When it comes to comparison to other great films, I think ANH is the only one that can stand alone and be compared. Yes, ESB has more complex story and a bit better execution, but its story is completely dependant on the other two films and it builds on many concepts introduced in the original. Not to mention ANH was by far more culturally impactful and historically significant.
That’s fine and all but if we compare the movies in all aspects of film making and storytelling Empire towers over STAR WARS in my opinion as all that other stuff you’re talking about has no bearing on how I view a film. I rate movies solely on the content.
You mean all other stuff I am talking about, like story, has no bearing on how you view the film? If you rate solely on the content in the individual film, ESB is quite weak story-wise. The story is incomplete in the beginning and more-so in the end.
I’m not saying to act as if STAR WARS didn’t exist while watching/rating ESB; I’m just judging the competency of the writing. When I’m discussing the quality of two movies in the same series I don’t have preconceived notions about other entries in the Saga because that’s just weird.
If you compare within the series that is fine. But that is not what we are talking about here. If you compare a film to other great films you have to do it individually.
But if you compare ESB to those films without preconceived notions and with quality being the only thing you’re analyzing you wouldn’t have that problem. The problem is yours buddy.
So the most important part of the film (i.e. story) is not part of your “quality”? And unless you can provide me an objective measure to define quality (you cannot), your argument fails in its basics.