Say something nice about the Star Wars Prequel. If you can.

[Tar Palantir]

The light saber fighting in the prequels far surpasses the duels in the original trilogy.
The music is brilliant as ever.
CGI is obviously better than it was back when the originals where made.
Liam Neeson

and JarJar has united the fan base under a single banner of hatred.

Jar Jar is the least of the problems.

My problem with the prequels is that the plots are boring and full of holes, and most of all, I don't feel anything for the character, Anaking is an asshole from the start, he comes off as a very stupid person, Obi Wan doesn't do anything in the first movie, Qui Gon Ji (or however you write that) never impressed me, in fact he acted incredibly stupid on Tatooine...JUST STEAL THE PART FROM WATTO!!! He was trying to Mind Trick him into accepting worthless money, so why not steal it? Padme is the flattest character ever, the love story in the second movie is abdurd, it's like watching Romeo andd Juliet, but in a bad way, as in cliched and unrealistic.

Lightsaber fights are cool to watch, but there's nothing behind them...when Luke fought Vader there was alot of personal going on, even more when they fight in front of the Emperor and he's about to turn Dark Side. What's happening when Obi and Jin fight Darth Maul? Nothing. They don't know each other, they fight just cause they must for some reason. Same thing when they fight Dooku in the second, there's nothing at stake for me to care.

Don't even get me started on Yoda fighting. Call me crazy but in the Empire Strikes Back I got the impression he was so powerful and wise to be above trivial things such as weapons...

Despite the CGI, the Original Trilogy feels more real...because those are real sets. You can always tell the enviroments of the prequel trilogy are always fake and shiny....so maybe it's not that good.


....and so on....


EDIT: also, stop saying Mace Windu was badass.....Samuel Jackson as a Jedi was just a really bad choice. He doesn't do ANYTHING badass in the movies, except use the lightsaber a couple of times and deliver terrible lines of dialog, not because he's a bad actor, but because the script is bad and it's just not his role. He keeps saying putting Anaking and Palpatine together is dangerous, the the Dark Side of the Force surrounds the Chancelor, that he senses a plot to destry the Jedi....and then agrees to send Anaking to keep an eye on him, WHAT?

 

[Ilja Lyubimov]

Why must I? It is good! With good story, good visuals, and good flow. There are some mistakes, sure - but still, it's all good. Why so much hate? Because fanboys hate ANYTHING new what-so-e-ver. I am sure as shit that should i go back into the past and persuade Lucas to make Star Wars 1-3 before 4-6, the fanboys of today will wine about idiotic Deathstar, idiotic idea of Luke being a main character, and/or idiotic anything else. These are fanboys we're dealing with, what could one expect?

 

[Tar Palantir]

Why must I? It is good! With good story, good visuals, and good flow. There are some mistakes, sure - but still, it's all good. Why so much hate? Because fanboys hate ANYTHING new what-so-e-ver. I am sure as shit that should i go back into the past and persuade Lucas to make Star Wars 1-3 before 4-6, the fanboys of today will wine about idiotic Deathstar, idiotic idea of Luke being a main character, and/or idiotic anything else. These are fanboys we're dealing with, what could one expect?

Not because it's new, but because it's been one of the biggest disappointments in cinematic history probably, not to mention that he ruined many great concepts of the Originals in the process.

 

[Ragnarok185]

Qui-Gon Jin.

most badass jedi ever.......of all time

 

[Ilja Lyubimov]

Like..?

 

[LilithSlave]

Then again, I'm not knee deep into the Star Wars fandom. It's massive and overwhelming.

That reminds me, Star Wars was a big part of my childhood. And when the sequels came out, I didn't care if they were considered not as good, I loved Star Wars then. Because as a little kid, I was always dying for more of the lore than the well known about original trilogy. I wanted to know the entire history, and all the possible characters. But actually by the time the prequels came out, I had grown out of my Star Wars phase as a kid a little bit. And back in the heyday of my phase, I even had cardgame cards which I loved(but had no idea how to play) and spent hours playing The Empire Strikes Back for the Super NES. About all that existed were the books to give me backstory, but there were other things I probably wanted more, and my parents couldn't afford to buy me Star Wars books. It was also a point in time in my life when I was obsessed with martial arts. Being obsessed with Martial Arts was definitely something up my alley in terms of sci-fi more than most other things. My family liked Han Solo, but I liked Luke and the Jedi because he used a sword and Martial Arts and was part of a Confucian inspired order.

