My thoughts on the Star Wars Prequels

My thoughts on the Star Wars Prequels 

 

Intro: Since this is the 20th anniversary of the prequels and the fate of Star Wars is in limbo, I decided to finally give my thoughts on this trilogy. The reason why I didn't talk about it sooner is that a lot of people badmouth the prequels, so I didn't think I can say anything new about them. Also, these movies are hard for me to review. Thanks to the recent state of Star Wars people are pretending that the prequels are good, I mean, starting to have a change of heart about the prequels. Now is a good time for me to talk about them. I'll try to focus on the major issues I have with this trilogy. If you haven't watched it, then don't read this post. I have one thing to say about Jar Jar Binks; when Watto and the battle droids are funnier than the comic relief character, something is wrong. 

When I first learned about the prequels. I was excited because we don't know the whole story of how Anakin became Darth Vader, the fall of the Jedi, and the rise of the Empire. However, looking at this in hindsight, did we really need this trilogy? I mean, we already know what will happen beforehand, which makes it hard to be invested in these movies. The prequels can work if they add context to what we already know; sadly, these movies drop the ball on that. Because of that, this trilogy feels like filler. Watching what happened in the past should be as good as hearing about it; if the movie doesn't do that, you know you screwed up. 

When I first saw episode one, I was confused because I noticed the inconsistency it has with the original trilogy. So I continued to watch the other two movies, and they made things worse. I don't think these movies are good, and after all these years, my views on them haven't changed. The first film has some entertainment value, but it's a waste of time because this movie adds nothing to the other films. The second film was a boring, written mess for the most part. The final film may be the best one out of the three, but that's not saying much. That movie was entertaining at times and dramatic, kind of. Despite how I feel about this trilogy, it did its job of introducing Star Wars to a new generation of fans.  

Whatever good things the prequels have going for it it's overshadowed by its flaws like dull and underdeveloped characters. Stiff acting, for the most part, slow pacing, boring politics, out-of-place dialogue, plot holes, and contradictions from the original trilogy. Both this and the original trilogy begin the same way, as far as starting off in the middle of an event that already happened; the difference is that we got a simple explanation in the original trilogy but not in the prequels.  

Thanks to outside sources I was able to understand the prequels a little bit better. 

                                                                                                  

However, this is one of the many problems I have with the prequels I shouldn't have to do research to figure out what the writers are trying to establish, establishing stories and characters is the writer's job. 

Just like I shouldn't have to go to an arcade to unlock special features in a video game. 

This is a trilogy, not homework assignments, also if it's not in the movie then it's not in the movie. Sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself.    

Let's start this off by talking about Anakin Skywalker. I understand what Mr. Lucas was trying to do with this character, as far as telling a story about how anyone can fall to the dark side due to fear and selfishness. However, there are so many missteps with how this story was told. In episode one, we're introduced to Anakin as a child slave on Tatooine. You'll find it hard to believe that he's a slave because he's a bright, cheerful kid with hopes and dreams. He's also a pilot, how in the world can he do that if he's not tall enough to fit in the cockpit? He has friends, a home to go to, and he builds things in his spare time. Does this sound like a slave to you? Anakin also has a high midi chlorians count. I'll get back to that later.   

Watto (Anakin's owner.) is chummy with him and when he sees him again in the next movie, he's happy to see him, ask him to help him out and apologizes for selling his mother. Why would he do that if he enslaved him and his mother? Speaking of his mom, am I the only one uncomfortable with the idea of his mom being a Virgin Mary clone? When Padme asks him are you a slave, he got offended you can say that he's in denial about being a slave. Introducing us to Anakin as a child was a mistake because a lot of kids are like this if they're raised properly. Even if he was an evil little bastard people wouldn't like the idea of wanting a child to die unless he's Hitler. Plus, being a slave doesn't seem to have a negative effect on him as far as we know. That's a shame because I like the idea of him being a slave because this helps parallel him with his son, both of them were stuck on Tatooine for different reasons. Also, this would explain a lot of things like his anger, being accessible to the darkside and the mindset he has in the next movie.      

This characterization of Anakin will serve no purpose in the next film because he completely changed off-screen in that movie. In episode two he's a juvenile delinquent who lusts after Padme. To be fair I would want to sweep her off her feet too. If you didn't see the first film you would think he's already on the dark side because he's disrespectful at times, resents Obi-Wan, thinks he can solve problems with dictatorship and he committed mass murder. Why is Anakin becoming Darth Vader suppose to be tragic again? To be fair I know why Anakin is like this but I'll get into that later. ( The Jedi Quest books also give us insight into why Anakin is like this.)     

