Everything interesting about the Sith ultimately came from Tom Veitch. Everything that came from the prequels is horseshit.
“The Anarchists are right in everything; in the negation of the existing order and in the assertion that, without Authority there could not be worse violence than that of Authority under existing conditions. They are mistaken only in thinking that anarchy can be instituted by a violent revolution… There can be only one permanent revolution — a moral one: the regeneration of the inner man. How is this revolution to take place? Nobody knows how it will take place in humanity, but every man feels it clearly in himself. And yet in our world everybody thinks of changing humanity, and nobody thinks of changing himself.”
― Leo Tolstoy
I don’t know if this is an unpopular opinion or not, but I’ll expose it regardless.
I don’t think that the less relatability of the PT characters is due to the way the characters are written, but simply to the acting. For example, I live in Italy, and the Italian dubbing is much more dynamic than the original acting. It’s less flat, and as a result the characters seem more human. In fact, I have never had any problem empathizing with the PT characters, precisely because the Italian dubbing is more dynamic and human, and therefore it conveys different sensations than the original acting, to the point that many of the lines that are considered cringe in the English-speaking world sound perfectly natural in the Italian dubbing.
To prove my point, here there are some scenes from The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith in my native language:
Padmé confronting Anakin on Mustafar (ROTS)
https://youtu.be/jer_qlWqmHI
“You were the Chosen One!” (ROTS)
https://youtu.be/sES8yVAjQuY
Anakin meeting Padmé for the first time (TPM)
https://youtu.be/6nUGTq2mPT4
Anakin meeting Padmé again (AOTC)
https://youtu.be/2hv2uzd3Mng
The elevator scene (AOTC)
https://youtu.be/CLtl4HRzqMU
Anakin and Padmé talking on the grass (AOTC)
https://youtu.be/E_PMWp9hT1M
As you can see, the acting is much more dynamic here than in the original version.
I can sort of understand why George Lucas chose a flatter, less emphatic type of acting, but it affected the films in the long run.
“Sometimes we must let go of our pride, and do what is requested to us.”
– Anakin Skywalker
I don’t know if this is an unpopular opinion or not, but I’ll expose it regardless.
I don’t think that the less relatability of the PT characters is due to the way the characters are written, but simply to the acting. For example, I live in Italy, and the Italian dubbing is much more dynamic than the original acting. It’s less flat, and as a result the characters seem more human. In fact, I have never had any problem empathizing with the PT characters, precisely because the Italian dubbing is more dynamic and human, and therefore it conveys different sensations than the original acting, to the point that many of the lines that are considered cringe in the English-speaking world sound perfectly natural in the Italian dubbing.
To prove my point, here there are some scenes from The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith in my native language:
Padmé confronting Anakin on Mustafar (ROTS)
https://youtu.be/jer_qlWqmHI“You were the Chosen One!” (ROTS)
https://youtu.be/sES8yVAjQuYAnakin meeting Padmé for the first time (TPM)
https://youtu.be/6nUGTq2mPT4Anakin meeting Padmé again (AOTC)
https://youtu.be/2hv2uzd3MngThe elevator scene (AOTC)
https://youtu.be/CLtl4HRzqMUAnakin and Padmé talking on the grass (AOTC)
https://youtu.be/E_PMWp9hT1MAs you can see, the acting is much more dynamic here than in the original version.
I can sort of understand why George Lucas chose a flatter, less emphatic type of acting, but it affected the films in the long run.
I do not think that is an unpopular opinion, but it certainly an interesting one.
Personally, I think it is similar in other language dubs too. The non-English versions that I have seen usually have more energy and flow to them, in delivery of the lines, and also in conversation with their counterparts in scenes. It flows more naturally than the original English language delivery. Almost like a fan editor may choose or prefer when trying to bring more emotion, energy, more intensity to some PT scenes.
