The Prequels Suck.
With news of the newest Star Wars movie, Episode VII (recently titled "The Force Awakens", underwhelming if you ask me), recently surfacing slowly over the internet, I figured it was a good time to revisit the Star Wars prequels, and perhaps carry some advice over for the sequels. The prequels were almost universally panned at the time, yet they have their staunch defenders, and to this day controversy (mostly over their quality) still surrounds them. And to add to this, Episode VII’s director, J.J. Abrams, has drawn both criticism and praise for his version of Star Trek, which was much more action oriented and fast paced than its source material (for being more of a war than a trek, if you catch my drift). Alright, here we go.
Let’s talk about effects, because the prequels had so goddamn many of them. Special effects, utilized properly, can greatly enhance a movie experience, especially nowadays where essentially anything can be created with computerized effects. But this also means that modern viewers are less likely to be awed in the same manner as they were when the original Star Wars came out. The approach to effects also has to be done from a certain angle. While I am not exactly a fan of Titanic, its fusion of both practical and computer generated effects are what ensure that even to modern viewers, the seventeen year old film still looks excellent. This presents a problem for the prequel movies, which were almost entirely shot in green screen. Mostly computer-generated films that are mostly computer generated can work out if your studio is named Pixar, not in character-driven fully acted movies. The human eye can pick up on the most minute details that don’t look real, so when the majority of scenery is constructed by a computer the viewer is instantly taken out of the moment. Actors are also adversely affected by an overabundance of green screen, because no matter how good the actor, they will always be starting directly at a blank wall and told to emote. So my suggestion for the new movies (and there are going to be three of them, apparently) is to balance the line between practical and computer generated effects. And I’m not even going to mention venture into Uncanny Valley territory concerning Jar Jar Binks, but he is an excellent segue into my next topic.
Less kiddy means more kiddy. That’s a phrase I never thought I’d say in full seriousness. But I mean every word because Lucasfilms, while making the Star Wars prequels, hit this sort of grey area concerning children the Star Wars prequels exist in this sort of strange grey area concerning gearing themselves towards children. In the Episode I: The Phantom Menace, an obvious attempt at appealing to children is made with the character of Anakin Skywalker and the inclusion of the slapstick comedy character of Jar Jar Binks. But at the same time, this is a movie where a devil-like alien with red and black tattoos on his face not only impales a father-like main character, but is also bisected and falls down a pit. It is also a story where the over taxation of trade routes leads to a hostile takeover of a constitutional-monarchic planet by a corporate-political entity. Let me emphasize that the average child is very likely to be frightened by the former and be confused by the latter. This kind of ineffectual dichotomy continues through to Attack of the Clones, but is thankfully halted for Revenge of the Sith. But Revenge goes in the completely opposite direction, making itself the only PG-13 Star Wars movie, and so laughably dark that it’s nearly impossible to take seriously. However, the original trilogy consisted of very little “kiddy” moments, and yet garnered quite a large audience among children. The old series didn’t have to dumb itself down for children, and as a result they loved it even more. This balance is delicate, and I’m anxious to see if Abrams can pull it off.
These are only two critiques out of many I have for the prequels, some of which include plot holes the size of continents, the lack of competent acting, the fact that every transition is a screen wipe, and keeping only one director for all three movies (and giving that director a disproportionate amount of control and an invulnerability to criticism). But all those problems are avoided through a few simple changes. Hiring good writers, making sure actors are engaged, and hiring a different director (goddamn it Lucas), can instantly fix these problems. The two major problems I listed above require a completely different approach to almost every aspect of the movie, but I have high hopes about what Abrams can do with the franchise that Abrams can pull it off. May the Force be with him.
With news of the newest Star Wars movie, Episode VII (recently titled "The Force Awakens", underwhelming if you ask me), recently surfacing slowly over the internet, I figured it was a good time to revisit the Star Wars prequels, and perhaps carry some advice over for the sequels. The prequels were almost universally panned at the time, yet they have their staunch defenders, and to this day controversy (mostly over their quality) still surrounds them. And to add to this, Episode VII’s director, J.J. Abrams, has drawn both criticism and praise for his version of Star Trek, which was much more action oriented and fast paced than its source material (for being more of a war than a trek, if you catch my drift). Alright, here we go.
Let’s talk about effects, because the prequels had so goddamn many of them. Special effects, utilized properly, can greatly enhance a movie experience, especially nowadays where essentially anything can be created with computerized effects. But this also means that modern viewers are less likely to be awed in the same manner as they were when the original Star Wars came out. The approach to effects also has to be done from a certain angle. While I am not exactly a fan of Titanic, its fusion of both practical and computer generated effects are what ensure that even to modern viewers, the seventeen year old film still looks excellent. This presents a problem for the prequel movies, which were almost entirely shot in green screen. Mostly computer-generated films that are mostly computer generated can work out if your studio is named Pixar, not in character-driven fully acted movies. The human eye can pick up on the most minute details that don’t look real, so when the majority of scenery is constructed by a computer the viewer is instantly taken out of the moment. Actors are also adversely affected by an overabundance of green screen, because no matter how good the actor, they will always be starting directly at a blank wall and told to emote. So my suggestion for the new movies (and there are going to be three of them, apparently) is to balance the line between practical and computer generated effects. And I’m not even going to mention venture into Uncanny Valley territory concerning Jar Jar Binks, but he is an excellent segue into my next topic.
Less kiddy means more kiddy. That’s a phrase I never thought I’d say in full seriousness. But I mean every word because Lucasfilms, while making the Star Wars prequels, hit this sort of grey area concerning children the Star Wars prequels exist in this sort of strange grey area concerning gearing themselves towards children. In the Episode I: The Phantom Menace, an obvious attempt at appealing to children is made with the character of Anakin Skywalker and the inclusion of the slapstick comedy character of Jar Jar Binks. But at the same time, this is a movie where a devil-like alien with red and black tattoos on his face not only impales a father-like main character, but is also bisected and falls down a pit. It is also a story where the over taxation of trade routes leads to a hostile takeover of a constitutional-monarchic planet by a corporate-political entity. Let me emphasize that the average child is very likely to be frightened by the former and be confused by the latter. This kind of ineffectual dichotomy continues through to Attack of the Clones, but is thankfully halted for Revenge of the Sith. But Revenge goes in the completely opposite direction, making itself the only PG-13 Star Wars movie, and so laughably dark that it’s nearly impossible to take seriously. However, the original trilogy consisted of very little “kiddy” moments, and yet garnered quite a large audience among children. The old series didn’t have to dumb itself down for children, and as a result they loved it even more. This balance is delicate, and I’m anxious to see if Abrams can pull it off.
These are only two critiques out of many I have for the prequels, some of which include plot holes the size of continents, the lack of competent acting, the fact that every transition is a screen wipe, and keeping only one director for all three movies (and giving that director a disproportionate amount of control and an invulnerability to criticism). But all those problems are avoided through a few simple changes. Hiring good writers, making sure actors are engaged, and hiring a different director (goddamn it Lucas), can instantly fix these problems. The two major problems I listed above require a completely different approach to almost every aspect of the movie, but I have high hopes about what Abrams can do with the franchise that Abrams can pull it off. May the Force be with him.