894 replies to this topic

[seawolfnyy]

It occurred to me that we don't have a Star Wars thread (or at least not one that I could find). So here it is.
A few months ago I rewatched all 6 films in the proper order 4,5,6,1,2,3 and I realized a few things.

1. 13 years later, Episode I is not all that bad. Forgive Jar Jar Binks and the gungans and skip over the pod race and it's actually a pretty decent film (at least compared to Episode II).

2. Episode II is easily the worst. Nothing happens for roughly an hour and a half.

3. Natalie Portman is lovely, but is just plain terrible in all 3 films (and not particularly good looking in Ep3).

4. Any scene between Padmé and Anakin is just painful. The dialogue is bad and terribly acted.

5. Episode III is better than Return of the Jedi.

6. George Lucas cannot write dialogue to save his life.

7. Episodes IV and V are still far and away the best.

8. The special editions still need to burn in hell!

 

I'd rank the films:

Star Wars: A New Hope

Empire Strikes Back

Revenge of the Sith

Return of the Jedi

Phantom Menace

Attack of the Clones

 

Curious to see how everyone thinks.

[007jamesbond]

I think the original trilogy including ROTJ is far superior to the Prequel and I agree with you but ROTJ and ROTS switch that all......but I think Empire strikes back is consider to the best by many over A new hope aka Star Wars

 

The Empire Strikes Back

A new Hope

Return of the Jedi

Revenge of the Sith

Phantom menance/Attack of the Clones 

[FutureJamesBond]

1. A New Hope

2. Return of the Jedi

3. Empire Strikes Back

4. Revenge of the Sith

5. The Phantom Menace

6 . Attack of the Clones

 

 

This clip from Revenge of the Sith...hilarious.

[seawolfnyy]

 

This clip from Revenge of the Sith...hilarious.

Yea, the dialogue is cringe-worthy at times. Even in the originals.

I think the original trilogy including ROTJ is far superior to the Prequel and I agree with you but ROTJ and ROTS switch that all......but I think Empire strikes back is consider to the best by many over A new hope aka Star Wars

I know that most do consider Empire better, I just personally like the original (A New Hope) more. The reason I rank RofS ahead of RotJ is mainly due to RotJ's terrible third act. It has 3 battles going at the same time and jumps around so much that it just hard to follow. It also goes on way too long. And the ewoks...those damn ewoks.

[Iceskater101]

Well the three original are obviously the best, I have to say that episode 3 is definitely my favorite Star Wars recent film. I love how it ties into everything! I actually will say that episode 2 is better than episode 1 because I love how they are sitting in the arena and those creatures attack them and everyone just breaks out and fights with their sabers. It is pretty bad ass.

[FutureJamesBond]

Forgot about that part...that was pretty awesome.

[Shaun Forever]

1. Return of the jedi

2. The empire strikes back

3. STAR WARS

4. Revenge of the sith

5. The phantom menace

6. Attack of the clones

 

 

Of all the abuse the prequels gets, I think 'Attack of the clones' gets off extremely lightly.

Edited by Shaun Forever, 28 December 2012 - 10:12 PM.

[Trevelyan 006]

The original trilogy is quite obviously better than the prequel trilogy. As noted.

 

1 - The Empire Strikes Back (strictly due to the Luke/Vader Cloud City battle and the inclusion of Dagobah & Yoda)

2 - A New Hope (very close second)

3 - The Phantom Menace (Qui-Gon Jinn is undeniably awesome)

4 - Revenge Of The Sith / Return Of The Jedi (Enjoyed the eveolution of Vader and full Jedi Luke... c'mon)

5 - Attack Of The Clones (bland in comparison to any other entry in the series) 

[seawolfnyy]

Of all the abuse the prequels gets, I think 'Attack of the clones' gets off extremely lightly.

It really does. I think Phantom Menace has a worse reputation, but Attack of the Clones is the worse film.

[Shaun Forever]

Agreed 100%!

 

 

I remember loving Episode I at the cinema, albeit I was about 13 or 14, but I still enjoy watching it today, feels like a

Star Wars film.

