I think http://www.slashgear.com/how-lucas-ruined-star-wars-and-how-to-save-it-3095953/ makes an interesting point when he talks about how all the actors in the prequels had already seen Star Wars. I don't remember seeing that critique anywhere else.
*sigh* These movies just should never had been made. Like redlettermedia pointed out - this was not a story that needed to be told.
“It is only through interaction, through decision and choice, through confrontation, physical or mental, that the Force can grow within you.”
-Kreia, Jedi Master and Sith Lord
It's arguable that a story needed to be told the moment that Star Wars (1977) became Episode IV : A New Hope.
But yeah most of that story didn't need telling (the OT had already given us all the information), indeed doing prequels that avoided telling that story but still told us stuff we didn't know could have made much more dynamic and interesting pieces of cinema.
He lost me with the assertion that all geeks agree that Lucas ruined Star Wars.
Qui-Gon says:
I wish that were so.
^Spot the fishing line.
Not that interesting at all.
1- Everyone spoke English.
Not true. Sebulba spoke Alien,and so did Watto on occasion. I don't agree with this guys argument that reading subtitles all the time is a good thing. There's the least alien-speak in ESB, which is generally seen as the best, so that might tell you something. If Mas Amada spoke in gibberish, I don't see how that would improve the film one bit.
2- Every actor has seen Star Wars.
I don't know what he means by this except a vague "I think the acting sucked."
3- George Lucas is a terrible director.
I'll agree that Lucas's tendencies as a director don't lean towards compelling storytelling. But this is hardly a new idea, even in 2010 when this was written.
4- Too much explaining.
I agree this is true, but on the other hand it's the main reason he made the prequals so we can at least agree that it's not due to bad writing. Conceptually there's a flaw in the entire series.
This rambling and bitchy little essay wraps up with my favorite technique of the Prequal Basher... the "They NEED to make a movie to my exact tastes, and my favorite of the month (Jackson, Whedon, Nolen) needs to direct!" argument.
TheBoost said:
Not that interesting at all.
1- Everyone spoke English.
Not true. Sebulba spoke Alien,and so did Watto on occasion. I don't agree with this guys argument that reading subtitles all the time is a good thing. There's the least alien-speak in ESB, which is generally seen as the best, so that might tell you something. If Mas Amada spoke in gibberish, I don't see how that would improve the film one bit.
Don't forget the dead frog salesman on Tatooine!
Even the Gungans spoke Gungan to each other.
2 of them at least. Whenever there are Gungans speaking in front of humans they'll speak in english. Oh well, when Nass tell Jar Jar he will become a general they're both alone.
I don't remember the Gungans speaking anything but their annoying/racist version of English.
Okay, maybe it was not that interesting.
“It is only through interaction, through decision and choice, through confrontation, physical or mental, that the Force can grow within you.”
-Kreia, Jedi Master and Sith Lord
lol
There's always the Random Star Wars Thoughts Thread ;-)
TV's Frink said:
lol
There's always the Random Star Wars Thoughts Thread ;-)
Thanks Frink. I'm heading over.
“It is only through interaction, through decision and choice, through confrontation, physical or mental, that the Force can grow within you.”
-Kreia, Jedi Master and Sith Lord
TV's Frink said:
I don't remember the Gungans speaking anything but their annoying/racist version of English.
Well, when the trio arrives at the Gungan city there are 2 citizens saying something in Gungan, which I believe translates to:
"Look over there!"
Ah, you are right about that one, anyway...although I disagree with your translation. ;-)
Put Captain Solo in the Cargo Hold said:
TV's Frink said:
I don't remember the Gungans speaking anything but their annoying/racist version of English.
Well, when the trio arrives at the Gungan city there are 2 citizens saying something in Gungan, which I believe translates to:
"Look over there!"
Those guys stole it. :-(
This whole article sounds like thoughtless fanboy rage that pretends to speak for everybody when in fact it doesn't. The prequels didn't ruin the original trilogy. If you don't like them, then don't watch them. It's as simple as that. Alien 3 doesn't ruin Aliens for me, because I don't watch it. I don't let the Jaws sequels ruin Jaws for me nor do I let the Matrix sequels ruin The Matrix.
Yet dude totally gushes over red letter media like he's some expert who figured the whole thing out. The reviews were funny, yes, and made some good points but I have a hard time having much respect for a reviewer who makes comments like "so you might like the movies, you know, if you're stupid."
"George, we hate you for making more Star Wars movies. Please make more Star Wars movies."
-The Internet
Darth Bizarro said:
The reviews were funny, yes, and made some good points but I have a hard time having much respect for a reviewer who makes comments like "so you might like the movies, you know, if you're stupid."
It was "characters", and you obviously can't spot a sardonic exaggeration if it bites you in the behind.
Okay, I've been wondering something ... is there a derogatory term for Gungans?
I think the most telling critique of the prequels is one I've not seen mentioned anywhere yet. None of the cast - to my knowledge, and SINCE the films came out - have been keen to mention much/anything about their involvement in the prequels. Hamill/Ford/Carrie all seem very enthusiastic when talking about the OT Star Wars films, but there's absolutely none of that enthusiasm from the prequel actors. I know Liam Neeson wasn't impressed with Episode 1, and I'm pretty sure Ewan McGregor went on record as saying, "they're not much good are they" or words to that effect. On the blurays there's no new/recent commentaries from the cast either, unlike the OT discs. What is there on the new discs is 'archival' comments, and probably made up of gushingly positive sound-bytes from when the movies came out and they had to be positive. Certainly there's NEVER been any sense of, "we knew we were going to be part of something big/special" on the rare occasions the PT cast talk about the films since.
I get the impression the PT cast have done their best to distance themselves from the films over the years. Speaks volumes I think ;)
- Nerf
What Harrison Ford interviews have you been watching?
Uhhh just about all of them since the films came out...
Apart from the, "you can type this shit George but you sure can't say it" comment, he's always gone on record as saying what fun they were to work on, plus the fact they combined real storytelling & characters you cared about with special effects. I always get the impression he was very pleased with the way the films turned out, although he was disappointed he didn't get to kill off Solo in Jedi. I never sense any embaressment from interviews with him about Star Wars over the years. I think he's proud of his part in them. Occasionally he gets a bit sarcy about them but that's Harrison isn't it, plus getting bored of the same questions being asked again and again over the past 30+ years.
Then again perhaps I'm just talking out my ass...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWTtMdXAazs&feature=player_embedded
;)
Didn't Ford call ROTJ a big teddy bear picnic or something along those lines?
Actually if you think about what Ford, in his, role had to put up with for the most of the shooting, it's possible to sympathize ;)
DuracellEnergizer said:
Okay, I've been wondering something ... is there a derogatory term for Gungans?
Goongas
Ford goofed on the ending of JEDI on vh1 and often bemoans the lack of his death, but he's always been very sincere, grateful and thoughtful when talking about it, he's just stoned a lot of the time. The notion that he hates SW or whatever is just all these current star warsies are such fucking delicate flowers about everything.
Also, the prequels are fine, I can't get mad at Jon Voight's balls.
