I grew up with Star Wars, but unlike a lot of fans, I actually started with The Phantom Menace. I was eight years old in 1999, and the experience of seeing that movie did more to propel me into watching the Original Trilogy over and over again than any marketing campaign ever could. I was, quite simply, hooked. The releases of Episodes II and III completed my viewing experience, but before then, I had The Phantom Menace and its huge array of established plot lines to ponder. Starting from the beginning and then jumping ahead gave me a glimpse of the Empire and the Jedi-less galaxy that Palpatine would establish, but it wasn’t until first 2002 and finally 2005 that I would have my many “How did we get there?” questions answered.
This was the perspective that I brought into the “Why We Love The Prequels” panel at Celebration VI, which just wrapped up a few hours ago. My friend Bryan Young from Big Shiny Robot! gathered a great group of panelists in addition to myself: Kyle Newman, director of Fanboys and one of the Prequel Trilogy’s most articulate defenders; artist Tom Hodges; The Clone Wars animator Jesse Hildreth; and actress Clare Grant. Behind the Scenes Stage host Pablo Hidalgo also brought his unique production-side experience to the discussion.
Each panelist’s unique background and personal connections to Star Wars kept the conversation from feeling like a rehash of itself. We also kept the conversation different from its Celebration V predecessor, drawing on new material for discussion like James Luceno’s novel Darth Plagueis. Everyone had also had two years to think of what they’d forgotten to say at Celebration V, so that certainly helped too!
The audience did their part by posing a handful of great questions. One person asked us what we thought of the duel between Mace Windu and Palpatine in the Chancellor’s office in Revenge of the Sith. Using that one question as a starting point, we delved into the very nature of Palpatine’s plan itself, explaining how his patience, his keen understanding of Anakin’s weaknesses, and his unique ability to manipulate the Jedi Order cemented his ability to bring about young Skywalker’s fall.
All in all, “Why We Love The Prequels” was an excellent case study in how passion for Star Wars can translate into an informed, engaging, and hopefully enlightening conversation. We all wish we’d had more time to discuss our love for the Prequels, but that’s what Celebration VII will be for!
Eric Geller is a college student with a political science major who manages social media and writes The Clone Wars reviews for TheForce.Net. You can follow him on Twitter and read his TCW reviews here.
Tags: Celebration VI, movies, prequels, star wars
Great read!
I grew up with the original trilogy, but these days I love the prequels just as much.
With me there is no need for discussion or debate because I LOVE ALL OF THE STAR WARS movies, from THE PHANTOM MENACE to RETURN OF THE JEDI. The Star Wars Saga is one of the greatest stories ever told since the story of King Author and The Knights of the Round Table or any Greek mythological tale, it is immortal and timeless and will be George Lucas’s greatest and most enduring contribution to American and worldwide culture. MAY THE FORCE BE WITH US, ALL.
The trouble with the prequels is that they aren’t put together very well. Yes, there are numerous bits and pieces that are great, but they can’t make up for lots and lots of lose threads and a rather elevated number of not very well thought through developments. Just take Anakin’s fall: It’s been 7 years since Revenge of the Sith, and by the life of me I still don’t understand why he started killing younglings. Or what the line “I agree. The Jedi’s first move will be against the senate” was all about. Why? Because quite obviously there are two versions of Anakin’s fall right in that scene – one dealing with a guy who wants more power, the other dealing with a guy who happens to be in love. Put together they make no sense whatsoever. And that’s supposed to be the central point of the entire saga. Which could lead me to accusing George Lucas of doing terrible things to my childhood, but that would be lame and childish. Instead I’m just disappointed that he obviously didn’t think his own story through.
Now, if that were the only example, I wouldn’t say a word. But there’s much, much more. Why did Dooku show up out of nowhere when he could have been introduced in The Phantom Menace? Same thing for Grievous, Zam, Typho und half of Padmé’s maids. Why was Jar Jar turned into a less than secondary character in episodes 2 and 3 after the first film had developed him in extreme detail? Where did Aurra Sing go? Why were the Jedi council members replaced badly by de-facto clone versions of themselves (Agen Kolar, Stass Allie, etc.)? Why didn’t we see the clone wars? Why didn’t we get to know Bail Organa or Alderaan? What was Padmé all about? Did she ever matter beyond her role as child-bearer for Luke and Leia? Why weren’t Mon Mothma, Ackbar, Dodonna, Rieekan or even Tarkin developed as actual characters?
The prequels threw stuff at us. Some of that stuff was great. Some of it wasn’t. Most of it just didn’t fit together. So love if you need to, but don’t just love because many fans prefer to hate. There’s nice stuff there. Take Jar Jar for instance: I happen to love the guy, mostly because he’s at least as clumsy as I am. But loving the whole package just for the nice stuff is a little implausible if you ask me.
