I think John Williams music is incredible. It might be overrated in terms of how great the prequel scores are viewed as like the best in the Star Wars series, I wouldn’t go that far. But I’m quite fond of the score for Phantom Menace.
The story has shades of brilliance, but it is executed so poorly.
But Palpatine corrupting and manipulating the Jedi and turning the public against them and persuading their greatest hero to change sides turning their greatest hope into defeat, is good storytelling.
Promising peace and order to a galaxy thrown into chaos, a chaos Palpatine caused because he started the Clone Wars.
Anakin makes a devil’s bargain for his wife’s life but engineer’s her fate by trying to prevent it.
The died of broken heart might be poetic, but I do agree it is stupid.
It is a warning as well of how Republics fall to audacious dictators who promise things they have no intention of delivering on and dividing the people.
Who give rousing speeches, who promise to restore a golden age and appeal to a nostalgic past that never existed.
The memes.
Gods for some, miniature libertarian socialist flags for others.
The power of the prequels is, to me, the emotion and the drama. The character interactions, the slow dialogue. But then I am a sucker for soap operas. I can’t help it. To me they give a depth to the saga that it wouldn’t have otherwise.
Are they all good as films though? Hell no. I would say Phantom Menace is the only one that is actually a brilliantly made film. In terms of pacing (the theatrical version in particular), iconic shots and atmosphere. It is my favorite Star Wars film together with Return of the Jedi.
Attack of the Clones is a boring slog to watch IMO. Revenge is the Sith is a wonderful powerful drama unfolding to the viewer, but in terms of film falls short. It sometimes feels more like episodes of a TV series cut together into a film-length experience.
In the end I do enjoy both Menace and Sith, but it is only the first one I consider good.
The casting.
Hayden Christensten looks like a young Darth Vader. He has the body language down.
Also Natalie Portman.
Star Wars, Paleontology, Superhero, Godzilla fan. Darth Vader stan. 22. ADHD. College Student majoring in English Education.
My Star Wars Fan-Edits
The variety of settings and the art design.
I like the lightsabers that are based on the ones in the original trilogy.
But i have the same problem with them i do with the DIsney trilogy they don’t look used universe. They look too new and shiny.
I like Mos Espa and Otoh Gunga as set pieces or places that people reside.
The Baroque style of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant is interesting.
But i have the same problem with them i do with the DIsney trilogy they don’t look used universe. They look too new and shiny.
I’ve never understood this complaint about the prequels. Now, I think the art direction for the PT is definitely off in many regards; there should’ve been a more retro-futuristic/fantasy aesthetic than what was presented. But being set before the dark times, things should look new and shiny.
Gods for some, miniature libertarian socialist flags for others.
But i have the same problem with them i do with the DIsney trilogy they don’t look used universe. They look too new and shiny.
I’ve never understood this complaint about the prequels. Now, I think the art direction for the PT is definitely off in many regards; there should’ve been a more retro-futuristic/fantasy aesthetic than what was presented. But being set before the dark times, things should look new and shiny.
“Lived in universe” doesn’t mean everything has gone to hell. It just means the clothes don’t look like they were constantly brand new, the vehicles have never seen light of day before and the buildings look like they were just finished all in one minute.
And that’s how you can describe the PT aesthetics. Just laziness. Even the Jedi’s boots looked like they only just started wearing them. Boring lack of detail.
The premise of the prequels is that the Republic is decaying and unraveling, and not at its height anymore, so it would make sense for everything to have a used future look as well.
But i have the same problem with them i do with the DIsney trilogy they don’t look used universe. They look too new and shiny.
I’ve never understood this complaint about the prequels. Now, I think the art direction for the PT is definitely off in many regards; there should’ve been a more retro-futuristic/fantasy aesthetic than what was presented. But being set before the dark times, things should look new and shiny.
You’d be correct about Coruscant. But there should be dirty and lived in worlds like Kashyyyk and Tatooine. And Naboo would be Art Nouveau and renaissance. With some Asian inspired culture. Tibetan.
The design of the Jedi robes and lightsabers would be more spartan as they are about blending in with the people and wear the robes of commoners. Farmers.
The Underworld of Coruscant for instance would be seedy and dirty. The metropolis of the seat of government would be futurist and clean and antiseptic.
My son and I were having a conversation about Star Wars, and I said how the prequel Jedi should have had cool black suits like Luke in Rotj.
“Those prequels just made them all dress like Ben Kenobi, it’s silly.”
Then he pointed out how Anakin’s ghost was dressed like that since 1983…
JFS
Yet another reason for there to be a more nuanced difference between Jedi Knights and Jedi Masters. The Tatooine farmer garb would signify a Jedi Master who would be more humble and pursue the ways of teaching and peace. The black clothing would be the uniform of the Jedi Knights in service to the Old Republic, warrior monks who wield laser weapons and do battle with evil. That way, Anakin’s choice to shed his black appearance and reappear in humble peasant robes would signify that he has chosen the role of mentor to Luke like Ben and Yoda have done, while Luke is still wearing the black of the Jedi Knight.
You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)
Regarding ghost Anakin having the Tatooine robes, Anakin was from Tatooine so many people have made the argument that it is representing that, not the Jedi uniform. Or, over the few years since the first movie’s release it had become the “Jedi look” due to Obi-Wan’s appearance already becoming recognizable as Jedi, so they just stuck with it for him too.
Perhaps they’ll make some older Jedi sect or faction use the black garb, so maybe Luke had found old holograms of them and based his appearance on those images. Maybe early Jedi history would show a ton of differentiation between different groups. Tython Jedi, Ossus, Jedha, Dantooine, Coruscant, maybe they all were varied, but as time went on they became more homogenized. So the distinction between a Jedi Master, a Jedi Knight, were visually clearer before the prequel robes were adopted by the whole Order, losing some of its meaning. I do like the irony that although the Prequel Jedi had become very monk-like regarding attachment and possessions, they were living in an ivory tower, wearing clean, pristine leather boots, only going on missions at the Senate’s request. I feel like it is fitting, but obviously I’m looking at it from a Watsonian angle. Not arguing that it is just me trying to rationalize Lucas’ decisions.