Am i alone-TPM?

[Stargeezer]

Have these 2 items from Back when i worked in the videostore.

That poster is huge, it measures 1,6meter X 1,2meter.

If anyone is intrested in these let me know.

 

[Princess Raya]

George Lucas himself explains where he went wrong with the PT:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykmZp5cgbkU

 

[_Lee_]

Can't stand any of the prequels. As weasel has already and I concur, to me they don't exist! Plinkett's reviews of all three some up my feelings exactly.

This has been a great read, and this comment stood out which made me think.

As most know i dont like the ideas of the sequel movies and spin offs. However bad the PT was it did link to the OT as in we saw why and how Anakin became vader. AOTC is by far my least favorite. However, the new movies may well stink as bad as the PT, but they have had to come up with new ideas. There is also no continuation between the PT-OT-ST. Lets take the new Stormtrooper armour, i myself find it ****ing awful. In the PT the clonetroopers etc were all clean and immaculate, then the OT they had the good look we all love and now they have gone back to immaculate.

Anyways, im not gonna bleat on about the ST, and i really hope it proves me wrong but i just fear for it. I thi the crashed xwing/SD in the trailer was done to sucker people in, and im really hoping Ford doesnt tarnish his Han Solo legacy with a poor show, as was done to Indy in KOTCS. Its such a shame to see people reviving characters they were cherished for :

Ford-Indy
Stallone-Rambo 4 and Rocky 6
Arnie-T3

Im just hoping and praying that it all goes well....

 

[SublevelStudios]

Great thread, and I'm sure discussed countless times.

I HATE the prequels with every fibre of my existence - they are a dreadful exercise in movie marketing at it's height. Nothing about them had soul or passion. Lucas was surrounded by yes men (and women). He had far too much control on the films.

Sometimes it's best not to know, to keep things mysterious, to make your own mind up about the origins. Showing Vader as a child is unforgivable, any fear that character imposed has gone. Do we really need to see how Vader became Vader?

The whole PT could have been done in one film, instead of dragging it out to 3. It was confused and boring at best, soul-less and stupid at worst.

The new films would do well to stay as far away from anything of the PT as possible.

 

[lee gray]

When the movie first came out i actually went with my parents as it was a big event.
Loved the kfc promotion food packaging which i collected and got the heavy duty window display posters and cups, was great fun and seeing life size maul and jar jar in KFC , also seeing the new figures in the toy shops, unfortunately watched the film again just the other day and apart from a few scenes with maul, i thought it was terrible.

I am really looking forward to the sequel though and a few spin off movies but if they are going to make too many spin offs its going to dilute the coolness of it all .

 

[ODB]

That's what I'm hoping for, but deep down I'm resigned to another disappointment

Having seen JJ Abrams track record i have zero confidence in the new films. I have no doubt they will replicate his previous efforts and loads of people will lap it up but I will find them utter dross.

 

[naughtyjedi]

The prequel trilogy made the ewoks ultra cool. Before it came out, I was always a little nervous about even stating that ROTJ was a serious star wars film. Most people of my vintage just said Empire and Star Wars were the films.

heres my rewriting of the PT.. always fancied doing a rewrite.. here's my amateur attempt. Only read it if you are really, really really bored. I mean, really bored.. I just got carried away really..

episode 1 - The Phantom Menace
Through the force, the jedi order are alerted to this destructive teenager on a far off planet (not Tatooine). Yoda and Obi wan go off to find him. We get to see how powerful yoda is as when he finds this guy, he's literally ripping buildings and scenery to shreds in anger. Yoda has to try and get through to him, as he's spinning out of control using raw force power. We find that his girlfriend and mother and all the women in his village have been kidnapped by slavers (or something). After winning his trust and stopping him with opposing powers (real epic scenes of danger), Yoda takes him off the planet back to the jedi temple. Anakin manages to tune into the force, take control of the ship and goes after the slavers. He disables yoda and he tracks the pirate/slave ship down. He causes so much mayhem that his mother is killed in a hostage situation. He then goes apeshit on everybody there, tearing into the whole ship killing pretty much anybody.. yoda recovers just in time to prevent him crushing the entire planet as he cant actually control his raw use of the force. Obi wan wins the day by finding his girlfriend (Padme) and it calms him down. love story - thats the pay off so that he doesn't wipe out small moons when he gets in a mardy fit. Obiwan admits that whilst it's (knobbing birds) against the jedi way, we have to rethink etc..

