Screen Rant’s Ben Kendrick reviews Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace 3D
Sixteen years after the Star Wars trilogy concluded with Stars Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, George Lucas returned to the galaxy far, far away for the first of three prequel films. Despite the inclusion of some fan-favorite characters and beefed-up special effects, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace was mostly panned by critics – and even die-hard fans of the series had a hard time hiding their disappointment.
Almost 13 years after Episode I debuted in theaters, Lucasfilm is set to once again re-release the Star Wars (now) hexology – this time in post-converted 3D. The 3D re-release also marks the first time moviegoers will actually be able to see the story of Anakin Skywalker play out chronologically in theaters. That said, despite the film’s flaws (which have been recounted time and time again), does The Phantom Menace offer enough 3D spectacle to make it worth another trip to the theater?
As mentioned, the purpose of our Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace 3D review is to help our readers make an informed decision about the 3D re-release, not spend too much time revisiting the overarching problems with the film (a cheesy portrayal of Anakin Skywalker, underwhelming backstories, and of course Jar Jar Binks, among others) that have been regurgitated by fans and critics alike for over a decade.
Anakin's podracer in 'Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace 3D'
Even with the a few enticing 3D visual sequences, it’s hard to look past the failures of the prequel trilogy story lines and Episode I is still (arguably) the most bizarre of the bunch (remember Midi-chlorians?) - following 9 year-old slave-boy Anakin Skywalker after a chance encounter with Jedi masters Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi as well as the captivating (and significantly older) Queen Amidala. That said, the larger over-arching story beats, such as the Darth Maul encounters and the Trade Federation dispute (which leads to the larger galactic war) may, for some viewers, be a bit more interesting this round – now that we know how exactly the events ultimately play out.
Brand recognition and eye-popping visuals helped edge Episode I on to gross over $924 million back in 1999 (over $1.1 billion in today’s dollars). Ultimately, despite the “3D? Us too!” approach of the 2012 re-release, the combination of fan-favorite characters as well as exciting set-pieces (which don’t benefit much from the 3D) will most definitely make the re-release a profitable experience (albeit still flawed and mostly underwhelming). However, it won’t be due to the effectiveness of the 3D upgrade itself.
While the marketing has focused on the 3D presentation, it’s hard to recommend moviegoers pay the upgraded price simply to experience the series in an added dimension because in most cases the image is flat. Even in sequences that viewers might expect would really benefit from the added depth (such as the Gungan/droid army battle) – and, even the ones that do work, aren’t likely to make it worth sitting through the film’s less successful moments (Otoh Gunga, for example). Obviously results will vary from theater to theater but, while Episode I 3D post-conversion itself doesn’t present a lot of ghosted images, the effect doesn’t really enhance more than a couple of the film’s larger action scenes (basically podracing and the “Duel of the Fates”).
Qui-Gon Jinn, Darth Maul, & Obi-Wan Kenobi in 'The Phantom Menace 3D'
Fans of the series who do choose to shell out money for the 3D re-release will, no doubt, find it hard not to be extra excited during the podracing scene – which, despite all of the problems with overarching film coupled with mostly underwhelming 3D applications, is almost (but not quite) enough to make the trip worth it. First person shots of the track, ground-level views of the racers tearing over the terrain, and other intriguing action angles make this scene in particular the flagship moment of the experience – basically none of the other sequences even come close (with most failing to earn their 3D stamp altogether).
It’ll certainly be interesting to see what Lucasfilm manages to do with future 3D re-releases – as there are plenty of scenes in the larger saga that could offer-up some genuinely breathtaking 3D fun (similar to the podracing sequence) - such as the Geonosis Coliseum Battle, Death Star trench run, and Battle of Hoth, to name a few. However, much like the Phantom Menace 3D, these would still be very isolated moments in films that were never intended to be presented in 3D, meaning that the majority of the runtime will still offer a pretty flat picture at a premium price.
As a result, instead of 3D visuals, a better reason to see Episode I – The Phantom Menace 3D would be simply for the purpose of enjoying the saga on the big screen once again (or to introduce younger viewers to the series who, prior to the re-release, have probably only seen the films at home). Despite the problems, there’s still plenty of (flawed) fun to be had. Anyone who is interested by the idea of viewing Episode 1 in a full-fledged theater experience again (regardless of the 3D visuals) will likely enjoy themselves – and can count the 3D podracing as a bonus. However, moviegoers who were hoping the 3D experience would make-up for the film’s many shortcomings, will probably continue to feel cheated by the first Star Wars prequel.
