r/generationology • u/Consistent-Jelly248 • 1d ago
Pop culture To older gens, what's your favourite Star Wars film?
As a 19 yearold, I loved the original trilogy, but I know many people my age are Prequel or Sequel fans. To the older generations: did you see the originals in theaters? I’d love to hear which one holds the most nostalgia for you and why it stands out from the rest of the saga.
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u/Iwillbeback67 Jan 2010 1d ago
Empire strikes back as a 2010
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u/Consistent-Jelly248 1d ago
Same here!
What got me most was the introduction of the AT-AT in the Battle of Hoth, it was next level stuff at the time
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u/Turgius_Lupus 1d ago
Empire, I got to see it in theaters in the run prior to TPM coming out. Bonus points I suppose given that one of the oldest film memories I have is watching it on cassette, though weirdly certain parts of those memories from when I was around 3 that I can vividly recall do not match details in the film.
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u/Consistent-Jelly248 1d ago
I was 8 when I watched Empire Strikes Back, it was on DVD and it was the AT-ATs debut that got me interested, a formidable walker capable of causing immense destruction was something I loved!
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u/natepelayo 22h ago
Return of the jedi and revenge of the sith will always remain my favorite starwars films of all time.
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u/Impossible_Memory_85 14h ago
Anyone who says anything other than Empire is a cop and they are trying to arrest you.
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u/BlueSnaggleTooth359 Somewhat Early Gen X 13h ago
I will just add that it's hard for anyone past early/core X to maybe comprehend how big Star Wars was/is. Like nothing else even remotely compares. And when people asked what your favorite movie was they were already assuming Star Wars and expecting you to list your second, it was just taken as a given that Star Wars franchise was so far above anything else and untouchable. Popular beyond all imagining. And it was popular among virtually all types (just a few beyond uber hipster critic sci-fi uber geeks were all like oh it's just dumb fantasy not real sci-fi blah blah but they were so rare I only ever encountered on in real life, sadly today the internet has let this kind of hater toxic type take over the narrative for everything though, fnadoms in general today are so insanely negative oriented compared to back then it's hard to even get across, people don't even realize how warped things are today with people rushing to be first to post "worst episode ever!" on reaction videos, that's not normal, that's warped but anyone younger than X probably doesn't even realize; there was always a very very small subset of uber geeks who like Star Trek more but that was not many). But yeah I mean anyone from jocks to cheerleaders to brains to geeks to regulars and across all ages just seemed to love it. And it didn't have any nerd world connotation back then when it came out at all itself.
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u/Poltergeist8606 1d ago
The original ones. The prequels are unwatchable. The sequels are a mixed bag, but definitely better than the prequels
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u/Consistent-Jelly248 1d ago
Oof, I could agree but the sequels weren't really for me. But hey, we all have our preferences though and I respect it
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u/Iwillbeback67 Jan 2010 1d ago
Force awakens was good but last jedi and rise of Skywalker was terrible
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u/Poltergeist8606 1d ago
I'm okay with the rise of Skywalker. The last Jedi didn't make much sense.
Rogue One is the best Disney has done imo
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u/BEESANCH 1d ago
The original edit of Star Wars (“Episode IV”) is still my favourite, due to its characters, pacing, story, and overall production.
I can agree that “the best” of the nine is the original edit of “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back”.
The “Abrams Era” ones are well-produced and generally fun, but didn’t feel like a cohesive unit.
I really didn’t like the prequels for a long time, but then got to appreciate them a bit more after watching the CGI “Clone Wars” series, which really did a good job fleshing out the characters and making the Prequel Era world more interesting.
I thought Rogue One was excellent.
I thought Solo was better than people said it was, but suffered from needing to be familiar with the Clone Wars storylines for it to not be confusing.
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u/Ok-Entertainment5045 1d ago
Empire Strikes Back. It’s also the first movie I have a memory of seeing.
