What's Wrong with the new Star Wars?

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Could be the suit increases the midichlorian levels of Vader.

Then why not give it to all the Stormtroopers and have a Sith Army?

Couple that with the fact Ben was freakin ancient by then

And Yoda wasn't?

and was probably not keepin up on the ole Jedi training regiment.

See above

He didn't really exhibit any powers other than the Jedi mind trick a couple times before Vader made him disappear.

Made him? I think Ben knew exactly what he was doing.

 

[Cowabungaa]

It mostly boils down to a couple of major things:
- Awful writing. Think things like General Grievous suddenly showing up, the romance sub-plot, etc.
- Too much use of CGI, and often bad use of CGI.
- Bad acting (partially thanks to that use of CGI)
- Anakin being an incredibly angsty, weaksauce crybaby who is supposed to become one of the most badass villains in cinematic history.

I still found them enjoyable for the most part, especially Episode 1. It has the least amount of CGI of the three, and Anakin is so much less annoying as a kid than as an angsty post-teen throwing temper tantrums.

Seriously that guy is becoming a dad but pouts like my 12-year old sister.

And as for mediclorians or whatever, i always thought of it like antibodies. If you have the antibodies, then you will have the sickness. So if you have mediclorians you will be able to use the force. Rather then "this is how we use it" it's "this is how we test to see if you can use it". But i guess im the only one in the world who thinks that way.

Thank you, that's exactly what midi-chlorians are; Force indicators, not the ultimate source and explanation of it. Of all the complaints about it that's by far the weakest.

Nothing, nothing at all - except, of course, some things that were wrong with the original trilogy (dodgy writing and some acting gaffes). The rest, mainly the feel of the films (they're not the same type of films, get over it) is down to personal preference.

Weeeeell the new trilogy really takes the crappy writing too far. Yeah Yoday spouted quite a bit of BS in the original trilogy, but it was quite clear it didn't take itself so damned serious all the time. The play between Luke, Leia and Solo was quite cheesy, yes, but oh so entertaining. I mean, the original trilogy had nothing so cringe-worthy as the sand dialogue, or that entire romance sub-plot for that matter.

Although I would like to point out that a non force wielding droid who resembles a garbage can saved all thier asses how many times?

R2's force use has been argued about since time immemorial. And given Vader is half metal, how come he can use the Force stronger than Kenobi if it's midichlorian based?

In fact, the entire biology of Star Wars (Hutts are immune to the Force?) is pretty rank.

Midi-chlorians measure Force potential, Anakin showed a higher count than freakin' Yoda, let alone Kenobi, hence why his abilities are so strong. It's not like some cybernetic parts change that.

I find it funny how people argue that midi-chlorians diminish the mystique of the Jedi, but judging from the movies all I see is them reinforcing the mystique of the Jedi. Despite Anakin showing the highest Force potential ever he still ended up as Vader, that only proves that there is so much more to being a Jedi than having a huge Force potential.

 

[squid5580]

Could be the suit increases the midichlorian levels of Vader.

Then why not give it to all the Stormtroopers and have a Sith Army?

Couple that with the fact Ben was freakin ancient by then

And Yoda wasn't?

and was probably not keepin up on the ole Jedi training regiment.

See above

He didn't really exhibit any powers other than the Jedi mind trick a couple times before Vader made him disappear.

Made him? I think Ben knew exactly what he was doing.

Do you not remember Yoda? He wasn't the same Yoda from the series or the prequels. He was half crazy and just as old and he could only lift a couple things with the force. He didn't exhibit much more power than Ben did. Hell he had Luke carrying him around the swamp. And I don't think carrying around a green dude who weighs 20lbs tops on your back is really considered training. Especially when the training was really about harnessing the force.

And lets face it they couldn't give the troopers helmets that fit properly let alone building them into supersoldiers. Vader's strategy using the troopers seemed to be using sheer numbers to overwhelm. Plus Vader must have seen a movie or 2 since he was smart enough to realize building a bunch of supersoldiers who's power could rival his own is not exactly a good idea when you are playing for the dark side.

