auguy86: Blog

Greetings, intrepid readers! M. H. Barton here with another blog post. This time, we’ll be doing some speculating about what characters in non-Marvel franchises might be worthy to wield Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir. The concept of a character being truly “worthy” of mythical power is a fascinating one that has been used in storytelling for centuries. Oftentimes, characters are good but flawed, unable to be considered worthy of some higher honor due to their past sins. A select few, however, rise to the top to create truly respected and revered characters that endure for years. I’ve picked ten franchises and will discuss what one character from each franchise would be worthiest to rule Asgard. These musings are simply my opinions, so please don’t flame me if you disagree. With that said, let’s get started!

First, it’s important to try and define what makes one worthy of Mjölnir. This is never explicitly stated in the comics or films, but we can make some reasonable assumptions from Thor’s adventures as well as using general knowledge of Viking mythology. Per Thor’s numerous appearances, it’s clear one must have a heroic and self-sacrificing spirit to be worthy, as seen in the 2011 film Thor. In Age of Ultron, Thor states that anyone who can wield it gains the right to rule Asgard, meaning Mjölnir must also be judging an individual’s worthiness as a potential king or queen. This includes their wisdom and leadership capabilities, as seen when Steve Rogers eventually wields the hammer, but I think there’s more at play than just wisdom. Viking culture always venerates warrior-kings who relish the thrill of combat yet are also just – willing to use deadly force, but only when necessary. A familiarity with magic doesn’t hurt one’s chances of being worthy, even if it isn’t a requirement, and would help one be more quickly proficient with Mjölnir’s powers. Finally, one must attain a measure of enlightenment regarding one’s flaws. So, we have enlightenment, self-sacrifice, wisdom, leadership, the heart of a warrior, and the ability to kill when it’s just. Seems like a pretty good basis for worthiness to me. Now, let’s dive into our various universes and see who’s as worthy as Thor and who, like Wayne and Garth, is just not worthy.

DC Comics

The most logical place to start is in Marvel’s chief competitor, and the most logical candidates are the big three – Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. All are self-sacrificing, wise, and have strong leadership as founding members of the Justice League. However, both Superman and Batman are edged out in the other two traits, as Wonder Woman has an absolute warrior-queen’s spirit. Additionally, she is far less hampered by the use of deadly force when necessary, something the other two are known to shy away from. It’s understandable since both Bats and Supes are well aware of their darker sides should killing become the norm. Diana, on the other hand, knows her strength and herself. Using deadly force when necessary won’t corrupt her like it would her teammates. Honestly, of all the characters I plan on discussing today, Wonder Woman is the most like Thor of anyone. Hell, if they were in the same franchise, it’d be a match made in heaven! But yeah, this is an easy one.

Winner: Wonder Woman

Avatar – The Last Airbender

I adore the Avatar franchise for a multitude of reasons, but one of the biggest is the amazing cast of characters. But which of them would be worthy to wield Mjölnir? At first, one might think of one of the primary Avatars, Aang or Korra, but both are held back by their faults, namely Aang’s survivor’s guilt and Korra’s self-doubt. While they certainly could be worthy, I believe the worthiest character is Iroh, the Dragon of the West. Remember, flaws don’t necessarily prevent someone’s worthiness, but they must face those flaws, overcome them if possible, and accept them if they can’t. Iroh is the very embodiment of this, where both Aang and Korra still have growth ahead of them. Once a military general who took joy at the prospect of burning a city to the ground, Iroh quit his campaign after losing his son in battle. The years following his loss would mold him into one of the most enlightened characters in the franchise. He’s a wise leader in the Order of the White Lotus, bringing together master warriors from all nations for the good of the world. He also never lost his warrior’s spirit, instead learning the proper direction to point his righteous fury. And self-sacrificing? He allowed himself to be captured in the face of his nephew’s betrayal, allowing Aang to escape and providing the chance for his nephew’s eventual redemption. Iroh is most certainly worthy to rule Asgard.

Winner: Iroh

The Matrix

The Wachowskis created a transcendent sci-fi world on the big screen, and it resonated with audiences big time. Some of my favorite parts are the fantasy, religious, and mythological themes and elements they wove into the story. First of all, we have to consider the worthiness of Neo, the One himself. I would think that alone counts for something as far as Mjölnir is concerned. That said, another strong contender is Neo’s teacher, Morpheus. Both are fearsome combatants in the Matrix, able to bend the computer system to their will better than nearly any other character. The only way Neo is able to constantly outperform Morpheus in combat is due to his status as the One, while Morpheus is a self-made warrior at heart. They also are known for their selflessness, placing themselves in harm’s way for others multiple times. And as dangerous as the Matrix is, willingness to kill isn’t an issue for them. This ultimately comes down to leadership. For most of the franchise, Morpheus has Neo beat in that regard. Not only does Morpheus command his crew with exceptional skill, but he inspires those around him with little effort. He believes in them, which makes them believe in him. By the very end of Revolutions, however, it’s possible Neo has overtaken Morpheus with the last bit of enlightenment he gained in his final duel with Smith. It’s a super close contest, and both could be worthy, but I’ll give the slight edge to Morpheus’ body of work

Winner: Morpheus

The Dresden Files

Jim Butcher has truly crafted the gold standard in urban fantasy novels since he began this series. I’m a huge fan of the magic system, as well as the highly fleshed-out and believable characters. While Harry Dresden, the protagonist, is relatable and powerful, he isn’t even close to being worthy. Dresden, for all the good he does, has skirted dangerously close to being corrupted by dark powers on multiple occasions. Like Johnny Cash, he walks the line. No, the worthiest character in this franchise is one without an ounce of magic – Karrin Murphy. Karrin, or Murph for short, is a top detective in the Chicago Police Department and often works with Dresden on his cases. Despite her lack of powers, she regularly puts herself in danger for her friends and the general population. Dresden himself uses his Wizard’s Sight to see her true spirit as that of a warrior angel, fearsome and just to the end. Not even the holy warriors known as the Knights of the Cross can come anywhere close to Murph in terms of worthiness. As an aside, there is both an Odin and a Thor in Dresden’s universe, meaning it’s quite possible we could see the answer to this question in a future book. I sure hope so!

Winner: Karrin Murphy

Dragon Ball

Easily the most popular anime franchise here in America, the protagonist of Dragon Ball, Goku, has numerous similarities to Superman. Both are aliens from a foreign world who adopt Earth as their home and use their incredible power to protect it. But while Superman is held back by his refusal to use deadly force, Goku is willing to kill when warranted. Add this to his love of combat against a strong opponent and his multiple acts of sacrifice, and we have a clear contender to wield Mjölnir. One could argue Goku isn’t the best leader with his gullibility and innocence, but it’s undeniable that he inspires those around him to become better and stronger than they ever thought they could be. He’s far and away the best choice among the top candidates. Goku’s son, Gohan, is nearly as strong as Goku but is held back by his timid nature. Goku’s rival, Vegeta, is disqualified due to his tendency to often do the right thing for selfish or dubious reasons. Goku is the perfect balance between Gohan and Vegeta and is easily the worthiest in this universe.

Winner: Goku

Harry Potter

In researching this topic, one thing became very clear regarding the Harry Potter universe: none of the children were worthy enough. Not Harry, Ron, Hermione, or even Neville. Why? They’re just too young and still have growing to do. Maybe one of them would be worthy once they’re older, but not as we see them at the end of the books. So, who would be worthy? For starters, not Dumbledore. He proved himself unworthy the moment he looked upon Tom Riddle’s ring and decided to try and use the Resurrection Stone, cursing himself in the process. And Snape? He’s a spy, not a warrior king, and even he would admit to that. That leaves perhaps the wisest, fiercest, and noblest character in this franchise: Minerva McGonagall. Where both Dumbledore and Snape willingly put children in danger multiple times for the greater good, McGonagall always tries to be the voice of reason at every turn, reminding others that they’re teachers with a responsibility to protect the children. It’s a simple concept that almost every other adult in this universe seems incapable of grasping. Given her unbending will, strong leadership, and incredible dueling skills, McGonagall would absolutely be judged worthy by Mjölnir. Just pray you don’t get detention from her.

