@CrimsonAvenger said:

It's about time for this. This and Episode V are still my favorites in the series. Jedi was all right and the prequels were all pretty good as well but the first two will always be the best. I can now say I like Darth Vader yelling NO! in ROTJ.

Hmmm you like the prequels and Vaber's No is ROTJ? I'll take note to disregard your opinion on movies from now on.

That ending was perfect

you think he just called it episode 4 to secure at least 3 more films? I mean if it bombed there is no way the couldnt have made 1-3

@blueduck:

I grew up seeing two of the prequels in theaters and have seen all of them countless times, just like I've seen the originals countless times except I only have seen the '97 Editions. Still I see nothing wrong with the Star Wars prequel trilogy at all, aside from lousy acting here and there; they're perfectly fine movies. So yeah, I see no reason to hate the prequels at all. It's not like the originals weren't flawed either.

Now its time for a Half-Good for Return of the Jedi.

As others have said, the original title was simply Star Wars. The episode number was added when the first film was rereleased a year after Empire, which itself had been released with an episode number.

It was only much later that Lucas would start making the claims that he'd always envisioned a six-film (or nine- or twelve-, depending on the day of the week) story arc, when he was always more just making it up as he went along (with a lot of input from friends and family for the original trilogy).

Suggested reading for anyone curious about all the history behind that: The Secret History of Star Wars. Picked it up a while back and found it well-researched and fascinatingly different from the version of events that Lucas tells.

Yay I'm not the only guy with a man crush on Harrison Ford

Definitely a no-brainer for Besties.

Great ending, LOL

@ArbitraryWater said:

As a random FYI, it was just called Star Wars until the special editions came out, when they added the Episode IV: A New Hope subtitle.

Actually, they added the episode IV in the 1981 re-release, which was right before Empire was released theatrically. Once again, George Lucas will never not be changing these movies.

Great piece Rorie, it was about time. Episode 4 has always been my favorite Star Wars movie because as a narrative, it's absolutely perfect. It's Joseph Campbell stuff to a t, but the script and effects are so incredible it doesn't matter. I don't even have to watch with nostalgia glasses, by modern standards it still looks and sounds amazing.

@CrimsonAvenger said:

the prequels were all pretty good

....what?

Was this really called Episode IV when it first came out? I always thought when the prequels came out the original trilogy was renamed IV, V, and VI.

I think Revenge of the Sith might make a good Half-Good someday. It has some really good parts about it & some really bad parts about it but I think is easily the best of the prequels.

@Milkman said:

Is it just me or does Rorie wear that shirt in like every video?

You're right. When the movie came out it was only called Star Wars, but when it started making money, and Lucas got the green light for Empire, he numbered the entire trilogy.

I disagree with the compliments sent Lucas' way since basically every piece of written word about the production of Star Wars points to the fact that Lucas didn't have any of the good ideas and the best parts were improved by actors, suggested by producers or happened by accident because of filming schedules or budgets.

Although this is probably my least favorite of the original trilogy, there's no denying that it's just packed with classic, even iconic moments throughout.

@phoenix87x said:

Now its time for a Half-Good for Return of the Jedi.

I could have some words with you over that. The only thing really bad about ROTJ is that the Ewok stuff is a little kiddy. ROTJ is my favorite of the original trilogy (with Empire coming in close second) and even I agree that the Ewok stuff has no place in it.

@Landon: A New Hope was just called "Star Wars" when it was released in 1977. I wasn't until Empire came out in 1980 did Lucas name it Episode V, thus making A New Hope Episode IV.

A New Hope is far and away my favorite Star Wars film. It's just jam packed with excitement and high adventure. When you watch ANH, you just imagine a whole universe of possibilities for the characters and worlds, expectations that frankly Lucas himself can't match with the other films IMO. Great performances by Alec Guinness and Peter Cushing too.