I keep meaning to get back into it someday. But it's just like Sonic the Hedgehog and other fandoms and franchises I've missed out on for years. I bet I would have a lot of fun with any of these things I stopped during my childhood. Things I got worn out from due to a lack of material and/or moved on to other things. But it's also very overwhelming. Kind of like how using Steam is easier than popping a disc in. It's very rewarding if you can actually get fully into something. But often I and other people don't start things because of the initial investment of time and energy one has to make.

Tell me, Star Wars fans, is it worth it? From what I hear, the Star Wars online community are currently a miserly bunch just like Sonic fans. It's enough to make me want to stray away from Star Wars video games of any kind. As well as the fact I know so little about the ancient Jedi backstory I get the feeling most of the games tell of. Speaking of which, if I pick up Star Wars again, which games, shows, and movies should I start with?

 

[Ilja Lyubimov]

Then again, I'm not knee deep into the Star Wars fandom. It's massive and overwhelming.

It's enough to make me want to stray away from Star Wars video games of any kind.

As much as i love Star Wars, the games recently are mostly crap.

 

[Tar Palantir]

Like..?

1) The Force: in the Original it's something mystical, something that connects every living thing, understanding it makes you understand the world, and master it with you will. The power of a Jedi depends on how knowledgable and wise he is.

In the prequels the Force is microscopic bacteria.....or microscopic bacteria tell us about the force...I'm not sure which cause the movie doesn't tell us. So you potential depends not on your knowledge, but on your Midiclorian level. Wow. What a great idea.

2) Yoda: he should never have used a Lightsaber. He was so unique and interesting because you didn't expect the green midget to be a Jedi Master, you expected a warrior stereotype. "Wars make not one great". He was above weapons, he taught Luke to understand the Force not to beat stuff with a glowing stick.

Now he's a videogame character with a lazer sword. Not to mention that for all his wisdom he NEVER takes a hint when investigating the Sith Lord.....his only power over the Force is to throw the senate and frakking rocks.

As much as i love Star Wars, the games recently are mostly crap.

Except KOTOR 1


EDIT: I also forgot how they ruined Darth Vader. He was supposed to be a noble Jedi Knight who had been seduced by the Dark Side. But Anaking is portraied as a dumb, stupid, immature asshole in the two movies, which means he's never been a good person. This also weakens the importance of his Redemption in the VI Episode, cause it's not a Redemption anymore (since he's never been good), he's just a bad, stupid man repenting on his death bed. :/

 

[Tar Palantir]

Speaking of which, if I pick up Star Wars again, which games, shows, and movies should I start with?

Episode IV, Episode V, KOTOR are the best the franchise has to offer. I'm not really into the expanded universe, but there's one story that stands out to me, Darth Bane: Path of the Destruction, the definitive explanation of the Sith can be very interesting since the movies, old and new, tell us nothing about them.

I also recommend this, I posted it before but it's really worth it: http://redlettermedia.com/plinkett/star-wars/star-wars-episode-1-the-phantom-menace/

If you are into movies and comedy, you WILL enjoy it.

 

[LilithSlave]

I've seen all of the prequels and the original trilogy. As well I've played most of the half decent games up to the N64 era, whereupon I stopped and haven't played or watched since. Basically what I was asking, and what I was explaining, is that I don't know the expanded universe, a part of why I don't get into new Star Wars video games and things. And I don't where to start. And if I don't know the expanded universe, where would be a good place to pick back up more Star Wars materials, so that I don't get spoilers or be unable to relate to any characters. Should I start with a video game, comic, book, or series that takes place immediately before Episode I, and which video games and other media would those be?

What time period does Knights of the Old Republic take place during? And how do I relate it to episodes I through VI that I have seen? Because that's what I'm worried about, seeing things in the proper order and not getting spoiled. There's a certain order of enjoying expanded universes that the most fun and most impactful. Kind of like how you wouldn't want to watch episode VI before episode I introduces you to Luke and the main characters of the trilogy so you can relate to them. But I have no idea what it is.

 

[DeeWiz]

The fight with Darth Maul. Every second of it.

The duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker.

Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan. By the time he reached Episode 3, he looked and sounded more like Alec Guiness than Alec Guiness did.

The Pod race. Yeah, sue me. I loved the chariot race in Ben-Hur, and TPM provided the same sort of thrill with aliens and pod-racers instead of Romans and chariots.

