What Ruined the Star Wars Prequels? (If you didn't like them?)
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Definitely Jar Jar Binks, but more so just what he represented. Entirely too much attention given to comedic relief and that comedy being not very good and mostly directed at children.
All in all, it simply didn't take itself as seriously as it should have. I didn't particularly mind the plot, but between the unnecessary "silliness" and most of the dramatic moments being stained by laughable writing, it was a big disappointment.
I still don't hate the movies by any means, it just upsets me with how much better they could have been.
All in all, it simply didn't take itself as seriously as it should have. I didn't particularly mind the plot, but between the unnecessary "silliness" and most of the dramatic moments being stained by laughable writing, it was a big disappointment.
I still don't hate the movies by any means, it just upsets me with how much better they could have been.
- Apr 1, 2009
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George Lucas, the problem is that he didn't actually make the old starwars movies good, if he had his way with them as much as he did the new ones then they probably would have sucked really bad, most of the old movies were tempered by other people having inputs into what was going on and toning down his more insane crap.
Anakin's story wasn't engaging. The further it went on you never feel like this guy can be Vader. It comes out a lot in the Clone Wars TV show as well (which I like, all things considered), he's just too.. good. That and Padme was just bad. It wasn't just Portman, the whole Anakin / Padme story just never clicked. Like it was being forced upon us, but the two just weren't right. This goes back to my point about Anakin's story just being not right.
I do like some aspects of the prequels, and hate others. I can say the same thing about the original 3 though as well, though (Being that the first half of Return of the Jedi is just as bad as the prequel trilogy and no one talks about that). I found myself sticking to Obi-Wan (who had always been my favourite, even when I was a kid and all he was was the old Alec Guinness mentor), and the lightsaber duels were fantastic, and the new additions to the musical score never felt out of place. Space battles on the other hand, for all their CGI, never felt quite as thought out as the ones in the originals. Did lead to some fun games though, Battlefront 2 is one I've played a lot more than others.
EDIT: I disagree with the Jar Jar hate though. He really only partly ruined Phantom Menace, the kid playing Anakin did more damage I think. He wasn't even a factor in the other two, and actually had a couple interesting moments in the Clone Wars TV show. Bringing that up for the second time, I've got to say what I've said about the SW universe as a whole. The further anything SW is from Lucas, the better it is for it. The worst episodes are a direct result of his meddling.
I do like some aspects of the prequels, and hate others. I can say the same thing about the original 3 though as well, though (Being that the first half of Return of the Jedi is just as bad as the prequel trilogy and no one talks about that). I found myself sticking to Obi-Wan (who had always been my favourite, even when I was a kid and all he was was the old Alec Guinness mentor), and the lightsaber duels were fantastic, and the new additions to the musical score never felt out of place. Space battles on the other hand, for all their CGI, never felt quite as thought out as the ones in the originals. Did lead to some fun games though, Battlefront 2 is one I've played a lot more than others.
EDIT: I disagree with the Jar Jar hate though. He really only partly ruined Phantom Menace, the kid playing Anakin did more damage I think. He wasn't even a factor in the other two, and actually had a couple interesting moments in the Clone Wars TV show. Bringing that up for the second time, I've got to say what I've said about the SW universe as a whole. The further anything SW is from Lucas, the better it is for it. The worst episodes are a direct result of his meddling.
This was about all I liked. With John Williams score, it's like some kind of nerd ballet...Spaghetti said:
I was very disappointed with Grevious especially considering how he was portrayed in the clone wars cartoon series (the hand drawn one not the CGI one) before episode III came out. The first time he appeared in the clone wars he was actually menacing and easily took out 5 jedi. However, in the movie I kept on expecting him to die of a heart attack any minute.mrm5561 said:
Know exactly what was going to happen at Episode 4, you KNEW for a FACT that Obi Wan Kenobi would never die. No amount of risk or danger he was in ever mattered because you pretty much KNEW what wasn't going to happen. In terms of black and white, it's like knowing what happened in episode 2 and 3 before you ever saw 1.
The acting was bad? I couldn't tell. Was the acting REALLY good in 4, 5, 6? Probably not.
Jar Jar annoyances? Yes. But I never connected his racist-connections to the black community I read about after the movie was released.
The light saber battles were much more Jedi-centric, I think. I remember episode (I dunno the #) where Vader is basically swinging at Obi Wan like a brittle old man who could barely hold the thing. Horrendous! What made people think these versions were good???
The acting was bad? I couldn't tell. Was the acting REALLY good in 4, 5, 6? Probably not.
Jar Jar annoyances? Yes. But I never connected his racist-connections to the black community I read about after the movie was released.
The light saber battles were much more Jedi-centric, I think. I remember episode (I dunno the #) where Vader is basically swinging at Obi Wan like a brittle old man who could barely hold the thing. Horrendous! What made people think these versions were good???
I was very disappointed with Grevious especially considering how he was portrayed in the clone wars cartoon series (the hand drawn one not the CGI one) before episode III came out. The first time he appeared in the clone wars he was actually menacing and easily took out 5 jedi. However, in the movie I kept on expecting him to die of a heart attack any minute.mrm5561 said:
George Lucas.
It was the diner scene that did it. The original trilogy, there was nothing on screen to date the movies. The prequels had lots of things that traced to a specific time period, which ruined it. Also the terrible writing and execution when 9 year old Anakin blows up the trade ship. "I wonder if it's this button!" (to a button that's clearly not what he's looking for)
It was the diner scene that did it. The original trilogy, there was nothing on screen to date the movies. The prequels had lots of things that traced to a specific time period, which ruined it. Also the terrible writing and execution when 9 year old Anakin blows up the trade ship. "I wonder if it's this button!" (to a button that's clearly not what he's looking for)
I loved them. Not even going to deny it. I found the older ones a little more boring. I love the first three compare to the original, why? Well I have sentimental value to them and I love the whole "Big conflict" that erupts. Partially why I am so in love with the MMO too. I love big conflicts that are much larger than just one world. This is a entire galaxy for christ sake.