Although I do not think it was something George chose to for the PT (‘flatter, less emphatic type of acting’), I think it was part of his lack of direction or care to attention for dialogue heavy scenes. I think it is something he or his highly skilled editing team in the OT fixed in post/in the edit. In the Prequels that editing team (and ‘the heart’ or emotion from Marcia) was not there, and it could not be fixed, with many scenes appearing stilted, stiff or just plain flat. Maybe more “Do it again one more time. But faster, more intense” from George on set was needed?
It would be interesting exercise to see English voice actors (or impersonators), maybe even the original PT actors redubbing the PT now, but with more emotion, flow and energy, to see if that improves the PT films overall, and how much by.
“In the future it will become even easier for old negatives to become lost and be “replaced” by new altered negatives. This would be a great loss to our society. Our cultural history must not be allowed to be rewritten.” - George Lucas
It would be interesting exercise to see English voice actors (or impersonators), maybe even the original PT actors redubbing the PT now, but with more emotion, flow and energy, to see if that improves the PT films overall, and how much by.
Why not? Natalie Portman’s performance couldn’t be made any worse.
“The Anarchists are right in everything; in the negation of the existing order and in the assertion that, without Authority there could not be worse violence than that of Authority under existing conditions. They are mistaken only in thinking that anarchy can be instituted by a violent revolution… There can be only one permanent revolution — a moral one: the regeneration of the inner man. How is this revolution to take place? Nobody knows how it will take place in humanity, but every man feels it clearly in himself. And yet in our world everybody thinks of changing humanity, and nobody thinks of changing himself.”
― Leo Tolstoy
The Sith is not a great name for dark siders. I would have been content for Darth to be their monniker, and use Rakata term Daritha when referring to them plurally.
“There is a tremor in the Force.”
“Give yourself to the dark side.” -Lord Vader
In my opinion, there has never been a truly satisfactory name for users of the Dark Side.
Darth was originally Vader’s first name, and giving every darksider a “Darth (Evil Adjective)” name is dumb.
Sith is slightly better, but even though it was conceived for the Original Trilogy, it has generally been associated with the prequels and their baggage concerning the “rule of two” which makes it practically worthless for general practitioners of the Dark Side. Sith has ironically become a very limiting term for a group of practitioners who reject limitations almost as a rule.
Finally, even calling someone a ‘darksider’ or a ‘Dark Side user’ uses the Jedi’s doctrinal dichotomy between light and dark sides of the Force, whereas many so-called ‘darksiders’ would probably view themselves as agnostic in their use of the Force, only recognizing it for the power it provides. This is why it bugs me that the Emperor describes his power as coming from the Dark Side, since it feels like bowing to the Jedi terminology.
If it were up to me, I’d just call non-Jedi practitioners of the Force ‘Force Users’ or ‘Force Wizards’. It should be a neutral term which doesn’t stoop to the Jedi dichotomy. There would probably also be truly committed darksiders in the galaxy, just as there are Satanists in opposition to popular religious sects, whose choice of name is often performative and intended to provoke. But these darksiders would probably be a minority, as are Satanists among the vast array of religiously unaffiliated people who nevertheless have some religious or spiritual beliefs. Some of these Force users may use the Dark Side exclusively and yet not be affiliated with the Sith doctrine, some may use the Light Side exclusively yet not be called Jedi, and others may not differentiate between the two sides at all.
You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)
In my opinion, there has never been a truly satisfactory name for users of the Dark Side.
Darth was originally Vader’s first name, and giving every darksider a “Darth (Evil Adjective)” name is dumb.
Sith is slightly better, but even though it was conceived for the Original Trilogy, it has generally been associated with the prequels and their baggage concerning the “rule of two” which makes it practically worthless for general practitioners of the Dark Side. Sith has ironically become a very limiting term for a group of practitioners who reject limitations almost as a rule.
Finally, even calling someone a ‘darksider’ or a ‘Dark Side user’ uses the Jedi’s doctrinal dichotomy between light and dark sides of the Force, whereas many so-called ‘darksiders’ would probably view themselves as agnostic in their use of the Force, only recognizing it for the power it provides. This is why it bugs me that the Emperor describes his power as coming from the Dark Side, since it feels like bowing to the Jedi terminology.
