The Star Wars Prequels

Now the prequels were divisive movies, many disliked them. However, I believe many more liked them, and I count myself as one of them. I never felt betrayed by Lucas at all, I love his imagination, his vision, hes a master storyteller. Hes just not a great playwright, although theres a massive improvement in storytelling between films, with phantom menace being his weakest and Sith being the best.

Now I love Phantom Menace because I'm able to appreciate it in the spirit it was written, as a movie for little boys and girls. That was Lucases explicit intention and its why I forgive its lack of sophistication. Sure the conflict is impersonal and the writing is a little bland, but theres also a sardonic undercurrent of wit that runs through it, a very dry, deadpan humour. Many despise Jar Jars hijinks but I think he is fun, a big dopey daffy duck character, he contrasts with the jedi nicely. Such a character appeals to the uncynical child within me, who can appreciate his pratfalls without despising him. Jar Jars downfall is not being like Han Solo, the supporting character with a brilliant wit and gigawatts of charisma, or even a darkly humourous chewbacca. Lucas set the bar so high with his first movie that anything that deviated from the formula would be seen as a massive disappointment, people wanted the force awakens [which they got, to their dismay]. Despite those flaws i think the sophisticated political landscape makes up for it, thats great worldbuilding, something Disney is awful at. His internal logic is impecable, another grade Disney flunks. And darth maul was awesome, the little kid inside who loves ninjas swooned for him, he is the epitome of badass. The music ranged from majestic and dramatic to liltingly melodic and mercurial, definitely some of Williams best work. Much better than the sequel trilogies workmanlike scores. Liam Neeson is great though, regal and wise, I like his fatherly relationship with Annakin, its a really beautiful bond. And Annakins arc with his mother is poignant, as hes ripped away from her before hes old enough to deal with it, scars that would fester in his subconscious, developing a fear of separation that would have tragic results later.

Attack of the Clones is a good mystery. Not a great mystery, but a good one by virtue of how interesting the ramifications are, the clone army and just who created it and why. Obi Wan does display a moderate amount of acumen as he delves into the puzzles unfolding before him, but he also fails to ask why jango is connected to dooku, and therefor why dooku doesnt know about the clone army. The romance is a major problem for many people, mainly because it was competing with the masterful spiderman movie that year, but I didn't find it cringeworthy, I thought it was perfect for a couple of naive and infatuated youths. "You are in my very soul tormenting me." "I've been dying a little bit each day since you came back into my life." Eat your heart out, Tobey McGuire and Kirsten Dunst, lol. But it was a really wild and exciting rollercoaster ride, and I love the action scenes. Much is made of the video game looking graphics too, but I'm a fan of video game cinematics so I don't see this as a problem. Williams created the "Across the Stars" motif, which was beautifully poignant.

Sith is definitely the best in terms of quality, although I actually like clones more, because theres less torment, clones is more fun with the two heroes falling in love, padmes resistance giving way to anakins devotion. Sith is technically better, but also emotionally heavy, theres a lot of suffering and tragedy. I admire Siths dark storytelling, I think its perfect, but the problem with such an approach is that its a little depressing, unlike clones. The intrigue is great, with palpatine manipulating annakin against the jedi, putting them increasingly at odds. The themes are brilliant as well, about Annakins inability to accept his reality driving him insane, palpatine keeps telling him hes superior to other people, so he doesnt deserve to suffer like them. The fight at the end is brilliant, showing two jedi in their prime, with great flair and virtuosity.

I like the prequels just as much as the marvel movies, even though the marvel movies are wittier and cooler. I thought I'd never get tired of jedi vs sith battles, with armies clashing and the leads falling in love. The sequels taught me otherwise. lol.