The Force Awakens What if this turns out to be another Phantom Menace

[Spidey-Lad93]

And there's a character worst than Jar Jar Binks

 

[DarthSkywalker]

 

[Solidus]

There is a possibility of anything, but I think there is a .000000001% chance it will do that.

Disney knows they have a lot riding on this. They were not just making three films they are making in the entire universe. The criticism of the prequel's is well documented, and known by most in the film industry (and outside of it as well). This is something Disney clearly wanted to avoid. By hiring good writers, good directors, and overall a great casting crew. It seems to have a very collaborative effort and a desire not to fall into the pitfalls of the prequels.

 

[MaceB]

GL had such a contorted view of the Star Wars universe, after writing around his notebook in circles for decades... that I honestly don't think another TPM is possible. He was just too far removed from modern audiences. This team COULDN"T even conceive of something as bad as Jar Jar. They know better. Most audience watchers above the age of 12 would know better, honestly. Just sayin.

 

[BatLobster]

Every movie that gets made aims to be a good movie though. You're never TRYING to spend years of your life and hundreds and millions of dollars to make a bad movie.

I think Disney have taken all the necessary steps to increase their chances for success as much as possible, and overall I have a very good feeling about the movie, but the truth is any movie with a lot of hype has the inherent potential to disappoint so I don't think there's anything wrong if one decides to scale their expectations that (but kudos to having the restraint to do so, because I don't!).

 

[Broseph44]

Oh this thread haha.

 

[jonathancrane]

If JJ Abrams directs a film that is as bad as TPM - especially with all of the safeguards in place-then, the END is upon us.

 

[Solidus]

Every movie that gets made aims to be a good movie though. You're never TRYING to spend years of your life and hundreds and millions of dollars to make a bad movie.

I think Disney have taken all the necessary steps to increase their chances for success as much as possible, and overall I have a very good feeling about the movie, but the truth is any movie with a lot of hype has the inherent potential to disappoint so I don't think there's anything wrong if one decides to scale their expectations that (but kudos to having the restraint to do so, because I don't!).

I guess after doing the "hype" thing for such a long time I've learned the most important thing is don't put borders around what you want in a film. What I see many do is imagine what they want the film to be, or piece what they can together with the rumors and trailers. Then if they don't get what they've imagined they scoff at it. It happens with all films. I just go in hoping for a well made, well directed film.

 

[WC Avengers]

Phantom wasn't that bad.

 

[Octoberist]

Phantom is pretty unwatchable.

 

[Brother Jack]

I actually think it's the best of the prequels overall, though that's more to do with just how bad the other two are rather than it being a good movie. Though the end of Revenge of the Sith is pretty good, apart from [BLACKOUT] NOOOOOOOOOOO[/BLACKOUT].

But Abrams has never made a movie even close to as bad as any of the prequels. There's no legit reason to think he'd make one here.

A better question is if this movie, however good it can be, will ever live up the hype surrounding. I think that answer is yes just based on how low the bar has been set with the last batch of movies. In a backwards way Lucas gave the new filmmakers a gift in lowering the expectations.

 

[smallville fan]

Well that's just karma for throwing out the EU. :P

 

[Solidus]

 

[xuncledan]

i have total faith in JJ, he will do a good job. i can almost guarantee his films will be better then the prequels

 

[Spidey-Lad93]

Phantom wasn't that bad.

I think Attack of The Clones is the worst Star Wars movie but I mentioned Phantom Menance cause this movie is getting the same hype that one did

 

[HarryOsborn]

Phantom wasn't that bad.

In my opinion Attack of the Clones is the worst Star Wars film, however the popular consensus (by critics and fans) is that Phantom Menace was the worst. Though Clones did perform the worst at the BO...

 

[Jaxon]

Phantom is pretty unwatchable.

Only thing really wrong with Phantom was Jar Jar and the kid playing Anakin were both annoying as wearing the same pair of jocks for a month.
Other than that rest was decent enough, not going to spoil enjoyment by starting to pull the rest apart.

