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So, yesterday there was this Star Wars marathon - Prequels Rankings...

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 (Edited)

Having nothing better to do I decided to watch it mostly because I hadn’t seen the prequels in a very long time and was curious about how they would make me feel and after watching them here are my thoughts:

The Phantom Menace: Honestly the first thing question that popped into my mind after watching it was: What the hell was all that about? Seriously, story-wise TPM feels so disconnected from the rest of the SW saga it doesn’t really feed into the movies that follow, and the plot is virtually nonexistant, just a cacophony random scenes cobbled together by a Lucas who has simply decided to let his imagination run wild taking advantage of the fact that the many factors that restrained him throughout the making of the original trilogy are long gone. TPM feel more like an unintentional parody of Star Wars than anything else, and Anakin, Obi-Wan, R2 and 3PO seem to be there only to remind us that this is supposed to be a SW movie. A waste of celluloid.

3/10

Attack Of The Clones: Every bit as illogical as TPM, and the overuse of CGI and green screen further enhances the feeling of disconnect that plagued its predecessor. Anakin and Padme are no doubt the most forced romance in movie history, two people who have absolutely nothing in common fall in love because the Skywalker twins have to be conceived somehow. I must confess however that I still enjoy the hell out of the lightsaber duel between Yoda and Dooku, even if makes absolutely no sense.

2/10

Revenge Of The Sith: Arguably the least disjointed of the prequels, the one that seemed to have a little bit more effort put behind it, and it is in fact the only one I don’t mind watching every once in a while.

6/10

I won’t give my thoughts on the OT because we all know them, we all love them and they will always have a special place in our hearts and minds, plus we all know how many of us feel about the incessant tweaking they’ve been subjected to.

Discuss.

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I actually find TPM the most watchable out the three.  Even though it's completely different than pre-1999 Star Wars, it still comes across as more Star Warsy to me than the other two.  I once thought ROTS was the best prequel, but after subsequent viewings, I realized that only the effects and music are better than AOTC.  The rest is at least equal to AOTC.

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Well, visually TPM certainly is the most Star Warsy looking of the 3, and that IMO is down to the fact that it was shot on film, whereas the other two were shot using digital cameras which gives them this clean sterile look.

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While I agree with everyone about the PT problems:  overuse of CGI, plot inconsistencies, midiclorians, etc.  My biggest gripe is I don't give a shit about the characters, so the movies will never resonate with me. 

Anakin and Padme just do nothing for me, and I say that because when they face tragic situations at the end of ROTS, I felt nothing.  A movie works when you feel for the characters and their struggles.  When Han Solo gets put into carbonite, that is a very dramatic scene, yet when Anakin is lying there in lava, I didn't bat an eye.

I like Obiwan and I like Palpatine's character in the PT, but Anakin & Padme are the reason this trilogy is made.  That is why I still don't know if I will like the ST, because the new characters have to resonate with me too.  Sure Luke, Leia and Han will resonate with me in Episode 7, but Episode's 8 & 9 will be about the next generation, and hopefully those characters we care about, or the ST will be facing the same problems as the PT.

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CO said:

While I agree with everyone about the PT problems:  overuse of CGI, plot inconsistencies, midiclorians, etc.  My biggest gripe is I don't give a shit about the characters, so the movies will never resonate with me. 

Anakin and Padme just do nothing for me, and I say that because when they face tragic situations at the end of ROTS, I felt nothing.  A movie works when you feel for the characters and their struggles.  When Han Solo gets put into carbonite, that is a very dramatic scene, yet when Anakin is lying there in lava, I didn't bat an eye.

I like Obiwan and I like Palpatine's character in the PT, but Anakin & Padme are the reason this trilogy is made.  That is why I still don't know if I will like the ST, because the new characters have to resonate with me too.  Sure Luke, Leia and Han will resonate with me in Episode 7, but Episode's 8 & 9 will be about the next generation, and hopefully those characters we care about, or the ST will be facing the same problems as the PT.

