Latest news with #TheForceAwakens
Daily Record
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Star Wars films ranked from best to worst with unexpected movie in third spot
Rotten Tomatoes has ranked all 12 Star Wars films from worst to best, and some fans may be left fuming at the top three Star Wars, initially conceived by George Lucas as a simple space adventure, has since evolved into one of the globe's most influential franchises, reshaping our cultural milieu. Devoted followers have made it their life's work to watch every film and TV spin-off, immersing themselves in the grand space saga. However, each viewing raises an inevitable question: which Star Wars film reigns supreme? Rotten Tomatoes has stepped in to settle this debate, ranking all 12 films based on audience ratings. Fans may be surprised to discover the top three contenders. The overall score is determined by viewer ratings, ranging from one to five stars. This method propelled the 1977 feature to an impressive 94%, securing its position at the top. Die-hard Star Wars enthusiasts might be taken aback to find that among the highest-rated films, coming in third place is a recent addition, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, reports the Mirror US. Introduced to the franchise in 2015, this narrative marked the contentious first release following Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm. This signalled the beginning of Disney's reign, which subsequently gave birth to a plethora of new characters and narratives in countless Disney original series. The Force Awakens marks the beginning of the sequel trilogy and stands as the seventh installment in the Skywalker Saga. It has elicited mixed reactions from fans of the original series. One reviewer praised: "Easily the best 'first entry' of the three trilogies. Loved the characters. The story was great. Beautiful to see and hear and, most importantly, care about. There are some bad Star Wars films, and this is not one of them." Another fan expressed added: "Force Awakens is nearly perfect. I loved the pacing, acting, action, characters, and story. It's my favorite Star Wars film." At the pinnacle of many rankings remains the cinematic pioneer, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. This seminal work introduced audiences to now-iconic performers like Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford as Han Solo, and Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia. Fans continue to treasure this relatively modest production even decades later. There's a general consensus that A New Hope deserves the foremost position for starting the enduring space odyssey. Admirers echo their enduring affection for what they see as a trailblazing classic in the science fiction genre. One such accolade read: "Star Wars: A New Hope is a timeless classic that revolutionized science fiction with its groundbreaking visual effects and unforgettable score. "For its time, the film pushed the boundaries of cinematic storytelling, launching the legendary careers of actors like Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford. More than just a space adventure, it's a masterpiece anchored in the powerful theme of hope-reminding viewers that even in the darkest times, light can break through." Sitting proudly at second place is 'Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back', the franchise's second film released in 1980. This fan-favourite clinched nearly the top spot with an impressive 93% Rotten Tomatoes rating, tying with the third-ranked film. At the very end of the list, in twelfth position, we find 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars'. The 2008 animated feature didn't quite capture fans' hearts as much as the seven-season TV series did, scraping together a meagre 15% on Rotten Tomatoes. In stark contrast, the ninth instalment, 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker', leaps significantly higher with a 51% score. Whether you're keen to immerse yourself in the entire saga, check out the highest-rated flick, or perhaps revisit the lowest-scoring one, every original and Disney addition to the Star Wars canon is now available for your viewing pleasure on Disney+.