The jedi order are seen to be harbouring a terrorist of sorts and are warned this youth cannot be controlled and the jedi order are seen as a danger. The Senate leader who states this, is then revealed to be only a weak minded puppet, controlled by a shady figure (darth sidious) in a hologram. An already produced clone army will be used to stand up against the jedi and remove them to allow the senate to rule unopposed - in a democratic way. The film ends with shots of Anakin being trained alongside the amassing of vast clone forces.

No Binks, midichlorians, trade federations, Boss Nass or silly Queens. Lots of destruction.. Padme can be a hot peasant girl..

episode 2 - The clone wars
Anakin and Obi wan buddy movie.
Anakin is attacked during jedi training in the temple by two sith apprentices, in the battle, Anakin levels several blocks and destroys a part of the city. Killing the sith, but this is used to reveal the Jedi as dangerous and uncontrollable.
Darth Sidious using his puppet Senate leader has revealed an enormous clone army and it smashes the crap out of coruscant and attacks the jedi order. Sidious and his apprentice (i didnt mind darth maul, but the clone wars version was the better one.. he was a nasty bastard) takes the senate over, police state-stylee, and instructs to 'anyone who cares' for the safety of one and all that the jedi must be wiped out, everyone agrees (with guns to the head). The senate leader is murdered by Sidious.
Jedi v Clones, lots of war and loads of death, planets getting ****ed over as it appears an unlimited amount of clones are unleashed to hunt and kill the jedi.
The Jedi flee and send out a beacon to warn the jedi to regroup. Yoda and Anakin using Bail Organa's inside links go to coruscant to kill sidious and his apprentice as the only way to end the war. We have an epic face off across the city, and see the monster powers of Yoda and Sidious as they go face to face and the apprentice and anakin go at it. anakin kills the apprentice in a blink of an eye and goes to help Yoda, as they combine to defeat sidious, he manages to get into anakins head and puts visions of padme dying. Distracted, sidious frazzles both yoda and anakin with lightening and escapes.
With anakin mortified at what he's seen, they retreat as more clones in star destroyers and huge battle ships take over coruscant, burn down the temple and we see Jedi temples and dead Jedi across the galaxy. Yoda has a sad face..

No cloud cows, lots of WARS, a bit of senate stuff, but more political betrayal.. real downer to the ending.. ala ESB.

episode 3. The last stand
starts on a barren planet with the last of the jedi having amassed. anakin is refusing to use his powers, padme is now preggers, and states he wants to live a peaceful life, away from war etc. Obi wan warns him that his link to the force is too strong and must stay. Anakin becomes angry resentful and is never happy with the arrangement. He never asked to be a Jedi and now everyone is in danger because of him. the vision from sidious still haunts him and he's not shared it with yoda.
force users are being hunted down by yoda and obi wan and trained. we are led to believe a new jedi order is in place, but yoda realises whilst sidious is around, the jedi will not be able to sleep easy and must prepare to be fighters and destroy sidious and his huge army. Anakin and obi wan do not think it can be done and suggest the jedi order disbands. sidious has won. but yoda is not having it, "fight we must.. the dark side cannot be allowed to win etc "

Anakin and Padme have been talking and Anakin convinces himself with the encouragement of his 'about to burst girlfriend' that the only way to stop this if he confronts Sidious and kills him. he escapes and heads to coruscant. Padme is certain of Anakin's powers and wants him to end this.