 

 

Attack of the clones I was absolutely gutted with, it has it's moments, but I honestly cannot remember the last time I watched it.

[hcmv007]

1. Empire Strikes Back

2. Revenge of the Sith

3. A New Hope

4. Return of the Jedi

5. The Phantom Menace

6. Attack of the Clones

 

 

 

With a new trilogy coming out any thoughts as to who should play Luke, Leia, Han & Lando? The only actress I think would be a great Leia is Keira Knightly. No clue for the other parts

[seawolfnyy]

With a new trilogy coming out any thoughts as to who should play Luke, Leia, Han & Lando? The only actress I think would be a great Leia is Keira Knightly. No clue for the other parts

From what I heard, supposedly the new trilogy is going to take place a long time after the original trilogy, meaning Luke, Leia and Han will all be much older. I think they are talking to Hamill, Fischer and Ford about returning too.

[thecasinoroyale]

For me, it has to be:

 

1) A New Hope

2) Revenge Of The Sith

3) The Empire Strikes Back

4) Attack Of The Clones

5) Return Of The Jedi

6) The Phantom Menace

 

 

All good films, even great, in their own way - very excited for the new saga with Episode VII!

[thecasinoroyale]

EMPIRE Online spoke to Ewan McGregor about his new film "The Impossible" but had time to muse over Episode VII. I'd love to have him back as Obi-Wan.

 

http://www.totalfilm...ars-episode-vii

 

 

Although don't know how, as the older spirit of Obi-Wan was last seen at the finale of 'ROTJ' so it would appear silly to de-age him. Unless they make McGregor as old as they can in the guise of Sir Alec? Interesting possibilities!

 

Can't wait to start hearing some official developments though.

[Shaun Forever]

I'm just not confident at all.

 

 

What surprises me is how everyone is so hyped for it, forgetting the disappointment of the prequel trilogy.

 

 

Hope I'm wrong.

[seawolfnyy]

EMPIRE Online spoke to Ewan McGregor about his new film "The Impossible" but had time to muse over Episode VII. I'd love to have him back as Obi-Wan.

 

http://www.totalfilm...ars-episode-vii

 

 

Although don't know how, as the older spirit of Obi-Wan was last seen at the finale of 'ROTJ' so it would appear silly to de-age him. Unless they make McGregor as old as they can in the guise of Sir Alec? Interesting possibilities!

 

Can't wait to start hearing some official developments though.

I'd be fine with that. He was one of the few positives of the prequels. I'd also love to see Liam Neeson return as Qui-Gon. It was a crime he never showed up again in either Episodes II or III.

[coco1997]

What surprises me is how everyone is so hyped for it, forgetting the disappointment of the prequel trilogy.

Lucas wrote and directed the entire Prequel Trilogy. He will not be writing or directing any of the new films.

 

Hence, there is hope.

[hcmv007]

Actually Episode 7 will take place a few years after ROTJ so there will be new people playing the main characters. There is no way Harrison Ford would return as Han Solo unless Disney offered him ownership of Disneyland AND Disneyworld.

[seawolfnyy]

 

What surprises me is how everyone is so hyped for it, forgetting the disappointment of the prequel trilogy.

Lucas wrote and directed the entire Prequel Trilogy. He will not be writing or directing any of the new films.

 

Hence, there is hope.

 

So what you're saying is there's.....A New Hope?

[FlemingBond]

My list..

1. Revenge of the Sith

2. The Empire Strikes Back

3. A New Hope

4. The Phantom Menace

5. Return of the Jedi

6. Attack of the Clones

i'd be regarded as an old fan at this point, and i can see the good and bad in all. i think people have gotten way, way too wrapped up in Prequel bashing. I mean i am a huge Bond fan as well, and i think Die Another Day was probably my least favorite Bond film, following some decent ones. But i didn't go on the internet and obsess  and act like  my life came to and end. (plus i really enjoyed, and still enjoy the phantom menace)

[seawolfnyy]

I agree with that. I certainly don't want to hate the prequels. Episodes III is actually pretty good (minus all of the vomit inducing Padme/Anakin scenes) and Episode I is enjoyable enough. The only one I really hate is Episode II. It's overly long and boring and contains so much of the terrible Padme/Anakin romance. I also certainly don't hate Die Another Day. I want to like it so much. I think a different director might've helped a lot.