Oh and Vader waved his red magic wand and Ben disappeared. Ben knew exactly what was going to happen (well he knew he was not going to be walkin away) but that doesn't change the fact Vader hit him and then he disappeared. Whether Ben forced himself to do it or if it was some Jedi fluke in the last second of life is debatable.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

Maybe because some fans can't take it? I dunno, I kinda liked the prequels (though I didn't have much interest for episode 2).

Also, I never had a problem with Jar-Jar... but then I like stuff other people don't so... if you still dislike him (and possibly the prequels as well), I suggest reading the excellent webcomic "Darths and Droids", basically a retelling of the prequels as table top RPG.

Go ahead, I'll wait.

 

[Woodsey]

It mostly boils down to a couple of major things:
- Awful writing. Think things like General Grievous suddenly showing up, the romance sub-plot, etc.
- Too much use of CGI, and often bad use of CGI.
- Bad acting (partially thanks to that use of CGI)
- Anakin being an incredibly angsty, weaksauce crybaby who is supposed to become one of the most badass villains in cinematic history.

I still found them enjoyable for the most part, especially Episode 1. It has the least amount of CGI of the three, and Anakin is so much less annoying as a kid than as an angsty post-teen throwing temper tantrums.

Seriously that guy is becoming a dad but pouts like my 12-year old sister.

And as for mediclorians or whatever, i always thought of it like antibodies. If you have the antibodies, then you will have the sickness. So if you have mediclorians you will be able to use the force. Rather then "this is how we use it" it's "this is how we test to see if you can use it". But i guess im the only one in the world who thinks that way.

Thank you, that's exactly what midi-chlorians are; Force indicators, not the ultimate source and explanation of it. Of all the complaints about it that's by far the weakest.

Nothing, nothing at all - except, of course, some things that were wrong with the original trilogy (dodgy writing and some acting gaffes). The rest, mainly the feel of the films (they're not the same type of films, get over it) is down to personal preference.

Weeeeell the new trilogy really takes the crappy writing too far. Yeah Yoday spouted quite a bit of BS in the original trilogy, but it was quite clear it didn't take itself so damned serious all the time. The play between Luke, Leia and Solo was quite cheesy, yes, but oh so entertaining. I mean, the original trilogy had nothing so cringe-worthy as the sand dialogue, or that entire romance sub-plot for that matter.

Although I would like to point out that a non force wielding droid who resembles a garbage can saved all thier asses how many times?

R2's force use has been argued about since time immemorial. And given Vader is half metal, how come he can use the Force stronger than Kenobi if it's midichlorian based?

In fact, the entire biology of Star Wars (Hutts are immune to the Force?) is pretty rank.

Midi-chlorians measure Force potential, Anakin showed a higher count than freakin' Yoda, let alone Kenobi, hence why his abilities are so strong. It's not like some cybernetic parts change that.

I find it funny how people argue that midi-chlorians diminish the mystique of the Jedi, but judging from the movies all I see is them reinforcing the mystique of the Jedi. Despite Anakin showing the highest Force potential ever he still ended up as Vader, that only proves that there is so much more to being a Jedi than having a huge Force potential.

Well, Episode 2 is certainly my least favourite, but the sand thing is what, 30 seconds of 6 hours worth of films?

Personally, I always thought the prequels had quite a good sense of humour about them, especially from Obi-Wan, and especially between him and Anakin in the last two episodes.

Like I said, they're different sorts of films. The originals are more more adventure-like whereas the prequels play out as mystery-action things.

 

[Cowabungaa]

Well, Episode 2 is certainly my least favourite, but the sand thing is what, 30 seconds of 6 hours worth of films?

Personally, I always thought the prequels had quite a good sense of humour about them, especially from Obi-Wan, and especially between him and Anakin in the last two episodes.

Like I said, they're different sorts of films. The originals are more more adventure-like whereas the prequels play out as mystery-action things.