 

[SuperFerret]

Even then Jar Jar wasn't as annoying as people make him out to be, and young Anakin isn't terrible, just blah.

Revenge of the Sith is the worst prequel, hands down. Way to throw out any reason to be interested in Darth Vader.

 

[BatLobster]

I actually think a lot of TPM is quite enchanting of you look at it purely from a kid's perspective. Sure, the political undercurrent of the movie might go over their heads, but things like the underwater Gungan world, seeing two great Jedi knights in action in their prime, a scary/cool bad guy, fun and exciting podracing scene, a young queen and young kid getting to be part of the heroics that save the day and yes, even the base slapstick of Jar-Jar...there's an inherent youthfulness to the movie.

Now, I know that at its best Star Wars can/should appeal to all ages, but I think TPM might be the one film in the series that actually benefits a little if you just look at it as a kids movie. I mean, my cousin is 10 now, he was raised on the prequels, TPM was the first piece of Star Wars media he ever encountered
and now he's a huge fan of the whole saga. I'm sure as he gets older he'll start to appreciate the OT more and understand their significance, but I imagine he'll always have a soft spot for TPM as the one that started it all for him.

I'm really excited to be able to take him to see Episode VII, it'll be his first SW big screen experience. t:

 

[Solidus]

I don't know about enchanting, but ya I think really younger kids may find it more enthralling. The problem is even as a 14 and a half year old when I first watched it, so much of it was boring to me, not just the political stuff. I remember getting it on VHS and forwarding to certain parts.

But see this is where I disagree, kids don't want to be kids. Kids want to be adults. I remember being a kid and always wanting to be a grown-up, stay up when I wanted to, kiss the girl have the adventures. Kids want to be Iron Man, Luke Skywalker, not someone that is just essentially them. That was an issue I think with it. I'm sure not all kids are like me, but I think that was a flaw, I think most wanted to be Obi-Wan or Qui-Gon.

I've said this before but I think George went way too young in the target audience. People keep acting like it was made for Pre-K types, when SW never really was that young. I mean again looking at the OT it had some nasty stuff in there, from burnt bodies, people getting chopped up etc. That was why I think Jar Jar was so bad is that he seemed aimed towards a much to young audience member.

However I do think TPM is the best of the prequels, it felt like the one where George actually really tried hard. The rest felt very assembly line, and the latter two were filled with blue screen. TPM did have grit to it and I loved the look of it. I'm not saying it was a good movie, but TPM was the best out of those three.

But I too am excited to take my 9 year old cousin to TFA. He's grown up in a world of Superheros, and I can't wait to take him to A Galaxy Far Far Away.

 

[smallville fan]

it felt like the one where George actually really tried hard. The rest felt very assembly line, and the latter two were filled with blue screen. TPM did have grit to it and I loved the look of it.

RedLetterMedia says otherwise.

Even then Jar Jar wasn't as annoying as people make him out to be, and young Anakin isn't terrible, just blah.

I think that's PT nostalgia settling in. That's a little worrying.

 

[HarryOsborn]

RedLetterMedia says otherwise.

Actually RedLetterMedia shows how George Lucas put a lot of work into the movie and gives him credit for using practical sets. He just condemns him for writing the movie with no additional writers to review, surrounding himself with yes men, being more focused on merchandising than artistic merit, and for making an overly complex plot that's really not structured entirely well to begin with.

 

[SuperFerret]

I think that's PT nostalgia settling in. That's a little worrying.

Hard to be nostalgia when it's always been my opinion. I'm not as prone to hyperbole as most people.

 

[horrorwriter]

I'm sorry but Phantom Menace was a lot worse than Attack of The Clones. Phantom Menace was just too much waiting and waiting to get to action scenes. The kid annakin was annoying, and Darth Maul was the pay-off. Even still, not much there. However, Attack of the clones at least had action. The bounty hunter scenes. The fight on genosis. The hundreds of jedi against the clones. Darth Tyranus fight with yoda. Much much better than Phantom Menace.

 

[ThePhantasm]

What if this turns out to be another Phantom Menace

how will life continue?!?!?