Poll: Why do you hate the Star Wars Prequels?

[Trivea]

Jar-Jar Binks, if we must be specific.

However, the movies were just... bad. I mean, I know Anakin was supposed to be unlikeable as a foreshadowing to his pre-Vader days, but seriously. They should have had the entire soundtrack done by My Chemical Romance and put him in skinny jeans for the whole second movie.

 

[Zykon TheLich]

I don't hate them, they were just completely forgettable, but then I'm not a star wars fan. Of the originals I suppose I like the first one best, it feels like a complete film, the empire strikes back feels like half a film even if it is good for other reasons, Return of the Jedi has Ewoks.

 

[BleedingPride]

i didnt hate them, i liked them for different reasons than i liked the originals

 

[Smurf McSmurfington]

Because they're dull, badly made and completely lifeless films that don't even follow the basic rules of filmmaking(which can be broken and in the process can improve the film, provided the film director is good at what he does, but that just wasn't the case here).
Oh yeah, and the script is so badly written and badly thought through that if George Lucas wasn't the one making 'em, the producers or whoever would've just sent the writer back to revise the script and make it useable. But since Lucas is a big name, they didn't dare, and in turn we got the horrendous prequels.

Though I don't see how the prequels can ruin the original trilogy... save for the fact that that idiot started digitally remastering and adding crap to the original trilogy. >_>
I'd imagine the original, non-mutilated trilogy is still available(I haven't looked but there MUST be a market for that, right?).

As for which film in the original trilogy was the best? Impossible to choose...

 

[Grey_Focks]

They were bad movies. I could go more in depth, but there's no point, as we've all seen the Red Letter Media reviews by now. Also, Midichlorians were a bullshit thing to introduce into that universe, but I'd rather not talk about this anymore....ever. Let's just say I stand by saying the prequels were nothing more than poorly written fan-fic, in my opinion. They just happened to be written by one of the worst fans of star wars there is....the creator.

 

[Sovvolf]

I think they just ruin a lot of the backstory of the originals. They try to ground the force in science, which destroyed all the mysticism of it. They contradict a lot of what is said in the originals and honestly, I just didn't feel any heart there. They really did seem like cash ins and a good example of why Lucas shouldn't have full rein over a movie.

Honestly, I know I might sound unoriginal with all this but plinket put it best for me. Well he does a better job of explaining my hatred for them. I just tend to ignore they exist though and get on with my life, if others like them fine however I don't so I don't watch them and to me those events never happened. I've recently pre-ordered the blue-ray editions of the original trilogy, could easily afford to buy the prequels too but I've decided not to and I'll just let them slide to oblivion.

Which is a shame because they did have a decent cast and as much as the Maul scene had little to no context I still found it to be a really good fight scene. However they just don't live up to the magic of the originals. Even ROTJ was better than the lot and that did quite the shark jump. Though I'll confess to thinking that ROTJ was the best next to TESB.

I also don't like the Martix sequels too which is for another topic but I consider them like the Star War prequels to be very much like bad anime.

 

[MrRetroSpectacles]

Episode 1 plus point: Darth Maul fight scene. Negatives: Everything else.
Episode 2 plus point: The sand people got a good stabbing for once. Negatives: Everything else
Episode 3 plus point: Obi Wan vs Anakin scene, Jar Jar absent. Negatives: Quite a bit, order 66 (some cult favourite Jedi from games/ comics wiped out as if they meant nothing, killing Samuel L Jackson.

Episode 4: Great movie. There was the out of place comedy fighter explosion when the fat bloke didn't pull up though.
Episode 5: Best movie of all, cave sequence was a little useless I guess.
Episode 6: *Activates flame shield* Kind of sucky by original standards, teddy bear revolution? Pointlessness of Stormtrooper armor exposed, Luke throws his saber away despite having only defeated one Sith, "cos it makes a point" or some shit.

Prequels were terrible, original two were brilliant, third was lackluster. The Ewoks were a foreshadowing of the Gungans that were to come it would seem.

 

[Mr Somewhere]

The prequel films are lifeless, there's no feeling to the films the prequel's cast of characters are laughable, wooden caricatures. The drama, the action holds no weight. I can't relate to the plight of Qui Gon Jinn (?). I can with Luke, regardless of how simple it was, you could feel Luke's desire for adventure.
The original films were a timeless take on a familiar story told by a man with a love for the craft. The prequel movies are the result of lifeless stitched together special effects and a man with a love of money.