 That's because they don't give a shit about each other.

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^I wouldn't go as far as to say that. There was definately strong sexual tension between Anakin and Palpatine.

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 (Edited)

This thread title is misleading.  Turns out it's just another PT review thread.  Boo-urns.

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There are some cinematic 'Star Wars' moments and elements in TPM, but also some unbearable things. A mixed bag, or like picking the m&ms out of stale trail mix.

AOTC is mostly awful, with a few worthwhile pieces. The accomplishments of fan editing aside, it's taxing to try to sit through, and the action falls flat for me in virtually all instances. Threepio during the action sequences at the end is the low point of Star Wars thus far, if you ask me.

ROTS was bound to be the best prequel due to the subject matter. I'd say it got screwed up about as well as the rest, though it was more interesting to begin with. Better than AOTC, to be sure, though I'm not sure it feels more 'Star Wars' than the best parts of TPM. And what the hell was up with those squeaky battle droid voices?

It was too bad Ewan was unwilling to reprise his role for ANH, though I do appreciate the marked attempt to make the film look 'retro.' The only time you forget it was made post-2005 is when the occasional CGI effect comes through.

ESB takes a much slower pace, and budget costs presumably led to a physical Yoda puppet, which serendipitously blends in with the overall pulpy retro feel. It does feel weird for Luke to kiss his sister, though. 

ROTJ is the most kiddish Star Wars film since the original, TPM. It's nice to harken back to the saga's starting point, though the tone has advanced to be more mature by this point and it feels weird to regress. At least the Ewoks are distinct from one another, which I can't say the same about for the Gunguns. 

I started off pretty well, but veered into lunacy about halfway through.

My stance on revising fan edits.

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PT marathon... it's when someone asks "Do you want to watch the three SW prequels?" and then you run like hell in the opposite direction, right?

;)

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No, you run but kinda slow so they don't notice you've left.

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So, yesterday there was this Star Wars marathon COMING SOON to DVD starring PETER MAYHEW...

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I think we need a parroty thread in off topic.

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Hal 9000 said:

TV's Frink said:

I think we need a parroty thread in off topic.

 May the cracker be with you.

Agreed, the ST could really use a cameo by Sheriff J. W. Pepper.

Project Threepio (Star Wars OOT subtitles)

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To clear things up, no, it wasn't just the PT, it was the whole saga. I only focused on the PT because I don't see the point in talking about movies we all love.

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Hal 9000 said:

TV's Frink said:

I think we need a parroty thread in off topic.

 May the cracker be with you.

You jive mutha --! 

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fmalover said:

To clear things up, no, it wasn't just the PT, it was the whole saga. I only focused on the PT because I don't see the point in talking about movies we all love.

 The PT was talked to death before I got here, but that doesn't stop anyone.

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CatBus said:

Hal 9000 said:

TV's Frink said:

I think we need a parroty thread in off topic.

 May the cracker be with you.

Agreed, the ST could really use a cameo by Sheriff J. W. Pepper.

 I guess I need to start that thread so you guys understand it has nothing to do with parrots.

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TV's Frink said:

CatBus said:

Hal 9000 said:

TV's Frink said:

I think we need a parroty thread in off topic.

 May the cracker be with you.

Agreed, the ST could really use a cameo by Sheriff J. W. Pepper.

 I guess I need to start that thread so you guys understand it has nothing to do with parrots.

It will by the time we're through with it. BRAWK!

Project Threepio (Star Wars OOT subtitles)

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Says the guy with a sense of humor who never uses it in off topic. :(

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 (Edited)

Says the guy with a sense of humor who never uses it in off topic. :(

JEDIT: :( :(

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TV's Frink said:

Says the guy with a sense of humor who never uses it in off topic. :(

Says the guy who's annexed the rest of the forum under the flag of the Grand Duchy of Offtopic.

Project Threepio (Star Wars OOT subtitles)

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"Rest of the forum"...what are you talking about?