If you’re still on the fence about Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace 3D, check out the trailer below:
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Follow me on Twitter @benkendrick - and let us know what you thought of the film below.
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace 3D is rated PG for sci-fi action/violence. Now playing in theaters.
Our Rating:
2.5 out of 5
(Fairly Good)
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@”However, moviegoers who were hoping the 3D experience would make-up for the film’s many shortcomings, will probably continue to feel cheated by the first Star Wars prequel.”
Does 3D ever make up for a bad story, writing, acting, or anything else? No. 3D only adds a little bit of a fun factor to a film. That’s why I want to see this.
lol, excellent counterpoint and the EXACT reason why Lucas will not be getting any more of my hard earned cash for this turkey he repackaged. 3D is not enough for me.
The only way I see this if they cut out Jar-Jar Binks, make an Anikin that isnt some annoying brat, and make a movie that isnt a hollowed shell of its predicesors…
3D is also not enough for me, I find it hard to think that it would or could be any better with or without 3D… The story still sucks and so does George Lucas, Indiana Jones was the straw that broke the camels back so they say… I could not choke this movie down the first time, how is 3D gonna make it easier to watch? This movie sucked back then, it still sucks now.
WRONG! final destation 4 was terrible and so was my bloody valentine but to witness them in 3D made my hour in a half trip to the nearest 3D theater worth every minute. now the movies still suck but leaving the cinema after experiencing what i did …. never felt like that b4. in those cases the 3D more than made up for both films short comings…. but they were made with 3D as a forethought… EVERY OTHER MOVIE THAT IS SIMPLY JUST UPSCALED INTO 3D WILL BE AWEFUL! A reviewer once said to consider it 2.8D. and thats really what it feels like to watch this new starwars.
Would you watch Gigi if it was in 3D? No… How about Disaster Movie 3D? No?… How about Epic Movie? Not one? Wow, I guess 3D does not make up for a terrible story and characters that no one cares if they live or die…
Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t know an OPINION (a personal belief) could be proven “wrong”.
An opinion is fine, but when someone says”WRONG!” like Dan did, thats not cool. If your opinion is negative or positive about this movie that is fine with me, it is not fine however, if someone says an opinion is “wrong”…
If I disagree with someones opinion, I will tell them through reason and logic (example: Would you watch Gigi if it was in 3D? No… How about Disaster Movie 3D? No?… How about Epic Movie? Not one? Wow, I guess 3D does not make up for a terrible story and characters that no one cares if they live or die…)
Hopefully you are not upset with me, if so, I didn’t mean to upset you.
My comment wasn’t aimed at, but at dan for saying my opinion is “wrong”. It’s all cool bro.
Urg, you old guys sicken me. All the star wars movies were cheesy and had some pretty meh acting, but being a younger fan of the series and seeing the trilogy in chronological order (Ep. I-VI), I find that the unreasonable hate for the prequels from you original trilogy 70′s guys is really quite childish. This is a fantastic movie, bettered by pretty good 3d effects and its back on the big screen. It’s good enough for me and it should be good enough for any true fans of the trilogy, as well as newcomers. If you didn’t like its the first time because it was too “different,” well, don’t go see it again. Simple as that.
LOL, You kids sicken me, all the concern over fluff and be darned with substance. A movie has a plot? Huh? I want more CGI.
“This is a fantastic movie” – you haven’t seen many movies have you?
Ever heard of a protagonist? How about character development? How about plot resolution and pacing?
Well this movie and its director haven’t heard about them either; they made a movie for a 3rd grade mentality and as you have proved, they succeeded.
sometimes… My bloody Valentine was the worst movie ever as far as story, but the 3D made it really entertaining and fun to watch.
Wow, I expected a better review!
I’m going to see it tonight (about an hour and a half away!) and I can not wait. Personally, as a kid I loved this movie. I am 21 years old, so when this movie came out I was about 9 years old! I can’t wait to see it again on the big screen since I haven’t seen it since!