we have an epic space battle where Anakin mashes loads of clone fighters, flys into a star destroyer and takes it over. He flies hell bent towards coruscant. a glorious battle with star destroyers ensues and even though damaged, he crashes it into the city and as he gets angrier the more awesome the scenes. its a face off between Sidious and Anakin. Sidious questions why he is not with his wife as she is in danger being looked after by the jedi order which will soon be extinct. "You should have left with her when you had the chance, the jedi will be responsible for her death. only by using the dark side can you save her from her fate, i have shown you the future." Anakin again has the vision and this time its real. the New Jedi order are being attacked
"join me and her death will just be a vision... "

Anakin panics and the anger starts to build. "join me boy, end the jedi order and you'll no longer live in fear" with sidious goading anakin, he explodes in force lightning screaming angrily

cut to Padme screaming on an operating table giving birth with some crappy droids helping. then the jedi order are attacked at night by a clone army, the building is damaged and Padme is injured and trapped. Padme has given birth to luke and leia, and she screams for the babies to be protected. obi wan confers with Yoda that the only hope for future jedi might be in those children and they must be protected. Yoda takes the babies and escapes as the Jedi cover him as they prepare to die. obi wan asks her where is Anakin, as she drifts off..
theres a rumbling and the clones stop shooting. Sidious and Anakin land and Anakin is crackling with force lightning

he screams as he marches towards the hold out, Obi Wan is there. they argue and Anakin rages that if the Jedi had allowed him to leave she would be fine.. he aims force lighting at obi wan and he defends himself and they fight for a while, Sidious retreats as it all kicks off again. the building protecting padme is destroyed and anakin stops and falls to his knees.. he can feel that Padme has died - he explodes in anger - tearing the planet apart as the planet starts to implode obi wan pleads to him to stop and see sense.. fire is everywhere, obi wan is terrified.. him and anakin then battle it out trying to get to a ship, clone troopers are falling into the firey planet core. Anakin stands watching obiwan escape into the sky in a ship as flames engulf him as she shouts how much he hates him and blames him..

sidious returns for anakin and we cut to the darth vader assemblage, but theres no screaming, just sidious coaching him in his new persona. "we will hunt the Jedi pestilience and eradicate if from the galaxy", "yes my master" Darth agrees, with a very sad but determined tone.

No saying NOOO, no Binks, no trade federation, no arise lord vader, no killing kids.

 

[Dantooine]

They're three of the worst films ever made.

I don't think George Lucas realised what worked about the original trilogy. Certainly in Star Wars you get the feeling Harrison Ford isn't taking the whole thing too seriously so he's having fun with it, as are the rest of the cast - which we relate to and brings us into the story. (whilst George pulls his hair out in the corner).

Come the prequels Lucas thinks the reason for the success is because of what he wrote, now he can do what he really wants, with complete control, and what do we get? The most boring stilted, turgid films ever made. Zapped of all energy, humour, and anything that actually looks like a galaxy far far away. They're a dreadful showreel for ILM. Nothing looks real, everything has been digitally altered, graded and ****ed about with. The fool Lucas even shot AOTC and ROTS on video that now has a lower resolution than 4k tv's.

There are people who like those films because they're "Star Wars"... But really they're not. They may have lightsabers in them, and a thing that looks like Yoda, and a few names that are familiar, but the prequels have nothing to do with the original trilogy.

Plinkett is right about everything he says. If anything his reviews could be even longer as there's so much wrong... Darth Vader building C3-PO...

I also think this is why The Force Awakens has got such a buzz. A lot of fans thought Star Wars was dead, well and truly killed off by the prequels, but it seems like we have something that at least looks like the original trilogy, all be it a modern version. And this time made by someone who hopefully understands what worked about those old films.

 

[jedisearcher]

I think people are getting confused with the good/bad of TPM, and the nostalgic feeling of waiting for TPM. It was great waiting for TPM, but then the results weren't what most people wanted (me included).

Loving the excitement of waiting for TPM (and now TFA), might be making the actual TMP film itself feel better than it really was. All I can really remember about watching TPM live was "why are the nemoidians talking Chinese", "wft, midichlorians, no really WTF!!" and "Jar Jar NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!", and the god awful CGI in the final battles.