Hey Aaron!
I personally love the prequels just as much as the rest of the movies, and I thought I’d try and answer a few of your questions:
Poor Jar Jar always seems to get bashed by everyone!
First off, I agree. Anakin does seem to have 2 different sides. I think the reason it was shown like that is Anakin was just as confused as the rest of us. Anakin felt like he was being treated unfairly–I mean, on one hand, the Jedi keep saying he is ‘The Chosen One’ and yet they refuse to make him a Master. That has to be pretty annoying. And then you have Padme. I think that Padme was really important to the plot, she was a lot more than just Luke and Leia’s mom. Anakin loved Padme, and obviously didn’t want her to die, which I think is really the main reason he turned to the Dark Side. After he was turned to the Dark Side his motives switched over quite a bit into his power hungry mode.
I think the main reason a lot of characters were not fully developed (or shown at all) in the prequels was that there just wasn’t enough time. I mean, seriously, I completely agree that I would have loved to see more of those characters, (it would have been awesome!) but I think it also would have been too many little things stuck together and would have made things confusing and way too long.
And that brings us to the Clone Wars. There wasn’t really any need to include the CW in the actual movies–I have a feeling maybe Mr. Lucas planned to make the CW TV series to fill all of that in, which I think was brilliant! I think the main point to the prequels was just to connect the dots and show WHY Anakin turned to the Dark Side–he really is the backbone of the story.
And about Jar Jar: I am happy to hear that!
Those are just some of my thoughts!
This is all really interesting. I understand where you all are coming from. Each of you have good points. Unlike most Star Wars fans, the first time I saw any Star Wars movies was three years ago. I watched them all in the order they were made. I ADORED second trilogy & hated the prequels. I thought Obi-Wan was too immature, Padme was a mere copy cat of Leia, and Anakin was a zombie. I watched them again twice. One day, I just watched them and appreciated it for itself and nothing else. I couldn’t get over how amazing I thought they were! Obi-Wan became my hero, I discovered what an amazing character Anakin was, and Padme (in my mind) truly began the inspiring legacy which was given to her children. These are incredible movies! Just because you didn’t like them your first time watching, don’t give up on them. The prequels have it all: humor, romance, adventure, drama, beauty, & tragedy. Don’t go comparing or you’ll be greatly disapointed. Revenge of the Sith provides the connection many Star Wars fans seek to the original trilogy. These movies are must-sees! But don’t take my word for it. Watch them yourself, and “The force will be with you… always.”
I saw Star Wars in ‘77 as a young kid and I would not be a fan of Star Wars in general today were it not for the prequels.
Whilst I still enjoy episodes 4-6, the prequels are far more complex and subtle, thanks primarily to Palpatine’s story.
One thing that’s never pointed out is that if the prequels were supposedly so bad, why were they financially so successful?
Why did I see so many other people there when I went to see The Phantom Menace in 3D earlier this year?
It’s because, as Celebration VI showed us, there’s the truth purveyed by a minority on the internet and there’s the actual truth of fandom in households across the world.
You sir are an idiot
Woot! Long live all the Star Wars movies — prequels and originals alike! <3
[...] Why We Love the Prequels Panel [...]
I can no longer appreciate the prequels without the original trilogy being restored, it’s a tremendous distraction. That supersedes everything and taints everything. If the prequels are similarly altered in 2019 I will feel the same.
Being born a few years before ‘77, I can happily say STAR WARS has been a significant part of my childhood and my adult leisure, the latter due largely in part to the Prequels and Mr. Lucas’s very personal reflection in them. George got a little older, a little wiser, so did his films. He changed and so did the generation that grew up with the OT. It’s my perspective, that no longer did he identify himself as much as the rogue cog, rebelling against the larger, Empirical Machine, but instead identified more with being a father and issues of family. His children became his focus. The Prequels, in their own way, reflect that. The story of Anakin as the “chosen One” reveal every parents wish for their children and limitless potential, however, the same Achilles heel (fear of loss & desire for control) can affect anyone, as it has been illustrated in art originating back to the Greek eras. What is endearing to me about the Prequels is the reflection of this tragedy and the inspiration to identify and learn about the great literature and works of art that inspire it. The OT will always hold a singular, special place in my heart as a story of adventure and finding ones path in life, but the PT boldly, and to me effectively, conveys that sense of “a larger world around us” that we all benefit from, and yet, have a responsibility to be good custodians of.
“When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”
-Mark Twain
Eric – this was one of my favorite sessions at CVI. You and the rest of the panel spoke words, sentences, concepts, defenses that I have been using and posting with for years.