The two big scenes I can’t wait for are (obviously) the Pod Racing scene and the fight at the end between Darth Maul, Qui Gon and Obi Wan. How was the ending fight, Ben? You’ve obviously said the Pod Racing scene in 3D was good.
Matt.
Matt –
The end lightsaber battle is definitely one of the better 3D scenes – it’s subtle but it does add a little extra something there.
I still think fans will enjoy seeing the film again but moviegoers hoping for a 3D “experience” alone will probably be underwhelmed.
@Ben
That fight between Darth Maul, Obi-Wan, and Qui-Gon, is pretty much the best scene in that entire movie. Episode 1 was pretty much a disappointment for me, 2D or 3D. I will not be spending my money on this re-release. Episode 2, probably not either, Episode 3, MAYBE, out of the 3 new SW movies, Episode 3 is definitely my favorite, but it still pales in comparison to the original trilogy. If he would re-release those in 3D WITHOUT some of his stupid changes like Greedo shooting first instead of Han Solo shooting forst like it should have been… >:-0
You know, people keep calling episode I a disappointment, but they set soo high expectations for the movie back when it came out that it was impossible to be good.
I agree totally. When the doors opened to reveal darth maul standing and ready for a fight, that was the one scene where the 3D made me wide-eyed and I think I actually went ‘whoah!’ The pod race 3d let me down a bit to be honest. y soon as the camera stared moving fast the 3D disappeared. Scenes that involved no camera movement basically benefit the most. Underwhelming is right.
Pod-racing in 3d and worth it! I’m definitely in!
So basically (apart from those 2 scenes) hardly any 3d in this 3d movie, and in this crap movie at that.
Lol ! – FAIIIIIL !
on a very personal level this might end up being the most special moment in my star wars fanhood, as I am taking my 3 yr. old son to his first star wars film in the theater. I always enjoyed the prequels, although I will always be more of a classic trilogy guy and have seen all of the films in the theater and want him to experience them the same way I have gotten to. Weather you buy into Lucas’s whole mirroring idea throughout the saga, it is kinda cool that this will be his first theatrical experience, seeing how mine was return of the jedi. Honestly I could care less about the 3D, I just want to see these movies in the theater again and with my boy
enjoy the movie! My son and I are going as well!
Darthmeat –
In all sincerity, this is definitely the best reason I can think of to go see the re-release.
@darthmeat
Definitely worth going to the theater for. If I had a kid and had this reason, I would too, but for myself, not too excited for it. But this will be worth it for you, and it’ll eventually lead to the awesome original trilogy hopefully. Your kid will grow up to be a new generation of Star Wars nerd, lol.
Have to agree. My son’s 4 and has never seen Star Wars on the big screen. If it had been re-released in standard 2d, I’d still go just for him to have the experience.
I have a three year old daughter, and i’d love to take her to Star Wars. I just know 100% that Darth Maul would scare the bejesus out of her!
Anything Star Wars and I am in. I am with you. I want the Star Wars experience with my 5 year old son.
No matter how good looking or parts of it may be I’m only going to see Episodes 4, 5 and 6.
I never liked the prequels. I thought they took away from the original primes that created Star Wars mania in the very beginning.
I went to see the original Star Wars when it first hit the theaters and seen it around 32 times then.
Lucas then makes the story about Darth Vader’s salvation instead of Luke’s journey. Then he makes some decision NOT to make 7,8 and 9!
I however reserve judgement about that though because Lucas is so sneaky and private he probably already made them and is waiting for distribution. Who knows.
Then casting that “idiot” for Anikan Skywalker, Jar Jar, the whole thing went from intense action to complete stupidity bordering on surviving a Nuclear blast inside a refrigerator, swinging on vines, jumping out of a plane on a life raft and going over a 200 foot waterfall in a car without getting hurt.
