Star Wars - Part 7

[Marvolo]

You're not alone...All George wanted to do is show the Rise and Fall of Anakin Skywalker and he gets persecuted for it.

That's find and dandy but he also tried to show the origin of every other character: chewie, bobba, c3p0 etc. He even consider having a young Han solo on kashyyyk. Thank god he didn't do that. You see he tried to shoehorn everything in and left little to no mystery for these characters.

If he wanted to show the rise and fall of anikan show it. Show him as a likeable young Jedi traveling with obi-wan. I know i know he wanted to make him look innocent and all that nonsense, but i dont care about a 9 year old at all. He could have made anikan a noble young Jedi and got the same point across. Making him a child for the first movie was unnecessary, and he was entirely unlikeable for the next two movies and not once do I buy that him and obi-wan were the best of friends. I dont care what Lucas wanted or what his intent was. The key is did he pull it off? And the answer is no. He tried. Bless him he tried, but the man can't write a story to save his life. He has too many dumb ideas popping up at random. Lucas execution was piss poor.

Had he done an outline and let someone else handle the script and direct we woul have gotten a vastly superior end product. I understand Lucas wanted full control, but sometimes you just gotta be man enough to admit your weaknesses. His are scriptwriting and directing.

And you can flame me all you want and say these are his films. You are absolutely right and he can do as he pleases with them, but I don't have to like the flaws or ignore them. Any work art presented to the public has to be evaluated and the creator should be able to take the criticism constructive or otherwise and act like an adult regarding it. Listen to it and take from it that which is helpful and needed. Lucas ignores constructive criticism and it makes him seem like a child for it. He learns nothing from it. This is why I don't entirely feel bad for Lucas.

 

[OptimusPrime114]

If that's how you feel, fine. I can't convince you otherwise.

 

[danoyse]

* Issue #81 faithful readers!

(My best Marvel editor impersonation)

I actually have that issue.

I love that it has a bunch of Atari ads.

 

[Thebumwhowalks]

* Issue #81 faithful readers!

(My best Marvel editor impersonation)

I read it in the UK RoTJ weekly, so couldn't have told you the American number, those were the only comics I ever gave away, to a charity shop, I liked the comics a lot, but man, after RoTJ came out, and SW was over...it was really depressing, i couldn't look at those SW comics anymore thinking there would never be any more movies, but, y'know, I miss them now, I'll have to pick up those collected editions.
I really liked the opening to that story

Spoiler

where Han is in a Tatooine bank trying to get his money out, but they won't give it to him because he has officially been declared 'frozen in carbonite', haha

 

[Hunter Rider]

I just read an article on the NYTIMES site about lucas, concerning red tails, Indy 4, and the SW prequels. So mods, move this if you must, but I'd like to say something.

I feel really bad for lucas. He's pretty much the most hated man on the planet now...all because he's made changes and movies that people dislike. I don't disagree with everything the man has ever done, but I think lucas hate is way overblown. You can basically hear the pessimist inside of him because of the hate he recieves. This is why I hate fanboys, normally I figure you don't like something, cool, it wasn't your taste, move on, and let it go. The fact that thirteen years later people are STILL *****ing about TPM, Nine years for AOTC, and Six for ROTS, just goes to show why fanboys are the butt of so many jokes all the times. Which is quite sad, as the prequels really aren't bad, and I'm quite a fan of them and Lucas myself (I share a birthday with him ), not to mention when I dislike something, I once again...move on from it. I really do detest the fanboy community sometimes.

This sums up my feelings as well, I grew up on Star Wars and over the years have spent a lot of money on it and I love the world Lucas created, however some of these fanboys are irrational nutjobs who can't accept it's still just a movie franchise and not their private little fantasy world. The treatment of Loyd and Lucas daughter is the actions of shameful punk cowards who frankly disgrace everything Star Wars stands for.

I probably like the PT more than most but if you asked me how I'd have done them you'd find I have ideas that differ from Lucas and I can't deny some of the scripting and acting is ropey, but I'd simply rather focus on what I enjoy about them as opposed to ranting endlessly about bits I didn't like, that's just bad energy.

 

[Marvolo]

If that's how you feel, fine. I can't convince you otherwise.

Its just how I critically evaluate the series. No big deal. I feel nothing for the prequels other than a strong bleh at such a wonderful opportunity being missed. I mean for something that's suppossed to be about Anikan there is very little Anikan that is likeable. The protagonist should at least be likeable. How can I care about his fall if I'm wanting him to die 90% of the time. I would question my psychological health choosing to be around someone like that yet Padme marries him and Obi-wan stays around him. Heck if the Jedi had a psychologist they could have avoided this whole thing lol.

All that aside, we all have different tastes.