The sand line is of course just an example. The most note-worthy, worse and obvious one of course, but there's plenty more where that came from. General Grievous, as I said, is another big example. As cool as he was, he's just...dumped into the movie, pure for it's coolness. In that respect the prequels have a bit in common with your average Micheal Bay movie; lots of flashy action and explosions, but underneath that isn't all that much. That's alright on it's own right, be it not that Star Wars fans expected something deeper, something that linked together with the original trilogy a lot better.

I wouldn't say Anakin's and Obi Wan's relation was good either, which is another writing fail. For a Jedi Master Obi Wan sure is a gullible fool. I mean, the original trilogy had some plotholes, but dang, not noticing that your super-powerful apprentice who's supposed to become a very special Jedi is acting like a 12 year old is just...yeah.

You're right about the difference in style as well, the prequels did focus a lot more on the action, mystery I wouldn't say, if anything that's the original trilogy's thing, and if you ask me that's also one of it's weaknesses. One of the reason Star Wars was so loved was for the universe it presented. Never before was fantasy and sci-fi blended together so well that the lines between them blurred and something entirely different was created, neither fantasy nor sci-fi but something new. The prequels basically said "fuck it, lets add more laz0rz."

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Do you not remember Yoda? He wasn't the same Yoda from the series or the prequels.

Uhm...Yoda appeared in the films as an old guy first...the crazy version was added in later.

He was half crazy and just as old and he could only lift a couple things with the force.

Like a fracking X-Wing...rough weight: 15 tons

He didn't exhibit much more power than Ben did.

Fif-teen TONS. That's about the same as you lifting a double decker bus WITH YOUR MIND.

And lets face it they couldn't give the troopers helmets that fit properly let alone building them into supersoldiers. Vader's strategy using the troopers seemed to be using sheer numbers to overwhelm. Plus Vader must have seen a movie or 2 since he was smart enough to realize building a bunch of supersoldiers who's power could rival his own is not exactly a good idea when you are playing for the dark side.

Well, I always wondered what he was doing in here.

But how about making them half as powerful or so, with a SUIT THAT CHANGES YOUR BLOOD?

Hell, I think Kyle could have used it. Or the Emperor...yeah, why didn't Palpatine get this powersuit?

Oh and Vader waved his red magic wand and Ben disappeared. Ben knew exactly what was going to happen (well he knew he was not going to be walkin away) but that doesn't change the fact Vader hit him and then he disappeared. Whether Ben forced himself to do it or if it was some Jedi fluke in the last second of life is debatable.

Or that Ben knew that his sacrifice would allow the rest of them to escape? Especially as Darth is seen kicking the cloak going "What the feck?"

And it still doesn't look at the fact that Hutt's are immune to force-lightning, mind-tricks or telekinesis because...they were born that way?

Honestly...I could pilot the Death Star through those plot-holes.

It's not like some cybernetic parts change that.

Yep, as has often been quoted, the Force - somehow - can't work through cybernetics. Apart from when it does. As it surrounds and penetrates everything. That has blood. Because blood carries midichlorians. Apart from Hutts. And Bacta Tanks. And Padme. Who died in childbirth. With technology that can revive carbon-frozen bodies. And no-one thought of giving the midichlorian blood to the Stormtroopers. Or the Generals. Who didn't believe in that "hokey religion". Despite it being responsible for the destruction of the Galaactic Senate. And still more powerful than a Planet Killer. Which they would have seen in Kyle. Who dropped a Star-Destroyer. While being a clone. Of the same midichlorian count. Who was more powerful than the Emperor. And didn't take over. Despite being more powerful than the Emperor.....


Yeah....

 

[Woodsey]

Well, Episode 2 is certainly my least favourite, but the sand thing is what, 30 seconds of 6 hours worth of films?

Personally, I always thought the prequels had quite a good sense of humour about them, especially from Obi-Wan, and especially between him and Anakin in the last two episodes.

Like I said, they're different sorts of films. The originals are more more adventure-like whereas the prequels play out as mystery-action things.

The sand line is of course just an example. The most note-worthy, worse and obvious one of course, but there's plenty more where that came from. General Grievous, as I said, is another big example. As cool as he was, he's just...dumped into the movie, pure for it's coolness. In that respect the prequels have a bit in common with your average Micheal Bay movie; lots of flashy action and explosions, but underneath that isn't all that much. That's alright on it's own right, be it not that Star Wars fans expected something deeper, something that linked together with the original trilogy a lot better.