If it were up to me, I’d just call non-Jedi practitioners of the Force ‘Force Users’ or ‘Force Wizards’. It should be a neutral term which doesn’t stoop to the Jedi dichotomy. There would probably also be truly committed darksiders in the galaxy, just as there are Satanists in opposition to popular religious sects, whose choice of name is often performative and intended to provoke. But these darksiders would probably be a minority, as are Satanists among the vast array of religiously unaffiliated people who nevertheless have some religious or spiritual beliefs. Some of these Force users may use the Dark Side exclusively and yet not be affiliated with the Sith doctrine, some may use the Light Side exclusively yet not be called Jedi, and others may not differentiate between the two sides at all.
Sith is the Old English word dor “Journey” which did fit with The Emperor’s, “strike me down and your journey towards the dark side will be complete.”
One of problems with Sith is in the EU it ws who the dark siders conquered, hence dark lords of the Sith. The reason Darth works is it essentially is Dark Lord in Sith and Rakatan.
“There is a tremor in the Force.”
“Give yourself to the dark side.” -Lord Vader
If the Force did not exist, the inhabitants of the Star Wars Galaxy would have experienced not even half of the wars they experienced through Galactic history. The Force is the real problem of the Star Wars Galaxy. The more I look at the Saga, and the more I realize that this is the case. If Kreia had managed to extinguish the Force and make everyone insensitive to the Force, then the Star Wars Galaxy would have been much better for the next millennia. Sure, some of my favorite characters would never have been born, but it would have been worth it
“Sometimes we must let go of our pride, and do what is requested to us.”
– Anakin Skywalker
If the Force did not exist, the inhabitants of the Star Wars Galaxy would have experienced not even half of the wars they experienced through Galactic history. The Force is the real problem of the Star Wars Galaxy. The more I look at the Saga, and the more I realize that this is the case. If Kreia had managed to extinguish the Force and make everyone insensitive to the Force, then the Star Wars Galaxy would have been much better for the next millennia. Sure, some of my favorite characters would never have been born, but it would have been worth it
I’d say unsubtle creators who treat the Force like superpowers and Force users like superheroes/villains are the real problem.
“The Anarchists are right in everything; in the negation of the existing order and in the assertion that, without Authority there could not be worse violence than that of Authority under existing conditions. They are mistaken only in thinking that anarchy can be instituted by a violent revolution… There can be only one permanent revolution — a moral one: the regeneration of the inner man. How is this revolution to take place? Nobody knows how it will take place in humanity, but every man feels it clearly in himself. And yet in our world everybody thinks of changing humanity, and nobody thinks of changing himself.”
― Leo Tolstoy
If the Force did not exist, the inhabitants of the Star Wars Galaxy would have experienced not even half of the wars they experienced through Galactic history. The Force is the real problem of the Star Wars Galaxy. The more I look at the Saga, and the more I realize that this is the case. If Kreia had managed to extinguish the Force and make everyone insensitive to the Force, then the Star Wars Galaxy would have been much better for the next millennia. Sure, some of my favorite characters would never have been born, but it would have been worth it
You’d be interested in a Canon Sect called The Elders of the Path, they consider The Force a dangerous flame that must be rejected due to its causing such vast destruction in The Force Wars.
Elders of the Path:
“There is a tremor in the Force.”
“Give yourself to the dark side.” -Lord Vader
One of the most popular criticisms of the Prequels is that “George Lucas can’t write romantic dialogue and can’t create well-written love stories.” And while I partially agree with this criticism, I personally don’t see it as black and white as the majority of Prequel critics view it. Personally, I think that Anakin and Padmé’s love story has everything necessary to be a very compelling and well-written love story, it just needs to be refined and trimmed. The proof of this is the fact that you don’t need to rewrite the entire love story to make it work, you just have to create simple fan edits. And you don’t even need to modify the majority of the romantic scenes, you just need to modify a couple of scenes in order to make the love story to be more fluid, compelling, and likable. If Anakin and Padmé’s love story was bad at its core, then creating fan edits would not improve it at all. But that’s not the case, and creating fan edits is more than enough to improve it. This, in my opinion, proves that George Lucas is not entirely bad at writing love stories. He has the basics, he just needs someone else to refine what he has done.