In episode three he's a Jedi knight who chummy with Obi-Wan. He's also conflicted about the Jedi and worried about losing Padme (She's his wife now they got married at the end of episode two.) How is he a Jedi Knight? Vader told Obi-Wan when I left you, I was but a learner now I am the master. (To be fair I can buy him becoming a knight because of the Clone Wars.) Why is he upset that the Jedi council didn't make him a master? He gains knighthood towards the end of the Clone Wars, what makes him think he can get that title in a short time? Plus, he knew that they wouldn't give him that title, so what was he mad about? Where is the mistrust in the council coming from? I'm not saying he doesn't have a reason to think that however there's no build-up to it. This plot point was handled better in the episode 3 novel. If this is the same Anakin from the Clone Wars series, he shouldn't ask why he isn't a master because he was a rule breaker in that show and was comfortable with fighting the war. 

The scene where Anakin became Darth Vader was odd, I mean he knew what he did to Mace was wrong one second and the next second he joined Darth Sidious. Also, I wasn't that impressed with how Darth Sidious turned Anakin into Darth Vader, all he did was stroke his ego and prey on his fears. Plus, Anakin kind of has an inferiority complex which makes it easy for Darth Sidious to manipulate him. Another reason why I don't feel sorry that Anakin fell from grace is because he's either stupid or stubborn. I mean he was warned about the darkside so many times in films, cartoons and video games. He was even warned about how hard it is to be a Jedi. Would you feel sorry for someone who makes the same mistake over and over again, after someone tells them what they're doing is wrong? What's the point of asking Yoda for advice if you're not going to take it? (To be fair what Yoda told him causes more harm than good, but I digress.) 

I don't buy his friendship with Obi-Wan because If I can't call you by your first name then I don't consider you a friend. Plus, They spend most of their time separated. Whatever issues they had in episode 2 was resolved off-screen. Anakin said he views Obi-Wan like a father. I also don't believe that Obi-Wan is the reason Vader is wearing his black suit because when Vader saw Obi-Wan in a new hope he wasn't outraged with him. I understand why Anakin would blame Obi-Wan for his mother's death I mean he told Obi-Wan that he has nightmares about her. Instead of acknowledging his pain or comforting him, he ignores him. WOW! Good friend my butt. Anakin's friendship with Palpatine is more convincing than Obi-Wan that's saying a lot. Did he even try to free his mother or know about her death? 

The reason why I think Anakin is the way he is in episode two is that Obi-Wan was a padawan when he took Anakin under his wing. Despite Obi-Wan becoming a Jedi Knight later on Anakin doesn't respect him the way he would Qui Gon (Obi-Wans mentor.) because his knowledge of the force was limited, it's like a teenager raising a child on his or her own. Also, Obi-Wan was against Anakin becoming a Jedi, maybe Obi-Wan did or said something that gave Anakin the idea that he didn't want to train him. That wouldn't surprise me considering he didn't comfort Anakin about his mother and he was insensitive about Anakin being a slave in outside sources. 

I don't know if you have to be a master or not to train a padawan. Plus, Obi-Wan is guilty of doing some of the things he berates Anakin for like being reckless. Obi-Wan didn't say anything nice about Anakin in episode 2 and when he does he's condescending about it. So, yeah I get why Anakin was like that but it doesn't make him likable. I wish I could say that I'm glad that Obi-Wan took responsibility for Anakin becoming Darth Vader by saying I failed you Anakin because I don't know what he meant by that? He didn't admit the role he played in Anakin becoming Vader in the original trilogy.  

I wish Yoda would do the same thing because he also played a role in why Anakin became Darth Vader. In episode 2 he sense Anakin was in pain. I guess he didn't talk to him about it because it was never mentioned in the next movie.       

His romance with Padme was a joke compared to how it was handled in the novelization of episode 2. Anakin just wants to tap that... (My editor pop me upside my head.) I mean tap that heart with poetry. The romance in Twilight is better than this. (I'm just kidding I don't watch Twilight.) I don't get what Padme sees in Anakin. Speaking of Padme, she plays a role in why Darth Vader exist. In a scene in episode two, Anakin told her that he killed a village of sand people including women and children because they killed his mother. Instead of telling Obi-Wan or the authorities, she comforts him. What the fudge!?! I know he was outraged that they killed his mother however that doesn't justify mass murder. 