I wouldn't say Anakin's and Obi Wan's relation was good either, which is another writing fail. For a Jedi Master Obi Wan sure is a gullible fool. I mean, the original trilogy had some plotholes, but dang, not noticing that your super-powerful apprentice who's supposed to become a very special Jedi is acting like a 12 year old is just...yeah.

You're right about the difference in style as well, the prequels did focus a lot more on the action, mystery I wouldn't say, if anything that's the original trilogy's thing, and if you ask me that's also one of it's weaknesses. One of the reason Star Wars was so loved was for the universe it presented. Never before was fantasy and sci-fi blended together so well that the lines between them blurred and something entirely different was created, neither fantasy nor sci-fi but something new. The prequels basically said "fuck it, lets add more laz0rz."

Well I believe Grievous' role, in part, was to mirror Vader, as well as provide a reason to pull Obi-Wan away whilst Anakin's shit is hitting the fan.

As for him not noticing him being "whiny" (if you look at what actually happens to the guy, consider that he was about twice the age he should have been when he left for the Jedi and being told he has all this power that he seems to not be allowed to use, I think most people would get whiny - hell, it's fucking accurate), he spends the most time with him and, as he mentions, has never been let down by him.

That's always been the point of Darth Vader, in that the suit is the badman.

 

[squid5580]

Do you not remember Yoda? He wasn't the same Yoda from the series or the prequels.

Uhm...Yoda appeared in the films as an old guy first...the crazy version was added in later.

He was half crazy and just as old and he could only lift a couple things with the force.

Like a fracking X-Wing...rough weight: 15 tons

He didn't exhibit much more power than Ben did.

Fif-teen TONS. That's about the same as you lifting a double decker bus WITH YOUR MIND.

And lets face it they couldn't give the troopers helmets that fit properly let alone building them into supersoldiers. Vader's strategy using the troopers seemed to be using sheer numbers to overwhelm. Plus Vader must have seen a movie or 2 since he was smart enough to realize building a bunch of supersoldiers who's power could rival his own is not exactly a good idea when you are playing for the dark side.

Well, I always wondered what he was doing in here.

But how about making them half as powerful or so, with a SUIT THAT CHANGES YOUR BLOOD?

Hell, I think Kyle could have used it. Or the Emperor...yeah, why didn't Palpatine get this powersuit?

Oh and Vader waved his red magic wand and Ben disappeared. Ben knew exactly what was going to happen (well he knew he was not going to be walkin away) but that doesn't change the fact Vader hit him and then he disappeared. Whether Ben forced himself to do it or if it was some Jedi fluke in the last second of life is debatable.

Or that Ben knew that his sacrifice would allow the rest of them to escape? Especially as Darth is seen kicking the cloak going "What the feck?"

And it still doesn't look at the fact that Hutt's are immune to force-lightning, mind-tricks or telekinesis because...they were born that way?

Honestly...I could pilot the Death Star through those plot-holes.

No way he did. That wasn't the point of his death. Everyone stopped and watched the fight. They didn't bother trying to escape til after Ben was gone.

As for Yoda lifting the X-wing yeah it looked cool and all but Yoda explains that size doesn't matter. You use the same power to lift a lightsaber or a X-wing. The only difference is perception. If you believe the X-wing is to big to lift then it is.

And c'mon you can't tell me Yoda was entirely sane when he first met Luke.

 

[Cowabungaa]

Well I believe Grievous' role, in part, was to mirror Vader, as well as provide a reason to pull Obi-Wan away whilst Anakin's shit is hitting the fan.

As for him not noticing him being "whiny" (if you look at what actually happens to the guy, consider that he was about twice the age he should have been when he left for the Jedi and being told he has all this power that he seems to not be allowed to use, I think most people would get whiny - hell, it's fucking accurate), he spends the most time with him and, as he mentions, has never been let down by him.

That's always been the point of Darth Vader, in that the suit is the badman.

