't fully appreciate.

However, it is the favorite film of most fans. This is because it is

so well developed. Dark from the start to the finish the viewer

gets a feel for just how hopeless the plight is for the forces of good.

Stunning special effects and wonderful character development all

tied by a tremendous musical score make this film the best of the

three. The farm boy follows the path of the Jedi Knight and the

other characters attempt, in vain, to evade capture by the Imperial

Navy. A truly captivating film right up to the shocking conclusion.

"Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi": the climax of the trilogy

this film is full of excitement. The only bad thing is the inclusion of

lots of primitive and sickeningly cute bear creatures (Ewoks). A

smuggler finds stability, a young Jedi completes his training, and

another Jedi finds redemption. The evil Emperor Palpatine is seen

at last and Skywalker must make a difficult choice for good or

evil. The rebel Alliance fights with everything they have in one

final attempt at freedom and wage the largest and most

magnificent space battle of any science fiction movie ever. It is a

worthy end to an amazing set of movies.

"The Star Wars Prequels": are currently being filmed and will

explore the first three episodes of the above epic. Little is known

of it except that it will describe the origins of the familiar characters

of the original saga.

For a list of "Star Wars" links go here.

back to the list

The Star Wars Trilogy: is one of the most masterful tales
ever. It is for that reason that I can't name the movies individually
in my top ten list in fairness to the other films of the top ten.
Besides that, the Star Wars Trilogy is one story in three parts
anyway.

I should make the disclaimer that these films are not exactly
sci-fi films in the sense that the others of this page are. "Star Wars"
is a fantasy tale set on a sci-fi background. However, these films
have both done a lot for and a lot to hurt the genre. They are all
incredibly well done and we see a magnificent feel good sort of
story unfold. Unfortunately, they have made theatre goers more
expectant of visual imagery than real content. Many of the other
films of this top ten have many more sci-fi elements than "Star
Wars" and more serious subjects. However, I hesitate to take
"Star Wars" out of the top spots just because it has done so much
good and is responsible for drawing so many people into the sci-fi
genre, even if just for a little while. If this is your only exposure to
the world of sci-fi then I urge you to see these other top ten films.

The THX Letterbox Star Wars: was one of the first
improvements to the Star Wars Trilogy. The graphics were
cleaned up and the wide screen format allowed much more of
the action to be seen. I was lucky to find it as it was produced
in a limited distribution. Now the Special Edition is available too.

The Special Edition: celebrating the 20th anniversary of the
trilogy many changes were made to the three films. These
changes were due to Lucas' perfectionism. All of the sloppy or
inadequate special effects which Lucas was forced to make due
to time or lack of technology have been given to the fans on a
silver platter. Look for the inclusion of old and new footage as
new computer effects added into many scenes.

"Star Wars: A New Hope": revolutionized not only science
fiction movies but changed the way that all movies were made and
how they would be perceived by the public. "A New Hope" was
the first blockbuster movie as it was loved by everyone as not just
a science fiction film but as an epic quest where good battled evil.
The action begins immediately and never stops. We are instantly
thrust into the plight of the rebel Alliance which struggles against
the evil Empire. Drawn into the story is a princess, a farm boy,
a smuggler, a knight, and two droids who struggle to evade the
evil Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith. This is my second favorite of
the Trilogy movies.

"Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back": it is a dark time for
the rebel Alliance. In this second chapter (episode 5) the Alliance
is under constant flight from the crushing power of the Empire.
This is the transition film that most people don't fully appreciate.
However, it is the favorite film of most fans. This is because it is
so well developed. Dark from the start to the finish the viewer
gets a feel for just how hopeless the plight is for the forces of good.
Stunning special effects and wonderful character development all
tied by a tremendous musical score make this film the best of the
three. The farm boy follows the path of the Jedi Knight and the
other characters attempt, in vain, to evade capture by the Imperial
Navy. A truly captivating film right up to the shocking conclusion.

"Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi": the climax of the trilogy
this film is full of excitement. The only bad thing is the inclusion of
lots of primitive and sickeningly cute bear creatures (Ewoks). A
smuggler finds stability, a young Jedi completes his training, and
another Jedi finds redemption. The evil Emperor Palpatine is seen
at last and Skywalker must make a difficult choice for good or
evil. The rebel Alliance fights with everything they have in one
final attempt at freedom and wage the largest and most
magnificent space battle of any science fiction movie ever. It is a
worthy end to an amazing set of movies.

"The Star Wars Prequels": are currently being filmed and will
explore the first three episodes of the above epic. Little is known
of it except that it will describe the origins of the familiar characters
of the original saga.

For a list of "Star Wars" links go here.