Why Do People Hate the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy?

[Mach5]

19 years ago I went into that theater room open-minded and without any preexisting notions about what a SW prequel should be like. The Phantom Menace thrilled me with its lush visuals, wonderful sci-fi scenery, gorgeous production design, and superb music that in my opinion remains unequaled to this day.

I don't hate the prequels. They were flawed, but they were art. Lucas tried something different in each of them; some of it worked, some of it didn't.

 

[Set Harth]

Our only example is the Skywalker family, which is a special case given Anakin's conception.

Yet when Qui-Gon has realized Anakin's Force potential, he immediately asks about his father - before hearing the first word about his immaculate conception.

 

[fireproof78]

I don't hate the prequels. They were flawed, but they were art. Lucas tried something different in each of them; some of it worked, some of it didn't

No matter what, I have a great deal of respect for Lucas and him pursuing the films he wanted to make.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

So many problems. So many problems.

Tip of the iceberg is Jar Jar, of course, the extremely unfunny comedy character who belongs more in a Saturday morning cartoon show than a Star Wars film. But all the attempts at comedy were tacked on and unfunny. Stilted one liners, coughing robots, forced sequences like C3P0's severed head.

Most of the action sequences were also poor. Set pieces with no role in the story except to make the characters do something, fill time, and set up more merchandising. Like in Galaxyquest, the scene with the mashers and smashers. The characters could have burst out at any time "Wait, we shouldn't have to do this! THIS SCENE IS BADLY WRITTEN!" The pod racing, getting stuck in the lava cannisters breaking into the area. They had to do stuff for the sake of making them do stuff to fill time. The action sequences were everything wrong with 00s action sequences, designed around showing off the tech and gaudy visual distractions.

The basic events of the story were fine. The same story outline with better writing would have been fantastic. But the entire trilogy is like a "What not to do" demonstration for efficient storytelling, compelling character development and engrossing action sequences.

 

[fireproof78]

The action sequences were everything wrong with 00s action sequences, designed around showing off the tech and gaudy visual distractions.

One friend of mine called them "experiments in digital filmmaking." Perhaps that helps sum up your point?

 

[suarezguy]

Tip of the iceberg is Jar Jar, of course, the extremely unfunny comedy character who belongs more in a Saturday morning cartoon show than a Star Wars film. But all the attempts at comedy were tacked on and unfunny. Stilted one liners, coughing robots, forced sequences like C3P0's severed head.

The original film had a lot of cartoony comedy as well, including one-liners, from both robots and the protagonists. How is Jar-Jar or C-3PO's dialogue in the prequels that different from "Don't let me catch you following me"/"This is all his fault, he tricked me into going this way!"?

Most of the action sequences were also poor. Set pieces with no role in the story except to make the characters do something, fill time, and set up more merchandising. Like in Galaxyquest, the scene with the mashers and smashers. The characters could have burst out at any time "Wait, we shouldn't have to do this! THIS SCENE IS BADLY WRITTEN!" The pod racing, getting stuck in the lava cannisters breaking into the area. They had to do stuff for the sake of making them do stuff to fill time. The action sequences were everything wrong with 00s action sequences, designed around showing off the tech and gaudy visual distractions.

The factory fight in AotC did feel pretty inserted and useless but how was the pod race thrown in just to take up time? It made sense that the ship needed parts and Republic money wasn't accepted so they needed another method to leave and Anakin was both skilled and willing to help.

 

[BillJ]

The original film had a lot of cartoony comedy as well, including one-liners, from both robots and the protagonists. How is Jar-Jar or C-3PO's dialogue in the prequels that different from "Don't let me catch you following me"/"This is all his fault, he tricked me into going this way!"?

Because the Jar-Jar material never really feels like a fit for a movie essentially about a trade dispute. It felt like the character was inserted for the ability to sell action figures to kids.

Then there's the racist Jamaican accent for a character that is a buffoon.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Given his childish characteristics, I thought that Jar Jar came off as a bizarre attempt to make The Phantom Menace more relatable to children, especially during the scenes that didn't have Anakin, not that that and selling toys would be mutually exclusive.

 

[Set Harth]

Then there's the racist Jamaican accent for a character that is a buffoon.

Pretty sure that's not what Jamaicans sound like.

 

[fireproof78]

Pretty sure that's not what Jamaicans sound like.

A racist exaggeration then?

 

[Set Harth]

Not sure that's the sort of thing Ahmed was going for.

 

[Mach5]

Because the Jar-Jar material never really feels like a fit for a movie essentially about a trade dispute.

This is just as ridiculous now as it was 75 repetitions ago.

 

[BillJ]

This is just as ridiculous now as it was 75 repetitions ago.

I can only speak from my point-of-view. For me, Jar-Jar was a bad fit for the movie.

 

[Smellmet]

I can only speak from my point-of-view. For me, Jar-Jar was a bad fit for the movie.

The Phantom Menace would be a decent movie without Jar Jar, and would be looked on a lot more favourably now I think. There's not a lot wrong with the rest of the movie IMO.

 

[Mach5]

I can only speak from my point-of-view. For me, Jar-Jar was a bad fit for the movie.

I'm talking about the false assertion that TPM is a movie about a trade dispute.

 

[nightwind1]

One word:

Midichlorians

 

[Smellmet]

The original film had a lot of cartoony comedy as well, including one-liners, from both robots and the protagonists. How is Jar-Jar or C-3PO's dialogue in the prequels that different from "Don't let me catch you following me"/"This is all his fault, he tricked me into going this way!"?



The factory fight in AotC did feel pretty inserted and useless but how was the pod race thrown in just to take up time? It made sense that the ship needed parts and Republic money wasn't accepted so they needed another method to leave and Anakin was both skilled and willing to help.

The pod race still holds up pretty well today I think (bar the stupid humour with the commentators which has no place in the SW universe) but I think the droid factory sequence and the C3PO one liners in the Geonosis arena are the worst scenes in all the prequels for me, and really hurt ATOC, which I find to be an otherwise decent film.

 

[Smellmet]

One word:

Midichlorians

Never bothered me at the time or now.

 

[Campe]

All of the prequels needed a once (or three times) over by a writer who wasn't George Lucas. That being said, the overall story isn't bad. And honestly, I find TPM in the best shape of the three. Yes, it has problems. But, well, look at the rest of the PT.

 

[BillJ]

I'm talking about the false assertion that TPM is a movie about a trade dispute.

However you see it, it doesn't change the fact that The Phantom Menace was a pretty poor movie.