THE PHANTOM MENACE - YES!!

[kodiakthejuggler]

The storyline was passable (minus the whole mitochlorean bs) but the /direction/ was SO bad. In film school, we studied Lucas as being the most text-book unoriginal director. If a text book said "During a gunfight, all gunshots should be filmed at medium to close up perspectives" he'd do it..... And look at the acting!!! Just about everyone in those movies has proven themselves as great actors - so what the hell happened?

I agree.

My two biggest problems with the prequels are:

1. George's Directing: he didn't seem to even try coaxing a memorable performance from anyone. The best actors in the movies are the ones who didn't rely on George's direction to make their character memorable, such as Ewan McGregor, Ian McDiarmid, and Liam Neeson.

2. George's writing: I love the storylines, but the dialog was so laughable and boring. No subtlety, no cleverness, nothing akin to the original trilogy. Sad.

[J-Proof]

I'd love to see the The Phantom Edit too, if you can PM me the details.

Wilco roger that.

As far as directors that I'd rather had directed the prequels, just one name comes to mind:

Genndy Tartakovsky.
For a brief animated series, the Clone Wars, he showed the Jedi using their full potential of the Force abilites while also staying true to the SW universe, esp. with humor, emotions, etc...

Good call.

What Lucas' problem was, was that in the original trilogy he viewed the movies not as sci fi movies, but as fantasy movies.

The prequelogy was no doubt a fantasy movie that was barraged by too many sci-fi elements to make it seem more modern and appealing.

My dream director for directing ANY SW movies....

AKIRA KURASAWA

[jedi2187]

Another beef I had with the prequels was the whole political angle. I understand that the Fall of the Republic had to be told, but it was like watching C-SPAN... but in the cineplex.

[ScottotD]

I can forgive pretty much everything about the prequels (the contradictions, the stupid 'comedy', the acting, the fact Anakin was a little kid for no reason at all, Jar Jar, HUGE gaps in it's own logic, etc, etc) except the Midiclorians.

The force is essentially a cross between a virus and fleas.

[Justin]

I can forgive pretty much everything about the prequels (the contradictions, the stupid 'comedy', the acting, the fact Anakin was a little kid for no reason at all, Jar Jar, HUGE gaps in it's own logic, etc, etc) except the Midiclorians.

The force is essentially a cross between a virus and fleas.

That's probably the most interesting way I've ever heard that put.

[Pak-Man]

Gendy tends to keep the action turned up to 11, which worked great for Clone Wars, but I question his ability to slow things down to forward plot and character development. That said, I urge everyone who hasn't seen them to pick up the Clone Wars DVDs for a truly Star Warsy Experience. They're a little short for what you pay, but you won't feel ripped off.

[J-Proof]

The storyline was passable (minus the whole mitochlorean bs) but the /direction/ was SO bad. In film school, we studied Lucas as being the most text-book unoriginal director. If a text book said "During a gunfight, all gunshots should be filmed at medium to close up perspectives" he'd do it..... And look at the acting!!! Just about everyone in those movies has proven themselves as great actors - so what the hell happened?

I agree.

My two biggest problems with the prequels are:

1. George's Directing: he didn't seem to even try coaxing a memorable performance from anyone. The best actors in the movies are the ones who didn't rely on George's direction to make their character memorable, such as Ewan McGregor, Ian McDiarmid, and Liam Neeson.

2. George's writing: I love the storylines, but the dialog was so laughable and boring. No subtlety, no cleverness, nothing akin to the original trilogy. Sad.

Lucas became so paranoid about info-leakage that he stopped doing full script reading sessions, and instead, told the actors the situation and line they were to say on the spot, without explaining it.... Which explains the monster lack of believble acting. And also .... That's just a horrible idea.

Why be paranoid about a series of PREQUELS... I mean....we ALREADY KNOW what is going to happen...

Then there is the dialogue.... what the heck, George? Meesa Jar Jar? And why are those trade fed aliens Japanese? I mean.... The storyline was passable, but the dialogue left no room for decent acting. "I truly, deeply love you." You stole that from a Savage Garden song!!! AAAAH

Now - he could have made the storyline ultimately a million times better if:
- Episode One was completely rewritten without Jar Jar and with MUCH less of the intergalactic politics.
- Episode Two started halfway through Attack of the Clones, and ended at the end of Revenge of the Sith
- Episode Three became the story of Darth Vader hunting down the last of the Jedi, and Yoda/Ben escaping his clutches.

That's just my opinion. The movies should have been less of a sci fi adventure explosion, and more a fantasy that focused on character interaction etc.

[jedi2187]

To quote Servo from 'Cave Dwellers':

"Geez, even Tolkin couldn't follow this plot!"

[J-Proof]

I can forgive pretty much everything about the prequels (the contradictions, the stupid 'comedy', the acting, the fact Anakin was a little kid for no reason at all, Jar Jar, HUGE gaps in it's own logic, etc, etc) except the Midiclorians.

The force is essentially a cross between a virus and fleas.

Yeah - apparently I can't be a Jedi unless, per some random chance, I have more invisible bacteria floating around in me than other people.....

Technically, if I eat a jedi, his microbeasties are then in me correct? So I guess in order to be a powerful Jedi, you have to eat /other/ Jedi.

Good times.

When they introduced that in Ep One, me and my friend dropped our jaws to the floor. He went so far as to throw popcorn at the screen..... Obi Wan CLEARLY explains in New Hope that the Force is an energy field that binds us all together. NOT something I put medication on my dog for.....

[jedi2187]

Obi-Wan is from the traditional school of thought, in which the Force is an energy field created by all living things.
Qui-Gon is from the School of Bubba? training, in which the living Force is large and in charge. Belief in midichlorians, symbiosis, saving trees, eating granola bars and licking rivers.

Hippie.

Anyway, Obi-Wan gets props for showing Luke the right way about the Force.

[J-Proof]

A buddy of mine is joining the Franciscan Order.... which is basically the Catholic Jedi. Rosary lightsabers and whatnot

[Pak-Man]

The force be with you! (And also with you...)

[kodiakthejuggler]

I would be very upset if Mike didn't add a new line about learning something from his Jedi Bullshit class.

[jedi2187]

The force be with you! (And also with you...)

"The blood of Yoda and the body of Anakin will be dispersed shortly. Now let us pass around the money basket..."

[Michel Weisnor]

Don't forget to riff Phantom Menace in HD on Cinemax.

http://www.cinemax.com/starwars/poster.html