TMD's Creatively Named Blog

I can totally agree on The Phantom Menace being a stronger movie than many give it credit for. One thing I love about it is that it is more lighthearted in many ways than the other Star Wars movies, which is fitting as it takes place in a somewhat less jaded time. The stakes are generally lower (one peaceful planet has been occupied due to a trade dispute, as opposed to a fascist tyranny effectively imposing its rule on large swaths of the galaxy), and the most obvious issues in government are bureaucracy and inefficiency, not corruption and malice. The Jedi are still a powerful force that commands a lot of respect, a goofball gag character is given a chance to prove his worth, and twice it falls to a plucky, spirited kid to save the day.

 

I've heard it said that A New Hope was inspired in part by the Vietnam War, and the idea of s rebels fighting against a much more powerful regime. By comparison, The Phantom Menace feels a bit more like a nostalgic, much less cynical vision of the 50s. This is apparent even in the starship designs, with Naboo's ships characterized by classy streamlining and chrome plating like a classic Studebaker rather than the rough and angular "used future" look of the Millennium Falcon or X-Wing. Anakin's precociousness is reminiscent of child characters from TV programs like "Lassie" or "The Andy Griffith Show", and the podrace (in addition its obvious Ben Hur references) echoes the early days of NASCAR.

 

Obviously I'm sure some of my enjoyment of Episode I comes from my own nostalgia, as well. Like you, I was eight when it came out, and was extremely excited about it. My brother and I spent a lot of time playing "Star Wars Episode I: Racer" on the N64, reading the movie's tie-in "Incredible Cross-Sections" book, collecting fast food toys from KFC and Pizza Hut, and trying to build podracers out of LEGO (I'm still sad that there have been so few podracer sets since the movie's release). By Revenge of the Sith, my enthusiasm for Star Wars had dimmed considerably, perhaps as much because of my getting older as because of the relative merits of the movies. Even so, I still think that Star Wars Episode I doesn't get a fair shake. It's a beautiful movie visually, and I think its differences from the original trilogy work for it rather than against it.

Are the prequels great movies? Not really. Are they good? Debatable. But darn it, they tried. I like the idea of really getting into the political messiness of the Republic and the Jedi, and showing the main character's fall from hero to villain. And I have mad respect for George not resting on his laurels and cashing in on nostalgia, but taking risks and trying new things.

 

(Just FYI, I love The Force Awakens and I understand that Disney was trying to win back the fanbase. But if Episode VIII turns into a remake of Empire Strikes Back, I think we'll have a problem on our hands)

So I clicked this blog entry thinking "maybe I could give this one a read" but after skimming the length and never ending bullet points I'm just like "lol nope"

 

Let me clarify: I just finished my weekend by completing the Alola Pokedex and I am still in a bit of a crazed mood.

 

But oh, I will get to reading this entry, be sure of that. But right this moment I am not in the right mood. Rain check.

For me, it goes like this:

 

The Phantom Menace: Pretty good movie IMO, just has a couple of problems. I have a lot of nostalgia for this movie, as a kid I got a lot of memorabilia, and the music has been immortalized for me because of Star Wars Battlefront II.

 

Attack of the Clones: You might as well skip half of the movie. The whole movie just felt like a drag but had a couple good scenes. christopher Lee was excellent in this, and I love the Death Sticks bit though.

 

Revenge of the Sith: I love the look of everything and like TPM the music is immortalized for me, but you are right that it is messy. Especially Padme. And the way Palpatine coined the name Darth Vader seemed like he pulled it out of his behind and liked the shape and gave it to  his friend. Obi Wan makes the movie IMO. Because I watched the original Clone Wars series, I had a real-time bridge to connect AotC and RotS that many didn't have.

 

 

The best part of the prequels however, is the music. In comparison, The Force Awakens had a weak soundtrack compared to TPM or A New Hope, and is one of the reasons why I hate it. Another great thin is the media surrounding the Prequels, like comic stories on clones and Quinlan Vos, and the animated series(plural) (the original still holds a place in my heart).

My brother and I spent a lot of time playing "Star Wars Episode I: Racer" on the N64, reading the movie's tie-in "Incredible Cross-Sections" book, collecting fast food toys from KFC and Pizza Hut,

Same, though it was Racer on the PC and I may still have those Gungan Sub squirt guns somewhere.

 

 

But darn it, they tried.

I may disagree here. 'cuz I think they had some ideas but never really tried anything with them (ie: Anakin and Padmé's 'romance,' the politicking, even Anakin and Obi-Wan's relationship)

 

 

 

So I clicked this blog entry thinking "maybe I could give this one a read" but after skimming the length and never ending bullet points I'm just like "lol nope"

 

Let me clarify: I just finished my weekend by completing the Alola Pokedex and I am still in a bit of a crazed mood.

 

But oh, I will get to reading this entry, be sure of that. But right this moment I am not in the right mood. Rain check.

It's okay. I still love you.

 

 

 

The Force Awakens had a weak soundtrack compared to TPM or A New Hope

See, I think TFA's soundtrack rivaled the prequels in someways. Where the prequels used music to get by TFA showed more restraint. Consider how it uses flourishes from the original trilogy and where it shows up The first time we hear the Force theme in TFA is a massive gut punch, whereas the prequels use it every third scene.

 

There's no 'right' way, just different ones with varying effects.

It's okay. I still love you.

 

*gasp*

 

A-Are we really at that level that we are using the l-word? Does your girlfriend know about this?

 

But anyway, I actually found this entry pretty enjoyable. I haven't seen the prequels in a while, mind you, so I don't remember everything. But there were some points I definitely agreed with.

 

Now then.

 

DOOOOOOOOOOOORK