 

[A Necessary Evil]

This sums up my feelings as well, I grew up on Star Wars and over the years have spent a lot of money on it and I love the world Lucas created, however some of these fanboys are irrational nutjobs who can't accept it's still just a movie franchise and not their private little fantasy world. The treatment of Loyd and Lucas daughter is the actions of shameful punk cowards who frankly disgrace everything Star Wars stands for.

I probably like the PT more than most but if you asked me how I'd have done them you'd find I have ideas that differ from Lucas and I can't deny some of the scripting and acting is ropey, but I'd simply rather focus on what I enjoy about them as opposed to ranting endlessly about bits I didn't like, that's just bad energy.

Same here. I legitimately love the prequels. There's alot of poor things in it, but I think the good far, far outweighs the bad. Even if I didn't windup liking them, I know, much like my disdain for other movies/tv shows/books, I would have complained after the showing of the movie, made my points, and be done. This whole "Lucas raped my childhood thing" still going on disgusts me.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

The prequels get WAYYYYYY too much hate, IMO.

 

[OptimusPrime114]

Agreed.

There are some flaws, yes, but the prequels did something any Expanded Universe project couldn't: it introduced Star Wars to a new generation.

 

[roach]

I just read an article on the NYTIMES site about lucas, concerning red tails, Indy 4, and the SW prequels. So mods, move this if you must, but I'd like to say something.

I feel really bad for lucas. He's pretty much the most hated man on the planet now...all because he's made changes and movies that people dislike. I don't disagree with everything the man has ever done, but I think lucas hate is way overblown. You can basically hear the pessimist inside of him because of the hate he recieves. This is why I hate fanboys, normally I figure you don't like something, cool, it wasn't your taste, move on, and let it go. The fact that thirteen years later people are STILL *****ing about TPM, Nine years for AOTC, and Six for ROTS, just goes to show why fanboys are the butt of so many jokes all the times. Which is quite sad, as the prequels really aren't bad, and I'm quite a fan of them and Lucas myself (I share a birthday with him ), not to mention when I dislike something, I once again...move on from it. I really do detest the fanboy community sometimes.

I am in one of my last producing classes and the instructor mentioned that you will never make a movie everyone will like...so don't try. No publicity is bad. Think GL is losing sleep over Red Letter???? Nope. In fact he is probably enjoying it because people are watching the movie and then watching the videos and keeping Star Wars on peoples minds.

 

[roach]

The prequels get WAYYYYYY too much hate, IMO.

I believe that if people went over the OT like they do with the PT they will find the same flaws

 

[Hunter Rider]

Same here. I legitimately love the prequels. There's alot of poor things in it, but I think the good far, far outweighs the bad. Even if I didn't windup liking them, I know, much like my disdain for other movies/tv shows/books, I would have complained after the showing of the movie, made my points, and be done. This whole "Lucas raped my childhood thing" still going on disgusts me.

People are often surprised that AOTC is as high as it is when I list the order in which I like the movies, but like you had I hated them I'd have said my piece and moved on, I certainly don't put enough stock in any movie to abvuse people over liking it or the guy who created, never mind still be bristling with hate 13 years on.

 

[danoyse]

Agreed.

There are some flaws, yes, but the prequels did something any Expanded Universe project couldn't: it introduced Star Wars to a new generation.

It has. Trust me, I have more fun playing Star Wars legos with my nephews than listening to some 30-year-old whining that their childhood was destroyed because a movie didn't turn out the way they hoped it would.

I've been a fan since the beginning. I saw Star Wars back when the only place you could see it was in a movie theater and it was re-released at least once a year. I don't remember how many times I saw it, but I remember leaving one show and my mom saying "OK, that's it! Next time, we're seeing a different movie!"

I didn't see it on TV until I was 8 years old, and since we didn't have a VCR yet (no one did), we used to memorize the airtimes in the cable guide so we wouldn't miss it whenever it was on. And even though I didn't actually have it on VHS to watch whenever I wanted until I was 12, I'd had the whole thing memorized for years.

And I want that movie on blu-ray. I have all the respect in the world for George Lucas for making changes he felt needed to be made, and I certainly don't want the Special Edition(s) stricken from the world. I can live with both versions.

But without the original, all of these releases are just incomplete. I miss Han shooting Greedo, and the original Death Star explosion without that stupid ring.

My childhood is fine. I have great memories of seeing the original movies in the theaters. I just hate that we can't have them too. Lucas wouldn't get half of the grief he gets if he just released them along with the special editions. It really not an outrageous request.

 

[Spider-Gnome]

y'know, I don't buy any of the EU stuff, but I don't see any problem with bringing back great characters who were killed off or underused. Give the fans some more Maul and Boba, don't be a big wet bantha about it Spider-Gnome.

Haha! That's funny, because I'm usually seen as a Star Wars/Lucas apologist!