This is one of the good things about the prequels they reinforce that women want bad boys, you're a fool if you think otherwise but I digress. I know why these two love each other it's because they're both morons! When Padme confronts Anakin about turning to the darkside she was in shock. Where was this reaction when you first learn that he killed people!?!   

I was let down that the Jedi or Sith didn't do anything new with the force because the Jedi and Sith can do other things with the force like in the Expanded Universe. What's the point of showing us that if the creators are not going to put it in the films? Well, we kind of got some of that in the new Star Wars films but that's a topic for another time maybe. I can understand why people have a problem with Midi Chlorians because it makes Star Wars less of a Space Fantasy and more Sci-Fi. If the Midi Chlorians were used as an allegory for genes, it wouldn't have bothered me as it did everyone else. What bugs me about it is that it's distracting. 

Midi Chlorians are treated as a power meter in these movies.

          

Why introduce a new aspect to the force if the movies are not going to focus on it? We learn about it in the first film, the second film doesn't elaborate on the Midi Chlorians and it's mentioned in the last film. If Anakin is stronger than Yoda because of his midi-chlorian count, why didn't he become stronger than Yoga? I refuse to believe that Darth Vader couldn't become as powerful as he should have been because he lost his arms and legs, if Yoda can move around like a Tazmanian Devil then Darth Vader should be as powerful as he suppose to be. 

The force in the prequel films is treated like superpowers instead of a spiritual guide in the original trilogy. The Jedi can do the same things with the force and it's hard to tell who's the strongest without Yoda? Also, the force seems limited in the prequels. Do you see what I mean when I say that midi chorians are distracting? A Jedi shouldn't be defined by his or her midi-chlorian count or what he or she can do with the force it's about the type of person you are.    

   

Now onto the Clone War. Why is this war called the clone war if it has nothing to do with the clones? What's the point of the Senate being against a clone Army if it amounts to nothing? One of the gripes I have with the Clone Wars series is the war drags, I mean they could have killed General Grievous so many times but they didn't take it. This wouldn't bother me if the Jedi didn't do shady things in that series. Also dragging out a war is a waste of time, lives and money. This was addressed in an episode of the series. 

This war wouldn't exist of Darth Sidious said execute order 66 when everyone was on Geonosis. Let me get this straight this war started because the Separatists want to leave the Republic, are you kidding me? Who are the Separatists hurting by leaving the Republic? Leaving the Republic is not like leaving a Nation it's more like leaving an organization. We were told that this war represents a failure to listen; if we knew what the separatist want, it would make the war less one-sided. If you didn't want the Republic to fall apart, then you should have set it up better. 

How can the Jedi be OK with being a part of this war? Another thing is, how can they let themselves get killed off? They suspect a plot to destroy them, they learn about it after an investigation, and Count Dooku (one of the villains) tells Obi-Wan about it. In the Clone Wars series, they learn about Order 66, with all that information, the Jedi still played along with this plot. Why!?! Also, it's hard to be invested in this war when we saw the beginnings of it in one movie and the end of it in the next movie. In the opening crawl of episode 3, we were told that there are heroes on both sides. The problem with that is we don't see that in the movie or the series. We were also told that there is corruption in the republic but we don't see that either. Plus, we don't know the effects this war has on the Republic and the Galaxy in the movies. I understand this war is Darth Sidious's way of turning the Republic into an empire; however, the setup left more to be desired. 

I don't know if I would prefer the Thrawn trilogy's version of the Clone Wars. I mean it does explain why the Clone Wars is called the Clone Wars, but the conflict in this war doesn't sound interesting to me. Plus, it makes no sense for the Jedi to be involved in this war because it goes against their teachings. The writers of the original trilogy were going to build off the Clone Wars, but that idea was scrapped because the viewers would be left out of the loop. The Clone Wars should have been a throw-away line if the creators can't establish why this war was a big deal.   

      

Let's get into the Jedi and Sith. I was let down that the creators of these films didn't use Anakin to explain the Jedi way like the Original Trilogy use Luke to explain the force. We don't know much about the Jedi way because the movies didn't do the best job explaining that. We only learn three things about the Jedi way, they are Jedi don't kill people, they follow the will of the force and they have to devote their life to the Jedi order. Devoting to the Jedi order involves no attachments to people, things, or outcomes. 

