What Ruined the Star Wars Prequels? (If you didn't like them?)

[DanielDeFig]

For me it was neither Midi-Chlorians (I actually liked the continuation of mixing Sci-Fi and fantasy), nor Jar Jar Binks (I love him, and he's them main source of comic relief in The Phantom Menace, without whom the movie would be very serious and possibly boring). In fact, as far as I'm concerned, The Phantom Menace was the last great Star Wars movie, that felt like a fairy tale in space (like they are supposed to).

Unfortunately, what ruined the prequels (or in my opinion: the other two movies) was bad storytelling (This is when George Lucas kicked his "ppl are stupid, and I want to make sure they get it"-attitude into high gear), as Lucas started to beat his audience over the head with themes, and over-simplify the galactic political intrigue. Coupled with an inexperienced actor trying to carry the role of the central character to the entire series, during the time the very aspect of what makes the character central is happening (change from kind young man, to cruel warrior). This is probably very challenging for any actor, so I'm not convinced Christensen is simply bad (could still be the case), it's more Lucas's fault for not giving the role to someone who could've handled it better.

I don't think the prequels can simply be bunched together and all be called "bad". Episode I is still Magical, Ep II has some feel of magic, but definitely worse, and Ep. III is watchable only because it's wrapping up an epic story and a galaxy-wide war (It's also full of inside jokes directed at the audience, which is something I hate in sequels/prequels).

Anyway, ever since the horrible new Clone Wars series (the new cgi one, not the awesome 2D animated one) ruined my favourite Star wars book series (Republic Commando, great series about clone commandos and Mandalorians. Ruined once Lucas decided he wanted to ruin Mandalorians in general by having an episode about them in the new series.), along with how horrible that series seems to be in general, and how Lucas is ruining Star Wars in general latley (Twi'leks have French accents? Darth Vader should repeat the horrible "Noooooooo!" exclamation from Ep. III in Ep. VI, just to ruin one of the best scenes in the series ever?), I now ignore anything he does.

 

[DanielDeFig]

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.

Interesting Fact: Of the original trilogy, George Lucas only directed Ep IV, Ep V and VI were given to two different directors. And despite loving all three, If I had to rank them, Ep IV would be at the bottom (And so far most ppl I know agree). What does that say about his ability to direct?

(Then again, he DID direct Ep I, which I still think is the last truly great Star Wars movie)

 

[Toaster Hunter]

I'm going to agree with everyone who referenced Red Letter Media. Ask whats wrong with the prequels and I'll say:

http://redlettermedia.com/plinkett/star-wars/

 

[repeating integers]

God dammit, I tried watching that Red Letter Media review of Episode 3 once. I just... that man's voice makes me want to shoot him. It's the most annoying voice anyone has ever had in the history of the human race.

 

[Worgen]

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.

Interesting Fact: Of the original trilogy, George Lucas only directed Ep IV, Ep V and VI were given to two different directors. And despite loving all three, If I had to rank them, Ep IV would be at the bottom (And so far most ppl I know agree). What does that say about his ability to direct?

(Then again, he DID direct Ep I, which I still think is the last truly great Star Wars movie)

Really? EP I being good? with midichlorians and the damn kid and all the robots being in it and all that stupid stuff?

 

[Manoose47]

for me almost everything could've been overlooked if the third movie hadn't blown it, but alas... the third movie had some of the most critical moments in the entire history of star wars and it just flew right through, the scenes that needed most attention lasted half a second, Anakins' entire unconvincing descent into the dark side takes approximately one scene....

along the lines of:

PALPATINE: I'm evil, btw there's a vague chance i can save padme, from a ...dream you had, if you join me.

ANAKIN: seems legit, i'm in.

PALPATINE: Sweet, now to seal the deal, murder all your friends, especially them children jedi..

ANAKIN: you're the boss!

i think its a real pity the last movie wasn't made by this absolute genius:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0850733/

Considering how incredibly awesome he made the clone wars 2D cartoon

 

[TownTattle]

I was fortunate enough to watch the original Star Wars trilogy from the age of 3, and then watch the prequel trilogy in cinemas throughout my childhood. All the films were good, they all transported me to a galaxy far, far away.

I think some people had expectations that were too high.

 

[AndyFromMonday]

George Lucas.

This. George Lucas is a terrible director and the fact that he takes all the credit for the original Star Wars trilogy is a testament to how much of an asshole he is.

 

[Pyramid Head]

Lucas. That stupid ************ who thought the best way to make it kid friendly was to dumb it down, remove all political intrigue and drama and make the actors either whiny emo fuckwits or complete fucking idiots.
This may be harsh, but i don't think Lucas has any talent. I think he just got lucky with the first few Star Wars and Indiana Jones titles. I know people are going to disagree with me, but i'm 21 and the memories of the prequel series are still ripe and painful in my mind after i went to see them with the childish enthusiasm i once felt for Star Wars.

