Spoilers The Controversial Star Wars Opinion Thread
- Thread starter fireproof78
- Start date
Yeah, 1977's Star Wars (and the Lucas concept in general) only works because of the very out in the open religious forces in opposition to each other, how they are repeatedly displayed as having more bearing on the past, current and likely outcome of the war, and as you point out, a prophecy--in this case, the rise of a young man of religious destiny/power--is the one and only reason for the survival of the ill-equipped Rebellion / making the first significant (arguably terrifying) blow to the Empire since its foundation.
For certain reasons, some want to separate the religious/supernatural from SW and its impact on all events in the series, particularly the OT, which is the equivalent of expecting a car to function as only the body sans all which makes it functional.
No is one saying the Force is not important to Star Wars. It's only that the first film had a more grounded feel to much of the technology than later installments.
This does not mean that the Force has no supernatural or impact on the rest of the series.
This does not mean that the Force has no supernatural or impact on the rest of the series.
Sure. In the original film, the Force clearly has effects, but they’re relatively minor. Everywhere else, the Force gets bigger and splashier.
The grounded technology is there in any installment, regardless of what is done with the Force.
There is a far different feel in A New Hope than in the following films is all I'm saying. Nothing taking away from the supernatural.
A New Hope takes place in 1970s SF World (as do early tie-in stuff such as the Holiday Special, the newspaper comic, the early Marvel comic, and the early novels); everything else takes place in The Mythic Landscape Of Star Wars, a different beast.
The Phantom Menace is by far the best movie because of the Darth Jar Jar/The Mule theories. There’s so many small things to notice that were hidden in plain sight for years.
Episode I does age and improve better than the two next Prequels. It's also the last SW film shot on traditional film stock so its grainy, lived-in look and feel definitely helps sell the movie's story.
True.
I believe the countering point is that the supernatural runs the table in Star Wars--the pivotal events in the film are largely due to / framed by the supernatural players. Everything else exists to support the actions of the supernatural players.
I just think ANH takes a different approach to it than what occurred as the series progressed.
Not lesser, since that seems to be the constant misinterpreting of my argument, just a different focus.
..or watch TPM and forget the other two. TPM ended clearly pointing to every direction and outcome of the next two movies.
I have mixed feelings about the Disney's output for the Star Wars franchise. However, I do like "Solo" more than "Rogue One". And along with Seasons One and Two of "The Mandalorian", I prefer "Obi-Wan Kenobi", "The Acolyte" and "Skeleton Crew" a bit more than the other Disney+ productions.
Which is how I've always regarded Thrawn and Cad Bane - overused and meaningless.
Which is how I've always regarded Thrawn and Cad Bane - overused and meaningless.
I am always amused by the comments that "Oh, the current Dudsney output is so mixed," and I'm sitting here going "It's always been mixed." Very rarely did I see a consensus around all Star Wars content being "100% good." Even within the OT, ROTJ was considered the outlier by a wide margin, especially after ESB.
The Ewok movies were regarded very poorly, or a "so bad its good" type of idea.
The Prequels were treated horribly, especially Episode 1.
The list goes on. So, for me, having a mixed output of Star Wars is pretty much a feature, not a bug. I don't have any qualms with the lower rated items because I still get some great entertainment. The Prequels gave some incredible designs, especially Naboo. The Sequels gave some very enjoyable characters and awesome moments. The Ewok films are proving, with Skeleton Crew most recently, to bring in a lot of alien designs and work.
No matter how "bad" (I use the term loosely given the subjective nature) the output is Star Wars still manages to be very enjoyable.
Wake me when I just stop watching or reading, like I did with Clone Wars and the books.
The Ewok movies were regarded very poorly, or a "so bad its good" type of idea.
The Prequels were treated horribly, especially Episode 1.
The list goes on. So, for me, having a mixed output of Star Wars is pretty much a feature, not a bug. I don't have any qualms with the lower rated items because I still get some great entertainment. The Prequels gave some incredible designs, especially Naboo. The Sequels gave some very enjoyable characters and awesome moments. The Ewok films are proving, with Skeleton Crew most recently, to bring in a lot of alien designs and work.
No matter how "bad" (I use the term loosely given the subjective nature) the output is Star Wars still manages to be very enjoyable.
Wake me when I just stop watching or reading, like I did with Clone Wars and the books.
And it wasn't direct towards you. A general observation that I've had of Star Wars opinions since Disney took over.
I haven't read the whole thread, but here's my controversial opinion:
The Empire Strikes Back ruined the series.
To be clear, I love the movie. I've enjoyed every Star Wars movie to a greater or lesser degree. But none of them come close to being Star Wars (1977). That film captures the old fashioned space opera of it all in ways some entries don't even try. It's a singular experience, a sometimes alien creation, operating at its own pace and with its own set of rules, while harkening back to the serials of old.
The series could have continued in that vein, a lot of its imitators did. But The Empire Strikes Back injects a great deal more soap opera than space opera into the proceedings. To the benefit of that movie, arguably, but to the detriment of everything to come. The feeling of being dropped into a random movie serial is gone, in favor of the melodramatic reveal. Vader is Luke's father! Leia is his sister! C-3PO is his... brother? Kylo Ren is his nephew!
The Phantom Menace arguably comes closest to recreating Star Wars space opera, leaning very heavily on the faerie tale elements that are present but stylistically downplayed in the original, but even it can't help add to the soap opera family tree of it all (as noted above). Much as I've enjoyed Star Wars as a series, I sometimes wish it was just its own thing.
(EDITED TO ADD: Catching up on the last few pages and it looks like this might not be a totally controversial opinion around here after all, lol.)
The Empire Strikes Back ruined the series.
To be clear, I love the movie. I've enjoyed every Star Wars movie to a greater or lesser degree. But none of them come close to being Star Wars (1977). That film captures the old fashioned space opera of it all in ways some entries don't even try. It's a singular experience, a sometimes alien creation, operating at its own pace and with its own set of rules, while harkening back to the serials of old.
The series could have continued in that vein, a lot of its imitators did. But The Empire Strikes Back injects a great deal more soap opera than space opera into the proceedings. To the benefit of that movie, arguably, but to the detriment of everything to come. The feeling of being dropped into a random movie serial is gone, in favor of the melodramatic reveal. Vader is Luke's father! Leia is his sister! C-3PO is his... brother? Kylo Ren is his nephew!
The Phantom Menace arguably comes closest to recreating Star Wars space opera, leaning very heavily on the faerie tale elements that are present but stylistically downplayed in the original, but even it can't help add to the soap opera family tree of it all (as noted above). Much as I've enjoyed Star Wars as a series, I sometimes wish it was just its own thing.
(EDITED TO ADD: Catching up on the last few pages and it looks like this might not be a totally controversial opinion around here after all, lol.)
Last edited:
What?
I had enjoyed the "soap opera family tree" aspect of the Prequel Trilogy very much. Which is why I disliked how the Sequel Trilogy had played out, and Disney labeling it as part of the Skywalker saga.
Yes, indeed. It has a pace all it's own.
It's always interesting to look at it differently. Vader as Luke's father adds a much different feel to the saga, and arguably led to greater excesses in the later films.
Similar threads