Winner: Minerva McGonagall

Lord of the Rings

To begin, it’s clear that Frodo Baggins isn’t worthy by the end of his journey. He’s been broken and corrupted beyond belief by the One Ring. I doubt he’d ever want to wield a weapon as powerful as Mjölnir after all that. As for who would be worthy, Aragorn certainly fits the bill of a wise and self-sacrificing warrior-king, especially with him leading a likely suicide mission to the Black Gate to open a path for Frodo through Mordor. Still, I think there’s one other just as worthy as him: Samwise Gamgee. Sam is always loyal to Frodo, always empathetic to the burden Frodo carries, and is more than willing to die for the mission they are on. But what about the warrior’s spirit? Sam may not be a warrior by trade, but he did something nobody else on Middle Earth has ever done when he wounded the dreaded spider Shelob in combat to save Frodo. To be honest, both of these incredible characters are worthy, but if I’m choosing only one, I have to give it to Sam by the slimmest of margins.

Winner: Samwise Gamgee

Star Trek

With over fifty years of content, Star Trek provides us with a plethora of possible characters for this discussion. Picard is definitely on the list over Kirk, what with the latter’s more cavalier actions. While Picard tries to avoid unnecessary killing, he’s shown he has plenty of will and determination to do what he must, so this isn’t an issue to me. (There are FOUR lights!) I’d say Spock is a better bet over Riker, given Riker arguably remained as Picard’s right hand far longer than he should have. One could argue Data might be worthy since him lifting Mjölnir is basically the same as Vision, but I still feel like that would be a bit cheap. That leaves us with two elite Starfleet officers, one known for uncompromising morality and the other for undeniable logic. This difference is precisely why Picard would be judged worthy over Spock. While logic is invaluable in so many instances, the logical decision is not always the right and just decision. Picard's sense of morality makes him an incredible leader, one who would not default to mere logic if faced with an impossible decision as king of Asgard. Add this to Picard’s masterful dealings with Q, a cosmic being who puts humanity on trial for sins of the past, and the answer is clear. In the Star Trek universe, Picard has maneuvered himself into position as the worthiest.

Winner: Jean-Luc Picard

Disney

Possibly the most sprawling and varied universe on this list, Disney has been creating content across multiple mediums for nearly a century. To help narrow the scope of this decision, I’ll choose among characters from official feature-length films released by Walt Disney Animation Studios. To me, there are three contenders: Mulan, Hercules, and Queen Elsa. While Mulan lacks the magic of the other two, she literally went to war for her father, impersonating a soldier to save his life and preserve the family honor. Plus, her kill count. Holy crap, her kill count! Yeah, she definitely has the heart of a warrior. As for Hercules, nobody can deny his combat prowess, but his greatest moment was when he swam through the river of death to recover the soul of the woman he loved, thus restoring his godhood. Then again, would the son of Zeus wish to rule Asgard and the Norse gods? Debatable. Finally, Elsa earns her place largely due to her actions in Frozen II, where she truly comes into her own. Not only does she confront powerful elemental forces to protect her people but she also displays uncommon wisdom in looking past the obvious to find the root cause of an ancient curse. Once her quest is done, she abdicates the throne to her younger sister, knowing she will be needed elsewhere. It’s a very tough call between these three, but I’ll give the edge to Elsa because of her established leadership experience.

Winner: Queen Elsa

Star Wars

Finally, we come to probably my favorite universe of them all. As the Galaxy Far, Far Away has expanded over the years, it’s transitioned from clear morality tales of good and evil to stories featuring more nuanced, flawed, and complex characters. This makes for an interesting time in judging the worthiness of various characters. Right off the bat, most of the Jedi are disqualified for various reasons. Luke still fears the Dark Side to a crippling degree, shown in his actions that drove Ben Solo away. Leia, for all her strong leadership, tends to manipulate those around her, even if for the greater good, as she did with Poe during The Last Jedi. Obi-Wan is an incredible warrior but passed on two chances to end Darth Vader’s life and spare the galaxy from his fury. Still, two Jedi have been able to confront and overcome their shortcomings in ways that bring them close to worthiness – Qui-Gon Jinn and Yoda. If Qui-Gon had lived longer, he’d have taken the title easily, but he died before he could prove just how worthy he was. That leaves Yoda, the Jedi who secretly became Qui-Gon’s successor in his devotion to the Living Force. Some accuse Yoda of running away after the rise of the Empire, but I view this as a wise action, knowing he had to bide his time for a chance to eventually stop the Empire. Despite his failures during the Old Republic era, Yoda is definitely the worthiest Jedi.

But what about non-Jedi characters? There are some interesting candidates, such as Bail Organa and Chirrut Îmwe, but I think the best candidate is one of the newest characters in the franchise – Din Djarin, the Mandalorian. There is no question about his capabilities as a warrior – he describes weapons as his religion. He’s also incredibly self-sacrificing, especially toward his adopted son, Grogu. He’s shown great leadership and an ability to inspire those around him to greater heights. I suspect we will see more of this side of him now that he owns the Darksaber, a symbol of leadership among Mandalorians. His only possible drawback seems to be his dogmatic adherence to The Way, though we’ve seen chips in this armor during critical moments. He has twice disobeyed his credo and removed his helmet for the greater good, showing an ability to learn and grow. We still have much to learn about Djarin, as his story is still unfolding, but I consider him a strong candidate. In the end, he may even overtake Yoda in worthiness, but until that day, I have to give it to the wise old Jedi master.

Winner: Master Yoda

And that’s going to do it for this blog post. I hope my musings were of some help to my fellow authors and the potential worthiness of their own characters. What did you think? Did you enjoy this sort of speculation? I realize this is a topic that could be revisited in the future with a new set of universes to explore, so please let me know if you’d want to see that and what other franchises I should look into. Feel free to comment or reach out if you have any ideas or requests for future entries. I’ve got an active running list of ideas, but I’m always open to more. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave a like and share this post on social media. And to stay up to date on future blog posts, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter on my website. Until the next story!

Greetings, intrepid readers! M. H. Barton here with another blog entry. Today, we’ll be looking at two of Disney’s recent successful films, Coco and Encanto. Both are excellent films in their own right, and they do share a large number of similarities. That said, I firmly believe Coco is the superior film from a storytelling perspective. I realize this may be an unpopular position given the extreme popularity of Encanto, so I wanted to do a deep dive into why I believe this is the case. Again, this is only my opinion. Please, don’t flame me, all you Encanto fanatics out there! I’m happy to hear you out if you feel differently, and I encourage you to say so in the comments or reach out to me on my website. With that said, let’s get started, y’all!

First off, let’s go over the many similarities these films share. Both are coming-of-age stories set within Latin American culture, Mexico and Columbia, respectively. Each protagonist, Miguel and Mirabel, is young and likable, yet both are considered outcasts and oddballs within their own families. Their families are both very large, consisting of siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles. At the head of each family is a strong-willed matriarch, Abuelita Elena Rivera and Abuela Alma Madrigal, respectively. Despite their attempts to be seen as kindly, each of these matriarchs runs their family with an iron fist (or shoe, in the case of the Riveras) and is highly resistant to anything upsetting the established order. Each protagonist attempts to gain the acceptance of their family and, in the process, befriends a member of the family long ostracized by the others, Héctor and Bruno, respectively. Ultimately, after all hope seems lost, each hero gains the approval of their family and finds a way to redeem the ostracized family member, leading to a better future for everyone. Whew…

With so many similarities, it’s no wonder these two films are often compared to each other. However, it’s in these similarities that I believe we can begin to discern the key differences in their stories. Let’s start with the main characters.

