The Book of Boba Fett

The Book of Boba Fett (2021)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The first part of the series is a little disjointed and hard to follow, especially when we get flashbacks so the story is not all in the correct order. It picks up towards the end when all of the events come together into the final expected conflict and the series ties in with The Mandalorian (to the point where some of the last episodes seem to belong more to that series than to be about Fett). It does answer some questions with the start of season 2 for Mando however, so is most likely better when the series are watched in order with the actual seasons and not just by the series on it's own.

Andor

Andor (2022)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This is a prequel series released on Disney+ to Rogue One featuring Cassian and more of his back story. While the idea behind it is good and the filming is decent, the overall story feels lacking. The pace is slow despite everything happening and Cassian, for all that he continues to survive and get things done, also seems to be one of the most unlucky people out there. While technically we know how his story ends thanks to the movie, the ending of the series itself is left as a melancholy cliff hanger. 

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This short series answers the question of how Leia knew Ben, as she seems to recognize him in the first movie, though that could also be taken just for her knowledge of the Clone Wars from her father given the dialogue at the time. We see more personal interaction here and gain more back story into the Skywalker twins' childhood, including possibly why old Ben later chooses to tell Luke that Vader killed his father. It does, however, open the doors to more interaction with the rebellion (though not referenced by that name at the time) and what happened when Anakin attacked the jedi temple. The relationship between Ben and Owen is obviously still strained, and Ben does agree to keep his distance, but Owen also seems somewhat more open towards the end, oven offering to introduce the two of them, though it would seem given previous film events that Luke would not remember this meeting (or it's another gap in the Star Wars continuity line between all of the different media). Regardless, it is a fun and very short series giving a little more history into what happens to Obi-Wan between the ending of Revenge of the Sith and the beginning of A New Hope. The ending of this first season is left open where there could be more as Qui-Gon also makes a brief appearance.

The Mandalorian

The Mandalorian (2019)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I'm a little behind on finally watching this series, however, found it thoroughly enjoyable. A little strange seeing some of the old characters back again, and it made it difficult to place where in the story this series takes place exactly until near the end of Season 2. I find it interesting how expressive Mando manages to be even with the helmet on, and how he evolves to really being a father figure for Grogu - though it's interesting everyone continues to use "The Child" even after learning his name. It will be interesting to see how things continue to evolve in Season 3, as well as the tie in to the new Book of Boba Fett series coming up.

Star Wars 9: The Rise of Skywalker

Star Wars 9: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I actually enjoyed watching this, though my husband swears it was the worst Star Wars movie he's ever watched, and that says something given he's seen all of them, just like me. I found that if you watched the movie just for movie entertainment and/or Rey's story, you'd enjoy it. However, if you're a big Star Wars fan and want the universe to be consistent and all the great things it could be, you'll be sadly disappointed. Really shouldn't be all that surprising given they said when they started the sequel trilogy that they were scrapping everything that already existed in the Star Wars universe. Most of us all thought they just meant as far as the sequel went, erasing the Jedi Academy, the twins, and all of that amazing story line. Some might argue now that the statement included many other things that were changed or re-written to make things work how they wanted them to in this film.

Han's lecture about calculations for light speed so you don't go through a star and die from A New Hope? Forget it. Light speed jumping is now and a thing, and you can totally avoid colliding with anything coming out of hyperspace.

Can't be tracked through hyperspace as established in The Empire Strikes Back? Forget that, too. Tie fighters can now keep up with you through all that light speed jumping and keep the dogfight going.

Only the Sith are willing/able to bed the force to their will to play with life force itself as discussed in Revenge of the Sith? That should also be forgotten. Apparently even Jedi will now influence individual life forces without turning to the dark side.

That's just a few of the highlights, too. Don't go digging too far if you don't want any spoilers. There's a lot.... though there's also a lot that will be really familiar in this movie if you're paying attention.