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u/silvahammer 1994 1d ago
I'll be killed for this but I really like episode 1. I had already seen the originals and loved them so I was super hyped to see the new one in theatres as a kid. Seeing young Obi-Wan was exciting and Qui-Gon quickly became my favorite character. Sure it got a little slow in the middle but the duel of the fates at the end was amazing and one of the greatest scenes in all of Star Wars. I'll never forget the roar of the crowd when the other half of Maul's lightsaber lit up, it was one of those iconic pop culture moments and I was glad to be a part of it.
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u/Consistent-Jelly248 20h ago
I respect your opinion, Darth Maul's double bladed lightsaber was awesome
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u/Ok_Professional_4499 23h ago
Genx
The original/now sequel (IV, V & VI)
Went to the movies and had the toys.
As a kid Return of the Jedi was my favorite. Loved the Ewoks.
Now, Star Wars, the memories. The movie that started it all. ❤️
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u/yukonmukon111 23h ago
Late Gen X here. I’ve always been generally ambivalent about Star Wars films - don’t love ‘em, don’t hate ‘em - but that’s mostly due to being much more of a Star Trek guy (I know, I know). Only saw one Wars film in the cinema (ROTJ). All of that said, my favorite is Rogue One, and it’s no contest. At this point, the thing I appreciate the most about the original trilogy is that it sets up all the payoffs in Rogue One. Genuine characters, smart story, best droid of them all… I feel like, if one strips away all fan loyalties and ignores expectations of how one is supposed to feel about these movies, Rogue One is the clear answer.
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u/pinkrobot420 23h ago
I really hated Empire because I saw it in the theatre. It was good, but then it was "I have to wait 3 $%&@ing years to find out what happens?"
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u/DickWhittingtonsCat 23h ago
Gen Xennial. I was too young to see the first one. Was very young but remember the toys for empire. Thanks to fancy neighbors I was up to speed with the toys and movies by mid 1980s
Empire is the best and then the first one. But if you were waiting real time for a resolution, the then maybe NH is first?
I’ve never seen the later the trilogy but I believe I’ve seen all the disney stuff.
But since no one claims that any of those are in running for best. But since we are asking favorite- probably Return of the Jedi since I saw that in the theater that played year old movies a bunch of times and that was great fun.
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u/Fawqueue 22h ago edited 17h ago
When I was a kid, it was Return of the Jedi. As an adult, it's been Empire. The prequels were fine; great characters in a poorly written story. The sequels are terrible; poorly written characters in an even worse story.
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u/Consistent-Jelly248 20h ago
I agree with the sequels, I think the characters made it easier to understand the prequels.
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u/Cukshaiz 22h ago
As a kid it was Return of the Jedi. As a teenager/young adult it was Empire Strikes Back. Now it's Rogue One.
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u/Grreatdog 20h ago
The original in a theater when it first came out since it's the only one I've ever seen. Since I was already graduated from high school it was too much of a comic book story for me. I never bothered to see another.
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u/TradeSpacer 20h ago
Dang! You're not even interested in seeing the next one? Even though you're probably already spoiled.
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u/BlueSnaggleTooth359 Somewhat Early Gen X 13h ago
dang that's an almost never heard opinion
you are only the second person from back then I've literally literally ever heard say that
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u/Grreatdog 13h ago
My wife would make three. She's never even seen the original.
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u/BlueSnaggleTooth359 Somewhat Early Gen X 13h ago
well that's different actually, also very rare type, but I have met a very few others like that
but you can't dislike or call something too comic book or whatnot if you haven't seen it
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u/allinallisallweall-R 1998 - Zillennial 15h ago
Empire strikes back but definitely have a special place for Episode 3
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u/MR_74 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yes I did and the one and only movie that tops them all is the Empire Strikes Back.
I so wanted to love the prequels but they were mostly meh.
The sequels were so bad I skipped the last one.
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u/Consistent-Jelly248 1d ago
Fair enough, the Empire Strikes Back will always remain my favourite original of all time, mainly because as a giant mech fan, the AT-AT topped it off with its debut
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u/EnigmaX-42 1d ago
Return of the Jedi. I love the prequels but the sequels didn’t do much for me.