Characters

As mentioned, the protagonists of each film, Miguel and Mirabel, are quite similar. Both are young idealists who desire the acceptance of their families. I do feel they have some distinct differences, in particular, that Miguel grows as a character more than Mirabel. As well, the events of Coco largely occur due to Miguel's actions and choices. The events in Encanto, on the other hand, seem to happen around and to Mirabel, but not necessarily because of Mirabel’s choices. Regardless, the protagonists are similar enough that I only wanted to touch on them briefly. It’s in the other characters that we really start to see the differences in these stories.

One of the hallmarks of each film is the fact that the protagonists each have large extended families, which is common in many Latin American cultures. And while this makes for a unique and culturally appropriate setting for each story, the massive supporting cast ends up being a burden for Encanto in ways it isn’t for Coco. Each film uses the opening to introduce the audience to the large family, the general dynamics therein, and what is most important to each family. Later on, each protagonist spends a large amount of time learning about and finding an exiled member of their family. The relationship they build with this individual ultimately helps repair the damage from the sins of the past for each family. However, these things are executed in very different ways between the two movies.

For the Riveras, we quickly learn that the family is run by a matriarch, from Imelda, to Coco, to Elena, and every other family member quickly gets in line with both the shoemaking business and the taboo on music. We don’t know many specifics about Miguel’s extended family because we don’t need to. Exploring Miguel’s aunts, uncles, or cousins any further would just bog down the story, even if we, for example, learned that they secretly hated Elena’s rules. Interesting as that twist might be, it still wouldn’t further the story in any capacity. The plot moves forward because it’s tightly focused on Miguel, his goals, and the specific family members who conflict with said goals.

For the Madrigals, the opening song is perhaps the best extended introduction I’ve ever seen to a huge cast. It would have been all the audience really needed, but Encanto decides to go much farther. We meet each of these characters individually, and many of them get their own songs. Once each gets their scene, they often fade right back into the background, mentioned again in future conversations but rarely contributing directly to the story on their own. Luisa is probably the biggest offender in this regard. We meet her early and learn some compelling details about her strengths and fears, but after her big solo number? Nothing. Nothing but a few background shots of her struggling with her strength, especially when those background shots before and after her song would have been enough. While such details about secondary characters work well in a novel, a 90-minute movie suffers from this big time. The point is that the story plods for much of the movie because we spend so much time learning about an extended cast of characters we only see sporadically after their introductions.

As for the exiled family member, Miguel spends most of Coco navigating the Land of the Dead with Héctor. Their relationship really is one of the strengths of the story, as they get off to a rocky start before bonding over their shared love of music. This sets the stage not only for the revelation that Héctor is Miguel’s ancestor, but also that Héctor was the genius songwriter Ernesto pretended to be. In his Hope is Lost moment, Miguel realizes that Héctor is who he should have idolized all along, rather than Ernesto. From that moment on, Miguel becomes a selfless hero, accepting Imelda’s condition that he not play music again for a chance to restore Héctor’s reputation to the family. Imelda eventually recants this condition, but Miguel had no reason to believe she ever would, making his decision all the more heroic.

Rather early in Encanto, Mirabel figures out Bruno Madrigal’s potential connection to her lack of a Gift and spends much of the first act trying to find out more about him. It is clear that the family and town don’t trust Bruno because he always prophesized doom and unhappiness. We soon learn, however, that Bruno is perhaps the most heroic character in the story. After Mirabel failed to receive a Gift, he conjures a vision to learn why. That vision shows him that Mirabel will either be the downfall of the family or their leader for the future. Knowing such a vision could cause Alma to cast Mirabel out from fear, Bruno destroys all evidence of his vision and hides within the house's walls. His later efforts to help Mirabel bring about the positive version of his vision make him one of the more compelling characters in the film. In spite of my complaints about the rest of the Madrigal family bogging down the story, Bruno is easily the strongest character in Encanto, a cursed prophet with a heart of gold who everyone fears due to a fundamental misunderstanding of his abilities. I feel the film would have been much better served to focus as much on Bruno as Coco did with Héctor.

Antagonists

At first glance, Coco and Encanto are very similar in that the primary antagonists to the main characters’ goals are the two matriarchs, Elena and Alma. Under the surface, however, things are quite different. In Coco, Elena serves as the primary antagonist to Miguel’s dream, but once he enters the Land of the Dead, Imelda becomes the immediate antagonist. She is willing to allow him to go home, but only if he agrees to never play music again. Later on, we meet the third antagonist and the film’s true villain: Ernesto de la Cruz. Rather than stand in the way of Miguel’s goals, Ernesto represents the shattering of Miguel’s entire worldview. He idolizes Ernesto as the singer he wants to eventually become, and seeing him for the selfish, greedy, murderous thief he truly is brings Miguel to his Hope is Lost moment. At that moment, we truly feel Miguel’s pain from the wringer he’s been through over the course of the story. Coco’s use of multiple antagonists to serve as obstacles to different things is very effective, as each one forces Miguel to grow in different ways.

Encanto, on the other hand, has no antagonist besides Alma, and even she isn’t a villain, just an obstacle. One could argue that Isabela is a secondary antagonist, but she’s more of an annoying bully than anything else. In addition, Mirabel’s big moment of reconciliation with Isabela is a big complaint of mine with Encanto. They reconcile and hug it out not because Mirabel shows Isabela that she can do other things with her Gift than what Alma wants her to do, but because Isabela realizes it herself. In her elation and experimentation following this realization, she is so pleased that she is willing to be kind to anyone, even her hated little sister Mirabel. As fun as it is to see Isabela grow as a character, her growth isn’t due to Mirabel’s heroic actions, leaving me to not classify Isabela as an antagonist.

This brings us back to Alma, Encanto’s only true antagonistic figure. From her condescending behavior towards Mirabel to her compulsive declarations that the magic is strong despite evidence to the contrary, Alma comes off as far more villainous than I think the movie intends. She’s just mean-spirited, even if she has a tragic past and supposedly noble reasons for obsessing over her family’s Gifts, and the audience never identifies with her until her redemption at the end. A strong redemption must be a slow burn, not a sudden flip of the switch.

Alma’s ultimate problem as an antagonist is that she tries to fulfill every antagonistic role and ends up fulfilling none of them effectively. As a result of Alma’s attempts to fill so many roles at once, it’s impossible to nail down exactly what is intended for Alma’s character. She and the story could have benefited from a secondary antagonist or two, perhaps an actual seductive villain trying to push Mirabel down a more dangerous path and separate her from her family. That would have made for much more compelling tension in the story. Compared to Coco’s clever use of multiple antagonists that each challenge Miguel in different ways, Alma simply comes off as flat and boring, unfortunately. Now, I realize I haven’t delved into Alma’s redemption. We’ll get to that shortly, I promise.

Music

Music plays an important storytelling role in almost every Disney movie, but not quite as often in Pixar films. Though they all have wonderful soundtracks, Coco is unique in that it’s the only true musical in Pixar’s library. For a film based on Mexican culture and the Day of the Dead, great music is absolutely essential. Encanto, on the other hand, continues the Disney tradition of over-the-top Broadway-style musicals to great effect. The music is easily the strongest part of Encanto, though I do feel there are clear distinctions to be made between the two films.

While I have previously stated that the frequency of side characters in Encanto getting their own songs bogs the story down, the quality of said songs is admittedly very high. From the first song, the film plays up the music and choreography as one of its most vital storytelling elements. Disney sets a new high bar for grandeur and entertainment. Encanto refuses to apologize for this, and I respect it for that.