“Sometimes we must let go of our pride, and do what is requested to us.”
– Anakin Skywalker
I don’t think they have any sort of chemistry at all. I don’t think there’s a single scene where I can believe them as a couple, and based on George Lucas’s personal life I don’t think he has any clue what a good relationship looks like.
Reading R + L ≠ J theories
One of the most popular criticisms of the Prequels is that “George Lucas can’t write romantic dialogue and can’t create well-written love stories.” And while I partially agree with this criticism, I personally don’t see it as black and white as the majority of Prequel critics view it. Personally, I think that Anakin and Padmé’s love story has everything necessary to be a very compelling and well-written love story, it just needs to be refined and trimmed. The proof of this is the fact that you don’t need to rewrite the entire love story to make it work, you just have to create simple fan edits. And you don’t even need to modify the majority of the romantic scenes, you just need to modify a couple of scenes in order to make the love story to be more fluid, compelling, and likable. If Anakin and Padmé’s love story was bad at its core, then creating fan edits would not improve it at all. But that’s not the case, and creating fan edits is more than enough to improve it. This, in my opinion, proves that George Lucas is not entirely bad at writing love stories. He has the basics, he just needs someone else to refine what he has done.
I agree, Irvin Kreshner was the one who refined Han and Leia’s romance. GL really did not delve into it in ANH.
“There is a tremor in the Force.”
“Give yourself to the dark side.” -Lord Vader
That is because when Lucas made Star Wars he thought Leia would end up with Luke. There was no romance with Han. But since history has been rewritten that they were always brother and sister, and it was always the Saga of Darth Vader and Star Wars was always episode IV a New Hope, people believe it.
That is because when Lucas made Star Wars he thought Leia would end up with Luke. There was no romance with Han. But since history has been rewritten that they were always brother and sister, and it was always the Saga of Darth Vader and Star Wars was always episode IV a New Hope, people believe it.
That sure makes the ‘kiss’ in ESB make more sense.
Its true SW as a trilogy, even Saga was fluid, with GL making changes on the fly.
“There is a tremor in the Force.”
“Give yourself to the dark side.” -Lord Vader
Vader’s symmetrical helmet in ROTS looks “off”/“uncanny valley” to me. It sucks that it was so thoroughly used as a reference for artists/official photoshoppers throughout the 2000s-2010s, until the Rogue One helmet overtook it.
I perfer the PT lightsaber duels over the OT lightsaber duels.
“Sometimes we must let go of our pride, and do what is requested to us.”
– Anakin Skywalker
I perfer the PT lightsaber duels over the OT lightsaber duels.
Is that an unpopular opinion among Prequel Trilogy fans?
I think the lightsaber battles in the ST are nearly up there with those in the OT, with PT saber fights coming in last among the 3 trilogies. The Obi-Wan and Anakin fight seemed to go on so long it took the emotion and impact out of the fight.
Some good recent conversation on PT lightsaber battles and a fun video:
“In the future it will become even easier for old negatives to become lost and be “replaced” by new altered negatives. This would be a great loss to our society. Our cultural history must not be allowed to be rewritten.” - George Lucas
The only lightsaber duel I can say I really have no qualms with is the TESB duel. The SW duel’s fine for what it is — Ben distracting Vader to buy Luke & co. time — but it’s hardly thrilling stuff. My issues with ROTJ as a whole put a damper on my enthusiasm for the duel. The prequel duels got more inane with each entry. And the one sequel duel I’ve watched — the one from TFA — is as mediocre as the rest of the film.