 

[IamQ]

Dialgue, Jar Jar and every kid in the first movie.

 

[SkullKing84]

Star Wars prequels make the same mistake as nearly all prequels:

They explain too much. This takes away the mystery & wonder that made the originals so great.

Just my 2 cents.

This.



Plus Jar Jar Binks annoyed the crap outta me and the first movie was more a racing film set in the Star wars Universe.

 

[Yeager942]

Acting and writing. Every attempt to convey the emotional turbulence of Anakin's life such as his mother's death, Padme's love, and her death at the end came off as incredibly cheesy and trite.

 

[redisforever]

Writing, and Jar Jar.

However, acting (for the most part), music, action, music, music, and music were all excellent. Did I mention the music?

 

[Nimcha]

Most people who don't like them either do so because others don't or because they watched the old movies as an uncritical kid who turned unto a cynical adult.

Or because they just don't like Star Wars in general, of course.

 

[Aprilgold]

This 20 second clip from Episode III succinctly summarizes all that is wrong with the prequels.
http://youtu.be/LjdkqrIJFr4

..... WHTUFJTHAUV{#OJASIOCVPBIJKWFDKAHJRPioakge:lkAFJW"::LWKSFJGE" WAS THAT SHIT! Did a kindergardener write that line?

The bad lines, voice acting and story.

 

[Wushu Panda]

The over-choreographed lightsaber duels didn't help. I know that they're super powerful Jedi/Sith, but the bouncing around, ten minute fights didn't have much suspense and felt like they could go on forever. In the origional three, the fights could go either way and wasn't all about who could jump higher or swing a lightsaber faster but a battle of wits.

But I suppose it's up to personal opinion...

The only jedi in Eps 4 5 6 were either too old, broken, or inexperienced to fully use the Force to such an extent of jumping and acrobatics. Besides, so you really call the Emperor using Force Lightning on Luke a use of wits? No.

The lightsaber duels were some of the only interesting parts about the Prequels. Because, they actually demonstrated how other Jedi use to fight with the full extent of their understanding of the Force.

For me, it was the shit-for-acting. Old Anakin couldn't give an authentic emotion if his life depended on it. And Jar-Jar. Now I originally liked this character. But his personality wore tired very quick, and was a main cause for the Emperor seizing power over the Senate. Without showing any real sign he was aware of what really went on around him, Jar Jar got promoted to such a high political standing he was able to propose the Galaxy blindly hand over power to the most evil person in existence.

Lastly, the Prequels didn't show the Force as some mystical force like in Eps 456. But a by-product of bacteria infecting us. It went from being an understanding of the universe to having uncontrolled diarrhea.

 

[xPixelatedx]

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.

How about no? Furstoval, I'm not going to watch a review longer than the movie it is reviewing, and secondly, why can't people accept that some people, myself included, liked the prequels despite them focusing more on explosions than exposition?!

Because it's that attitude that feeds money to lazy cinema and ensures that more movies of their breed will be made. It's ok to just like explosions, but some of us actually like movies that are more then eyecandy. Movies that have a story, and characters... and a point. It's going to be a sad day when those movies become exceptionally rare, and we are getting closer to it each and every year.

And for the record those reviews that so many people on this forum are mentioning, are in fact 10x more entertaining then the actual Starwars movies themselves. So I guess some good came out of those film abortions existing.

 

[xPixelatedx]

Most people who don't like them either do so because others don't or because they watched the old movies as an uncritical kid who turned unto a cynical adult.

Or because they just don't like Star Wars in general, of course.

Yeah, because there couldn't be anything wrong with those movies, right? Here let me give you an opportunity to prove that these movies were not bad:

(From the review)
Describe the following Starwars character WITHOUT saying what they look like, what kind of costume they worse, or what their profession or role in the movie was. Describe this character to your friends like they ain't never seen StarWars.

From the original Starwars:
Han Solo
C-3P0

From the New Stwarwars:
Qui Gon Jinn
Queen Amidala

 

[Michael Hirst]

The sub par writing. George Lucas can come up with ideas but he's atrocious at actual dialogue writing and stuff. Anakin being a whiny ***** also ruined it, he acted like a 16 year old angry at his step dad most of the time when in the original trilogy we got a real sense that Obi Wan considered Anakin a close friend.

Anakins change to the Dark side makes NO sense.

The forced romance sub plot handled with some of the worst acting. Stupid thing is Natalie Portman has proven many times that she can be a GREAT actress.