Star Wars 3.25: Solo

Star Wars 3.25: Solo (2018)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I actually heard really bad things about this movie when it came out, and that made me delay seeing it despite my love for the series as a whole. While it certainly won't make my favorites list (the prequel trilogy didn't either), I actually did still enjoy the story for what it is on it's own. While seeing someone else play Han Solo than Harrison Ford is certainly strange, I have to admit they did a fairly good job capturing Han's personality. It's interesting to not only see how he met Lando, Chewy, acquired the Falcon, and see his infamous dice in play, but also get some of his individual backstory in how he became a smuggler in the first place, and even how he gained the name Solo, which I hadn't caught in any of the previous books was something that had been assigned to him essentially from the Empire. It's hard to picture Han ever being a soldier and falling in line with the Empire, so hearing him be kicked out of their flight academy isn't all that shocking, either.

Star Wars 8: The Last Jedi

Star Wars 8: The Last Jedi (2017)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


There's a lot to love and hate about this movie. Han is still referenced a lot even though he's no longer in the picture. Of course the next film is supposed to be about him, so we'll get at least some Han Solo fix even though he's gone from the mainstream films short of a flashback sequence at this point (he's not a Jedi so I'd be shocked to see him in ghost form like we do Yoda so often, though this option wouldn't surprise me for any of the Skywalkers). Rey was worrisome for awhile there, but appears to have found whatever foundation she needed to move forward. Kylo, however, seems to keep moving further backwards every time it looks like he might finally be turning a corner in the correct direction. This is not really helped by the different perspective of events between Kylo and Luke prior to the destruction of the Jedi temple and Luke's subsequent disappearance. There's a lot that is surprising in this film, but it doesn't manage to hit that all time thrill mark that would give it a solid 5 star rating like the original trilogy. Still leagues better than the prequel trilogy turned out however. I'd hoped Luke, at least, might last longer in the series. I guess we'll see what the end verdict will be there given how often we still see Yoda despite his death (and he's proved just how powerful he still is despite essentially being a ghost in this latest installment).

Star Wars 3.5: Rogue One

Star Wars 3.5: Rogue One (2016)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This was the story of the mission to get the Death Star's plans which Princess Leia then hid in R2-D2 on her mission to find Obi-Wan Kenobi. You know it's not likely to end well as it's a war story and they say in A New Hope that many of their best pilots died to get them this data. Despite all of this, you're left with a high action story that leaves you feeling like they accomplished something important even if they don't get their happily ever after. Added on top of that, they've gone above and beyond to make sure characters you would recognize from the original trilogy look the same in this movie, adding to the tie ins and putting a seamless tranisition in place that makes it feel as if this is just filling in a gap rather than being a side story.

Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens

Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (2015)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I wasn't sure what to think about this movie going into it. Star Wars has been something I've enjoyed with my father since I was a teen, and I really wanted it to be good. I'd already been disappointed by the prequel trilogy. Then there were all the rumors that this was completely deviating from the already existing (and rather extensive) "official" story that's been published in the many, many books throughout the years. Yet another thing to make me wary as I read most, if not all, of those books up until I could no longer keep up to make sense of the story line when I started college. Despite the differences though, I'm happy to say that the movie does not disappoint. It is very reminiscent of the story found in Episode IV: A New Hope, almost frighteningly so. There are certain things that I wish hadn't happened so quickly, like Han Solo's brief reappearance. Fin and Rey both promise to be interesting characters however, and it's hard not to draw the parallels from Luke's current appearance to Obi-Wan when they first met. Likewise, Ren and Vader share many parallels, though Ren seems to be suffering over a lot of misinformation regarding Vader's ultimate commitment to the Dark Side. There's also the question of Rey's past which leaves some pretty open alternatives at the moment. So far, there's a lot of potential being shown, and we walked away with the feeling that it was a true Star Wars movie, unlike with the prequels. That's a pretty good start all around.

Star Wars: Clone Wars

Star Wars: Clone Wars (2008)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


Taking place during the "prequel" trilogy, this series shows more of Anakin's training under Obi-Wan and his growing relationship with Padme while the Senate and the Separatists go head to head. Anakin even ends up taking on his own student, Hisoka, who is completely unheard of in the movies given Anakin's own Padawan status until the end of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. An odd irregularity out of the mix, but provides for some amusing entertainment in the series, which is likely the entire point.