As for Grievous, it's technically fine that he's in, it's just that they dumped him in all of a sudden. No backstory, no explanation, just poof; there he was. That's plain bad writing, especially when it's quite an important character.

As for the whining, there's whining and whining. He was a grown-up man that was throwing temper tantrums that have a scary resemblence to how my 12 year old sister handles things. From all the complaints and rage episodes one can almost conclude that his mind is stuck in the Episode 1 phase, he behaves extremely child-like and not so much like a budding Jedi locked in emotional conflict. All he basically does is "Whaaa whaaa it's not faaaair!!!" That ain't good writing.

He just handles things so extremely immaturely, and that makes the transition to the cold, calculating, arrogant and plain badass character of Darth Vader jarring and quite unbelievable.

As for Obi Wan, I guess he could be excused. One could argue that he looked at Anakin more like the son he could never have rather than a proper apprentice.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I'm not a fan of the franchise at all, the only Star Wars movie I liked was The Empire Strikes Back.

But what really irritated about the prequels - apart from the crappy writting and directing and the fuzzy-looking CGI - was that it didn't feel part of the same universe as the first 3 movies.
- How come it takes place in the past, yet everything looks way more futuristic?
- How come we didn't see any of those new aliens - like the Gungans - in the original movies?

This is what made the ending of Revenge of the Sith so stupid: The entirety fo the prequels we see this ultra futuristic space society, but at the end of RofS there's suddenly somekind of throwback to Flash Gordon.

 

[Littaly]

I really should write some kind of copypasta for whenever a thread like this appears.

 

[Jindrax]

are you being serious ? did you enjoy 3 movies of this dude whining and crying and being a total douche ? You think they could make a WAAAY awesomer story to get anakin to go to the dark side. But not we'll just make him cry for 3 movies.. that should do it --"

 

[Karma168]

Argument 1: The Force is Depressing in the Prequels and the Characters Suck as a Result
In the original trilogy the Force was a much more ethereal thing, a lost art which one could equate to the power of the imagination. Not psychic power, not magic, but pure imagination. It can be bent for great or terrible purposes, used to subjugate and manipulate others or for great good. Most of all, though, those who master it can make great things happen--one needs only to believe in it and in themselves, and to find the discipline to harness it as Luke did. Seeing his journey from a farm boy to the last Jedi Master was deeply inspiring for many people, making them feel as if they, too, could do great things.

Compare to the prequel trilogy. The Force isn't the power of the imagination made manifest, it's not something that anyone can master if they only learn to open their mind and channel it, it's reserved for the privileged; a thing of genetic inheritance that requires people to submit themselves to an elitist boarding school of monks.

Luke is set up immediately as the child of a jedi so the genetic elite argument doesn't work as Luke is part of this elite. If they didn't have the whole 'i am your father thing' it might have been different, with it in hearing that your father had force powers would imply you have them as well - its like finding out your parent had a genetic condition, you'd know there was a high chance you have it too.

How else would you train them? the jedi are all about spirituality and control of your mind and body, this sounds like most spiritual orders on earth so it makes sense that the jedi order would have a similar set up. Jedi are trained either in the temples scattered around the galaxy or by a lone master in the same style as a padawan; with the 1-1 training you would learn a lot but would miss out on things that your master didn't know. by using the temples as a school the order can train the trainees with a wide range of skills to help find their speciality before sending them out as a padawan with a suitable master to further their chosen skills.

Where the Jedi of the original trilogy were deeply in tune with their feelings and with nature, the Jedi of the prequels are a bunch of aristocrats who try to eliminate their emotions, aren't allowed to have relationships, can't have possessions or hobbies, and don't encourage creative potential but rather seek to subjugate it under a strict dogmatic code. Yes, there's reasons for that--but it makes them so in-human that they're impossible to have any interest in, let alone like. They could have put a telekinetic robot onstage in place of Samuel L. Jackson and it would've had the same effect, and that's a horrible waste of Samuel L. Jackson.

the jedi don't repress their emotions like vulcans, they learn to control them so that they don't get in the way. emotions affect your judgement, making you rush off half cocked - look at luke going to cloud city or Anakin, who had poor control - or not thinking about all the angles. by being able to swith their emotions on and off they can think clearly when it's needed or access their emotions in a fight to gain an edge. they know that revelling in their emotions leads to falling to the dark side as jedi seem to have an all or nothing approach to the force (but this was set up in the originals, your jedi or sith, no middle ground)

But i agree that it shoots the film in the foot as the jedi are only seen in situations where they need to think so have no emotion.