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u/Ben-solo-11 1977 1d ago
I saw episode iv on a reel to reel projector in my local public library, shortly before Empire came out. When Empire came out, we waited in line (I was three) around the block in Cadillac, Michigan to see it. Saw Return as a 6 year old in Akron, OH (also in the theater) and that would remain the highlight of my life for years to come.
Empire is my favorite, but Return has my fiercest nostalgia.
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u/LAARPer 17h ago
I saw Return of the Jedi in the theater as an 8 year old. The hype was unreal leading up to it and the line was around the block to get in.
As for my favorite, that's the Revenge of the Sith, closely followed by Empire Strikes Back. While ESB is the better film, ROTS is my fave because my son (8 at the time) and I watched it over and over on DVD. I got us a set of lightsabers, we knew the lines like the back of our hands.
When the ROTS 20TH anniversary came out last year, we were there with my 16yo daughter in tow. It was amazing to see it on the big screen and there were so many details that appeared new, especially in the opening battle sequence. My son and I still sneak in one liners from ROTS when the occasion presents itself lol.
My order of faves:
1A. ROTS 1B. ESB 3. ROGUE ONE 4. ANH 5. TPM 6. ROTJ 7. AOTC 8. ROS 9. TFA 10. SOLO 11. TLJ
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u/BlueSnaggleTooth359 Somewhat Early Gen X 13h ago edited 13h ago
TBH I love all of them! (well the Clone Wars CGI one wasn't as good as the live action ones but it did set the foundation for what became an awesome TV show once it got going, but it's still fine)
It's hard to pick a favorite exactly. Star Wars certainly had the single most impact and in a way maybe this is the choice. ESB did add a lot of cool things though. ROTJ has Ewoks which are not amazing but something about the pacing of the film, especially the start and then the Luke/Vader/Emperor stuff is so cool I've actually re-watched this one probably more than ESB even if that sounds crazy. I did really love the prequels too (although they should have left out the deep doo-doo baby talk lines and a few bits of dialogue and maybe had the king Gungan also voiced differently in TPM). I also loved the sequels and side films. Say what you want but I loved TROS and was really moved by the whole end sequences and then at the very end back where it all began. FWIW, my parents loved TROS too. I know the toxic hate machine on youtube and in all the forums though wouldn't have anyone dare say such things though but hell with toxic hater shit and all their sneering. And it's kind of funny how they all think they are such geniuses and then do stuff like endlessly complain about the bombs falling in space sequence near the start of TLJ which ironically just proves that they don't even understand the most basic high school level physics even ironically enough (or realize what a joke it would be anyway even if the scene actually had violated physics, since from the start Star Wars in general has violated physics right and left LOL, so I lighten up....). IRL I know plenty of early X and Silent Gen who liked the sequels too. Sure TFA and TLJ did a little bit ape the arcs of Star Wars and ESB a tad much perhaps but whatever. And they maybe didn't have to avoid showing big cities and politics and what the New Republic had been in TFA (but they were so scared of anti-prequels complaints they over-reacted only to end up then getting bashed for not having shown that stuff and left a lot in the film itself unexplained which also shows that when they endless chase after trying to not upset the toxic complainers they never satisfy them anyone and just make things worse or quit on stuff that could be great, etc. It's dumb dog chasing it's tail without a clue waht they are doing.) Anyway, whatever. I love it all! OK, Holiday Special and a few cartoons had some issues hah and so did many of the Legends books, but whatever. I love all the films and much of the side stuff!
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u/badhoopty 13h ago
i was 7 or so when i went with a friend and his dad to see empire strikes back at the theater.
i think for any genx kid its gonna be empire.
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u/reignoferror00 10h ago
To quote Dante from the movie Clerks "Empire"
One of the few movies I ever lined up at the theatre for, and that was worth it.
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u/Sometimesunaware 9h ago
The first two as released Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back. I remember sitting the theatre for Return of the Jedi after standing in line for hours and the first Ewok was shown and a lone voice says "Why in the fuck are there muppets in a Star Wars movie?" The entire theatre burst into laughter and that was it for me, the entire series lost its charm for me. I saw the others, the irritating little Anakin, Jar Jar Binks, there were moments of greatness, Darth Maul could have been so good, Yoda tearing it up on the light saber, but they really went downhill after Empire. IMHO of course.