 

[xXAsherahXx]

Episode One was pretty great for me. It had my favourite Sith besides Vader, Liam Neason, and very great special effects. Jar Jar was annoying after a while, but I didn't mind him.

Episode Two was fucking terrible mainly because of the romance. George Lucas shouldn't be aloud to do a teen romance, he isn't John Hughes. However, the battle scene with all the Jedi and Clones and explosions was the most epic battle I've ever seen in a movie. Especially the part with the dust covering everything but the blaster fire.

Episode Three took the flashy parts a bit too far. I really did appreciate how every part of the story fit in to introduce the Original Trilogy. The battle between Anakin and Obi-Wan was the most spectacular lightsaber battle of all time.

The Original trilogy was perfectly balanced in all areas of plot and action, but the prequels had a lot to offer as well, even if they weren't balanced.

P.S Episode VI is the best movie. Period. The struggle is at its climax, there's a huge battle on ground and space, famous lines exchanged, a rancor, and a sweet twist.

 

[Rin Little]

Episode 1 is the only one I really like to watch because:

1) I love Darth Maul, he's just one badass dude.
2) Anakin isn't some whiny, emo teenager yet.
3) You don't have to deal with the incredibly awkward romance between Anakin and Padme.
4) Qui-Gon-Jinn is my favorite Jedi ever.
5) The final lightsaber battle between Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, and Maul is perfect. Perfect score, perfect pace, perfect everything.

The rest are just meh. The only redeeming value to the rest is the final battle between Anakin and Obi-Wan, but even that gets ruined when Anakin starts screaming "I hate you!" again like a stupid, whiny, emo teenager. There's a good story behind all of it, but none of it is told or conveyed very well at all.

 

[Sovvolf]

I loved ROTJ for the final fight scene, it had loads of emotion and the music was great.

You and I same. Though I think that last... I don't know, 20 minutes is what makes that film. Skip to the part where [spoi- you know what fuck it this film as been out for years if you don't know this then you shouldn't be on the internet] Luke reveals to Leha that he's her brother and from that part the film is awesome. The final dog fight is a thing of beauty and the whole part up to and after the fight scene with Vader is brilliant.

 

[Sovvolf]

double post never mind.

 

[Jacco]

I hate Star Wars in general but I thought the prequels were better films because Lucas wasn't the sole writer or director like we was in the originals. He is shit at writing and shit at directing and is a classic example of "A good concept that was poorly executed."

 

[ZomgSharkz]

I saw episodes 1 and 2 when they came out and I was pretty young so at the time I thought they were fine. I saw 3 later on and I guess it was ok, but I still prefer the original trilogy by a long shot. Nothing in particular jumps out at me as bad in the prequels but I just liked the originals better.

Also, I want to say right away that this in no way means that I am defending Jar Jar at all, but why don't people like him? I'm indifferent to him, he seemed just like comic relief, but some people seem to harbor the most hideous hatred imaginable for him. I'm really just curious, why don't people like Jar Jar?

 

[Sovvolf]

I hate Star Wars in general but I thought the prequels were better films because Lucas wasn't the sole writer or director like we was in the originals. He is shit at writing and shit at directing and is a classic example of "A good concept that was poorly executed."

Erm... That's the other way round... George had full creative control and was the sole director of the prequel trilogy. George only wrote and directed the first movie and he had a lot of studio interference (which some will argue was a good thing).

One thing I will address while I'm here is the whole Maul love. While I admit that the fight scene is awesome and he does look badarse. The main problem with the character is that, that is all he exists for, to look cool and to have a fight scene. Other than that he may as well be non-existent. There is little other reason for him to be there. Though I guess he's the (as T.V tropes would put it) Dragon but still while he did look cool, he wasn't given much to do and thus the final fight with him just loses any chance it had of having any weight to it. Least not until the Qui Gon Jinn death but that's way too late into the fight for that.

 

[Delsana]

I don't.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

there are some good chunks from each of the prequels, but as an overall set of movies? they aren't very good, while in 4-6 they definitely held together nicely by themselves.

probably my favorite is 5 or 6, but i do "like" the prequels, enough to watch them again every once in a while.

plus liam neeson as qui gon? why oh why did you have to die in the first movie...

