Original ‘Star Wars’ movies top newer episodes, future movies bring hope to fans

I first got into the “Star Wars” franchise in a pretty embarrassing way — playing “Lego: Star Wars” on my Wii some eight years ago — but regardless, it was the gateway into one of the greatest fandoms of all time.

What started as liking the video games grew toward admiration for the original three movies. Playing the game made me expect great things for all of the franchise movies.

But I was wrong, because three of them fell flat.

I, like many other people who enjoy the franchise, harbor great disdain toward the “newer” movies, Episodes “I,II and III,” and for good reason.

The storytelling and acting just aren’t up to par with Episodes “IV,” “V” and “VI,” and for the longest time, I really didn’t understand why.

While playing the game, I was immersed in all the “movies,” and frankly, the Lego version does a way better job at telling the stories of the first three movies then the actual movies do, which is really sad.

But seeing the first episodes for the first time (I’ve only seen them all once), was an utter disappointment because the storytelling and acting were seriously gross.

I’m perfectly fine with love stories in movies, and being that Han Solo and Princess Leia are iconic lovers, with a subtle yet powerful story, one would expect any other love story would exemplify the simplicity yet passion “Star Wars” brought back in the 70s and 80s.

But the love story in Episodes I-III isn’t only overdone and dragged out, it’s not even passionate. Anyone can tell the two actors have no chemistry, unlike Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher. Like I said, anyone can sense more love through the Lego video game.

It seems weird, however, that a movie franchise can do so well at first, and then flop years later.

When it comes to the idea, George Lucas nailed. Instead of leaving Darth Vader with a mysterious and unknown past, he decided to tell the story of how Darth Vader came to be.

But the way it was executed wasn’t even close to how the storytelling was in the original three, both in part due to the acting and the script.

After Lucas sold “Star Wars” to Disney, and “Episode VII” came out, I went nuts because I loved it so much. Not only is there a beautifully diverse set of cast, but the storytelling is mysterious and something I expected in a “Star Wars” movie.

So, I always asked myself why the Episodes I-III didn’t tell the tale as well, and even more, how the newer one did a better job.

I found out that Lucas’ then wife, Marcia Lucas, actually had a big role in creating the original “Star Wars” movies, and had many ideas that “saved” the movies.

Then, when they divorced and she was no longer part of the writing, George Lucas took over and, well, clearly one can tell the differences in ideas and plot.

So, the mystery is solved. And now that Disney is running the show, topping records and grosses worldwide, I’ll be grateful for how well Disney picked up the pieces and gives me “A New Hope” for what’s to come.