When I first saw the trailer for TPM over twenty years ago I remember being very confused by what I saw. Everything looked so fancy and futuristic I initially thought it was the future, until I saw Ewan McGregor being called Obi-Wan Kenobi and being introduced to a kid called Anakin Skywalker, which confused me even further, and it wasn’t until a few repeat viewings that it dawned on me that this was actually taking place BEFORE the OT.

I think Prometheus and Alien Covenant are guilty of the same, having a sci-fi aesthetic that reflects the trends of today even though they take place before the first Alien movie, where they should have stayed consistent with the 1970s look, creating a very jarring effect in which the future seems to have taken a giant leap backwards in terms of technological advances.

As for wardrobe, in the OT people dressed rather simply, and the closest we ever get to fancy clothing are those dignitaries in the Emperor’s Throne Room. In the PT it looks like Lucas had his people raid discarded costumes from the set of The Fifth Element. The clothing is so fancy and baroque, and in my view the worst offenders are the Jedi Order. The Jedi are supposed to dress in humble robes, but my first impression of young Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn was that their robes looked too fancy to be considered simple.

I will always have a soft spot for the Naboo Starfighter, though.