I can’t take it anymore and the only upside is that this time I don’t see Darth Vader on my Cheerio’s and every other merchandise at Walmart.
he said the reason he wont make more star wars movies was because everyone was so mean to him about 1-3 and the remastered original trilogy.people would tell him things like ‘ i wish you died in the 90′s so someone else could have made the prequels’.
episode 1 wasnt even bad. it had mixed review scores at WORST, yet all you guys(the one who wanted the movie be like the first 3 hated it) hated it and say things like ‘was mostly panned by critics – and even die-hard fans of the series had a hard time hiding their disappointment’. id say most young people(under 30) enjoy phantom. i liked it(didnt love it though). also i thought episode 3 was tied for the best in the series, easily better than return(hell i thought phantom was 2, not clones though)
then all you guys get mad about the remastered originals. like you get upset when they add stuff to the landscape(seriously?). there really seams to be no way to please alot of you guys.
i for one dont blame him for not wanting to make 7,8,9. you guys will hate them no matter what. theres no story to tell there anyway. id perfer if they made a boba fett movie, a movie about young han solo or similar charactor(lando), or a movie about a squad of clone troopers(they could turn the republic commando novels into movies). but the story for 7,8,9 suck, and would be redundent.
hudson,
I’ll make a deal with Lucas – if he handles ONLY the CGI/VFX in another Star Wars movie and hires a competent director (and casting director) I’ll give them a fair shake.
Vic
Hopefully he would also hire someone who could write dialogue that doesn’t sound like it was written by a middle school student. The SFX off all the prequels were phenomenal, but the dialogue and acting were wooden and dragged the movies down big time.
Lawrence Kasdan! Empire has the best dialogue!
The dialogue and acting are pretty bad in the originals. But they worked. Not just on me as a child, but the whole world. I think Lucas caught lightning in a bottle, and tragically he finds a need to endlessly tinker with it to make it match his changing sensibilities. Star Wars works like myth and grabs us at a subconscious level. The more he tries to introduce logic and reason to it the more it gets weighed down.
I think there are skilled movie makers who can craft powerful “pop” Science fiction. James Cameron is one. I don’t think his movies are all that original storywise, but he knows what he’s doing. I don’t really think George Lucas knows what he’s doing. I think he may have at one time, but I think he also had a lot of luck.
Even the original trilogy has some very cheesy dialogue.
Ghost,
At the risk of being burned at the stake I have to say this: I saw all three original films on the big screen when they were released (starting WAAAAAY back in 1977). For the first film, based on what I’d read in Starlog magazine (anyone remember that?) my sister and I were among the first in line at midnight for a showing the next morning. It blew me away – I’d never seen anything like that before and it ushered in an era of kick-ass sci-fi movies. Then came Empire (BEST of all 6).
Even back then an alarm bell went off when they introduced Ewoks in the third film – big, cute eyes and OBVIOUSLY little people or kids in furry suits. I thought “What the heck is THIS?” – it was the beginning of marketing the franchise to the juice box crowd.
I have to say that now, when I pull out even the original trilogy (except for the 2nd film which still holds up) the 1st and 3rd do not hold up for me. They seem very simplistic and as you say, have plenty of cheesy dialog and acting.
I know these films are very meaningful to some folks (the original affected me deeply at the ripe old age of 16), but the issue is that I think many people just can’t look at these objectively.
Sorry I’ve gone off track a bit – not sure what my original point was.
Vic
Vic, totally agree with you, Ghost and Nostelg-O about the dialogue in the originals – what made it work for those was the chemistry between the actors (particularly the three leads) and the more naturalistic delivery. The prequels simply don’t have those kinds of characters. They’re mostly all coming from more formal starting points in more formal situations – difficult to identify with or warm to – which is probably why the injection of the likes of Jar-Jar and Anakin seem so artificial and out of place.
Definitely remember Starlog! Essential reading at the time, and I’ve still got a complete run from 1 to 80-something in good condition somewhere.
Considering the era in which the original three Star Wars movies were made the cheese factor could be overlooked and even though I saw them as a child they didn’t seem like an attempt to insult the audiences intelligence. I can say that from a creative standpoint Lucas has made decisions about his product that ultimately only he truly understands.
The last three movies are what they are, but the additions he has made to the original trilogy seem more glaring then Episodes 1-3 just because for the most part they are almost all unwarranted and bring nothing to the movies to make them more enjoyable. He does things now with the CGI just because he can and it makes the movies come across like video games, and not the kind that are fun and draws the audience in….
He handed Empire off to Irwin Kerschner and look how that turned out. Best of the saga! And I never understood the hate that Jedi got. It’s a brilliantly exciting end to the saga. The climactic space battle is Star Wars’ crowning glory! So letting someone else handle directing duties would have been a whole different story for the prequels I’d say.