Star Wars: Rebels

Star Wars: Rebels (2014)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


The CGI is a little strange, despite having started watching Star Wars: Clone Wars on occasion lately. The angles seem a little too sharp and the storm troopers do not seem very unified despite the fact that they are supposed to be clones. Ezra, a young street thief with Jedi potential seems to be the main character, though the focus widens to include the entire ships crew once he meets Kanan and the others. This is also his first exposure to a fully trained Jedi, despite his tendency to do certain things (like jumping impossibly high/long distances and dodging blaster fire) that wouldn't really be possible for a human without use of the Force. It has some potential, though at the moment it seems rather ragtag and scattered.

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is my favorite of the Star Wars films. Except for the fact that we lose Yoda and Vader has to die after just getting his son back. Han and Leia finally figure out what they want together, Luke and Leia learn of their relationship as estranged twins. The group manages to save Han from Jabba the Hutt. Emperor Palpatine finally fails and the Death Star is destroyed. Especially like when Vader makes the final choice to stand by his son rather than Palpatine. Luke seeing Anakin with Obi-Wan and Yoda at the end of the film is a nice touch. I found it interesting that the special edition changed Anakin to his younger appearance from the prequel trilogy instead of the older version that lived behind the mask who we actually see speak to Luke before his death. Of course, who couldn't love the ewoks? They were originally responsible for my interest in these films as a child; what kid wouldn't want to see more teddy bears? One of my dad's favorite films, it quickly joined my list as well.

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


If there is one thing I will give the special edition releases, they do make the ice monster and Cloud City scenes much better over the confined and shortened segments in the original release. This film also introduces the ever popular Yoda along with the over-quoted "Luke, I am your father" scene. The only time you'll see Emporer Palpatine is via hologram. Otherwise this film is largely about Luke's training and family revelation while Darth Vader is more determined than ever to make his son his own pawn in the Empire.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

My rating: 4 of 5


As far as technique goes, this is obviously an older film, even with the new remastered "special editions." Blue screens and scene changes are more obvious, especially with opening doors and lightsabers turning on or off. Still, the film is a classic. Good story line, interesting characters, and the actors really get into their roles. My first experience with this film got me as far as Darth Vader's grand entrance on Leia's ship before I ran out of the room screaming that I'd never watch it again. Pretty sure that got retracted as soon as I caught sight of the ewoks in The Jedi Returns. This original trilogy has made my list of favorite films ever since.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


So much for superior senses and reflexes. The council fails to see Palpatine is the Sith Lord they've been searching for or sense the imminent threat posed by the very same troupes they lead into battle. Unfortunately this failure nearly wipes them out save a few survivors (Obi-Wan & Yoda) along with bringing about the birth of Darth Vader and the Empire. It was interesting seeing Chewbaca back again as he guards his home planet with Yoda. Padme's death marks the birth of the twins, Luke and Leia, our more well known heroes from the original trilogy. We also see the beginnings of the Rebellion as Senator Organa takes in little Leia after rescue those few he can from the Imperial clutches.

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


In line with the later released Episode I, the technology is more advanced, the backgrounds are more detailed, there are more species than ever, yet it supposedly takes place before the original series. R2-D2 can not only hover as he does in the original series, but actually flies through a production center on his own. A little more grown  up this time, Anakin and Padme must now decide if it's worth the risk to be together. Introduce Jengo Fette's clones and the creation of the Empire, though no one realizes that is what happens when they give emergency powers to Chancellor Palpatine. Padme's outfits were also designed by George Lucas himself and many leave you cringing or wondering just how they stay on. The one part of this film that is probably overly popular and a major crack up is Yoda going ninja-Jedi at the end; you won't want to miss that. If you don't mind the inconsistencies, it's a decent film.

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Decent as a stand alone film, though not as good as the original trilogy. This tale takes us back to the beginning of the saga when Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan meet young Anakin Skywalker for the first time. Anakin/Padme is certainly an odd pairing given their vast age difference, not to mention life experiences. Sadly the technology in this "prequel" seems more advanced than from the original set that takes place years later.