I think the resentment from fans came out of a feeling of missed potential. What people wanted was what they eventually put into the Clone Wars series: space adventures, complex characters, and the subtle corruption of a great hero.
What we got wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great. There was cheesy dialogue, convoluted storylines, and one-dimensional characters. Star Wars, like a lot of franchise films, benefits from the association with the wider universe. We, the fans, fill in gaps and references to backstory with the things we know without it appearing on the screen. But it also suffers from the comparison and expectations we have.
Take the reveal of Vader/birth of the twins at the end. Seeing Vader rise from the table, and hearing James Earl Jones’ voice for the “first” time was genuinely cool because we have all seen the original trilogy. The interspersed delivery scene draws parallels between Luke and Leia being born with Vader being born.
Taken in a vacuum, if you had no idea who Vader was, it would all seem a bit silly, because “Darth Vader” was actually “born” several scenes ago when he killed Mace Windu and then mass-murdered a school full of children.
At the same time, we know what Vader looks and sounds like. Drawing out the reveal feels slightly overdramatic. Then you get the whole “she’s lost the will to live” and that “Noooooo!” and people are rolling from laughter instead of wiping away tears.
That’s like the whole movie. Anything good or bad is made simultaneously better and worse by association. How you view the movie depends on how that association makes you feel. If you love Star Wars and want to love the Prequels, you will.
I also saw it in theatres, and while I wouldn’t call it a breath of fresh air per se, but it was definitely the least bad of the prequels. This is gonna get me down voted to hell, but that 45 minute lightsaber battle at the end was 44 minutes too long in my opinion.
I also grew up with the prequels and yes, RotS was leagues ahead of them but it’s not just that. It has its issues, but I firmly believe it is a really good movie. I also grew up with prequels and saw both Episode 2 and 3 in theatres. But while the first two were quite cringey with some good parts, RotS was just good and stood up the test of time. More than I can say bout New Hope tbh.
I don’t have any concrete reasons why I think this. I don’t mind if a movie is slow - if anything it may be too fast when I think about it? Going from place to place, not really fleshing out much. As a kid I also found it the least interesting due to the lack of lightsaber fights.
Ironically, I’ve found the writing fairly poor and cringey as well tbh.
Everything cool about them is despite George Lucas not because of him. Sure the battles are cool, the CGI scenes are cool, but the prequels were wayyyyyy too much a direct implementation of what Lucas thought was going to be good to ever have been good lol.
The original Star Wars movies were better because Lucas wasn’t famous yet and had to actually listen to the people around him.
Don’t get me wrong, the original trilogy is the best by far. I was just the right age to enjoy the prequels when they came out, so maybe it’s the nostalgia talking. I rewatch them every few years and enjoy them every time.
Honestly, I’d rather just ditch the terrible plots of both movies and just go have fun in Star Wars Battlefront playing with all the cool hovertanks and robots.
It’s got several of them, and that’s the only redeeming quality.
I re-watched it recently, and was reminded just how bad it was. I only saw The Phantom Menace in the theatre, and the disappointment kept me away from the releases of the next two installments - money well saved.
I think I just threw up a little in my mouth….
Why would you want this!!!
I know the prequels have been meme’d to hell and are objectively ridiculous, but I’m not too proud to admit that I really like them.
RotS was always genuenly good.
I think the resentment from fans came out of a feeling of missed potential. What people wanted was what they eventually put into the Clone Wars series: space adventures, complex characters, and the subtle corruption of a great hero.
What we got wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great. There was cheesy dialogue, convoluted storylines, and one-dimensional characters. Star Wars, like a lot of franchise films, benefits from the association with the wider universe. We, the fans, fill in gaps and references to backstory with the things we know without it appearing on the screen. But it also suffers from the comparison and expectations we have.
Take the reveal of Vader/birth of the twins at the end. Seeing Vader rise from the table, and hearing James Earl Jones’ voice for the “first” time was genuinely cool because we have all seen the original trilogy. The interspersed delivery scene draws parallels between Luke and Leia being born with Vader being born.