Don't get me wrong, there are decent bits. The lightsabers coming on in the gas filled room, Jabba flicking his dinner into the crowd but for me the excitement of waiting for the film really didn't live up to the film hype itself.

I've got no doubt TFA will be better.

 

[Grant]

Lee to partially answer your question tho. The build up around TPM was awesome. As a fan it was an amazing time with the thought of a new Trilogy looming. My son was 6 when TPM hit the cinema. Two things that the prequels did do that was positive was get my boy introduced to SW and it made me dig out my childhood collection and start collecting Again. The boy and I would watch the OT regularly around that time. Shame the prequels didn't live up to the hype that surrounded them. Good times tho regardless. Again just my 2 pence worth. G

 

[sith-smith]

How much of the hate people have for TPM is due to it's failing to live up to the hype or for it being a genuinely bad movie?

I'm definitely no great lover of the PT, but I worry the TFA will fail to meet the hype that's being created, irrespective of whether it's a good film or not.

 

[Fishtalk]

Apart from the film itself, the worst thing about TPM was the fact that while most of the world got to see it in May '99, we had to wait until July. By then it was all over the news just how bad it was, so I went into the cinema that day knowing it sucked. Had I not been forewarned, would I have liked it more?

 

[zombiemedia]

Apart from the film itself, the worst thing about TPM was the fact that while most of the world got to see it in May '99, we had to wait until July. By then it was all over the news just how bad it was, so I went into the cinema that day knowing it sucked. Had I not been forewarned, would I have liked it more?

I'd wager that if you hadn't been forewarned you would have hated it more. At least going in knowing it sucked lowered your expectations accordingly...

 

[SublevelStudios]

How much of the hate people have for TPM is due to it's failing to live up to the hype or for it being a genuinely bad movie?

I'm definitely no great lover of the PT, but I worry the TFA will fail to meet the hype that's being created, irrespective of whether it's a good film or not.

IMO it's just a terrible movie. The only thing that was any good was the soundtrack, and let's face it, John Williams could record a turd hitting the floor and it would sound awesome.

 

[weasel]

How much of the hate people have for TPM is due to it's failing to live up to the hype or for it being a genuinely bad movie?

I'm definitely no great lover of the PT, but I worry the TFA will fail to meet the hype that's being created, irrespective of whether it's a good film or not.

IMO it's just a terrible movie.

Seconded.

In all seriousness, name ONE good thing about the film. Besides the traditional SW, elements (lightsabers, jedi, music etc). Give me one new element that was any good.
All I can think of is Darth Maul, and he was barely in it and was part of the most over choreographic fight scenes ever.

 

[phreatobite]

I don't get the praise the duel of the fates fight gets; it was a silly dance routine, and looked utterly ridiculous.

I didn't get into all the hype at the time and only saw the film a few weeks after it's release... it is a genuinely bad film.

 

[Clarkspie&chips]

The only good thing about any of the prequels was the soundtrack and I think that's because John Williams was the only creative that George actually listened to.
Everything else about them is complete and utter guff and in my star wars world they don't exist. Same goes for that piece of horse excrement that was the last indiana Jones film.

 

[mr h]

In all seriousness, name ONE good thing about the film. Besides the traditional SW, elements (lightsabers, jedi, music etc). Give me one new element that was any good.
All I can think of is Darth Maul, and he was barely in it and was part of the most over choreographic fight scenes ever.

They got loads wrong obviously, but I personally liked Watto as a character and the podracers (the actual vehicles) were pretty cool

 

[tiefighterboy]

TPM was much better than Attack of the clones...I despise that piece of ****.