[FlemingBond]

yes, the director was part of the problem

i think Attack of the Clones could be edited better, tighter, and it could lose one or two boring scenes.

[seawolfnyy]

I think if Episode II were to go the QoS route and be cut down to a much shorter film, slightly more action heavy and had scaled back the romance it could improve it a lot. All of the Star Wars films are incredibly long, but this is the only one that really feels incredibly long.

[FlemingBond]

it's 14 minutes longer than The Phantom Menace. The scene with Anakin and Padme talking to the new Queen of Naboo for instance is kind of boring, and really ads nothing, other than informing the viewer that Nute Gunray wasn't convicted.  The opening scene in Palpatine's office was too long and could be cut down to opening when Padme enters the room. Her scene before the Senate was cut out, and actually had a little drama to it. Anyway those are just a couple of examples.

[seawolfnyy]

The scene with Obi-Wan asking Yoda and the kids about the missing planet could've been cut to. I mean would he really not figure out that it was deleted from the archives? Also, where on Earth did they dig up Hayden Christiansen? He has to be one of the worst actors ever. My cat could've done a better job. Actually, that's an insult to my cat.

[SecretAgentFan]

Now, now. Christiansen is a fine actor. Check out "Shattered Glass" - he´s brilliant in it.

[thecasinoroyale]

I agree with that SAF - "Shattered Glass" is one of his best roles. I did enjoy him more as Anakin in 'ROTS' to be fair, he seemed more comfortable in the role and given a far meatier and exciting journey with great scenes.

 

The sequence with him and Padme, looking out to each other in Coruscant from the Senate building and her apartment...beautiful moment.

[SecretAgentFan]

While I prefer the original trilogy, obviously, because those were the films I grew up on, I never thought the extreme hatred against George Lucas was justified at all.

 

Yes, the prequels are different. Because they tell a different story. Because they were filmed in a different time for movies. Because they do not offer the balancing of idealistic characters with a more cynical "Han Solo"-protagonist (which IMO made the original trilogy work so well).

 

But this is how George Lucas, the creator of STAR WARS, wanted them to be.

 

And, quite frankly, everybody has a choice to like the films or not. If not, it is just their personal preference - but not the fault of George Lucas. He made the films he wanted to make. But some people react to it as if these films were theirs.

 

They are not.

 

Still, those people go out of their way, claiming that they would have made the "right" films, better than the guy who dreamed up this universe in the first place. And also, they blame everything they can, to justify their hatred. Oooh, the dialogue. Ooooh, those actors. 

 

Total overreaction.

 

Like this post, maybe.

[seawolfnyy]

I never hated Lucas for anything he's done. Well maybe Crystal Skull, but this is a Star Wars thread. The only one of the prequels I really can't stand is Episode II. I is far better than people give it credit for and III is actually really good. I think they could've been improved if Lucas had brought in some better writers to polish his scripts and definitely recast Padme and Anakin. The rest of the cast is great. Sam Jackson is masterful as Mace Windu. Neeson as Qui-Gon and McGregor as Obi-Wan are excellent. The basic story of the prequels is actually quite good as well. If you leave the romance behind, they are all about political unrest and corruption. You've got the taxation of trade routes creating unrest in the Senate. A charismatic leader coming to power and planting a seed that slowly creates discourse and corruption within the government until he is finally able to completely take over. Remind you of anyone? Say Hitler and Nazi Germany? Personally, I think the films could've been improved vastly if Lucas had just had someone edit his scripts in the way Mendes brought in Logan to polish Skyfall's script from P&W. Maybe then the romance scenes wouldn't have been so cringeworthy.

[Hockey Mask]

TPM was hooooooooorible.  That kid was the worst actor since the kid who played Ritchie on The Dick Van Dyke Show. 
TPM < AOTC < ROTS.  But even ROTS wasn't up to par with the first trilogy.

 

I wish the whole storyline had been simpler.  It was supposed to be a fairy tale in space but it was all about taxes and ambassadors and just too poitical.