Where Encanto has songs where the family and even the surrounding town suddenly burst into song and dance, Coco is more subdued in its musical approach. Almost every song in the movie is an actual live performance within the story, while the roles of performer and audience are more nebulous in Encanto. Additionally, the songs in Coco are shorter, focusing on the traditional Mariachi style of music. There is also more time between songs on average, allowing for more character interaction outside of the music. Coco has taken a clear approach of going smaller and more intimate with its music.

So, we have two different musical approaches in these films, but which is better? That’s a hotly debated question and mostly a matter of opinion. The unapologetic Broadway-style music of Encanto has proven to be extremely popular over the years, and the film’s success further validates this concept. However, my personal preference is for the less-is-more approach of Coco. Every song is saved for vital emotional moments in the story, allowing the music to have a greater impact than in a movie chocked full of grandiose song-and-dance numbers. Again, only my personal opinion, but I think Coco strikes a balance that Encantodoesn’t even try to hit.

Magic

As is typical for Disney and Pixar, both films employ magic and supernatural elements to help further their stories. Both movies are often cited as examples of magical realism. To me, Coco and Encanto are actually wonderful illustrations of Hard Magic versus Soft Magic, respectively. Briefly, Hard Magic systems often have clearly defined rules, limitations, and sources. Their strength is immersing the audience in a complex and nuanced world, but at the risk of creating contradictions the more complicated it becomes. Soft Magic systems are usually less rigid and defined in their rules, limitations, and sources. Their strength is creating a sense of awe and wonder for the audience but at the risk of leaving them confused without much explanation as to how the magic works. Such differences are on full display in these films.

The magic of Coco is quite hard and clearly defined in the story. On the Day of the Dead, spirits may return from the Land of the Dead to visit their living relatives, but only if their photo is displayed on an ofrenda. The Land of the Dead is a place where spirits dwell for as long as they are remembered in the mortal world. Being remembered is not simply a matter of knowing about them but of families passing down intimate stories about said person. If a spirit is no longer remembered among the living, often by the last person remembering them dying or growing too old to remember them, they fade away into nothing, not even getting to see their last relative once that relative has died. Finally, since the Day of the Dead is a day for giving thanks to those past, stealing something meant for the dead on that day can curse a family, which is what strands Miguel in the Land of the Dead. A blessing of forgiveness from a deceased family member can break this curse, though the family member can place whatever conditions they wish on the blessing. These rules make frequent appearances throughout the film.

In Encanto, the magic is softer and much less defined. We know that every member of the Madrigal family is given a supernatural Gift on their fifth birthday, symbolized by a glowing door to their own personalized room. We know that this same magic allows their house, Casita, a level of sentience and the ability to rearrange itself at will. The source of the magic is a candle that Alma discovered many years ago as she and her family journeyed to the land that eventually became their home. As long as the candle burns strong, the magic will remain strong. Beyond these things, we are left with very few explanations as to how the candle came into existence and what could possibly weaken the magic.

In each film, the emotional climax of the story highlights these differences and proves the lynchpin of why I feel one movie is superior to the other. In Coco, everything comes to a head when Miguel finally returns from the Land of the Dead. Hector is on the verge of being forgotten, and we’ve already seen the tragic consequences of this once in the movie when the same thing happens to a friend of Héctor’s named Chicharrón. The scene where Miguel takes Héctor’s guitar to Coco and sings “Remember Me” for her is both simple and powerful all at once. Rather than the rousing showpiece he always thought it was, Miguel sings the song as the lullaby Héctor always intended it to be. At that moment, Coco remembers not only the song but also the loving father who always sang it to her. This is an especially powerful moment for anyone who has watched a loved one suffer from memory loss in their old age because memories of music are always the last to go. Coco uses this moment of clarity to tell her family intimate stories about Héctor and reveals that she kept his letters containing the lyrics to the songs supposedly written by Ernesto de la Cruz. Finally, she shows a picture of Héctor she had long kept hidden, allowing Héctor to take his place on the Rivera family ofrenda. Not only will Héctor now be remembered by future generations, but his honor as a great songwriter has also been restored. This scene is a beautiful culmination of everything the film has taught us about memories, family, and the Day of the Dead.

The climax of Encanto comes about rather abruptly, to be blunt. After Mirabel and Isabela strengthen the candle’s flame together by healing their relationship and expanding Isabela’s abilities, Alma becomes angry at how different Isabela now is. Her anger triggers a response in which Mirabel finally releases all her frustration and pain at how her family has treated her over the years. This schism finally causes the candle to extinguish and Casita to begin to fall apart, having been held together by the magic all these years. This is clearly Mirabel’s Hope is Lost moment, from which I expected her and Alma to have to work together on a final task through the third act to discover where the candle came from and reignite the source of their magic. Instead, Alma and Mirabel have a single conversation and song in which Alma explains that the candle magically appeared to her in the aftermath of her husband’s death. The song ends and, with no explanation, the magic is reborn in Maribel, allowing Mirabel and Alma to rebuild Casita and restore their family’s Gifts. It’s a third act that happens so fast that the resolution feels completely unearned. Because the audience doesn’t understand the origins of the magic to any degree, they are left scratching their heads at the end and asking, “Yeah, but HOW?” One could argue that love was the answer, but nothing of the sort is ever stated in the film, leaving the audience wanting.

Conclusion

To sum it up, Coco is a tightly woven story with an incredible world of magic that the audience can easily understand, making the emotional moments hit that much harder when they come. Encanto is a lively and vibrant musical with supernatural elements that, while fun, are not understood very well, taking away from the story. Please understand that my intent is not to hate on Encanto. I think it’s a very good movie, definitely one of Disney’s fifteen best of all time. It simply isn’t the incredible masterpiece that Coco is. Both movies tell roughly the same coming-of-age story of family acceptance, but Coco did it first and Coco did it best, in my opinion. In closing, please remember me, just as long as you don’t talk about Bruno.

And that’s going to do it for this film comparison. What did you think? Am I a total moron for my Encantomusings? Or is Coco truly the masterpiece I believe it to be? Please let me know in the comments. Feel free to mention if you have any ideas or requests for future entries. I’ve got an active running list of ideas, but I’m always open to more. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave a like and share this post on social media. And to stay up to date on future blog posts, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter on my website. Until the next story!

Greetings, intrepid readers! M. H. Barton here with another blog post for you. Today, I’ll be ranking my ten best spinoff films. This isn’t a huge category, as spinoffs are largely a modern concept, particularly as trilogies expanded into whole cinematic universes. Additionally, many spinoffs are, to be polite, steaming piles of garbage meant solely as quick cash grabs. (Looking at you, Minions!) A select few, however, rise to the top in quality, managing to revive or expand franchises many had long since written off. These films are quite deserving of their places in today’s list. As a qualifier, I’ve defined a spinoff as a film that focuses on a secondary character or setting from a previous film, rather than something like a direct-to-video sequel that elevates a background character to sidekick status but with the same hero, for example. Bear in mind, as usual, that this ranking is merely my opinion. You are free to disagree, and I encourage you to sound off in the comments if so. With that said, let’s get started!

Number Ten – Puss in Boots (2011)

After four films starring the big ogre Shrek, Antonio Banderas’ character Puss in Boots finally got his time in the limelight with his self-titled solo film. Where Shrek’s stories followed the typical adventure or hero’s journey formula, Puss in Boots blends the fairy tale characters with a heist story, which I’m always down for. This departure from the traditional adventure tropes allows the film to play into the idea of not taking itself seriously, which frequently works well in a heist story. Suspension of disbelief is far easier with heist tropes, hence why they rarely flop. Salma Hayek and Zach Galifianakis also make a strong supporting cast, which resulted in a critically successful film that kept up financially with the likes of Kung Fu Panda 2 and Cars 2. Ultimately, its success garnered it a nomination for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, an animated series on Netflix that ran for 6 seasons, and a sequel set to be released in 2022. Not bad, not bad at all.

