I’ll add my recognition of your interesting and well-written take, kyberangel. Refreshing to hear that perspective.
For me, it’s feasible for a fan edit to serve as an effective replacement for the films, and so some of the lows can be augmented or smoothed out.
That being said, TFA is indeed a fun romp that sets things up for more fun to come, almost acting as a trailer. I still don’t care for SKB, and I’d have little to complain about without it. If I could make one change, it’d be to depict the FO as a palpably small but fierce fringe group of terrorists that manage to get a fluke strike in that destroys the symbol of the New Republic. Maybe the new Senate building or something.
Or even if they have to blow up the whole planet, imply that it’s the full extent of their power and done outside of brute strength of resources. Bonus points if the factions don’t look and smell just like their OT predecessors.
TLJ, I agree, has the only real substance or message. It’s the one that actually has a little bit to say other than having a Spielberg-ian adventure. It felt a little self-important at points, and honestly did take some adjusting to given my own expectations. It’s got some meaning to it, and I appreciate it for that.
TROS knows it sucks and tries to BS it’s way through its presentation so it can just go sit back down. I feel TLJ set the stage for a wonderful Episode 9 that never got made. It dared the next one to do better, but they cowered in fear. They backed down from the challenge and talked passive-aggressive shit about it instead. It sucks that it sort of retroactively ruins what came before it, and feels especially poor when postured as the conclusion to Star Wars proper.
Star Wars Episode 9 (in particular) was never an art project, and the value was never in making something good. It desperately needed to be pushed back a year or two, but business couldn’t tolerate that. And I don’t think I should factor that in as a mitigating factor. After all, I don’t benefit from business decisions. If they sacrifice quality for business value, they get a win in the business department and lose my positive opinion. I don’t expect them to care, but it doesn’t mean I ought to extend the reverse to them. Even if it “had” to happen, deferring the release date it what should have happened for the movie’s own good as a work of art. “They had to do it that way, that’s just how things go.” Okay, well cool, I am glad those who benefit tangibly from that are pleased but I don’t see why I should be.
NOTHING WILL STOP THE RETURN OF THE SITH (coming 2028)