I've got a bad feeling about this

[stephbg]

In common with large chunks of fandom (now there's an image) I went to the cinema to see the three Star Wars prequels when they first came out. Ever since then I've been meaning to watch them again, for surely it was only the weight of my expectations that made them seem so awful? Yes, III was better than II, and II must have been better than I.

Comments

[rabbit1080]

Although Jar-Jar was a spectacularly irritating character, he did make a convincing pastie for that Senate plot. (I have no intention of ever re-watching the so-called movie, so I can't clarify that statement any further)

[stephbg]

But why leave such an idiot in a position to do so much damage?

[stephen_dedman]

Remember who the US President was at the time? Nuff said.

[angriest]

One of the things that genuinely impressed me about Episode III was that Lucas, after lowering expectations so heavily with I and II, suddenly threw in this very direct and savage criticism of Bush's government - directly equating the Republicans as Palpatine and the Empire.

[baby_elvis]

I read the second and third movies as an insightful portrayal of emotional domestic abuse between Anakin and Padme.

[stephbg]

I get the fear and the abuse, but I don't see the justification in the script for why she married him in the first place, unless it was for lust. Because we can't have nookie in the wookie universe can we?

[stephen_dedman]

It was the marriage that got me. If the twins had been conceived during a "well this is it, we're going to die" moment, and Anakin had then lost contact with Padme, I would have found it much more convincing, and we would've been spared so many of the worst scenes of Episode III.

[angriest]

It really is a horrific relationship - although it does oddly make Darth Vader a lot more realistic in retrospect.

[angriest]

The Skywalker farm has been called the Lars Homestead since 1977!

[stephbg]

Good!

[angriest]

Note I can't defend other things in Episode II...

[stephen_dedman]

I can defend the chase scene at the beginning and the fight between Jango Fett and Obi-Wan. After that, forget it.

(I've already suggested a Swancon panel on when certain series should have stopped, but we could probably also have one on movies where you could walk out early knowing you've already seen all the good stuff. Lifeforce after Mathilda May leaves the building, Episode II after Qui-Gon vs Jango, Episode I after the first DAA-da DAA-da-da-DAA-da and 'Star Wars' title but before the mention of the trade embargo...)

[leecetheartist]

I don't understand why people in these high budget films - Harry Potter - Star Wars prequels - can't interact with graphics - it is possible!

Who Framed Roger Rabbit did it brilliantly.

[angriest]

Lord of the Rings too.

To be fair the Star Wars prequels got a lot better in this regard in Episodes II and III. It was Phantom Menace that had everyone looking over Jar Jar's shoulder - I just figure none of them were comfortable looking him in the eye.

[stephen_dedman]

The only moment where I thought Jar Jar interacted well with the others was when Qui-Gon grabbed his tongue. Admittedly, I would have been far more impressed with the special effect if he'd then ripped it out and the character had been mute for the rest of the film, but it was one of the film's few highlights (and possibly the only one that didn't seem to have been put in as a promo for a video game, though now that I think of it

[angriest]

Have you seen the Robot Chicken Star Wars special? It's got the Darth Vader meets Jar Jar scene you've always wanted.