Taken in a vacuum, if you had no idea who Vader was, it would all seem a bit silly, because “Darth Vader” was actually “born” several scenes ago when he killed Mace Windu and then mass-murdered a school full of children.
At the same time, we know what Vader looks and sounds like. Drawing out the reveal feels slightly overdramatic. Then you get the whole “she’s lost the will to live” and that “Noooooo!” and people are rolling from laughter instead of wiping away tears.
That’s like the whole movie. Anything good or bad is made simultaneously better and worse by association. How you view the movie depends on how that association makes you feel. If you love Star Wars and want to love the Prequels, you will.
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Unironically up voting this
Don’t forget the taking the whole mysticism behind the Force and reducing it to: “wow, you got quite the bacterial load there, bud.”
The original trilogy. A decade of history and nostalgia. “lol, it’s space flu”.
Fuck you and everything you know and love, George. You’re dead to me.
So what you’re telling me is that you’re just a casual content consumer. Seems like a “you” problem.
Ok, boomer. Go take your meds.
Was it? Or was it just a breath of fresh air after the other two? And yes I did grow up with it, even saw it in theatre.
I also saw it in theatres, and while I wouldn’t call it a breath of fresh air per se, but it was definitely the least bad of the prequels. This is gonna get me down voted to hell, but that 45 minute lightsaber battle at the end was 44 minutes too long in my opinion.
I also grew up with the prequels and yes, RotS was leagues ahead of them but it’s not just that. It has its issues, but I firmly believe it is a really good movie. I also grew up with prequels and saw both Episode 2 and 3 in theatres. But while the first two were quite cringey with some good parts, RotS was just good and stood up the test of time. More than I can say bout New Hope tbh.
Oh you poor kids. You never knew the world where there weren’t the prequels. Or even the trilogy.
There were many years - many! - when “prequel” wasn’t even a word! Let alone a real word.
You’ll just have to trust us when we tell you there was a magical time when there was only one Star Wars and it was glorious.
Ok, boomer.
Can we stop with the boomer thing? You arent even using it appropriately.
Dont get me wrong im fine with you coming back at the person for being so patronizing ( “you kids” ) but dudes unlikely to actually be a boomer.
Star Wars
episode 4 1977 Episode 5 1980 Episode 6 1983
16 years later
Episode 1 1999
Thats genx/millenial territory
“Ok, boomer” isn’t about pointing out actual boomers, but about criticizing boomer-think. You can age without letting yourself get old.
I respect your opinion but I can’t say it’s not baffling to me lol. Do you find New Hope is too slow by today’s standards?
I don’t have any concrete reasons why I think this. I don’t mind if a movie is slow - if anything it may be too fast when I think about it? Going from place to place, not really fleshing out much. As a kid I also found it the least interesting due to the lack of lightsaber fights.
Ironically, I’ve found the writing fairly poor and cringey as well tbh.
Pervert
Everything cool about them is despite George Lucas not because of him. Sure the battles are cool, the CGI scenes are cool, but the prequels were wayyyyyy too much a direct implementation of what Lucas thought was going to be good to ever have been good lol.
The original Star Wars movies were better because Lucas wasn’t famous yet and had to actually listen to the people around him.
Don’t get me wrong, the original trilogy is the best by far. I was just the right age to enjoy the prequels when they came out, so maybe it’s the nostalgia talking. I rewatch them every few years and enjoy them every time.
The Darth Maul fight scene was very cool in 1999, and I watched Bigger Longer & Uncut the same year! What a time to be a teen.
Yeah I mean I was the perfect age to enjoy the shit out of the battles and action scenes, so I understand the nostalgia thing.
I could watch 4 hours of RotS but no way could I make it through 4 hours of Phantom Menace.
Honestly, I’d rather just ditch the terrible plots of both movies and just go have fun in Star Wars Battlefront playing with all the cool hovertanks and robots.
It’s been like 15 years since I’ve seen it, but isn’t it the one with all the good memes?
It’s got several of them, and that’s the only redeeming quality.
I re-watched it recently, and was reminded just how bad it was. I only saw The Phantom Menace in the theatre, and the disappointment kept me away from the releases of the next two installments - money well saved.