There seems to be a fascination with franchise re-boots in movies today. If memory serves, one of the first was George Lucas’ idea of deciding to tell the back story of Darth Vader. While the idea of Star Wars Episodes 1-3 seemed good in theory, it failed in many respects.
The plot of the trilogy had more to do with political mumbo-jumbo than actual lightsaber and space battles. It took three movies to explain how a Republic failed and became the Empire of the original Star Wars trilogy. Anakin Skywalker’s transformation into Darth Vader almost seems like a secondary plot. And don’t even get me started on the ridiculous concept of “midichlorians.”
The acting seems stuffy in Episodes 1-3. Hayden Christensen’s acting style is so wooden and forced that the audience really does not care about Anakin Skywalker. The dialogue makes it sound as if the audience is watching a Shakespearean play instead of the fun, swashbuckling atmosphere of episodes 4-6.
However, there are good moments in the second trilogy. The Phantom Menace includes a lightsaber duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi, his mentor Qui-Gon Ginn, and the evil Sith Lord Darth Maul. By the time Attack of the Clones came about, enough technology had been created to allow Yoda to become more than a mere puppet and engage in his own lightsaber fight. Finally, Revenge of the Sith features the climactic battle between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.
On a side note, the title Revenge of the Sith is a nod to the title which Episode 6 was to be. Revenge of the Jedi was to be the title of the final movie. At the last minute after posters, advertisements, and merchandise had already been created, George Lucas decided that a Jedi does not seek revenge. Therefore, the title was changed to Return of the Jedi. Star Wars collectors must have a field day looking for and selling these rare pieces of memorabilia on ebay and at conventions.
While both trilogies are among the most popular movies in history, the redemption of Anakin Skywalker as seen in episodes 4-6 are much more imaginative than the newer films. However, if you are a Star Wars purist and want to know how and why Darth Vader came to be then you should watch the newer films which are the first in the timeline of the series…. WOOLY SHEEP!!! MORAT CONFUSING SELF!!!!!
I actually saw one or two of the original trilogy in the the theaters, maybe all three but I’m not so sure about the first- I think it came out in ’77 when I was only 6. My most vivid memory is of the old theater, long since torn down and replaced with condos and a strip mall. I was also a little jealous of one of my friends who had a Star Wars play set and seemingly all of the action figures, or at least a lot of them.
Anyway, do you remember how in the months leading up to episode one the first trilogy was re-released, one per month, in a new special edition format. And just so you know that I know, Mr. Lucas, Han Solo did fire first!
I do not remember if I saw Star Wars in the theater on its first release or on the second time around on the one year anniversary release (I was 3 in ’77). But I do remember having a kid in my class who also had almost every toy imaginable. I do remember the Special Edition releases (how George intended them to be… with Jabba in Episode 4, but that is another blog entirely). When Empire Strikes Back was released in ’80, the Bryan Bijou expanded from one screen to two. Now it has three. AND….of course Han fired first.
Of course this has already been done to death but should at least be mentioned here- Jar Jar was certainly no analog to Chewie or the droids. I hope Mr. Lucas has properly chastised himself over this blunder, over and over again…
yet another reason for its forgetability… at least Jar-Jar was limited to cameo appearances in Attack and Revenge.