“The Anarchists are right in everything; in the negation of the existing order and in the assertion that, without Authority there could not be worse violence than that of Authority under existing conditions. They are mistaken only in thinking that anarchy can be instituted by a violent revolution… There can be only one permanent revolution — a moral one: the regeneration of the inner man. How is this revolution to take place? Nobody knows how it will take place in humanity, but every man feels it clearly in himself. And yet in our world everybody thinks of changing humanity, and nobody thinks of changing himself.”
― Leo Tolstoy
Luke does the same thing Ben did in Star Wars in The Last Jedi to allow the rebels to Escape. The astral projection/fake ligtsaber duel was so Leia and the alliance wouldn’t die. Which is undone in the next film when she dies anyway. I understand it because of the absence of Carrie Fisher, but Leia lying down and willing herself to die like Yoda was horrible. I mean she dies so Ben Solo will be saved and he dies anyway. He doesn’t become a force ghost. The only Skywalker left is adopted.
I agree on Bespin being the best Duel though. ROTJ i like the personal sense of the duel and the chorus, but somehow Vader forgot how to fight. I also hated how the story of Vader tempting Luke to join him from Empire was just dropped.
And Vader instead of having agency is just a puppet for Palpatine again. Like a lapdog. He blocks Luke’s swing, he should just have let him kill the Emperor and join him on the dark side.
I liked the fight from TFA. The choreography and set(ting?) were really cool, and Kylo Ren beating his gunshot wound was awesome.
Reading R + L ≠ J theories
I liked the fight from TFA. The choreography and set(ting?) were really cool, and Kylo Ren beating his gunshot wound was awesome.
I agree with this. TFA is still a good movie, it’s just impossible to get invested in anymore because of what happens afterwards.
If the Force did not exist, the inhabitants of the Star Wars Galaxy would have experienced not even half of the wars they experienced through Galactic history. The Force is the real problem of the Star Wars Galaxy. The more I look at the Saga, and the more I realize that this is the case. If Kreia had managed to extinguish the Force and make everyone insensitive to the Force, then the Star Wars Galaxy would have been much better for the next millennia. Sure, some of my favorite characters would never have been born, but it would have been worth it
This is straight up wrong. Our own universe doesn’t have the Force and is full of cyclical violence and suffering. This idea comes from another false idea, the one that “balance in the Force” means equal power between “light side” and dark side, and that the Force is “self-correcting” when it’s imbalanced. This makes all the stories boring because they’re meaningless - anything that happens will just get undone.
Kreia was written as a wakeup call to indicate that this was the way that people were starting to interpret Star Wars, and that it was a problem. It wasn’t intended that she was right and that the setting should just continue that way. Her character is a hypocrite, a liar and a master manipulator. Everything she says is suspect.
The other issue is that we only see the big wars because the setting is Star Wars. There aren’t hundreds of movies, shows, video games, comics, etc. about the times when the setting is tranquil and happy with no conflicts. People think Jedi turn to the dark side constantly, so the Jedi rules clearly don’t work or are overly dogmatic, but it’s actually pretty unusual. Just going by the backstory of the Lucas movies, only 20 Jedi masters total including Dooku have left the order in its entire history of thousands of years. And that’s not turned to the dark side, just left. In Kreia’s time they experienced Exar Kun, Ulic Qel Droma, the Mandalorian Wars, then Malak and Revan one right after the other, so to them it would look very cyclical and inevitable even though it wasn’t.
Unpooular opinion:
Threepio looked better in chrome/ silver in AOTC.
“There is a tremor in the Force.”
“Give yourself to the dark side.” -Lord Vader
I don’t care about Star Wars canon anymore. I just enjoy what i like from the films, tv shows or expanded universe. None of it fits together to tell a larger narrative but that is okay.
I have friends who are legends or die types, OT only, prequel stans. I honestly don’t care.
Even Disney Star Wars i like the animated and the comics and i like Ahsoka. I even like the sequel trilogy, even if i hate how they dealt with the legacy characters. I mean its just a movie, enjoy it or don’t. I moved on from my love/hate relationship with the sequel to now bargaining on hating or loving Dial of Destiny.