1. That the PT can not be like the OT; there is no room for a Han Solo – this is the Jedi Knights in their glory years but it’s serious business. Rumblings are already happening – it HAS to be all about politics. This is how the Republic ends, not with a bang but with a whisper…
2. That Palpatine is the ulitmate sandbagger. Patience might be a Jedi virtue but no one used that to better effect that Palpatine. Manipulating the Jedi, the Senate, the Separatists, Amidala/Padme (I believe her guilt contributing to her broken heart demise – it was Anakin but it was also the knowledge that she was a key player in elevating Palpatine to ultimate power and therefore sowing the seeds of destruction for everything she believed in). Even Yoda….which brings me to
3. The discussion that wasn’t addressed at the session – that if even Yoda was blinded how could others see? But part of his “blinded by the dark side” defense was an excuse – that he REFUSED to see – the arrogance he accused other Jedi of was part of his own hubris. and it pains me to say this because I love my little green friend.
4. and lastly – that I believe George intended for us to see the morals, the warnings in the story. Be careful who you elect…try to see the real motives – is it power? Is it control – is that the candidates’ engine, their raison d’être? An informed public – an educated, voting populace. You will only find this aspect of Star Wars in the prequels. Which is another reason why I love them and always will.
The fact that there is such a thing as a “Why we love the Prequels” -panel at all, speaks for itself. I doubt the OT ever needed such a thing.
The prequels made money because the OT was great enough to create people so into this universe they had to give each movie a shot, in the vain hope of getting some of that back.
Know what? If you’re so sure about that, I say that TESB and ROTJ only made money because ANH was great enough to create people so into this universe they had to give each movie a shot, in the vain hope of getting some of that back.
I hate these kind of baseless statements, really. Google Gallup, google CinemaScore. People LIKED the Prequels and they STILL do, as 100 Million rerelease box office show (short after a HD-home-release).
No franchise film can make 1 billion just for merits. It’s impossible. To make 1 billion, you need the convey a far greater audiences than fans from 20 year old movies.
The Prequels: I love ‘em. I don’t care who hates ‘em. Seems that some have turned Prequel hate, into an avocation. I ain’t interested in joining the “Cool Kids” club; never have, never will.
George did the right thing; he stuck to his guns and told the story the way he wanted it told. He didn’t make a “Hollywood Film” – he made a “Lucas Film”.
There are more than enough Hollywood films out there, for the average hater to masticate on. If you hate the Prequels so much, then why post on every message board about it? Grow some balls and walk away from what you supposedly dislike.
I’m 38 years old and grew up with the OT. I love the prequels just as much as the originals. But, I can understand if people do not like them, that’s your right and I am cool with that. The thing that I will never understand is that the prequel-haters also seem to hate those of us who do like the prequels. They seem to have made it their mission in life to make us know how stupid and wrong we are to like the prequels. I just don’t get why they can’t just deal with the fact that we are happy with the prequels. I also cannot stand that the haters claim to speak for all us who grew up with Star Wars. I’m sorry but that is simply not the case. There are millions of us my age who grew up loving the OT and who live the prequels just as much. Just because there is a load group of people who troll the Internet comlainng
WOW! Finally some real, true blue fans. It’s funny about the haters, they seem to pop up more than us fans. Constantly reiterizing their hate for the prequels. MAKES ZERO SENSE. They hate those flicks, yet they don’t have the balls to leave it alone, like a spurned lover, they come back and continue to look the fool.
The ones too complaining about the SE changes are just as insane. If changes that amount to roughly 6 minutes for 3 films can alter your entire experience, that’s all on you because the films do not change a damn thing; even Greedo shooting first, a lame change yes, but it doesn’t change the big picture.
Hated and despised movies do not continue to make money. Star Trek would be the perfect example, no matter how much good will the original cast had with its fans, they hated Star Trek 5 and later Nemesis. Just because a movie has a brand name on it, doesnt mean it will sustain itself IF it’s supposedly hated and reviled and deemed the worst thing ever by the virgin-geek elite, as was TPM.
Midichlroians work because it shows how caviler the and ultimately stupid the jedis were, refusal to believe in the person, refusual to train the person properly, to make sure they had good character, (like Luke, unlike Anakin). Jedis saw it as mere biology that anyone can and should use it, which proved very dumb.
Yoda teaches Luke to revere it, be patient, don’t use it for selfish reasons. The crybabies say it reduced the Force in the OT to mere biology… NO IT DID NOT. Only in those movies, but for good reason, to show how abusive they had become. NOT concentrating on the individual. There is a reason Jinn never mentions the Darkside…
I think the prequels are better than the originals. They are certainly better done; Special effects, acting, plot, etc. They were thrilling. Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, and Hayden Christenson made it all the more appealing.
But it’s still a matter of opinion.