I think even die hard Star Wars fans will admit the prequels were pretty bad, and I think just about everyone will point at a variety of different things to prove their case. The one and only Star Wars film I ever reviewed as a critic* was Star Wars: Episode III and I went on and on and finally ended up writing a review that once I came to the end of it I realized I liked the movie more than I had originally thought and gave it an “A-“. I don’t necessarily regret the review or the grade I just wish I had edited it down a bit. I am a bit wishy-washy in my opinion as I read the review again, a John Kerry flip-flopper of sorts. Then again, if there was ever a review that didn’t really matter to anyone that would have been it, since people were seeing that movie regardless of what anyone said.
Reviews aside, I have not found it easy to revisit any of the prequel films, not even Ep 3 in all its “A-” glory. Only a week ago I tried popping in Phantom Menace just to have it playing in the background while I worked, and that was when it hit me; I finally realized just how bad that movie actually was, and by bad I mean it is legitimately terrible. It was always my least favorite of the three prequels, but my main distaste for the film revolved around Jar-Jar and all the Gungans (like everyone else) and the horrific dialogue. However, with it playing in the background the real problem rears its head… Annakin as a little boy, played by Jake Lloyd is painful to listen to. “I’m a person and my name is Annakin.” That line is actually what made me turn it off, it was too much. Unfortunately, once they get the little brat off Tatooine the movie is mildly tollerable, but the Lloyd factor remains in play.
Like everyone else I so still love the original trilogy, special edition or otherwise. I even watched the great “Empire of Dreams” making-of documentary not too long ago (one of the best making-of docs ever), it was actually what gave me the idea to watch Phantom Menace. You see, I was going for all six in a row, but I obviously didn’t get too far.
Now, you aren’t here to listen to me ramble forever, you are here because of the headline. You want to listen to someone else ramble on, and that someone is funny man Patton Oswalt as he lets known his time travel wish during a comedy set captured by Comedy Central. What’s the wish? Well, it involves George Lucas and a method for stopping the prequels from ever being made. Check it out below, and thanks goes out to Hollywood Elsewhere for bringing it to my attention.
I think I will go give Attack of the Clones a chance.
* read as person that writes about movies