The jedi aren't aristocrats, they're a religious order who advise the real aristocrats (the senators) look at several countries around the world where religion plays a major advisory role to government without actually being involved in the actual politics. the jedi could be considered the UN of the republic - advising everyone without having a staked claim in the outcome.

Yeah Jackson would have been more suited to a kind of outside unorthodox jedi rather than a level headed leader, maybe even introduced as a grey jedi who crosses paths with obi-wan.

Further reinforcing this elitist attitude is the fact that these films focus almost exclusively on the Jedi, suggesting that they're the only ones that matter and that everybody else is just a pawn on their chess board. Apart from Anakin and Obi-Wan, and occasional bits with Mace Windu or Yoda, we just see Padme--and that's only because she's Anakin's love interest; a peripheral aspect to one of those elite.

the films are about Anakin so it makes sense that they would focus on the order. The jedi are a very insular order - no outsiders are allowed into the temples - and as Anakin is only a padawan it makes sense he would only regularly interact with other jedi or outsiders involved in assignments. the film only follows either Anakin and Obi-wan as these are the protagonists of the films (how people claim the films don't have one i don't know) with occasional scenes with the baddies to set up the story.

As Anakins fall has nothing to do with anyone who doesn't have use of the force (except padme of course, but we needed a reason for luke and leia to be born) adding them in would have seemed like the 'token black guy'.

The originals were guilty of this as well. the films only ever spend time with Luke, Leia or Han (with the usual trips to the bad guy) the rest of what is happening isn't given (sure theirs the occasional scene with allies but the new ones have those too) It is only because the main characters are a little more varied that it doesn't seem as bad.

Compare with the original trilogy, AGAIN, where Princess Leia is a pivotal leader in the fight against the Empire and where the participation of non-force user Han Solo SAVED LUKE'S LIFE on numerous occasions. Not only did the Force seem more special in the wake of all the very outstanding non-force-users in the cast, but these films offered that one didn't necessarily NEED it to be important, whereas the prequels hold that you're basically nothing without it and that it's more important than having healthy, understanding relationships with people.

see my above point about the main characters.

Argument 2: There's Such a Thing as Too Much Action
Simply put, the action in the prequels is way too choreographed and sterile. Yes, it's impressive, but outside of a few pauses there's very little expression or emotion in the way the fight scenes flow. They're so busy going through pre-meditated dance steps that're just too damn fast for the eye to see that the actors don't really get a chance to give a performance.

You watch the fight with Darth Maul, you see lots of pretty colors and flips and spins with no really distinct way of telling what direction the fight's actually going in. They're just spinning and spinning and spinning and woops, Qui-Gon's dead.

You watch the fight between Luke and Vader on Cloud City, though, and you feel the dread as Vader repeatedly proves himself to be out of the kid's league, the chill of the wind as he hounds Luke through its tunnels and into the chasms of its airways. It's a better fight because it's much more real and because it's actually moving at a speed that you can keep up with.

consider that the fights with luke maybe have more emotion because he's just plain useless with a lightsaber. remember you never see yoda train him with it so you assume he's making it up as he goes. if you went into a sword fight with a master fighter you would have no finesse and just resort to brute force (like luke tried in 5) but you will be easily matched by a skilled swordsman (like vader obviously is) luke has no formal training so his emotions play a bigger role in his style, look at vader his style is devoid of emotion.

compare that to jedi and sith who have been training with lightsabers for as long as they could hold them without taking their eyes out. they know almost every move, combo and trick possible so know what's coming. there's an Indonesian martial art that uses machette like weapons, when done by masters it is fast and damn scary to watch but when they slow down to teach you the moves you see that it is just a list of choreographed responses - as your skill improves the list grows and when two identical opponents (like maul and jin) go up against each other it's a deadlocked fight.