Vic, I imagine that is a bit of a rhetorical proposal. What do you think the chances of that ever happening are? Anything is possible, but do you think he could do that the way you say it? “ONLY” handling he special effects? I don’t think he can at this point.
Nostelg-O,
The chances are nil, and if Lucas HAS made any statements like hudson mentioned, it’s pure B.S. and to guilt those who slam the films.
Vic
He did say that recently. “Guilt” is probably accurate. I get the sickening feeling that he’s actually manipulating or bargaining. Like, “If everyone is nice, I’ll make more.”
Oh, and I put SW and Empire on equal level. The impact of even Empire and anything else could never hold a candle to the first time I saw SW in the theater. So I give it lots of points for that. But also, I think SW just works perfectly as a good vs. evil adventure, a coming of age story where the “local kid” does good, and even some romance (that feels uncomfortable later, but still). Empire succeeded in large part because it took the characters and story into a completely unexpected direction. Yoda and the force are probably the elements that’s made the whole series endure. I don’t solely blame the ewoks for ROTJ. I remember not liking the plot that they had to destroy the Death Star, and Han Solo seemed like a “greatest hits” reel of himself. It bugged me that Han was wearing what he’d worn in SW, as was Lando. ROTJ was really the typical sequel to SW, a movie that tries to recycle the same success story. We were lucky to get Empire in-between.
vic,
I agree he shouldnt direct anymore of the movies if they are made. his casting has always been bad(mark hamill is terrible). but i think he redeemed himself with revenge of the sith, from reading your review it seams you do to. i really do hope we see more star wars movies, and the live action tv show.
Saw it this morning. 3 things you notice 1.) The opening crawl. That was first and foremost the most noticeable. 2.) The Podrace. Certain aspects of it were flat and 2D, But overall enjoyable. 3.) Duel of th Fates. AMAZING…. Well almost. I loved the Generator Room aspect. These are the best and most noticeable for the whole film.
I noticed afew added scenes but why no more darth maul scenes????? They plaster the character on everything and he is basically in it for 20 mins
This movie is a piece of poo. 3D cannot fix it.
Good review (and about what I expected). Me thinks I’ll be skipping this one. If I really have the urge to see Episode I, I’ll pop in the crystal clear blu-ray, where I have the option to fast forward or mute certain portions of the film (you know the ones I mean). Thanks for the warning!
Cheers! Glad it was helpful.
a simple cash grab, nothing worth getting excited over. never got into star wars and i don’t see why people seem to think the end fight in this is epic, i watched in last night (the fight scene) and the only cool part is after liam neeson dies and obi goes into god mode (and that’s only b/c ray park really steps his game up).
imo best star wars fight scene was at the end of #3, no other fight (in star wars) beats it due to its scale and choreography.
just wondering if it includes the extra changes he made for blu ray..
Donnie – I think the corrections/tweaks are there but nothing major.
cgi yoda
Cgi yoda. Was that on the dvd? my old vhs has the yoda puppet.
I really can’t think of a worse way to spend my time
They’re re-releasing the series in the wrong way. It should be the Original Series: (e.g. Episode IV, V, VI) first, not the dreaded prequels.
I’m thinking it’s because it is going to take A LOT more work to convert the 30+ year old films into 3D than the digitally shot stuff from a decade ago.
Definately going to watch this and not for its 3-D re-release but to enjoy star wars on the big screen once again.
Well guys, what can I say, I’ve been a massive Star Wars fan since 1977 so although this is not the best film of the six I was still hoping George Lucas had something new to show everyone in how post 3d should be done and guess what…the conversion like most post 3d films is awful…this film just doesnt work in 3D….Sorry im a big fan but this sucked….
Like the above poster, I was excited to see what George Lucas was going to do. The answer: not much. Aside from making some foreground images pop out a little, nothing exciting was done. I was hoping the fight scenes would be 3-D. The Harold and Kumar Christmas movie (A very Harold and Kumar Christmas in 3-D)had better 3-D effects than this loser. That’s twelve bucks and two hours that I’ll never get back.
For a moment, I thought that maybe this would be kind of cool…But I think I’ll save my money. Thanks for the warning!
Can’t wait for 2015. That will be an experience…even if the 3D is terrible.
these are the best movies of all time i hope they make all of them in 3d
That’s the plan – with releases spaced roughly a year apart.