Number Nine – Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019)

It almost never fails. Need to reinvigorate a franchise? Take two macho alpha males and force them to work together. Not that the Fast and Furious franchise needed any reinvigoration, mind you, but this film was just pure fun. Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham play off each other brilliantly, and it doesn’t matter what villainous role you have as long as Idris Elba plays him. A film like this will never win Academy Awards or anything, but that isn’t why this franchise is so successful. Nobody loves a film about action-packed car chases because it’s subtle. They love it because it’s unapologetic and unabashed in what it is. For that, this spinoff deserves a spot on this list.

Number Eight – Bumblebee (2018)

And then, there are unapologetic, over-the-top franchises that lose their identity the bigger they become. Few series embody this more than Michael Bay’s Transformers franchise. While the entries in this series have grown progressively worse and more mind-boggling, Bumblebee was a refreshing entry that took the focus away from Optimus Prime in favor of everyone’s favorite radio-loving transformer, Bumblebee. When paired with Hailee Steinfield, herself a fantastic young actress, the resulting story brings a surprising amount of heart and emotion. Yes, the typical threats from the military and the Decepticons show up, but the crux of the story is in Steinfield’s character, Charlie, as she comes of age and eventually reconciles with her estranged family. This is far more compelling than anything the main series managed to offer up, and audiences agreed emphatically, as it’s far and away the best-reviewed entry in the series on both Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. Bumblebee remembered what the other Transformers films had forgotten: it’s not just about the giant robot battles, it’s also about the humans who struggle with their own lives in addition to how these robots impact their world. This is a wonderful film in its own right and a worthy entry.

Number Seven – Ocean’s 8 (2018)

Remember how I said heist films rarely flop due to how easily the audience can suspend disbelief? Here we have yet another prime example. All three of the Ocean’s films represent the gold standard in heist films, and this all-female spinoff proves its worth with ease. Each role is wonderfully cast, and the sheer chemistry between the eight leading ladies is simply captivating. They play off each other effortlessly, and each has their own personality quirks that make them unique and likable as individuals. My personal favorite is Sara Paulson’s character, Tammy, a suburban soccer mom who fences stolen goods online right under her family’s nose yet is so neurotic about losing them as a result of her double life. And that’s not even mentioning the big three in Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, and Anne Hathaway, all of whom command every scene they’re in. This film has everything it needs: the cast, the exciting crime, and the ingenious twist at the end bringing it all together. It’s classic Ocean’s magic.

Number Six – Deadpool (2016)

The X-Men franchise has hit inconsistent highs and lows over the years, but a spinoff starring Ryan Reynolds’ side character from X-Men Origins: Wolverine was just what the doctor ordered. Not only was the entry a needed jolt of humor into an otherwise serious franchise, but it allowed Reynolds to use his incredible acting chops to correct the previous mistakes made during his first appearance as Deadpool. The end result was almost exactly what Deadpool has become in the comics – a super violent, foul-mouthed, 4thwall breaking, wisecracking antihero. Though the brazen adult humor rubbed a few the wrong way, this approach was true to the character. It may have been a relatively formulaic origin plot, but Reynolds’ incredible performance and the quirky sense of humor used throughout make this one of the best spinoffs ever made. Now, if only the Green Lantern could be redeemed in the same way…

Number Five – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

When I first heard the concept for this film, I was both excited and nervous. As a longtime fan of Spider-Man, I was excited about the bold concept they were trying. This was one of the first superhero films to do a full multiverse adventure and took a further risk in featuring Miles Morales as the protagonist instead of Peter Parker. Those same ideas also had me worried the film would flop, being too big a concept for general audiences. Man, was I ever wrong, and I’m glad I was. This new animated spinoff of the classic hero was so unique and well-made that it became a smash success, breaking the box office record for an animated film released in December and winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. To this day, I remain so impressed that such a heady concept could be done well enough that general non-nerdy audiences would latch onto it and turn the film into an instant classic. Not only did it succeed on its own, but this film paved the way for the multiverse-oriented stories we’re currently seeing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Sony doesn’t always get Spider-Man right, but in this one, they nailed it.

Number Four – Joker (2019)

To be clear, I did not enjoy this film, largely because this isn’t the sort of film to be enjoyed. I do, however, respect the hell out of it. Joker isn’t meant so much as entertainment, but more as a thought experiment or a cautionary tale highlighting the increasing mental health issues in our world. It’s an intentionally uncomfortable story, and I do think this film also represents a growing problem with modern storytelling in which we’re starting to make villains too sympathetic. That said, I can’t deny Joaquin Phoenix’s transcendent performance as Arthur Fleck, the disturbed comedian who eventually becomes the Joker. Even if I wonder if this film was just an attempt to one-up Heath Ledger’s Joker from The Dark Knight, I am able to put my biases aside and admit that it was an incredible success at what it set out to do.

Number Three – Creed (2015)

Rocky was yet another franchise that kept getting more over-the-top as the series went on, but this poignant film brought it back to its humble roots. Director Ryan Coogler had an incredible vision for the film, envisioning it as a parallel to the underdog story of the original Rocky. There are differences, of course, such as Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed grappling with his parentage to Apollo Creed, but this film has truly revitalized a franchise that was once lampooned for going on far too long. Seeing Sylvester Stallone now in the role of an older Rocky acting as a mentor is just so poetic, truly moving the franchise into a new generation. Where Rocky Balboa clung to the past as a lifeline, Creed pays homage to the foundation of its roots while also looking forward to the future. This is particularly evident in the amazing cinematography of the final fight, which is probably the most realistic boxing match ever filmed for a movie. Adonis Creed is very much Apollo’s son, but he’s got a lot of Rocky Balboa in him, too, which is what makes him the perfect protagonist going forward. Thanks to the combined efforts of Coogler, Jordan, and Stallone, the Rocky franchise is alive, fresh, and still relevant.

Number Two – Logan (2017)

Good lord, what a fitting farewell to Hugh Jackman’s most iconic character. Just as X-Men Origins: Wolverine did no favors to Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool, neither did it do any favors to everyone’s favorite mutant. Thankfully, Jackman’s adamantium claws haven’t dulled over time, allowing him to tackle a deeply emotional story as an elderly Logan in this beautiful film. The western themes and settings, combined with the astounding performances of Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart, create a film most fans consider the true ending to the X-Men franchise. It’s quiet at moments, chaotic and super violent at others, but always moving and deep. Logan has fought all his life, for survival, for his friends, and even for revenge, but this time, he truly feels like he’s found a family worth fighting and dying for. What more can I say? This isn’t just one of the greatest spinoff films of all time. This is one of the greatest superhero films of all time, full stop.

Number One – Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

It was such a tough call between this film and Logan for the top spot, but anyone who knows me knows I usually default to Star Wars. As my regular readers will remember, I have this film ranked as the third-best film in the entire franchise. I absolutely love it to death for the fresh perspective it brings to a Galaxy Far, Far Away. Rather than focus on the good and evil struggle of the Jedi and the Sith, we finally get a glimpse at the ground-level war raging between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire. It’s a dark, gritty, and bloody experience, and this shows in each of the main characters. Jyn is wonderfully angsty and eager to beat up anything standing in her way. Cassian is a hardened, morally ambiguous spy fighting as best he can for a cause he believes in. K2 is possibly the best droid in the franchise. Chirrut and Baze are a perfect duo of optimist and cynic. Even Krennic, the villain, is fun and compelling with his massive inferiority complex. Some viewers didn’t enjoy the use of CGI to recreate the original actors for Tarkin and Princess Leia, but I honestly think this is the best spinoff film ever made even with its slight drawbacks. This is the film that proved that the Star Wars universe is bigger than the Skywalkers and holds compelling stories to be explored in every nook and cranny. Without this film, one of my favorite shows, The Mandalorian, probably isn’t made at all. Thank you, Rogue One, for helping usher in a wider breadth of storytelling in this incredible franchise.