Samuel L Jackson and Christopher Lee in their roles as Mace Windu and Count Dooku, respectively.

Getting to see Yoda fighting in his prime. Bring the flame all you want, but Yoda was a legendary Jedi, and it was nice to see how he managed to earn such a reputation for himself.

Ian McDermid having brilliant fun hamming it up as Palpatine.

Order 66.

The effects. Say what you will about the script and the characters, but George Lucas pretty much defined how films integrated real footage with CGI, and every film since then that has used CGI has done so with techniques pioneered in the prequels.

The direction. Again, scripts and characters aside, Lucas framed and filmed some absolutely stunning shots for the prequels. He'll always be divisive as a writer, but as a director he's still got as keen and artistic an eye as ever.

Introducing digital film to Hollywood with Episode II. Lucas said at the time that it would prove a revolution for film-makers, allowing indie projects and smaller scale films to still realise fantastic visions. The success of such films as District 9, Cloverfield and Monsters proves him rather cogniscient in that regard.

The music. John Williams builds on his original Star Wars work magnificently.

The fact that the sci-fi community still won't shut up about how much it hates the prequels. At this point, it's all faintly pathetic. Star Trek was just as terrible (in my opinion, worse) a prequel, yet no-one goes on about that to the same degree.

This is pretty much all the good points in the films, however I would have to disagree with the direction. Between rewatching the original trilogy, Biowares new opus and the EU in general going back to watch the prequels is physically painful. The fact that video game writing is better delivered, better crafted, and more believable is sad.

Now if only Bioware and everyone would just realize that the evil option is not to strangle puppies and bunnies but to trick the other guy into doing it and thinking he is doing it for the right reasons, thats how you corrupt populations to believe the rebels are terrorists and you gianormous military machine is there to keep you safe and you gladly support, where in reality the rebels are fighting for freedom and your military machine is there to keep the downtrodden under heel. Wow, that seems ... familiar... somehow.

 

[Tar Palantir]

I've seen all of the prequels and the original trilogy. As well I've played most of the half decent games up to the N64 era, whereupon I stopped and haven't played or watched since. Basically what I was asking, and what I was explaining, is that I don't know the expanded universe, a part of why I don't get into new Star Wars video games and things. And I don't where to start. And if I don't know the expanded universe, where would be a good place to pick back up more Star Wars materials, so that I don't get spoilers or be unable to relate to any characters. Should I start with a video game, comic, book, or series that takes place immediately before Episode I, and which video games and other media would those be?

What time period does Knights of the Old Republic take place during? And how do I relate it to episodes I through VI that I have seen? Because that's what I'm worried about, seeing things in the proper order and not getting spoiled. There's a certain order of enjoying expanded universes that the most fun and most impactful. Kind of like how you wouldn't want to watch episode VI before episode I introduces you to Luke and the main characters of the trilogy so you can relate to them. But I have no idea what it is.

KOTOR takes place in the Old Republic, during a war with the Sith Empire. This is 4000 years before Palpatine's Empire, and the Republic (you guessed it) is loosing. This would be a nice place to start. As I said, I'm not really into the Exp Universe, but the stories BEFORE the trilogies seem better. This one doesn't seem to have any direct repercussion on the movies tho.

Path of Destruction takes place 1000 years before Episode IV, it describes how the Sith Empire changed, from having hordes of Dark Lords lusting for power, to having ONLY TWO, master and apprentice "Two there should be; no more, no less. One to embody the power, the other to crave it." Which is the rule Palpatine has adopted.

 

[Tar Palantir]

The direction. Again, scripts and characters aside, Lucas framed and filmed some absolutely stunning shots for the prequels. He'll always be divisive as a writer, but as a director he's still got as keen and artistic an eye as ever.

Scripts and characters aside....I LOLED

 

[LilithSlave]

"good" ones

Eh, "good" or "bad" are subjective. I don't care about which ones are "good" or "bad", I care about whether I can get into them. I'm either into something or I'm not. Currently I'm not "into" the Star Wars universe, so it feels daunting to attempt to do so.

4,000 years is a long time away from anything I know and relate to about Star Wars. Why would I want to start 4,000 years before everything I relate to about Star Wars happens. Relating to such characters and scenario sounds like a much more daunting task. Wouldn't I be better off getting back into Star Wars with material about Jacen Solo or the basically the story after after episode VI or right before episode I?

