10 Reasons Star Wars Sequels Are Still Superior To The Prequels
9. The Action Sequences Are Far More Suspenseful
To give credit where it's due, in terms of action the trilogies are largely neck and neck and in some ways, the Prequels did action better than the Sequels.
The action in the Prequels is bigger, bolder, unfolds in better locations and the trilogy also has superior lightsaber duels, but there is one crucial thing that the spectacle in the Prequels often lacks: tension.
Yes, the Prequels' action scenes are a hell of a lot of fun, but they fail to match the white-knuckle tension throughout the Original Trilogy. Many of the characters in the Prequels are under-developed and it's harder to get invested in their fates, while George Lucas' direction is frequently detached and distant, with the characters and spaceships too often being reduced to small objects overshadowed by the (admittedly amazing) CGI backdrops.
In contrast, the Sequels' action really pulls you right in. Thanks to the thoroughly tense direction, more intimate feel and the involvement of characters who are easier to care about, those movies have a ton of suspense; in particular, The Last Jedi was perhaps the most suspenseful Star Wars film ever made.