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I wanted to pick back up on something I was talking about a couple days ago, and it started out being about how I don’t think Empire is a dark movie, and then it expanded to a meditation on how the Prequel Trilogy seemed to have lost its nerve compared to the Original Trilogy, and the fact that the PT seems less dangerous for our heroes overall, which may be a reflection on how we as parents are different from how our own parents were. In other words, it may simply be a reflection of the times.
Ultimately, I’m trying to understand the deeper reasons why a lot of folks who grew up on the OT are just not fans of the PT, and to go beyond the superficial stuff of “I hate the dialogue,” or “Taxation of trade routes? BOOOORRRRING!!!” and complaints like that.
So, related to the idea that there doesn’t seem to be as much danger to our heroes in the PT, is the fact that in the Original Trilogy, it was actual humans and creatures in danger, fighting against other humans (and a smattering of clones, which may or may not still be canon). In the Prequel Trilogy, it’s mostly humans and creatures on one side, fighting against robots on the other.
Phantom Menace? Robots against the Gungans, robots against Padme, robots against the Naboo Starfighters. Attack of the Clones? There’s actually not a lot of large-scale action in it! Just two intimate fights with Zam Wessel and Jango Fett, I know the Geonosians fought a little bit in the coliseum at the end against the Jedi, but it was really more about the Battle Droids and, holy cow, SUPER Battle Droids! And when the Clone Troopers show up, the Geonosians beat feet, leaving the robots to fight…again…
And the robots are comical! When you think about The Terminator, to go the other way, now there’s a robot that actually elicits dramatic feelings in the audience. Trade Federation Battle Droids? Not so much. Not at all, in fact. They’re even more incompetent than the non-straight-shooting Stormtroopers of the Original Trilogy. And that’s saying something!
Which would explain why there’s a general consensus that Revenge of the Sith is the best of the PT movies. Then, finally, the danger to our non-robot heroes is not from slapstick robots, but from compromised Clone Troopers and the worst of all nightmares: a Sith Lord at the height of the Republic power structure, corrupting and controlling the most gifted Jedi anyone has ever seen. Now, to use the term more literally than it tends to be used, there’s some real skin in the game.
To be fair, there’s also a lack of suspense in the Prequel Trilogy, part of which is not its own fault. When we OT fans know the heroes are going to survive, it’s not as compelling, is it? So to make up for it, the movies would have needed to find ways to surprise us, and they mostly did not. There weren’t really any “How the heck are they going to get out of this one?” moments. Unless that’s because we’re grown up and jaded moviegoers who’ve seen almost every trick and twist in the book? Could be…
I think that’s why folks who grew up on the Prequel Trilogy like them so much more – they get the opportunity to appreciate those movies in a way we OT kids are simply unable to do. And everything is suspenseful for them, even if the big surprise at the end of Empire is ruined.
Though I’ve gotta say, now that all six movies are out, and since George has a history of tinkering, it would be really easy to preserve the Empire surprise now. All you have to do is remove the scenes of Padme giving birth and the babies from Revenge of the Sith, and show them in flashback in Return of the Jedi, as Ben’s talking to Luke after Yoda dies. Easy, right? Then everybody’s happy!
Hahahaha…yeah…right. 🙂
Star Wars Fun Fact
Surprising or little known Star Wars tidbits, sometimes related to today’s Force Feature.Brought to you by our Patreon Page, today is Michael Giacchino’s birthday, and even though he didn’t get the job scoring Star Wars: Episode VII, being that he’s J.J. Abrams’ go-to composer and a frequent Disney collaborator, Michael’s still got Star Wars street cred, having composed the music for Star Tours: The Adventures Continue.
Life on “Tweet”-ooine
A featured dispatch from the Star Wars Twitterverse!#starwars Kenner Bossk action figure mail away packaging pic.twitter.com/2hxYZGvvJm
— Classic Star Wars (@ClassicStarWars) October 6, 2014
Star Wars Swag Bag
So many fun, quirky, and awesome ways to bring Star Wars into your daily life!R2-D2 Skirt – click the pic for details!
Trivia Time!
Test your knowledge of the Star Wars universe!Yesterday’s answer: The Empire Strikes Back, and he was originally played by Clive Revill.
Today’s question: What planet was R2-D2 on when he was obliged to eject a stream of muddy water from one of his dome ports?