 

[x-pack]

The prequel trilogy made the ewoks ultra cool. Before it came out, I was always a little nervous about even stating that ROTJ was a serious star wars film. Most people of my vintage just said Empire and Star Wars were the films.

heres my rewriting of the PT.. always fancied doing a rewrite.. here's my amateur attempt. Only read it if you are really, really really bored. I mean, really bored.. I just got carried away really..

episode 1 - The Phantom Menace
Through the force, the jedi order are alerted to this destructive teenager on a far off planet (not Tatooine). Yoda and Obi wan go off to find him. We get to see how powerful yoda is as when he finds this guy, he's literally ripping buildings and scenery to shreds in anger. Yoda has to try and get through to him, as he's spinning out of control using raw force power. We find that his girlfriend and mother and all the women in his village have been kidnapped by slavers (or something). After winning his trust and stopping him with opposing powers (real epic scenes of danger), Yoda takes him off the planet back to the jedi temple. Anakin manages to tune into the force, take control of the ship and goes after the slavers. He disables yoda and he tracks the pirate/slave ship down. He causes so much mayhem that his mother is killed in a hostage situation. He then goes apeshit on everybody there, tearing into the whole ship killing pretty much anybody.. yoda recovers just in time to prevent him crushing the entire planet as he cant actually control his raw use of the force. Obi wan wins the day by finding his girlfriend (Padme) and it calms him down. love story - thats the pay off so that he doesn't wipe out small moons when he gets in a mardy fit. Obiwan admits that whilst it's (knobbing birds) against the jedi way, we have to rethink etc..

The jedi order are seen to be harbouring a terrorist of sorts and are warned this youth cannot be controlled and the jedi order are seen as a danger. The Senate leader who states this, is then revealed to be only a weak minded puppet, controlled by a shady figure (darth sidious) in a hologram. An already produced clone army will be used to stand up against the jedi and remove them to allow the senate to rule unopposed - in a democratic way. The film ends with shots of Anakin being trained alongside the amassing of vast clone forces.

No Binks, midichlorians, trade federations, Boss Nass or silly Queens. Lots of destruction.. Padme can be a hot peasant girl..

episode 2 - The clone wars
Anakin and Obi wan buddy movie.
Anakin is attacked during jedi training in the temple by two sith apprentices, in the battle, Anakin levels several blocks and destroys a part of the city. Killing the sith, but this is used to reveal the Jedi as dangerous and uncontrollable.
Darth Sidious using his puppet Senate leader has revealed an enormous clone army and it smashes the crap out of coruscant and attacks the jedi order. Sidious and his apprentice (i didnt mind darth maul, but the clone wars version was the better one.. he was a nasty bastard) takes the senate over, police state-stylee, and instructs to 'anyone who cares' for the safety of one and all that the jedi must be wiped out, everyone agrees (with guns to the head). The senate leader is murdered by Sidious.
Jedi v Clones, lots of war and loads of death, planets getting ****ed over as it appears an unlimited amount of clones are unleashed to hunt and kill the jedi.
The Jedi flee and send out a beacon to warn the jedi to regroup. Yoda and Anakin using Bail Organa's inside links go to coruscant to kill sidious and his apprentice as the only way to end the war. We have an epic face off across the city, and see the monster powers of Yoda and Sidious as they go face to face and the apprentice and anakin go at it. anakin kills the apprentice in a blink of an eye and goes to help Yoda, as they combine to defeat sidious, he manages to get into anakins head and puts visions of padme dying. Distracted, sidious frazzles both yoda and anakin with lightening and escapes.
With anakin mortified at what he's seen, they retreat as more clones in star destroyers and huge battle ships take over coruscant, burn down the temple and we see Jedi temples and dead Jedi across the galaxy. Yoda has a sad face..

No cloud cows, lots of WARS, a bit of senate stuff, but more political betrayal.. real downer to the ending.. ala ESB.

episode 3. The last stand
starts on a barren planet with the last of the jedi having amassed. anakin is refusing to use his powers, padme is now preggers, and states he wants to live a peaceful life, away from war etc. Obi wan warns him that his link to the force is too strong and must stay. Anakin becomes angry resentful and is never happy with the arrangement. He never asked to be a Jedi and now everyone is in danger because of him. the vision from sidious still haunts him and he's not shared it with yoda.
force users are being hunted down by yoda and obi wan and trained. we are led to believe a new jedi order is in place, but yoda realises whilst sidious is around, the jedi will not be able to sleep easy and must prepare to be fighters and destroy sidious and his huge army. Anakin and obi wan do not think it can be done and suggest the jedi order disbands. sidious has won. but yoda is not having it, "fight we must.. the dark side cannot be allowed to win etc "