Irish Examiner
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Skellig Michael boat trips can resume, court rules
The High Court has given the go ahead for boat trips to Skellig Michael to resume. Mr Justice Garrett Simons granted an application by the Office of Public Works (OPW) to lift an automatic suspension on landing at the Unesco heritage site and former monastic island, which was also used as a film location for the Star Wars movies, The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. The order will allow the OPW to enter into a legally binding contract with each of 15 boat operators who were successful in the public competition for permits to land on the island off the Kerry coast. The landing season runs from mid-May to the end of September each year. Those landing permits were automatically suspended when two unsuccessful bidders brought a High Court challenge to the decision. The OPW then had to apply to the court asking that the stay be lifted pending hearing of the substantive challenge. The unsuccessful bidders, Atlantic Endeavour Ltd and SMBT Ltd, trading as Skellig Michael Boat Trips, disagreed with the OPW interpretation of the legal effect of the automatic suspension. They contended there were a number of mechanisms open whereby landing permits might legitimately be granted to the successful tenderers for the balance of the 2025 season, while preserving their own right to challenge the allocation of landing permits for the 2026 and subsequent seasons. Mr Justice Simons heard the application to lift the suspension this week and on Thursday ordered that it be lifted. He said the practical effect of this order was that it would now be legally permissible for the OPW to issue landing permits to the 15 successful tenderers for the balance of the 2025 season. This will allow for the commencement of passenger landings at Skellig Michael, or Sceilg Mhichíl in Irish. He said his judgment entails no finding whatsoever on whether the outcome of the tender process allows the OPW to confine the right to land passengers on Sceilg Mhichíl to the 15 successful tenderers for a five-year period. The proper interpretation of the request for tender and associated documentation, and the legal consequences of the tender process, remain open for debate at the trial of the action, he said. The judgment, he said "goes no further" than deciding the execution of concession contracts does not result in the crystallisation of a contractual right on the part of the successful tenderers to exclusive landing rights for the 2026 and subsequent seasons. He said the significance of this finding was that the unsuccessful tenderers were not relegated to a claim for certain damages in respect of the 2026 and subsequent seasons. The only right which the OPW seeks to translate into a concluded contract, prior to the determination of the full High Court challenge, is confined to the 2025 landing season, he said. He said he was listing the substantive action for the alleged breaches of the public procurement legislation in July.
The Journal
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Journal
'People's livelihoods at risk': Decision on opening of Skellig Michael to tourists due this week
A HIGH COURT judge will decide this week whether to lift a suspension on boating permits for ferries to and from the UNESCO heritage island Skellig Michael, saying the case requires top priority as 'people's livelihoods are at risk'. The permits have not been issued while legal proceedings are before the courts in the form of a judicial review of the tendering process. At the High Court today, Justice Garret Simons said he was 'staggered' by the assertion made by lawyers for the Office of Public Works (OPW) that it would need six months to prepare the case. He ordered it to be heard next month. Two companies, which were unsuccessful in their applications for the 2025 season, have made a judicial review application, resulting in a delay to the granting of permits. The season runs from May to the end of September. The OPW ran a competition in late 2024 to award 15 boating permits for summer 2025 serving the monastic island, which was chosen as a film location for the Star Wars movies, The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. However, in April 2025, two unsuccessful participants in the competition brought High Court proceedings challenging the outcome. The OPW has said that under Irish and EU law, they were then precluded from issuing permits for the 2025 summer season until legal proceedings were resolved. Advertisement Skellig Michael Boat Trips and Atlantic Endeavour Limited both dispute the process underpinning the granting of the licences, alleging it to be 'deficient' and 'without transparency' and have been granted permission for the challenge. At the High Court today, David Dodd BL, for the plaintiffs, told Justice Simons that nobody wanted to prevent boats from visiting the island. He said permits could be granted by the court in an interim fashion, as the issuing of a one-season permit was not a 'contract', as contended by the OPW. He said his clients are happy for the suspension to be lifted. Justice Simons asked Andrew Beck SC, for the OPW, why it would take six months to prepare for what the judge described as 'the most straightforward case of competition for licences'. Beck said there was discovery of documents needed, amendments to make and a possible issue around cross-examination. Justice Simons said he was 'staggered' that the case would take up to six months to get on and that there were 'livelihoods' at stake. The judge said the court would give the case 'top priority', adding that the court had 'gone out of its way' to facilitate an early trial. Justice Simons said he would rule on Thursday of this week on whether to lift the suspension of the permits. He adjourned the substantive hearing of the judicial review to 21 July. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
03-06-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Judge to decide on suspension of Sceilg Mhichíl permits
A High Court judge will decide this week whether to lift a suspension on boating permits for ferries to and from the UNESCO heritage island Sceilg Mhichíl, saying the case requires top priority as "people's livelihoods are at risk". The permits have not been issued while legal proceedings are before the courts in the form of a judicial review of the tendering process. At the High Court, Mr Justice Garret Simons said he was "staggered" by the assertion made by lawyers for the Office of Public Works that it would need six months to prepare the case. He ordered it to be heard next month. Two companies, which were unsuccessful in their applications for the 2025 season, have made a judicial review application, resulting in a delay to the granting of permits. The season runs from May to the end of September. The OPW ran a competition in late 2024 to award 15 boating permits for summer 2025 serving the monastic island, which was chosen as a film location for the Star Wars movies, The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. However, in April 2025, two unsuccessful participants in the competition brought High Court proceedings challenging the outcome. The OPW said that under Irish and EU law, it was then precluded from issuing permits for the 2025 summer season until legal proceedings were resolved. Skellig Michael Boat Trips and Atlantic Endeavour Limited both dispute the process underpinning the granting of the licences, alleging it to be "deficient" and "without transparency" and have been granted permission for the challenge. At the High Court, David Dodd BL, for the plaintiffs, told Mr Justice Simons that nobody wanted to prevent boats from visiting the island. He said permits could be granted by the court in an interim fashion, as the issuing of a one-season permit was not a "contract", as contended by the OPW. He said his clients are happy for the suspension to be lifted. Mr Justice Simons asked Andrew Beck SC, for the OPW, why it would take six months to prepare for what the judge described as "the most straightforward case of competition for licences". Mr Beck said there was discovery of documents needed, amendments to make and a possible issue around cross-examination. Mr Justice Simons said he was "staggered" that the case would take up to six months to get on and that there were "livelihoods" at stake. The judge said the court would give the case "top priority", adding that the court had "gone out of its way" to facilitate an early trial. Mr Justice Simons said he would rule on Thursday of this week on whether to lift the suspension of the permits. He adjourned the substantive hearing of the judicial review to 21 July.
