The 5 Best Mark Hamill Movies
Mark Hamill is known the world over for his performance as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise, and rightfully so. George Lucas’ groundbreaking film was a supersensory cinematic experience. Audiences clamored to see the space-age adventures of Hamill’s Skywalker and his friends, Carrie Fisher’s headstrong Princess Leia Organa and Harrison Ford’s cool-headed gunslinger Han Solo. In the years since Star Wars and its succeeding films, Hamill has approached his superstardom with good humor. He has been happy to oblige parodies of Skywalker — or even himself — in shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy. In fact, his post-Star Wars career has been littered with voiceover roles of all kinds. His most notable role in that regard is the Joker, who he has frequently given voice to since Batman: The Animated Series, which lasted from 1992 to 1994. Lately, he has reprised the role which made him famous in the recent Star Wars sequel films. Here are his five best to date.
Star Wars (1977)
It would be difficult to say something about Star Wars which has not already been said. Its story is specific but has a timeless appeal. A small, altruistic rebellion develops under the foot of an oppressive empire. Hamill’s Luke Skywalker is a simple farmhand from a desolate planet who finds himself thrust into this battle by an old hermit (Sir Alec Guinness) and two eccentric robots (Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker). Along the way, he meets a space pirate named Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and one of the rebellion leaders, Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher). Together, they must stand up to Darth Vader (David Prowse, James Earl Jones), the physical manifestation of the Empire’s iron fist. Something truly special sprung from the mind of writer/director George Lucas all those years ago, and it continues to inspire today.
Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Empire Strikes Back is often touted as one of the gold standards of sequels. It successfully pulls off the delicate balancing act of deepening the world of the initial film without losing what drew audiences to its predecessor. After years of battling the Empire side-by-side, Hamill’s protagonist is forced to embark on a journey of self-discovery without the help of his friends. The characters see exciting new locales and meet interesting new characters. Lucas’ step back — ceding the director’s chair to Irvin Kershner and screenwriting responsibilities to Lawrence Kasdan — appears to have been the right move. The resulting film is even more emotionally resonant and visually impressive.
Return of the Jedi (1983)
The third act of Lucas’ trilogy sees Luke, Leia, Han and the rest of the Rebellion mounting a grand attack on the Empire that will hopefully create a ripple effect throughout the galaxy. At the same time, Luke must make peace with the ghosts of his past and come face to face with his ultimate destiny: a final duel with Darth Vader in front of the Emperor himself (Ian McDiarmid). Though it was not as broadly praised as its predecessors for story or pacing, Return of the Jedi is a mostly satisfying and (once again) visually stunning film.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is set thirty years after Return of the Jedi. Luke Skywalker is more myth than man in this time. In his absence, a new regime known as the First Order has risen, led by Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) and his right-hand man, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). An orphan named Rey (Daisy Ridley) from a scrapyard planet finds herself at the center of a desperate search for Skywalker, much in the same way he himself was all those years ago. Though casually criticized for staying too close to the original source material, most fans of the franchise enjoyed Star Wars: The Force Awakens for recapturing what many enjoyed about the original films.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
For the sequel to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Abrams passed the torch to Rian Johnson, who had previously directed Looper and some episodes of Breaking Bad. Johnson delivered perhaps the most controversial film of the franchise, infuriating a number of fans and pleasing many others. He rightfully identified the cycle of diminishing returns the series had suffered over the years and offered a sort of referendum on what it means to leave the past behind in a series rife with nostalgia. Rey’s encounter with Luke is not what she had expected. Hamill gives a laudable performance as Luke at his most broken, separated from those who once gave him strength because of shame and fear. The film is emotional, colorful and unbalanced, like the characters within it. With Abrams taking up the mantle of director again for the third and final entry to this new series, it is anyone’s guess how this story will end.
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