SPECULATION Episode II and III are depressing movies.

You can tell they really tried with epi 1, that's why out of the three i like it the most i guess. Epi 2 feels like they gave up and three was them just trying to get it over with.

 

Yeah, the prequels sucks! Everyone knows that now, and I'm sure that TFA will be much better than the PT.

TPM its my favorite of the prequels too, as you said. The soundtrack its one of my favorites (including OT musics too), que special effects are much better and realistic than the ones of AOTC and ROTS, we have great momments in TPM that we don't have in AOTC and ROTS.

 

I think the biggest problem with AOTC/ROTS is they take themselves way too seriously. As the movies try to be more dramatic, the exact opposite happens and they come off as more laughable.

While TPM has its faults with Jar Jar and Jake Lloyd, the movie never tries to be more then it is.

It's a lesson for the ST, as don't take yourself too seriously! SW are fun, adventure films, not Schindler's List!

 

I would have to agree that ep 2 and 3 are pretty sad, especially when you realize that if ANYBODY would have used their BRAINS FOR JUST ONE FRIGGIN MINUTE, THE PREQUELS WOULD HAVE ENDED DIFFERENTLY!!!

 

AOTC was used as more of a testing bed for new tech that would have otherwise not worked for the rest of the industry at the time. ROTS felt weird/rushed because we all already knew the basic ending. TPM had it's good moments though that felt like a natural progression whereas we get less of that in the other two because the trilogy had to end on a depressing note to set up The Empire and ANH.

 

I think the romance was supposed to be kinda Shakespearian, but was terribly acted be Christensen.

 

I got over the prequels with one trick. Just take the over all idea and concept and take the movies out of your canon.

There are enough Fan-Fiction Rewrites with such depth and worked out ideas its a joy.

 

If you only watch the first three episodes, it's depressing, but the end of episode three is just the middle of the story.

 

I am a big critic of the PT - I have tried and rewatched TPM many times, but they are all flawed movies. However, I decided to give ROTS another shot yesterday - really tried to watch with an open mind and take my critical glasses off.

You know, I actually enjoyed the first part - the rescue wasn't as bad as I remembered and it has to be said that the opera scene is very nicely done. But after that it just falls apart. Who the heck is Greivous? Why do we care about him? He wasn't in I or II and now I am supposed to just accept he is the main villain with no background at all? So Obi Wan defeating him just meant nothing. Hayden and Natalie's performances are woefully poor as well, especially when expected to emote in any believable way. Ewan just seems bemused and hams it up (which you can't blame him for - standing in a green room with nothing to act against day after day). It gets sad at the end and made we want to watch the OT to see the heroes wipe the grin off Palpatine's face - but overall it just doesn't connect emotionally because the characters are badly written and acted. Forget the CGI - if we don't get a plot we can follow or given characters we can care about, then the movies just cannot work. And they don't.

 

Yeah, I've been reading through a few "re-planned" prequel stories, to see if there's anything I'd like in my own never-ending search for the perfect prequel story. The plan was (and is) to write a novel (or trilogy of novels) that will be my private canon, my ideal version of what a Star Wars prequel trilogy could be like. And I'll be the first to admit that stringing it all together and make it flow with the original trilogy isn't easy - but there are a lot of good to great ideas out there that makes me wonder how Lucas ended up with the scripts he did. It certainly feels as if he didn't even bother to rewatch (and take notes from) the original trilogy before planning the prequels. That should have been top priority. Or, he did, and in an attempt to surprise fans who knew the originals, he gave everything a twist, unfortunately it didn't work very well (with the possible exception of the clone troopers = from the good to the bad side twist).

 

Well, The Empire Strikes Back is really depressing, from a certain point of view, but it's the best of the saga. I think RotS is by far the best of the prequels and TPM is at the bottom of the pile. I have a vague synopsis for rewriting the first two in a way that would still tie in to TCW series and RotS, with Anakin 10 years older than he is in the PT and Obi Wan 20 years older.

 

The tragedy of Anakin Skywalker it's sad and depressing, and the prequels are one of the best films I've seen.

 

Oh my, the romance between Anakin and Padmé is honestly among the worst I've ever seen.
For starters, the acting is bad and only serves to undermine it. For instance, during the fireplace scene (you know, the one where Padmé is dressed kinda like a Dominatrix for some reason), the whole time Anakin is pouring his heart out, Padmé just looks uncomfortable. Every time he gets closer, she shifts away. At this point, she is supposed to be resisting her feelings, but all we see is someone who is creeped out and doesn't reciprocate those feelings. Then, there is a scene in Revenge of the Sith when Padmé is brushing her hair on the balcony of her apartment and the two of them exchange some of the worst dialogue I've ever heard. But there is something missing and I didn't realize what it was until I myself had been in a relationship: there are standing apart with no physical intimacy. When two people are in love, they have a tendency to be physically close and have small moments. Could be an embrace, could be holding hands, simple little things. Watch Empire and you see it with Han and Leia. Now, if this was meant to show that they were drifting apart, that the love they shared before is already dying, that would be fine, but considering the motivations later on, it just doesn't add up.
But it's not just the acting. The dialogue is terrible and the story of it just doesn't work, especially on Padmé's side. In the beginning of the film, after one assassination attempt, she covered up the cameras in her bedroom. Why? Anakin's theory: "I don't think she likes me watching." Her life is in danger and she is more concerned about creepy Anakin than being assassinated. Even later on, during the whole packing scene, we have Padmé telling Anakin to, "Please stop looking at me like that. It makes me uncomfortable." He says, "Sorry m'lady," with an incredibly creepy leer. Not the best place to start a romance.
And finally, Anakin admits that he massacred a village ("...and not just the men, but the women, and the children too.") and did not show a single sign of remorse for his actions. That scene should have ended any possible romance between the two. There's "to be angry is to be human" and then there's being a kriffing psychopath.
All of this combined with the fact that Hayden and Natalie have no chemistry really doomed this from the start.

If you want someone to better illustrate this, I recommend the following videos:

Also, why did Lucas feel the need to have Anakin kill children TWICE. We aren't going to feel bad (an important element in tragedy) for an unrepentant child murderer when he gets his limbs chopped off and is roasted alive. We are going to cheer.
Wait...child murderer, severely burned, plot twist of being protagonist's father*, no one is sure of exactly who their father is...Darth Vader and Freddy Krueger have the same damn backstory!

That's not what the OP meant. It's depressing that the films aren't good.

*Wow, I had to reference Freddy's Dead, I hope all of you are happy.

 

Only from your point of view.

 

Again, he admits to massacring a village. Either you truly are blinded by nostalgia or you are a troll.

 

Again I failed at what I was saying, Anakin did massacred a village which was inappropriate. I was talking about your objectivity on these films, that's all.

 

Through time, I have sort of come to terms with the PT and kind of understand their purpose within the whole saga.

BUT in my opinion they are not as endearing as the OT.

I can see good points from Episode II and II, anyway. However, there are a lot of opportunity areas on the movies.

Regarding the romance, I have said it for a while: there is more chemistry in the Millennium Falcon kiss scene between Han and Leia than in all the scenes between Anakin and Padme. We can call it bad directing, bad acting, blame the dialogues or argue than Carrie and Harrison had more chemistry onscreen. But it is true. All of it. (LOL)