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[BlueWord]

It's such an incredible and steep decline in quality from the (admittedly somewhat weak) Return of the Jedi, it's hard to really look at the film as anything other than what it is: a blemish upon the franchise, which laid a rotten foundation for subsequent films.

Star Wars films, at least post-Empire Strikes Back, are fairly hard to judge on their individual merits because Lucas was so committed to his overarching plot. Phantom Menace is particularly guilty of this: it's a movie in which nothing of any interest really happens, the story has very little forward momentum, and the character development and introductions are mostly pointless because they either die (Jinn) or they do the same thing all over again in Attack of the Clones. PM Anakin/Obi-Wan and AotC/RotS Anakin/Obi-Wan are like completely different characters. I don't see how Lucas thought it was a good idea to skip over the development of these two characters' relationship, which was basically the central promise of the whole prequel trilogy in the first place.

Yes, the film has some exciting set pieces and the special effects haven't aged quite as poorly as the subsequent two, due in no small part to a more heavy reliance on practical effects. That said, it is not a good film by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[Shanlei91]

"The podrace was pretty cool..."

How could you say that?!

I really enjoy the final fight sequence. Duel of Fates makes everything epic.

 

[Sephzilla]

Episode 2 is by far worse.

Episode 1 at least has Liam Neeson and Darth Maul

 

[brandonh83]

I never loved the SW movies to begin with, but Episode 1 is easily the weakest of the bunch. Sorry to that kid who played Anakin, but I mean...better child actors exist. They couldn't have gotten one of them for the freakin Star Wars movies?

Do you think it would have mattered? The performance would have still likely not been good with Lucas' dialogue and direction. I thought Jake was pretty good at times, too.

 

[Randomizer123454444]

It's not that episode 1 is horrible. It's that the original Star Wars trilogy was legendary. When you go from a 11/5 stars experience to a 3/5 stars experience, it'll be a disappointment even if the new movies are decent.

 

[Nerd_Incognito]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgICnbC2-_Y&ab_channel=BelatedMedia

My favorite breakdown of how Episode 1 could've been much better.

 

[tanooki27]

better than ep. 2

 

[brandonh83]

It's not that episode 1 is horrible. It's that the original Star Wars trilogy was legendary. When you go from a 11/5 stars experience to a 3/5 stars experience, it'll be a disappointment even if the new trilogy movies are decent action movies.

I don't know, if I started criticizing the originals for their dialogue and acting I wouldn't have come away with 11/5 star experiences.

 

[Freedom = $1.05]

there's so much shit wrong with Episode 1. That vader was immaculately conceived, midiclorians, jar jar, the terrible choreography of that final fight, poor writing, stilted acting, the now dreadfully old cg, the stupid origin story of r2d2 and C3PO, the budding forced love stuff between a child and a teenager, just so much.

The whole trilogy is garbage. the weirdest thing about the force awakens trailer was seeing what a decently shot and directed star wars movie looks like after a 30 year gap between the last time that happened and now. the prequels just looks worse than ever now.

 

[Green Wiggly]

I think my problem with it was that, at the time it came out, it felt like the target demographic switched from the Star Wars fans that had grown up with the franchise and waited 16 years for a new installment to Lucas' kids (aged 18, 11, and 6). I guess you gotta hook a new generation into the merchandising, but for a 21 year old fan it was disappointing to see the franchise not grow up with the fan base.

 

[A_Gorilla]

better than ep. 2

The Human Centipede is better than Episode II...

 

[DUFFMCWALIN]

There were some things in Ep. 1 that I thought were interesting but for the most part it was a massive let down. 2 was much worse and 3 was just meh.

No,It better that episode 6.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[SteveWinwood]

No, I got it. It's only been quoted a billion times. I'm just saying that I don't get why it's quoted as some detriment to the movies. The quote doesn't mean that the movies are great, but the detail throughout the movies is pretty dense.

its distracting and dumb

you can make your images mean something without just throwing random crap in for special effects sake

 

[brandonh83]

its distracting and dumb

you can make your images mean something without just throwing random crap in for special effects sake

I think it's a quote that is completely blown out of context (and proportion), and I don't think he's wrong about what he was saying. The movies have always had lots going on in the backgrounds.

He didn't mean that every single image will change your life or has something meaningful to say. Just that they're populated with detail.

 

[obin_gam]

I just rewatched Mr Plinketts reviews of the first films.

Yes. All of them are as terrible as everyone remembers.

 

[BertramCooper]

Man, they totally botched the casting of Anakin.

In that great hour-long behind-the-scenes documentary on Episode I, they showed the three finalists for the part, and one of them absolutely knocked it out of the park. And it was definitely not Jake Lloyd.

Not that a better Anakin could have totally saved the movie, but it certainly would have helped quite a bit. Jake Lloyd (and I feel bad for piling on the guy, considering how much it fucked up his life) made Lucas' dialogue even more difficult to endure.

 

[Cat Party]

I actually watched this with my kids the other day, and I couldn't help but realize how boring it is. My kids loved the original trilogy, but they were getting restless throughout the middle third of episode 1. There's like a five minute scene of Qui Gon setting up a bet with the shop owner over the pod race. Could have been done in 30 seconds.

I've always felt that the overarching story of episode 1 is cool. The way Palpatine manipulates both sides is decent, and it is a fair critique of the lethargy of complacency in government. But the execution is just bad.

Plus, they ruined the force. I fully expect JJ to retcon that shit.

 

[Randomizer123454444]

I don't know, if I started criticizing the originals for their dialogue and acting I wouldn't have come away with 11/5 star experiences.