In fact, what's the point of getting into Star Wars if you're not actually into Star Wars(i.e., the expanded universe and Star Wars in general)? To me, something is only fun if you can actually get into it. And getting into something requires some degree of familiarity to me. I hear that 4,000 years and think, "wow, that's really not where I should start. And I am really behind on Star Wars." What's the point of trying to enjoy a universe and being a fan of a universe in random, unconnected time periods with random, unconnected characters?

 

[Tar Palantir]

"good" ones

Eh, "good" or "bad" are subjective. I don't care about which ones are "good" or "bad", I care about whether I can get into them. I'm either into something or I'm not. Currently I'm not "into" the Star Wars universe, so it feels daunting to attempt to do so.

4,000 years is a long time away from anything I know and relate to about Star Wars. Why would I want to start 4,000 years before everything I relate to about Star Wars happens. Relating to such characters and scenario sounds like a much more daunting task. Wouldn't I be better off getting back into Star Wars with material about Jacen Solo or the basically the story after after episode VI or right before episode I?

In fact, what's the point of getting into Star Wars if you're not actually into Star Wars(i.e., the expanded universe and Star Wars in general)? To me, something is only fun if you can actually get into it. And getting into something requires some degree of familiarity to me. I hear that 4,000 years and think, "wow, that's really not where I should start. And I am really behind on Star Wars." What's the point of trying to enjoy a universe and being a fan of a universe in random, unconnected time periods with random, unconnected characters?

Why are you asking all these things? It seemed to me you were interested in the best bits of SW, and I pointed you to them. Now it seems you want to know everything and start closer to the originals...well, if you know where you want to start and you want to read everything, good and bad, what kind of advice do you need? Go ahead and do it.

 

[WoahDan]

@ Lilith slave: independent of Star Wars KOTOR is a objectively good game (not strictly true all opinions are subjective, but damn near everyone whose opinion is worth listening to likes KOTOR) even if you didn't want to get back into star wars I would still recommend it.

As for how easy it is "to get into", how should I know whether you'll get into it? that's something you'll have to find out for yourself , I got into it despite knowing little about star wars and so did many others that's all I or anyone else can say.

 

[LilithSlave]

By "how easy is it to get into", in such a game that takes place 4,000 years before the stuff I know, Episode I alone felt alien and confusing and a political mess, introducing all sorts of complication I didn't yet understand to my understanding of the Star Wars universe?

I can't imagine how much more alien 4,000 years further would make. I would probably have no idea what races they're talking about, what the technobabble means, and how anything I'm reading and learning has anything to do with Star Wars. I mean, that 4,000 years before just about anyone I have even heard of in Star Wars has even been born. The only thing I know about that time period is that some form of Darksider and Lightersider must exist. Anything else about the culture I have no clue about.

Easy to get into also means how well things are explained. How much technobabble they throw at you. Fans are expected to know certain terms. If you don't know what's going on politically and everything, you're not very immersed. Will I be confused? Will I feel like I'm even playing a Star Wars game at all? I have no idea, but the chronology scares me off.

 

[Tar Palantir]

By "how easy is it to get into", in such a game that takes place 4,000 years before the stuff I know, Episode I alone felt alien and confusing and a political mess, introducing all sorts of complication I didn't yet understand to my understanding of the Star Wars universe?

I can't imagine how much more alien 4,000 years further would make. I would probably have no idea what races they're talking about, what the technobabble means, and how anything I'm reading and learning has anything to do with Star Wars. I mean, that 4,000 years before just about anyone I have even heard of in Star Wars has even been born. The only thing I know about that time period is that some form of Darksider and Lightersider must exist. Anything else about the culture I have no clue about.

Easy to get into also means how well things are explained. How much technobabble they throw at you. Fans are expected to know certain terms. If you don't know what's going on politically and everything, you're not very immersed. Will I be confused? Will I feel like I'm even playing a Star Wars game at all? I have no idea, but the chronology scares me off.

You overestimate the complexity of SW: the expanded uni is the carbon copy of the two trilogies with different names and slightly different designs for the exact same things.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I liked it when Anakin got burned. Not so much for the simple fact that that anoying little tool got toasted, but it was the only CGI effect that didn't look totally fake and sterile. It had some actual grit.

The Emperor in III. The only character in the prequels with genuine passion.