This plays a role in why the Jedi council is against Anakin becoming a Jedi in the first place due to his attachment to his mother. It's too bad the prequels didn't focus on the life of the Jedi because that would have been an interesting character study, that lifestyle is hard like Qui Gon said. You have powers but you can't use them unless the council or the force tells you to. That means you have to let bad things happen around you including to people you care about. Also, you can't use your powers to better your life because the Jedi are selfless, they have to put others above themselves and others equally. 

The Sith always puts him or herself first, if you do that, you'll fall victim to the dark side. This is why the Jedi indoctrinate children at a young age because it's hard to convince grown-ups to live this life. Yes! It's messed up but they're helping them reach their full potential and preparing them to live a life without attachments. The Jedi are encouraged to love but not in a possessive way. After seeing what happened to Anakin in this trilogy shows why possessive love is forbidden, would you let the world burn to save one person you know? Even if you sacrifice a loved one for the sake of others can you live with the guilt of not being able to save that person?  

This is another complaint I have with the prequels they make it seem like everything is black and white and it's not, even Palpatine says what's right or wrong is a point of view. Yoda told Anakin fear is the path to the dark side, fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate and hate leads to suffering. I understand what he's saying however it's not that simple. Fear doesn't always lead to anger and this trilogy didn't do the best job at foreshadowing what Yoda said. This is why being a Jedi is hard because fear is the one emotion people are having a hard time controlling.  

Having emotions is not a bad thing as long as it doesn't dictate your actions. This reinforces why I think the characters are dull, most of the Jedi are emotionless. Just because you have the same outlook on life that doesn't we should have the same attitude about it. This is another thing the clone wars series fixed, the Jedi in that series have different personalities. 

Being selfish is not a bad thing as long as it doesn't hurt anyone. Do you think wealthy people become rich if they don't put themselves first? Serving others can cause resentment and it shouldn't come at the expense of not bettering yourself.           

This should have been the downfall of the Jedi having a civil war among themselves, instead of letting themselves get killed. Having Palpatine creates conflict with some of the Jedi by having them resent the Jedi order for robbing them of their childhood and not following the will of the force instead of serving the Republic. 

Qui Gon is the only Jedi as far as we know who follows the will of the force instead of the Jedi code whatever that is, this is why he wasn't on the council. The Clone Wars series shows the Jedi are at odds over the war and some of them are having trouble with not having attachments. The Jedi are suppose to bring balance to the force, not peace because peace and balance are not the same thing.   

How can the Jedi council members be on the council if they don't follow the will of the force? Even Mace Windu says they lose their ability to use the force even though they use it for combat. I don't think the Jedi Order is wrong there are benefits to how they do things however they took away people's choice to join the Jedi Order. If I was on the Jedi council I would suggest that there should be a trial to see if the padawans want to leave the Jedi order. I'm guessing the Sith not being around for a millennium caused the Jedi to lose their way.     

Since we're on the subject of balance do you know what bugs me about the prophecy besides the fact that we don't know who wrote it or what it says, it's that it makes Yoda look bad. What's the point of being the oldest and strongest Jedi if he doesn't know what the prophecy says and can't bring balance to the force? Wait! he can't be the strongest Jedi because Master Sifo-Dyes was the leader of the Jedi council. What kind of balance is this trilogy talking about? 

Are you talking about everything being even? That can't be the case because the Jedi outnumber the Sith a hundred to one. Is it the Yin and Yang balance that can't be it either because Palpatine said the dark side of the force is considered unnatural. If that's true, then the dark side is like a virus to the force. (Then again this would have more meaning coming from Yoda.) In Star Wars Rebels a character called the Bendu believes that the force would be balanced if there were no force users, are the prequels talking about that kind of balance? We don't know because were unclear about it.       

What is a Sith? I'm not being funny what is it? These movies don't explain their history. The only thing we learn about this they have been extinct for a thousand years and there are always two of them. Also, there was a Sith war.  

Overall, it's a shame that these movies turned out the way they did because they had the potential to be better than what they were. Really this trilogy should have been a three-book TV series like Avatar the Last Airbender because it's hard to incorporate everything the novels have done into movies. That's all I have to say about the prequels for now. Do you think they're bad or underrated?