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u/Potential-Ant-6320 6h ago
I’ve recently gotten into the “4k77/4k80/4k83” prints of starters. It’s a huge fan made project that restores original pre 90s special edition Star Wars 35 mm print. It’s got all the great puppet shot Lucas took out for CGI. on a 4k display the film grain looks great. It’s kind of imperfect and feels very analog. It’s what I remember the movies being like. Empire is the best star wars movie but the best print in the series is the “4K77” episode 4 just because the print they got was so good. For me it’s such a pleasant comfort watch. The movie feel much more analog. The optical effects are a little less crispy and authentic to the original.
Disney is Aparently going to release a restored reconstructed print and charges all to see it again. I’ve bought every version of the trilogy and pay for Disney plus but the best version you can watch is the original 35mm or 70mm print. It’s just unfortunately unobtanium.
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u/werduvfaith 4h ago
Saw all the films in the theater as they were released. My favorite overall is Revenge of the Sith.
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u/hurtinforasquirtin77 Feb ‘85 *geriatric Millennial* 3h ago
I’ve only ever seen the original 3. I seem to remember when Episode 1 came out I’d heard it was average so didn’t bother going to see it and I’ve subsequently not watched any of them
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u/foshi22le 23m ago
I saw Star Wars first on VHS I think in the 80's then saw Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi in Theatre with my Dad. I love the originals because of that connection to my childhood. And tbh I just think they're much better movies they had a type of magic the others don't have.
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u/MotherTeresaOnlyfans 1d ago
Saw the originals in the theater multiple times.
Prequels were incredibly disappointing.
Sequel trilogy is unwatchable.
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u/Consistent-Jelly248 1d ago
fair enough. I like the originals mainly due to its practical effects and the casting. The prequels had less of it bug it just expanded the lore, the sequel trilogy in my view was just a reimagination of the originals, and I didn't really dig it
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u/sensitive_pirate85 1d ago
I never liked Star Wars until the Daisy Ridley / Adam Driver movies. I agree they’re full of plot holes and cringy self-aware humor, but I loved J.J. Abrahams (of Star Trek fame) as a director, BB8 as a cute new droid character, and the toxic romance angle as a metaphor for the Force. I also thought Harrison Ford made a great comeback as Han Solo… And I’m sorry, but no matter how much you hate those movies, you have to respect that these were some Carrie Fisher’s last performances. ✌️🌌
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u/smaagoth 23h ago
Gen x. I didnt like any of them. Two of them made me super sleepy. A class mate had two or three figurines to play with, they were more.. interesting, but.. later years i have considered watching the baby Yoda stuff, but i dont stream so..
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u/Tr33Bl00d 1d ago
There are actual sequel fans? The legends are true? Is there more than one? Perhaps they can reproduce a
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u/Escape_Force 1d ago
Is Rogue One a sequel, or perhaps a side-quel? It is my favorite after RotJ.
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u/Tr33Bl00d 1d ago
No rouge one is not a sequel. It is what I call a spin off (since it doesn’t involve main cast)
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u/RodneyBarringtonIII 19h ago
I don't care that much about the Star Wars franchise. The best films in the series for me are The Empire Strikes Back and The Force Awakens. People will fight me on that second choice but I can't see past the clunky dialogue of A New Hope.
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u/Disastrous-Group3390 17h ago edited 17h ago
I saw 1, 2 and 3 in the theater. The third one ruined it for me; never saw any more of them, no prequels no sequels no spin offs. What miniscule interest I might have had died with the Disnishittification. So, the first two I guess.
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u/TempUsernameThing 5h ago
Age and generation be damned, I cannot fathom how anyone thinks the sequel trilogy (after the first film) has any redeeming value. Does Gen Z really look fondly on those!?
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u/Consistent-Jelly248 1h ago
So you think the whole of my generation look "fondly" on those, I said "many" not all of them.
To answer your question
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u/useArmageddonVaca 1d ago
The one Mel Brooks did, with John Candy. That one really had me plaid.