I look forward to taking my 4 year old to this movie for a few reasons: (1) he loves Star Wars, not just the 6 movies, but the Clone Wars as well; (2) this will be his first time seeing any of the 6 movies on the big screen; and (3) from an entertainment perspective, the movie is brillant – so what if the story is not the best, who cares? – compared to most of the other movies that have been released lately this is still a visually awesome movie that is amazingly entertaining.
As mentioned in the review, seeing the films on the big screen (especially with someone who didn’t get to see them that way before) is a great reason to go! Hope it’s as memorable for him as the “Special Editions” were for me.
“As mentioned, the purpose of our Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace 3D review is to help our readers make an informed decision about the 3D re-release, not spend too much time revisiting the overarching problems with the film (a cheesy portrayal of Anakin Skywalker, underwhelming backstories, and of course Jar Jar Binks, among others) that have been regurgitated by fans and critics alike for over a decade.”
You’re assuming that everybody shares the same dogmatic, narrow-minded view of the
Jedireviewers who followed the films over-hyped expectations, rather than looking at the movie on its own…the new thrilogy was aimed at a new Generation of kids it was not made in anyway, shape, or form for the generation that grew up during the original trilogy.
It’s not as if there weren’t movies and TV shows before Star Wars came along. But nothing generated more excitement than the originals. And it stuck with us over the years and became a framework for thoughts and discussions about morality, spirituality, serendipity, philosophy, etc.
What I’m trying to say is that my generation consumed a lot of movies and TV, and we still enjoy remembering them and seeing them occasionally, just as you will with the movies that you were exposed to at a young age. But I don’t think the prequels are going to maintain anything close to the lifelong “love affair” that the original’s inspired.
To me, Lucas messily cut the umbilical cord connection I have to Star Wars, starting with ROTJ (which merely nicked it), and severed it completely by about half way through ROTS. Pretty messy. Not a clean Obi-Wan type light saber cut by any means. I think of Episode I as “a stubborn hope” because I was still thinking the series might get better.
Honestly when I watch the original movies, it has no connection to the prequels. I don’t think of any of the characters from the prequels as being connected to the story. To me it’s the real Obi-wan, the real Darth Vader, and the real emperor. When they talk about the clone wars and Jedis it’s all a different and more interesting history (to me) that I imagine.
I wasn’t impressed with the 3d personally it starts a little strong but Nah not really worth it guys
Just a note on a typo where it says “underwhelming 3D applications, is almost (but not quiet) enough” -> quiet should be quite.
In any case, I’m waiting for the original trilogy to come out on the big screen because I never got a chance to see those in that format and am curious to see what it would be like – and I guess the 3D can’t hurt.
Pedram – Thanks for the heads-up.
I have throughout the years grown to hate Lucas and everything he stands for. I think it is a cheap shot on his part to cash in yet again for the gazillionth time!, on the Star Wars franchise. This 3D crap is/was a ridiculous move and yet once again affirms to all of us that Lucas is brain dead. As a kid growing up I respected the man for coming up with such a brilliant world and great characters but with all his tune ups to the old trilogy and even the new trilogy, he has seriously lost his marbles.
If he is really that desperate to cash in on this franchise, I think the fans would have enjoyed it better by simply re-releasing the movies WITHOUT the 3D! (at least the hate mail would have been cut down by 50 percent) plus I think more people would actually go and buy a ticket to watch it in a theater if it wasn’t a 3D release….hell, I would have.
But then he wouldn’t be able to sell the 3D Blu-Ray for Christmas for each of the next 6 years and then the 3D box set the Christmas after.
He already got my money for this one, call me 3 movies from now..
I’m with Vic on this one. The Empire Strikes Back is recognised as the best movie in this entire series. In my opinion this is simply due to one factor. Lucas didn’t direct it. Any time he has gone near the camera the movie has turned out to be completely devoid of any emotional narrative whatsoever. Many would cite Star Wars as the counter argument to this, but from the outside Star Wars was more spectacle than character piece (in the same way the first Indiana Jones was spectacle. You didn’t walk away from that movie buzzed by the emotional context). Some people are better writers than they are directors, and some people are better with CGI than they are with people.