Irish Examiner
03-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Skellig Michael delayed boat permits row to be decided this week
A High Court judge has given "top priority" for a case involving the granting of boat permits to ferry people to Skellig Michael. Mr Justice Garrett Simons will decide this week whether or not to lift a suspension on boating permits needed to bring tourists to and from the UNESCO heritage island Skellig Michael, saying "people's livelihoods are at stake". The permits have not been issued while legal proceedings are before the courts in the form of a judicial review of the tendering process. At the High Court on Tuesday, Mr Justice Simons said he was "staggered" by the assertion made by lawyers for the Office of Public Works (OPW) claiming it would need six months to prepare the case and ordered it to be heard next month, giving it "top priority". The granting of permits to successful applicants was delayed as two companies who were unsuccessful in their applications for the 2025 season, which runs from May to the end of September, launched a legal challenge. The OPW ran a competition in late 2024 to award 15 boating permits for summer 2025 and serving the monastic island, which was chosen as a film location for the Star Wars movies The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. However, in April 2025, two unsuccessful participants in the competition brought High Court proceedings challenging the outcome of the competition. The OPW has said that under Irish and EU law, the OPW was then precluded from issuing permits for the 2025 summer season until legal proceedings were resolved. Skellig Michael Boat Trips and Atlantic Endeavour Limited both dispute the process underpinning the granting of the licences, alleging it to be "deficient" and "without transparency" and have been granted permission for the challenge. At the High Court, David Dodd, counsel for the plaintiffs, told Mr Justice Simons that nobody wanted the boats to not visit the island and that permits could be granted by the court in an interim fashion, as the issuing of a one-season permit was not a "contract", as contended by the OPW. Mr Dodd said he was resisting a suggested "five-year framework" on the OPW's granting of the permits as part of a contract but that the plaintiffs also wanted to see the boats out. Mr Dodd said the OPW, in applying to the court to have the suspension lifted, had referred to a "contract" having to be in place for the boats to take to sea. Mr Dodd said there should be no such "contract" and that permits issued were akin to planning permission or a gun permit being granted, neither or which, he claimed, were "contracts" nor necessitated frameworks. Mr Dodd said that a permit is a statutory permit without an offer or an acceptance as found in a contract. Whether or not this granting amounted to a "contract", was a matter for the full hearing of the substantive case, he said. "We are happy, however, for the suspension to be lifted," he said. Mr Justice Simons asked Andrew Beck, counsel for the OPW, how it was possible that the OPW was looking for six months to prepare the case in what the judge described as "the most straightforward case of competition for licences". Mr Beck said there was discovery of documents needed, amendments to make and a possible issue around cross examination. Mr Justice Simons said he was "staggered" that the case would take up to six months to get on and that there were "livelihoods" at stake. The judge said the court would give the case "top priority", adding the court had "gone out of its way" to facilitate an early trial. Mr Justice Simons said he would rule on Thursday of this week on whether or not he would lift the suspension of the permits and adjourned the substantive hearing of the judicial review to July 21.