Also, the characters are way better established. Compare with the fight against Count Dooku in Episode 2. Count who-ku? The guy just shows up at the end of the second act. We've never seen him before, we don't know who he is or what his motives are, he's just kinda' there throwing out random Sith-ish taunts that don't mean anything. Where A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back spent a lot of time building up Vader as a threat to the heroes--not to mention their relationships with one another--we just get villains sort of thrown at us out of nowhere in the prequels.

I agree, Maul was a wasted resource and should have been the bad guy in the first two before being killed either at the end of 2 or beginning of 3 to allow sidious to move on to anakin. but as 1 was made to a lower age group than the originals (which in hindsight was a mistake) the bad guy has to die for the happy ending. Dooku was only introduced as a charasmatic leader to rally the CIS into war - something which maul would be totaly useless at as he was really just sidious' attack dog - but was never explored as the baddie, i'd say more emphasise was put on jango as the baddie than dooku.

If you're still not buying my argument, though, think of it this way: To create any sense of tension in the final duels of Revenge of the Sith, which is the best of the prequels, Lucas had to do no less than set one in a gigantic arena full of flying saucers for the characters to hurl at each other and set the other on a magma planet with a half-dozen implausible moving setpieces in a river of lava. To create tension in the final duel of Return of the Jedi, all he had to do was put three characters in a quiet, dark throne room. I think that says a LOT about the strength of their respective stories.

Lucas seems to have had a CGI overdose for the ending (which he needs help with before being allowed near a film set again)

the originals built up to the point where luke balances on the knife edge between staying true to the teachings of the jedi or falling to the dark side. As the ending for 3 was a forgone conclusion this would be pointless as there is no tension. As we know how it would turn out it's pointless to try so action has to be used instead. If it had been done the other way round (so that we had no idea if Anakin falls or is redeemed) the ending would have been a lot more satisfying, it's the problem with making a prequel; no matter how good it is you can never have tension as you know who lives and dies.

Anyway great arguments and a lot more eloquent than the reviews i've been directed to.

Edit: sorry if it looked a bit messed up, trouble with the quote controls.

 

[CouchCommando]

I didn't mind them, I think the problem was just the unattainable hype, when the early star wars movies came out in the late 70s early 80s ,that shit was an extreme leap forward in the quality of science fiction movies. Don't believe me check out other sci-fi movies prior to them. As a whole they served to lift that bar in what audiences come to expect when they saw a movie.
Unfortunately it was never going to be an easy task to follow up on the trilogy, as public expectation would be hungering for a similar burst of brilliance and leap forward in epicness. Even armed as they were with oodles of cash, and some pretty sweet tech.
Personally aside form some personal quibbles on who should have played Annakin and my loathing of the overly cutesy Jar Jar I thought the movies were sweet.

 

[Ponce Master-General]

Because they ruined everything with "midicloreeans". Seriously, what the fuck?

And because Mr Plinkett says so!

 

[Karma168]

And because Mr Plinkett says so!

I don't get why everyone uses him to make their point. it's like a instructional video on how not to be a video reviewer. repeating yourself a dozen times does not make your point more valid, missing the entire point of a scene is your fault not the film's,etc. seriously i could go on, while some points he raised were good his style was so bad i gave up after the 1st review.

oh and WTF was with that weird kidnap rape shit he kept sticking in the video?? was painful to watch.

 

[Flames66]

Because they're terrible movies.

I enjoyed them.

 

[Knusper]

I have seen a lot of worse films, sure, but I found the acting a bit bland and the writing cheesy. I thought Phantom Menace was bad because I really didn't like child Anakin, his voice just reminded me never to have kids. I also don't like how he single-handedly blew up a Trade Federation Destroyer by himself.

I can see why some people would like the prequel trilogy what with the more dynamic combat, and I did like having all the jedi who kick arse, so I guess I'll just have to say it's down to personal preference. Yay!