I’m not diminshing Lucas whatsoever. When he passes he will rightly be looked upon as a major player in the evolution of cinema. Whether people believe his part in the growth of what we now see as blockbuster entertainment turned out to be good or bad for the direction cinema has gone since the start of the 80′s is a discussion for the remainder of time (without Lucas there wouldn’t be this, without Lucas there would be that etc), but whereas most directors would kill for one movie in their career to touch people like Star Wars did, he created an entire mythology with an unparalled fanbase.
History will remember that more than they will remember the fudged three prequel movies I suspect. The only true accusation a person could make is that Lucas is fully aware of this to the point of exhausting this world to suffocation and endangering both the memories of what was special about his creation in the first place and the goodwill engendered from those who were lucky enough to grow up with the original trilogy.
Well said, Ajeno.
As my friends and I have discussed on Facebook and in person: we do NOT have a problem with revision or updating, so long as the integrity of the story either remains untouched or is improved upon. There is a right way of handling revisions to the movie or additions to a movie (see Daredevil: Director’s Cut/Gladiator: Extended Cut/That Thing You Do: Director’s Cut) and, unfortunately, Lucas just does not seem to know his own story or universe well enough to make the additions worthwhile or spectacular.
He said long ago that he was making changes and adding footage because there are things he’d wanted to do but wasn’t able to do because of time, budget, and technology. At the time I accepted that explanation. But then why is he still making changes and additions? It’s pathological.
He was in his early thirties when he was making Star Wars and in his fifties when he started making changes and prequels. It’s a fact of life that people change over time. As he gets older he regrets what he sees as a careless message he gives to kids with Han being ruthless at times, or Luke appearing to commit suicide. So he thinks he has to change it. It’s like if all of us had a chance to go back in time and take away all the little mistakes we made that life has given us the wisdom to see. Then where would we be? I always imagined that Anakin was an exceptionally gifted Jedi who gave in to massive pride and a need to be the brightest “star” to the point that he participated in destroying all other “stars.” I imagined a progression of selfish choices that gradually destroyed him over time. The loss of limbs and physical life merely reflected the change inside. In the prequels I imagine Lucas didn’t have the heart to make his character choose evil. Rather he had him momentarily duped, then abruptly mutilated and stuffed into the iconic suit.
What artist can look at his past work and not recognize that he/she would do things differently? Do they change it? Sometimes. Most of the time they move on and put what they’ve learned into future projects.
I’ve said it before, but I think George Lucas has become a Darth Vader type figure, trapped inside of his creation. In a sense, his fan’s are his children who think they can confront him and change him the way Luke rescued his father. I think I’m more like Obi-Wan now in that I think he’s more machine than man. I don’t hate him. I’m not angry with him. I can’t feel sorry for him. But I think he’s kind of a tragic figure. I wish, for him, that he would change his focus to other projects, like the esoteric little films he always talks about making (hopefully he has enough money to finance them).
A beautifully constructed and articulated offering there, sir.
Thanks, I learned from a great teacher. Actually this comment is the middle part of a trilogy of comments I have planned. But the first part was more dark and character driven, and I thought “no one will ever read this.” So I took a deep breath and decided to start in the middle. So there’s an entire preamble to this, and then I may or may not have even more to add as a follow up (I’ll say I don’t but then leave possibility open). So I’m going to edit all the things I would have said differently, write my preamble, then edit this some more (you know “sand the rough edges” and all, just little stuff to make it mesh with the preamble, and change some things that sound a little harsh and mean to me now). After all, It’s got MY (pseudo) name on it, so it has to say what I want it to say. Then if everyone wipes my butt and burbs me, I might write some more, unless they are mean.
Complete disappointment. Not enough use of 3d to matter. I left the theater right after Anakin leaves his mom. I spent all the time seeing double images through the glasses. Don’t bother. Watch the movie at home on blue-ray.
i personally love the franchise, especially the originals. if lucas wanted to make a new fil or even a series, i think he should have taken it way back to when the Sith where powerful and the Jedi outnumbered. Then he could have made more fights and battles between the two that could have really sparked the interest of fans.
I’ve seen the tailer in 3D and nothing I mean nothing came at me from the screen, I expected to see some lassers and life savers coming at me, but nothing came out off the screen. I’ll give it a pass.