A problem I have with the prequel is the villains are more compelling and interesting than the heroes. There is no clear protagonist, despite us constantly being told it’s supposed to be Anakin. This was a mistake, the Jedi are written as aloof and without emotion and Anakin is written as the opposite as very open with them and un-jedi like outbursts, sort of Emo. The dialog is stilted and stiff and nobody talks naturally. Everyone is directed in a listless manner and is completely asleep delivering their lines except Ian in Episode III, in Episode II even he was boring in his delivery.

I really wish Lucas hadn’t filmed them against green screen as separate elements you need chemistry between actors and for them to be comfortable in what they are doing.

Why were the actors in the original able to convincingly act to puppets and bluescreen, why was the dialog in most places much more natural. What happened. Lucas can’t have slipped that much in 16 years between Return of the Jedi and Phantom Menace. Some essential thing was missing and I can’t quite quantify what.