Well, that’s going to do it for this ranking. What did you think? Did I hit the mark? Miss it completely? Am I a moron for hating on the Minions? Please let me know in the comments. Feel free to mention if you have any ideas or requests for future entries. I’ve got an active running list of ideas, but I’m always open to more. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave a like and share this post on social media. And to stay up to date on future blog posts, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter on my website. Until the next story!

The Dark Knight. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Two iconic heroes from different universes who, on the surface, seem extremely different. Yet these two have risen above nearly all other superheroes in popularity throughout the years. There have been many different interpretations of them across various mediums, each of which receive praise for various aspects of their stories and characterizations. Even with the advent of the MCU raising the popularity of characters like Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, and Natasha Romanoff, these two still reign supreme as the most widely popular heroes of them all. Today, we’ll explore what makes them so beloved and how Batman and Spider-Man may be more similar than one might think. With that said, let’s get started!

For starters, let’s focus on the differences between the two characters. Most obvious is superpowers, or lack thereof. Batman is perhaps the most famous superhero in the world, and his fame is largely due to his lack of any superhuman abilities. Bruce Wayne always describes Batman in relation to the rest of the Justice League as “just a man.” But Batman’s lack of powers is not widely known to his enemies, particularly the criminal underworld of Gotham. Using his incredible skills with stealth and intimidation, Wayne has made Batman into a creature of mythological proportions. Criminals of all types fear and respect him and his turf, sometimes to the point that they will avoid any operations in Gotham city in favor of Metropolis or Blüdhaven, even knowing that those cities are protected by Superman and Nightwing, respectively. Batman’s mere existence scares criminals off, powers or no powers.

Spider-Man, on the other hand, is an extremely powerful and versatile fighter thanks to his superhuman abilities. First, Peter Parker has enhanced strength on par with, or sometimes exceeding, that of super-soldiers like Steve Rogers. Along with this is his incredible spider-like agility and ability to climb walls and ceilings, making his fighting style quite unpredictable. But best of all is his sixth sense, or the Spider-Sense, which renders sneak attacks and illusions ineffective against him. To a lesser degree, Spider-Man has also demonstrated enhanced durability and a healing factor. While nothing compared to Logan’s healing abilities, Spider-Man has still proven time and again that he’s more than capable of taking a beating. Overall, Spider-Man’s powers, while not as flashy as those of Thor or Doctor Strange, are among the best for any superhero to have.

Another key difference between the characters is their character and typical style of storytelling. Batman, for example, is dark and brooding with adventures featuring realistic violence, mob bosses, and corrupt politicians. There were times that he was made more family-friendly, particularly in the Silver Age, but darkness has been a consistent character trait for Batman over the years. The modern Batman never jokes around, usually remaining silent while engaged in combat with one of his rogues despite their efforts to get a rise out of him. Deep down, Bruce doesn’t trust himself to enjoy any part of his actions, fearing how far he might go if he did enjoy it.

Spider-Man, on the other hand, is bright and friendly, always stopping to chat with his fellow New Yorkers and throwing out quips and puns while he takes down criminals in his city. Moreover, his web-shooters basically turn New York City into his personal playground – Spidey is so associated with the Big Apple because the city was almost designed for him and his powers! This is one of the biggest reasons that Spider-Man is the most popular superhero for younger children. Not only is he a nice guy, but he’s just plain fun. I don’t know if there’s a single superhero in any medium who enjoys superheroing more than Spider-Man.

The final key difference between these two characters is their alter egos. Bruce Wayne is a mega-wealthy billionaire with unlimited financial resources, which he uses for his war on crime. Wayne has trained all over the world in different martial arts, become a master escape artist, studied every known investigative method, and trains with his advanced weaponry on a daily basis. Some might go so far as to say that money is Bruce Wayne’s superpower. While I disagree, it’s a fair point to consider.

Peter Parker, on the other hand, is a poor high school student, later a photographer, who struggles to pay his rent. Poverty is one of his defining characteristics. While he does develop advanced weapons and equipment to use as Spider-Man, he often does so with “guerilla science,” as we see with his initial introduction in the MCU and in the 2018 video game, Spider-Man. His teachers and mentors always marvel at his ability to craft things from seemingly useless spare parts, yet always call him lazy and absentminded, unaware of his stressful double life.

As we have seen, Bruce Wayne and Peter Parker appear to live at opposite ends of the financial and socioeconomic ladder, probably leading some of you to wonder why I’m putting them in the same league with each other. Here is where we begin to see how similar they really are.

One must look no further than the origin of each character’s crusade for justice to find their first similarity – tragedy. Both Bruce Wayne and Peter Parker had their lives drastically altered by tragic deaths, namely Bruce’s parents and Peter’s uncle. Each learned different lessons from said tragedy – Bruce learning that criminals are superstitious, cowardly, and in need of something to fear, while Peter learning about great power and great responsibility – but this parallel cannot be ignored. Moreover, tragedy continues to be a factor in their lives as they come into their own. Each loses someone dear to them in the course of their heroism, Jason Todd for Batman and Gwen Stacy for Spider-Man. This loss becomes a defining moment for each of them, haunting them for years to come and establishing the killer of each as their arch-nemesis. This is a harsh world, and so many from all different walks of life can identify with the tragic stories of these two heroes.

Another striking similarity between these two is their rogues’ gallery, each of which is considered the best group of villains in their respective comic book universes. As heroes, Batman and Spider-Man have amazing empathy for understanding that most of their enemies are insane, rather than evil. Yet their greatest enemies, Joker and Green Goblin, are so insane that they blur the line between the two. They also devote much of their time to bringing down the corrupt criminals in their cities who aren’t insane, such as Penguin and Falcone for Batman and Vulture and Kingpin for Spider-Man. They both want to help individuals who are clearly mentally ill, even if those individuals are their enemies, but won’t stand for outright corruption. For that matter, they’re both forced to occasionally team up with one of their enemies, such as Deadshot or Venom.

Oh, and how about their love lives? Batman tends to prefer the femme fatale archetype with Selena Kyle and Talia al Ghul, where Spidey usually goes more girl-next-door with Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane Watson, though Felicia Hardy does sometimes get her claws into Spidey. But regardless of the type of woman each goes for, they are united in their sheer inability to maintain a steady relationship with any of their love interests. This is rarely for a lack of trying, as they both do desire love and companionship, but when the stress of their double lives increases, both will choose to keep protecting people over their own happiness.

These similarities highlight the biggest reason for the enduring success and popularity of both Batman and Spider-Man. For all their differences, both heroes are street-level heroes at the core of their beings. They don’t focus on global or cosmic threats unless asked to help by the Justice League or Avengers, instead wanting to help keep their neighborhoods safe for the average Joes and Janes. In essence, they’re both blue-collar superheroes with tragic stories of loss, self-imposed loneliness, and constant sacrifice of their own desires to help others.

Even with god-like heroes the likes of Superman and Thor, people still want to believe in regular people being the best of heroes. They want to believe that one man can choose to devote his fortune to fighting crime and corruption. They want to believe in a high school student who heeds his uncle’s dying words and tries to keep his neighborhood safe. Those are the sort of heroes that will always resonate with regular people. Superman and Thor are certainly flashy and powerful, but we all want to believe Batman or Spider-Man could be living next door to us right now. Best of all, their street-level efforts often have the effect of inspiring their neighbors to act, devoting their own efforts to making their city a better place to live. That’s the mark of a true hero.

So always remember, criminals are a superstitious and cowardly lot, but with great power comes great responsibility.

I hope you enjoyed this look into two of the best heroes around. They’re certainly two of my favorite heroes ever, and I never tire of studying their tales and seeing what can be learned from them. If you did enjoy this blog entry, please let me know in the comments. Feel free to mention if you have any ideas or requests for future entries. I’ve got an active running list of ideas, but I’m always open to more. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave a like and share this post on social media. And to stay up to date on future blog posts, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter on my website. Until the next story!