 

[spielberg11]

Hayden Christensen. He was a blank slate. If that guy's still getting work today, there is no justice in the world.

Also, while I believe Natalie Portman to be an incredibly talented actor (Black Swan, etc) she's had some incredibly terrible turns, like her horrendous English accent in V For Vendetta or her role this steaming pile of garbage.

There is no one relatable or human in the whole damn prequel trilogy. Christ, think of how much better Phantom Menace could've been if they had merely replaced a 9 year old non-actor with a cocky, streetwise Han Solo-like teenager for the role of Anakin.

 

[Neverhoodian]

hahahahahahaha!! I got a warning because I insulted what other people liked?!
Oh Escapist, you may be a hypocrite, but consistent at least ^.^

This whole forum is a discussion over why the original was the better. I respect that, but being in the minority of 'I prefer the majority of the new ones over the old ones', I have to feel insulted when I'm getting a warning because I think the original isn't better
Fuck you Escapist, now either ban me or warn me(AGAIN) for pointing out your hypocrisy, or let me voice my opinion in peace.

I think the issue was that you singled out the fans in your post. You can badmouth Star Wars as much as you want, just don't go attacking the people that might enjoy it.

I used to like the prequels when they first came out (I was a young, dumb teenager back then), but the more I watch them as an adult the less I like them. The acting is stiff and wooden, the special effects haven't aged well, the story is needlessly convoluted and the preexisting canon was absolutely butchered.

My biggest complaint is Anakin. I've always hated how Anakin is portrayed, even when I liked the films. Before the prequels came around, I envisioned Anakin as similar to Thor in the recent film adaptation: brash and impulsive, but charismatic and kind to those around him. Anakin in the prequels just comes across as a selfish, whiny douchebag to me. He was such an unlikeable character that I was relieved when he finally turned to the Dark side.

Then Vader does this,
and a part of me dies on the inside.

 

[DAPLR]

hahahahahahaha!! I got a warning because I insulted what other people liked?!
Oh Escapist, you may be a hypocrite, but consistent at least ^.^

This whole forum is a discussion over why the original was the better. I respect that, but being in the minority of 'I prefer the majority of the new ones over the old ones', I have to feel insulted when I'm getting a warning because I think the original isn't better
Fuck you Escapist, now either ban me or warn me(AGAIN) for pointing out your hypocrisy, or let me voice my opinion in peace.

I think the issue was that you singled out the fans in your post. You can badmouth Star Wars as much as you want, just don't go attacking the people that might enjoy it.

I used to like the prequels when they first came out (I was a young, dumb teenager back then), but the more I watch them as an adult the less I like them. The acting is stiff and wooden, the special effects haven't aged well, the story is needlessly convoluted and the preexisting canon was absolutely butchered.

My biggest complaint is Anakin. I've always hated how Anakin is portrayed, even when I liked the films. Before the prequels came around, I envisioned Anakin as similar to Thor in the recent film adaptation: brash and impulsive, but charismatic and kind to those around him. Anakin in the prequels just comes across as a selfish, whiny douchebag to me. He was such an unlikeable character that I was relieved when he finally turned to the Dark side.

Then Vader does this,
and a part of me dies on the inside.

ReallY?
Then I can say that the first one(episode 4) is one of the most overhyped films in cinema? That Episode 6 is a ignorant rehash of an idea that prooved succesful? That episode 5, which had a subplot that involved a woman being romantically involved with a man just to keep her in line or her own brother, also had more plotholes to earn the approval of the local council to get it tarmacadden'ed(spelling?) over

Yeah, its pretty stupid, and Chewie is soooooooooo annoying!! Jar Jar is infinitely better.
And Boba Fett, possibly the worst character EVER to become a 'cult icon'. Why? He is completley unneccesary. The entire series can go without him and it wouldn't change a damn thing.
Oh well, at least they created the original trilogy(chronologicaly)which led to some good action scenes and scenarios which had actors of reputable status and excellent results. Thank God I get to experience the greatness of marvel which is the REAL original trilogy and some crappy movies from the time of Margaret Thatcher's reign.
Seriously, FUCK Star Wars -_-