Anakin and Padme have been talking and Anakin convinces himself with the encouragement of his 'about to burst girlfriend' that the only way to stop this if he confronts Sidious and kills him. he escapes and heads to coruscant. Padme is certain of Anakin's powers and wants him to end this.

we have an epic space battle where Anakin mashes loads of clone fighters, flys into a star destroyer and takes it over. He flies hell bent towards coruscant. a glorious battle with star destroyers ensues and even though damaged, he crashes it into the city and as he gets angrier the more awesome the scenes. its a face off between Sidious and Anakin. Sidious questions why he is not with his wife as she is in danger being looked after by the jedi order which will soon be extinct. "You should have left with her when you had the chance, the jedi will be responsible for her death. only by using the dark side can you save her from her fate, i have shown you the future." Anakin again has the vision and this time its real. the New Jedi order are being attacked
"join me and her death will just be a vision... "

Anakin panics and the anger starts to build. "join me boy, end the jedi order and you'll no longer live in fear" with sidious goading anakin, he explodes in force lightning screaming angrily

cut to Padme screaming on an operating table giving birth with some crappy droids helping. then the jedi order are attacked at night by a clone army, the building is damaged and Padme is injured and trapped. Padme has given birth to luke and leia, and she screams for the babies to be protected. obi wan confers with Yoda that the only hope for future jedi might be in those children and they must be protected. Yoda takes the babies and escapes as the Jedi cover him as they prepare to die. obi wan asks her where is Anakin, as she drifts off..
theres a rumbling and the clones stop shooting. Sidious and Anakin land and Anakin is crackling with force lightning

he screams as he marches towards the hold out, Obi Wan is there. they argue and Anakin rages that if the Jedi had allowed him to leave she would be fine.. he aims force lighting at obi wan and he defends himself and they fight for a while, Sidious retreats as it all kicks off again. the building protecting padme is destroyed and anakin stops and falls to his knees.. he can feel that Padme has died - he explodes in anger - tearing the planet apart as the planet starts to implode obi wan pleads to him to stop and see sense.. fire is everywhere, obi wan is terrified.. him and anakin then battle it out trying to get to a ship, clone troopers are falling into the firey planet core. Anakin stands watching obiwan escape into the sky in a ship as flames engulf him as she shouts how much he hates him and blames him..

sidious returns for anakin and we cut to the darth vader assemblage, but theres no screaming, just sidious coaching him in his new persona. "we will hunt the Jedi pestilience and eradicate if from the galaxy", "yes my master" Darth agrees, with a very sad but determined tone.

No saying NOOO, no Binks, no trade federation, no arise lord vader, no killing kids.

This

Bloody great work here. Plus it made me laugh

My only concern is that you made Anakin too powerful and the reason is this - by the time we see Vader in ANH he's 'not all that'. Sure he can throw boxes at Luke and force choke his members of staff, but the saber skills, electrocuting folk and his ability to ruin a perfectly nice landscape using only his anger are very much watered down. He needs a Death Star to smash up Alderaan and get Leia back for being a sneaky ****ing lying cow! In this re-write (and don't get me wrong - I like it a lot) I envisage Anakin raging and drawing his fist nearer as a building collapses onto stupid droids and clones. Lightning enveloping his body and shooting out at whomever gets in his way. Fitting destruction by way of mind bending power Matrix style. And so on...

I like it, but it falls down when we see the comparatively wimpy Vader from the OT. It the same with how they made Yoda and Obi-1 kick ass in TPM but then you switch to ANH or ESB 20 odd years on and somehow Yoda is half dead (and a muppet) and Obi-1 is Alec Guiness. I hate to say it but maybe the force should have been given more emphasis in the OT :?