Greetings, intrepid readers! M. H. Barton here with another blog post on storytelling. I’m loving the new Obi-wan Kenobi series, and I figured it’s high time for this ranking. Today, I’ll be ranking all of the main films, plus the two live-action spinoffs, in the Star Wars universe. This is all, of course, my opinion, so please don’t flame if you disagree. On the contrary, I’d love to hear your thoughts on these films! There’s much debate among fans as to which elements of each film make them better or worse than the others, and I wanted to explore those storytelling elements and see how they weave together through one of the greatest film franchises of all time. As a ground rule, I won’t be ranking any unofficial films, such as the Ewok films or the terrible Christmas special. I also won’t include the 2008 The Clone Wars film, as it was more meant as a pilot for the television series and has an entirely different cast and tone. Only the eleven main live-action films will be ranked. With that stated, let’s head off to a galaxy far, far away!

Number Eleven: The Rise of Skywalker

Poor J. J. Abrams. Your trilogy held such promise, but it all came crashing down with this utter mess of a film. There are many issues with this movie, but foremost among them is that Abrams admitted to not planning out the entire trilogy before he started, and boy does it show. First, the movie is riddled with plot holes, foremost among them being the decision to shoehorn Palpatine back into the story. Second, there’s lazy writing galore, such as Rey accidentally killing Chewie with Force Lightning, only for Chewie to reappear alive not even five minutes later! But worst of all was Abrams’ decision to ignore or retcon literally everything established in the previous film. While I might have disagreed with some of the choices made in The Last Jedi, the story had to commit to them at this point. Going back on them now just felt like a massive waste of the audience’s time and energy. As a result, the grand climax of the Skywalker Saga fails to hit home as it should. Between great characters like Finn and Maz Kanata, possible new directions for the story like Kylo Ren refusing to be redeemed, and hope for the next generation of Jedi, this entire film is an exercise in wasted potential. Alas, I must move on, but this is the only Star Wars film I can truly call a BAD movie.

Number Ten: Attack of the Clones

Jumping way back to almost the beginning of the chronology with this one, we have the middle entry of George Lucas’ prequel trilogy. First, I want to state that this is not in any way a bad movie, not like Rise of Skywalker. A recurring theme with the prequel trilogy films is that the things they do well are done very well. Sadly, they each have weaknesses that hold them back in one way or another. This film did a great job in expanding the Star Wars universe and characters, had amazing action scenes, and introduced one of the most interesting and charismatic villains in the franchise, Count Dooku. And, of course, Ewan McGregor and Samuel L. Jackson are both brilliant. The main thing holding this film back is, unfortunately, the script. The writing is painful at times, particularly in the romantic moments between Anakin and Padmè. (I don’t like sand…) Worse, Anakin’s big moment of darkness in slaughtering the Tuskin Raiders who killed his mother creates a massive plot hole. The audience is left questioning how Padmè could ever fall in love with and marry the murdering egomaniac Anakin was becoming. Their love makes absolutely no sense in this context. If Lucas had instead given Anakin more of a double life in which he tries to keep his pursuit of power and his love of Padmè separate, that would have made for a more compelling love story. Still, this is a great entry to the series, even as it pales in comparison to the other films.

Number Nine: The Phantom Menace

Ok, I can feel your anger, but hear me out! I went back and forth a few times with this ranking, but ultimately decided I had to rank The Phantom Menace over Attack of the Clones. This film suffers from much the same weakness as the previous entry, as its writing and direction were rough, to say the least. Jake Lloyd, one of the most maligned parts of the film, was actually an incredible young actor who did not benefit from Lucas’ script in the least, and the fans voiced their displeasure at him for Lucas’ missteps, unfairly in my mind. Likewise, the decision to place such a goofy character as Jar Jar Binks in the film met with a similarly harsh reaction from the fans. But I’ve often thought these two elements could have worked out incredibly well with better writing and direction. Instead of making Jar Jar the constant comic relief, make him the tragic innocent – a representation of what the Jedi fight to protect. His goofs and jokes are an attempt to cover up his pain at being exiled from his home. (Or even better, Darth Jar Jar!) And as for young Anakin, Jake Lloyd could have benefited from some time working with Wil Wheaton, allowing him to emulate Wesley Crusher from Star Trek. He might still have been a bit annoying, but in a way that helps the story move forward. The two little alterations might have changed this film’s standing forever! And that’s not even counting the things the film does right. First, can any fan of the franchise watch Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor together and not smile? They’re perfect in every scene! Then, there’s the modernizing of lightsaber combat, culminating in the three-way fight against Darth Maul and his saberstaff. Finally, this was the film that started the massive world-building project that the prequel trilogy did so well at. Many fans complain about the politics and trade route talk, but those elements are what helped expand this universe in ways we absolutely adore to this day! For these reasons, I rank The Phantom Menace as the second-best in the prequel trilogy.

Number Eight: The Last Jedi

Talk about a controversial and polarizing film! I remember my initial reaction to this movie, and I think it holds true to this day. This film is an excellent science fiction and fantasy film, but not a great Star Wars film. Much like the prequel trilogy, what this film does well is done very well. In particular, the fighter sequence on Crait was masterfully done, an amazing callback to the Battle of Hoth. And while I initially didn’t like the jaded Luke Skywalker, his take on the older character has grown on me significantly. He had initially tried to rebuild the Jedi Order as it had once been without learning any of the lessons from their fall. As a result, Luke’s Jedi failed, resulting in his exile. His character serves as a wonderful contrast to the fiercely idealistic Rey. Director Rian Johnson wanted to subvert expectations with his Star Wars film. Unfortunately, he broke tradition on some tiny but EXTREMELY important things, which hold this film back. First, this is the only film in the franchise not to include the iconic line, “I have a bad feeling about this.” Yes, Johnson tried to play off BB-8’s opening beeps as that line, but that’s a poor excuse. In addition, this is the only main film to completely lack a lightsaber duel! That’s inexcusable! True, Luke faced Kylo Ren in the end, but he wasn’t actually there on Crait and their lightsabers never actually touched, so… not a duel! Subverting expectations is one thing, but there are certain expectations in Star Wars of little traditions being met. Additionally, some of the new characters felt out of place. Rose was ok if a little bland, but Admiral Holdo? Not so much. Holdo just came off as incompetent and stole the story that should have been given to Admiral Ackbar! But I digress. In spite of my complaints, Johnson’s take on the franchise could have done very well. He took major risks, but I think some of the risks he took were the wrong risks to take. What if Kylo had actually killed Leia in this one? Talk about a bold new direction! I could have even gotten on board eventually with Rey being a nobody, breaking the emphasis on lineage in the franchise. Sadly, a film that could have risen to nearly the top of the list sits near the middle due to these polarizing decisions made by the director.

Number Seven: Solo – A Star Wars Story

I wrote a bit about this film in my last blog post, but I feel this movie is underrated in the Star Wars franchise. It was, admittedly, a financial flop, but this is primarily due to it being one of the most expensive movies ever made rather than fans hating it and refusing to go see it. As a story, this is a rather compelling origin for Han Solo. Han in this movie is young and idealistic, far different from the sarcastic mercenary we meet later on. This is the adventure that broke him, then remade him into the smuggler that could eventually become a hero of the Rebellion. Early on, we see Han’s desire to be a great pilot for the Empire, before he’s demoted out of existence for having a mind of his own. In his first foray into the smuggling business, almost his entire crew is killed on top of their prize being stolen from them. Tobias Beckett acts as something of a mentor, constantly warning Han against his trusting nature. Eventually, this comes full circle when Han trusts his instincts and shoots first, killing Tobias before he can kill Han. Aside from the fun heist-based story, the cast in this one is surprisingly strong. Woody Harrelson is great as the veteran conman, Emilia Clarke makes for a wonderfully seductive and untrustworthy love interest, and then there’s Donald Glover. Holy hell, did they knock it out of the park casting Glover as Lando! And while some fans didn’t enjoy a different actor portraying Han, Alden Ehrenreich truly did a wonderful job in an impossible task, in my opinion. Han and Lando’s scenes together are the absolute high points of the movie, hands down. While this may not be the greatest film ever made, I feel it deserves much more respect than it gets.

