^ If people are going to condescendingly ask how the Prequels could be improved, asking the opposite question is absolutely "fair game".
What Are the Ways the Star Wars Prequels Could Be Improved???
- Thread starter VulcanMindBlown
- Start date
It's not condescension-it is a legitimate topic of discussion.
Also, there was a thread for OT improvement.
^ Not really, at least not as it's often presented.
I'm actually a fan of the prequels but you keep asking the same question on this thread over and over. Why don't you start a thread about it yourself?
^ Why does that conversation need its own thread?
Because this thread is specifically for the prequels.
Yes, really. Just because the presentation can be condescending, doesn't mean the subject matter is inherently so.
That already happened once.
To be fair.
ETA: Also, it already existed once. Now, it's about ten pages back or so, by my settings.
Presentation is everything; it's hard for people to pay attention to what's being said if the way it's being said is objectionable.
Because the conversation about ways that the Prequel Trilogy could have hypothetically been improved is presented in a way that is condescending and inherently biased against the Prequels as they exist, it's hard for those on the opposite side of that proverbial fence to legitimately engage in that conversation.
How about "Could the prequels be improved? If so, how?"
When I first enlisted in Trekbbs, there were a great many clickbait threads, often being started by the same people, starting a new one every once in a while with a slightly different title or theme, but essentially resulting in the exact same discussion, arguments, and flaming.
For instance "Why do/does _______suck?"
and "What would you change about______?" and so on.
This thread was once a heated discussion, but now it's like a firepit, burning its last embers, and every once in a while, someone walks back outside and tosses a few dry twigs into it.
Edit: actually, this thread only has a dozen pages, so I must be thinking of a different synonymous thread that ran concurrently.
When I first enlisted in Trekbbs, there were a great many clickbait threads, often being started by the same people, starting a new one every once in a while with a slightly different title or theme, but essentially resulting in the exact same discussion, arguments, and flaming.
For instance "Why do/does _______suck?"
and "What would you change about______?" and so on.
This thread was once a heated discussion, but now it's like a firepit, burning its last embers, and every once in a while, someone walks back outside and tosses a few dry twigs into it.
Edit: actually, this thread only has a dozen pages, so I must be thinking of a different synonymous thread that ran concurrently.
That would work, and is a conversation I, as a Prequel supporter, would be more than willing to engage in.
One of the first things that comes to my mind in terms of improvements that aren't based in bias would be a different, less potentially offensive approach to the practical realization and depiction of the Neimodians' voices.
I would also point towards finding a way to have kept more of AotC's initial Anakin/Padme on Naboo scenes and RotS' proto-Rebellion subplot involving Padme, Bail, and Mon Mothma.
^ There were numerous scenes of Anakin and Padme at the Naberries' and Padme, Bail, and Mon Mothma making their opposition to the war and Palpatine's policies known that were deleted from AotC and RotS, respectively; it wasn't just one or two small scenes that got cut for time.
That thread has passed me by. My mistake.
Then present it in a way less objectionable.
Again, the subject matter not inherently objectionable or offensive. So, if others feel that it is objectionable, then reframe the conversation. Which, if that opens up the conversation moreso, that's fine. In fact, I've learned a lot from @Reverend and @WebLurker in terms of perspective on these films through these conversations.
Right now, the difficulty I've seen is that the counter argument against Prequel critique is to immediately throw out the Original Trilogy for critique, rather than exploring why individuals object to the Prequels. It's a matter of sharing another's perspective.
At least, that's what I've taken away.
Return of the Jedi is the worst film of the Original Trilogy and isn't as good as Rogue One. Come at me, nerds.
I can live with that assessment.
I've never been one to rank things best to worse, especially not entries in a larger narrative; one may as well rank the pages in a book. That said, while I tend to agree that RotJ is somewhat weaker than the previous two, it's not by much.
On the positive side it demonstrates real growth in the protagonist. Luke in RotJ is almost unrecognisable compared to the youth of the first movie. There's a stillness and self assurances about him. Similarly Leia seems to have calmed down some and found her centre.
A common compliant I hear is that the movie wastes almost it's entire first half with the Jabba scenes, where it could have spent more time with the rebellion's fight. To that I'd point out that the story of Star Wars has never been about the wars themselves. They've only ever been the backdrop to the adventure and drama of the main characters. Hell, when Lucas actually gave fans the political intrigue of a war in the prequels, they did nothing but complain.
On the positive side it demonstrates real growth in the protagonist. Luke in RotJ is almost unrecognisable compared to the youth of the first movie. There's a stillness and self assurances about him. Similarly Leia seems to have calmed down some and found her centre.
A common compliant I hear is that the movie wastes almost it's entire first half with the Jabba scenes, where it could have spent more time with the rebellion's fight. To that I'd point out that the story of Star Wars has never been about the wars themselves. They've only ever been the backdrop to the adventure and drama of the main characters. Hell, when Lucas actually gave fans the political intrigue of a war in the prequels, they did nothing but complain.
Last edited:
The Emperor scenes help save the film and give it the emotional gravitas it needs to rise above most of its structural and storytelling weaknesses and achieve the grade it does. Ian McDiarmid's iconic performance not only gave us one of the best in the entire film but also foreshadowed what a powerhouse he would be playing the younger version of Palpatine in the Prequel Trilogy. The Emperor almost steals the entire movie all by himself.
I've always enjoyed Return of the Jedi, but there's not quite enough setup, especially in light of the Prequels, for Anakin/Vader's redemption, or for the part that both Luke and Leia play in it.
Similar threads