See is the more action part really a bad thing? The huge battles in space were epic in my opinion. Also seeing a Jedi in combat against troops on a massive battlefield is very entertaining, like in the 3rd and 2nd movies.TestECull said:
I seriously suggest you go watch the 'RedLetterMedia' reviews to see exactly what ruined these movies.
This comment is aimed both at people who defend these movies and anyone who just isn't sure.
The reviews are longer then the movies themselves haha.
This comment is aimed both at people who defend these movies and anyone who just isn't sure.
The reviews are longer then the movies themselves haha.
The phony feeling, mostly; you can tell every time the CG has taken over (which is pretty much always, by the way), and it really takes me out of the experience, especially when the actors become replaced temporarily by CG themselves. They try so hard these days to make things as spectacular as possible with the excuse "well, we wouldn't have been able to do that without it" that they fail to realize a lot of the spectacle is lost when it's painfully obvious it's not real.
The other issue was the forced and unnecessary focus on the romance subplot, as well as the random stupidity the characters were subjected to that often bordered on sociopathy, such as Anakin accusing Obi-Wan of scheming against him days after Obi-Wan expresses his deep respect and fondness for the insufferable little twat.
The other issue was the forced and unnecessary focus on the romance subplot, as well as the random stupidity the characters were subjected to that often bordered on sociopathy, such as Anakin accusing Obi-Wan of scheming against him days after Obi-Wan expresses his deep respect and fondness for the insufferable little twat.
It was the feel. Like all good things with humble & simple beginnings, when it becomes overly popular & hollywood tosses a huge budget at it then it suffers the fate of 'selling out'.
If George Lucas focused more on character development & used the same techniques & special effects as in the first one it would have salvaged that nostalgia & not wind up a CGI suped up sci-fi pumped off the assembly line like most sci-fi movies these days. I believe the first Waynes World movie beautifully portrays how this process works & why indepependant film makers are becoming increasingly popular.
Also I must mention that not only has the new series ruined the story line but has now ruined the original movies too with Lucas imposing CGI & Hayden Christensen onto them.
"Hey Lucas? Can you find some other remnants of my beloved childhood for you to wipe your arse with too?"
If George Lucas focused more on character development & used the same techniques & special effects as in the first one it would have salvaged that nostalgia & not wind up a CGI suped up sci-fi pumped off the assembly line like most sci-fi movies these days. I believe the first Waynes World movie beautifully portrays how this process works & why indepependant film makers are becoming increasingly popular.
Also I must mention that not only has the new series ruined the story line but has now ruined the original movies too with Lucas imposing CGI & Hayden Christensen onto them.
"Hey Lucas? Can you find some other remnants of my beloved childhood for you to wipe your arse with too?"
It was the feel. Like all good things with humble & simple beginnings, when it becomes overly popular & hollywood tosses a huge budget at it then it suffers the fate of 'selling out'.
If George Lucas focused more on character development & used the same techniques & special effects as in the first one it would have salvaged that nostalgia & not wind up a CGI suped up sci-fi pumped off the assembly line like most sci-fi movies these days. I believe the first Waynes World movie beautifully portrays how this process works & why indepependant film makers are becoming increasingly popular.
Also I must mention that not only has the new series ruined the story line but has now ruined the original movies too with Lucas imposing CGI & Hayden Christensen onto them.
"Hey Lucas? Can you find some other remnants of my beloved childhood for you to wipe your arse with too?"
If George Lucas focused more on character development & used the same techniques & special effects as in the first one it would have salvaged that nostalgia & not wind up a CGI suped up sci-fi pumped off the assembly line like most sci-fi movies these days. I believe the first Waynes World movie beautifully portrays how this process works & why indepependant film makers are becoming increasingly popular.
Also I must mention that not only has the new series ruined the story line but has now ruined the original movies too with Lucas imposing CGI & Hayden Christensen onto them.
"Hey Lucas? Can you find some other remnants of my beloved childhood for you to wipe your arse with too?"
Jar-Jar Binks (the primary example of Lucas's drive for merchandising over story), overdependence on CGI (good CGI, but still) for spectacle over substance, MTV-style editing (would it kill them to focus on an action shot for more than 1/2 second?), Hayden Christiensen transformation of Vader's troubled descent towards darkness into a whiny poutfest, Natalie Portman's absolute refusal to emote.
I've heard that Christensen and Portman have both done fine acting jobs in other movies/TV shows, but hell if it showed in the SW prequels.
I've heard that Christensen and Portman have both done fine acting jobs in other movies/TV shows, but hell if it showed in the SW prequels.
We're told to accept things like friendship and romance instead of watching them develop like in the original trilogy. For instance, the audience doesn't get to see Anakin's training and his friendship with Obiwan develop. We're just told they are in a 2 minute elevator ride. Plus Anakin is a whiney jerk instead of a "noble guy" being seduced by the dark side.
Also, the first movie has no main character. You could say it's Anakin but he comes in during the middle of the movie and it's not 'about' him. It's all about a plot involving a trade dispute in space with lapses in logic and juggles 4 storylines.
Plinkett goes into great detail here:
http://redlettermedia.com/plinkett/star-wars/
Also, the first movie has no main character. You could say it's Anakin but he comes in during the middle of the movie and it's not 'about' him. It's all about a plot involving a trade dispute in space with lapses in logic and juggles 4 storylines.
Plinkett goes into great detail here:
http://redlettermedia.com/plinkett/star-wars/