Number Six: The Force Awakens

Oh, what could have been. I initially had this movie a couple of spots higher in the rankings, but when taken alongside the rest of the sequel trilogy, I had to demote it a little bit. That’s unfortunate because this movie gave me hope at the time that Star Wars was headed in the right future direction – paying homage to the past while trying to break new ground. Many argue that this film is just a rehash of A New Hope, and perhaps it is, but I argue that’s a good thing. Though I have my complaints about where J. J. Abrams eventually went with his trilogy, he started it off well by following Lucas’ key rule about Star Wars: “It’s like poetry. It rhymes.” Abrams knew he had to prove he could follow and understand this rule in order to earn the trust of the fans. The result was a movie that reminded us why we fell in love with this franchise to begin with while also introducing us to fresh new characters. Daisy Ridley is wonderful as Rey, even as her character was wasted in future films, and her chemistry with John Boyega’s Finn is really strong in this movie. Their banter on board the Millennium Falcon is among my favorite exchanges in the whole franchise. “You got a boyfriend? Cute boyfriend?” “None of your business!” Classic! Even with the mess this trilogy became, I love this movie all the same. A truly worthy entry to the franchise.

Number Five: Return of the Jedi

Ah, I have fond memories of this film. This was one of my most-watched movies as a kid, and it’s no wonder why. Even including The Phantom Menace, this is arguably the most kid-friendly entry in the franchise. Some fans may decry this, but even with its flaws, this film is a fantastic culmination of an incredible trilogy. My favorite part is being able to finally see Luke Skywalker at his most powerful. Throughout the entire first act, there’s simply no doubt in his mind that he’ll succeed in his mission, it’s only a question of if Jabba will bargain for Han’s life or not. Luke has truly come into his own from the whiny farm boy he used to be, and this is part of what makes the film so great. Lucas masterfully ties up so many plot threads in this one, and none more satisfying than Anakin Skywalker’s final redemption. Anakin is the tragic hero of the first six films of the franchise, and he finally has his greatest moment in truly epic fashion. Now, the film is not absolutely perfect, though this is the point in the list where, in my mind, the films are approaching perfection. Yes, the Ewoks being able to defeat the Empire with rocks, ropes, and sticks seem implausible, but I’m able to see this for what it’s truly meant to be – a representation of all peoples, both civilized and indigenous, rising up against the Empire’s oppression. Now, if only Lucas hadn’t forced us to endure the CGI scenes of the Special Edition…

Number Four: Revenge of the Sith

Undoubtedly the darkest film in the series, the final entry of the prequel trilogy is easily its best. While the film is a bit bloated and juggles a large number of plot points, it manages to do so with surprising grace. Anakin is more mature and likable as a character in this one, for the most part, though it’s clear from the start that the corrupting influence of the Dark Side has taken hold in his mind. His slow descent into desperate fear of his wife’s impending death is what drives the emotional part of this story. In spite of more cringe-worthy romantic moments between Anakin and Padmè, the weight of Anakin’s final fall to the Dark Side hits as hard as it should. Watching Ian McDiarmid chew up every scene he’s in just adds to the building tension. Contrasting these heavy scenes is Obi-Wan’s mission to end the Clone War. Ewan McGregor has been great through the entire prequel trilogy, but this film is where we truly see him at his best. His daring infiltration of the Separatist base and subsequent defeat of General Grievous can only be described as swashbuckling. I’m sure the late great Errol Flynn watched those scenes with a huge grin on his face. The film’s final climax is both epic and tragic, seeing best friends Anakin and Obi-Wan each doing everything they can to try and kill the other in a ferocious lightsaber duel. Such intensity can only be matched by the poignant beauty of the epilogue as all the pieces fall into place for the next generation.

Number Three: Rogue One – A Star Wars Story

While most of the franchise deals with the epic struggle between good and evil, this film takes a grittier, more down-to-earth approach. Eschewing the typical Jedi and Sith tropes, the focus here is on the street-level war the Rebel Alliance is waging against the Empire. We see people of questionable morals do awful things for the greater good, and it makes for an incredible war story set in the Star Wars universe. Almost from the start, the audience can correctly guess that none of the main characters will survive the movie, but that’s what makes it so compelling. The crew of Rogue One are the pawns who must be sacrificed to put the Empire in check. While some fans question the use of CGI to allow Peter Cushing and Carrie Fisher to reappear as Tarkin and Leia, such technology is clearly not going anywhere in the Star Wars franchise, and it didn’t detract from the overall experience to me. This movie really has everything. The plot is intense and captivating. Jyn and Cassian make for a deliciously tense alliance. Chirrut and Baze are an iconic comedy duo. K2 is possibly the best droid in all of Star Wars. Even Krennic is a strong villain, what with his massive inferiority complex. And the ending! Damn, I nearly soiled myself when Vader showed up in that darkened hallway! This film is the hidden masterpiece of the franchise.

Number Two: A New Hope

The one that started it all. By today’s standards, it may seem aged, almost quaint, but this quaint little film was a gargantuan risk taken by George Lucas. Most of the main actors have said that they didn’t have lofty expectations for it during filming, but thanks to Lucas’ vision and the folks at Industrial Light and Magic revolutionizing the special effects industry, they gave birth to an eternal classic. So many points are hit perfectly in this story. Luke is whiny, immature, and idealistic, yet is forced into action with a short-handed army in the climax. Han is cynical and self-absorbed, yet returns to save Luke after previously running away. Leia knows she could die at any minute, yet still risks everything to try and defeat the Empire. The action is admittedly slower in this movie than in all other Star Wars movies, but I find that it works well. This is the audience’s introduction to this strange new world, and Lucas gives them quiet moments early on to fully take it in and appreciate the alien landscapes. But when the action gets going, holy crap does it get going! While the lightsaber duel between Obi-Wan and Vader is arguably the film’s only weakness, the final attack on the Death Star still ranks as the most pulse-pounding action scene I’ve ever watched. This film is an amazing achievement, yet even Lucas wasn’t positive of its success, hence why he wrapped up the story in a heroic little bow. Nearly fifty years later, we’re still obsessed with it and everything that came after it.

Number One: The Empire Strikes Back

What can I say about this masterpiece? It’s not only the best film in the franchise, it’s my single favorite movie of all time. This film is genuinely perfect in every way. It’s a masterclass in storytelling and character development. The plot is intense and paced extremely well. Even the older special effects hold up to this day. And of all the Special Edition versions of the original trilogy, this is the one where the CGI distracts from the experience the least. This film manages to be so many things at once. It’s an amazing adventure story. The action segments are pulse-pounding and fun. It tells the greatest love story in the history of cinema. And that emotional climax when Luke finally confronts Darth Vader! One of the greatest scenes in all of film. This is a perfect movie and is well-deserving of a place of honor alongside some of the all-time classics.

And that’s going to do it for this ranking. I hope you enjoyed my thoughts on all the Star Wars films. Of course, I’d love to know what you think! Do you agree with my ranking? Did I screw the pooch? Should Rise of Skywalker be number one? Yeah, right. Anyway, please leave a comment with your thoughts! Also, let me know if you have any ideas or requests for future entries. I’ve got an active running list of ideas, but I’m always open to more. If you did enjoy, please leave a like and share this post on social media. And to stay up to date on future blog posts, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter on my website. Until the next story!