Yes, yes, I had the Marvel comics when they came out, I was all over the Thrawn trilogy when it came out, and knew all the stuff that came out of the West End Games Roleplaying game back in 1987, where ALOT of the background information became cannon.

But, in the end, the EU stuff started getting out of hand and a lot of the stuff doesn't work, so now I'm just what's in the movies for the most part. I do love Clone Wars and take it as "semi-cannon" based on Lucas's involvement. But here's the thing about Fett & Maul. Yes, I agree, they look cool, but what it boils down is Fett is a plot device (to capture Han & Leia) and Maul is a place holder, a Sith Apprentice to be lost and to be replaced (eventually by Vader).

Don't mean to be the wet bantha, though.

 

[OptimusPrime114]

George Lucas is retiring. No joke.

 

[Karelia]

As a director, right? He's still going to continue to work on the Clone Wars series I'd imagine.

 

[Hunter Rider]

 

[antsman41]

As a director, right? He's still going to continue to work on the Clone Wars series I'd imagine.

Don't forget, he'll need to edit the OT again, for 2027...

 

[moviedoors]

I believe that if people went over the OT like they do with the PT they will find the same flaws

If you're Mr. Plinkett, sure. If you're a guy like me, then hell no. I love the original trilogy, no nostalgia required. I have serious reservations and problems with the prequels, no matter how much I don't want to. I don't hate them, I spend no time fuming over them, and George Lucas certainly didn't rape my childhood. I simply don't like them. That's all. I suggest you accept that people actually do feel that way about the prequels instead of suggesting they're just lying to themselves and everyone else, that if you like the original trilogy, you're a duplicitous liar if you don't like the prequels. I don't have the time, the patience, the energy, or the passion to get pissed about a prequel that doesn't work, but I will not stand for someone suggesting I'm being anything less than sincere when I simply say "I don't like them."

 

[jacobed]

He's retiring from big blockbuster movies. I really hope he continues to do tv because the Star Wars universe is so perfect for tv.

 

[roach]

If you're Mr. Plinkett, sure. If you're a guy like me, then hell no. I love the original trilogy, no nostalgia required. I have serious reservations and problems with the prequels, no matter how much I don't want to. I don't hate them, I spend no time fuming over them, and George Lucas certainly didn't rape my childhood. I simply don't like them. That's all. I suggest you accept that people actually do feel that way about the prequels instead of suggesting they're just lying to themselves and everyone else, that if you like the original trilogy, you're a duplicitous liar if you don't like the prequels. I don't have the time, the patience, the energy, or the passion to get pissed about a prequel that doesn't work, but I will not stand for someone suggesting I'm being anything less than sincere when I simply say "I don't like them."

We're human...we won't like the same things. If you didn't like the prequels thats fine. However if you are making in depth videos on why the prequels are the worst thing ever caught on film then thats a different story

 

[roach]

[YT]NGr1_Ih25fU[/YT]


nice

 

[craigdbfan]

We're human...we won't like the same things. If you didn't like the prequels thats fine. However if you are making in depth videos on why the prequels are the worst thing ever caught on film then thats a different story

In all fairness the RedLetterMedia guys have said that's a parody on both the obsessive fans who constantly critique the prequels and of Lucas.

It wasn't just a jab at Lucas for making them but at the fans who overreact to them as well.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Hopefully. Because hardcore prequel hater fanboys think it's the Holy Grail of PT criticism and think they're absolutely legit. They also think that tearing the films apart for their criticisms make it objectively bad filmmaking and objectively, Lucas is a bad filmmaker. When in actuality, there's is no objectivity in regards to these films and films in general.

And is there proof that the RedLetterMedia guys have said this? Because even if I mentioned this, prequel haters would still cite it as bad and no accept the satire of it.

 

[Doctor Jones]

We're human...we won't like the same things. If you didn't like the prequels thats fine. However if you are making in depth videos on why the prequels are the worst thing ever caught on film then thats a different story

Exactly. We're not labeling everyone who dislikes the prequels as insane irrational individuals. If you don't lke them, that's fine. I can live with that. It's people who are the insane individuals (and there are) who always leap at a chance to bash these films and use their own fuel and prejudice to bash Lucas any chance they get without any facts, which they don't really have, then that is when it corsses the line.

I mean it, there are realy no facts to claim that Lucas went from good to bad. And there are no facts to say that he's greedy. I'd rather trust Katie Lucas' word over the thousands of raging fanboys who just hate these films irrationally with their prejudices without facts.

But really, the hate isn't as big as people think. It just takes place on the internet, when in actuality, how many people does that represent? Not much. It's actually a very small group of people. Smaller than we think. They just happen to join in places that make them seem bigger, not to mention their raging anger seems in increase the idea of it. Remember, the BR's made a killing worldwide. If the hate was so big, sales would have slumped. The love and fanhood of SW in general outweighs all the hate for it.