This is not an english saying, so it might sound weird, but we often say "Time gilds memories". Original trilogy might not be a 11/5 set of movies, but that's how we often remember them, when we compare them to movies of today. Especially the new Star Wars movies.

 

[SteveWinwood]

I think it's a quote that is completely blown out of context (and proportion), and I don't think he's wrong about what he was saying. The movies have always had lots going on in the backgrounds.

He didn't mean that every single image will change your life or has something meaningful to say. Just that they're populated with detail.

compare any scene on tattoine in episode 4 vs any one in episode 1

what was once empty and desolate showing harsh survival and single objects against large expanses showing size

is now goofy cg aliens and houses and robots showing... jack shit i dunno

 

[SmithnCo]

Meesa think it's shit

 

[gutter_trash]

Episode II is worse

Episode I starts off awkward, two pilots talk w awkward acting Then you see the Trade Federation talk awkwardly with bad Japanese accents, then you have Jedi acting like political diplomats (which breaks our perception what a Jedi was supposed to be), who would have thought that Jedi Knight would gallop the galaxy negotiating trade deals lol

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

It is so badly written that it manages to get awful performances from good actors like McGregor, Neeson, and Portman. Some of the effects have also aged pretty badly. Darth Maul was criminally underused for as awesome as he looks. The ending is a mess (like Return of the Jedi) with too many jumps to other scenes taking away from the one awesome one. I don't care what's going on with Amidala, Anakin, or the Gungans. Just focus on the lightsaber fight.

Also, Jar Jar.

 

[Sephzilla]

I actually watched this with my kids the other day, and I couldn't help but realize how boring it is. My kids loved the original trilogy, but they were getting restless throughout the middle third of episode 1. There's like a five minute scene of Qui Gon setting up a bet with the shop owner over the pod race. Could have been done in 30 seconds.

I've always felt that the overarching story of episode 1 is cool. The way Palpatine manipulates both sides is decent, and it is a fair critique of the lethargy of complacency in government. But the execution is just bad.

Plus, they ruined the force. I fully expect JJ to retcon that shit.

I don't know if they'll retcon that or simply just ignore anything prequel related

 

[Randdalf]

Episode I was by far my favourite film when I was little (it came out when I was 6 or 7 I think), it actually had a massive impact on me. If you asked me what the best part was then I would probably say the pod race. Obviously I now see it in a different light, but I still have a soft spot for it.

 

[brandonh83]

what was once empty and desolate showing harsh survival and single objects against large expanses showing size

is now goofy cg aliens and houses and robots showing... jack shit i dunno

Yes, then when they get to populated places such as Mos Eisley, it's no longer what you're talking about but rather a lived-in society full of detail.

And your final statement could also be applied to just about anything. There's lots of random weirdness in the backgrounds in these movies, including the originals.

 

[Tambini]

It's not as bad as Episode II

 

[gutter_trash]

It is so badly written that it manages to get awful performances from good actors like McGregor, Neeson, and Portman. Some of the effects have also aged pretty badly. Darth Maul was criminally underused for as awesome as he looks. The ending is a mess (like Return of the Jedi) with too many jumps to other scenes taking away from the one awesome one. I don't care what's going on with Amidala, Anakin, or the Gungans. Just focus on the lightsaber fight.

Also, Jar Jar.

don't forget Samuel Jackson too. Take a usually charismatic actor and turn him into an uncharismatic boring character

 

[MaddenNFL64]

Jar Jar pisses me off, but fight scenes are good.

Its not good, some parts unwatchable, but theres some good stuff to take in.

 

[Moon]

Its not that bad as most obnoxious star wars fans make it out to be.

.

 

[Majine]

I prefer it to Episode 2, there's that I guess. I liked the music.

 

[BertramCooper]

I don't know if they'll retcon that or simply just ignore anything prequel related

They'll probably just ignore it. Retconning anything from the official films is overkill, considering they've already retconned the EU.

There's enough chronological space between the prequels and the sequels that it should be extremely easy to ignore the prequels almost entirely.

 

[SteveWinwood]

Yes, then when they get to populated places such as Mos Eisley, it's no longer what you're talking about but rather a lived-in society full of detail.

And your final statement could also be applied to just about anything. There's lots of random weirdness in the backgrounds in these movies, including the originals.

heres the busiest shot i could find of mos eisley in the original

 

[Nokterian]

Let Mr Plinkett tell you all about it.

 

[Tony Iommi]

 

[brandonh83]

heres the busiest shot i could find of mos eisley in the original

You don't suppose that the cantina was full of everything you mentioned Tatooine not having in A New Hope? Yes, there's more going on in the village in Episode 1, but you're taking the original conversation into other directions. The original debate was that the shots have a lot going on in them, which is what McCallum was talking about. And they do. He's not wrong. Now you're making arguments about the density of the Tatooine villages in Episode I against Episode IV. There's obviously not as much density going on in Episode IV's village, but that's doing nothing but proving Rick's point.

You're welcome to prefer the vision of Episode IV's, but that doesn't have anything to do with this.

 

[Ishida]

Nah, it was actually pretty great. Always have great fun watching it.

 

[BlastProcessing]

The movie makes more sense when you assume Qui-Gon was a Sith apprentice.

 

[Fjordson]

I found it to be that bad. Sure, episode II was worse, but episode I was still terrible.

 

[Christopher]

Weren't the streets more busy before the Emperor took over - just my thoughts that things went to shit and things were in a real state of despair when he took over things.

I'm trying to retell the story to myself and I've been watching them as GAF said 4-6 then 1-3

 

[rezuth]

http://redlettermedia.com/plinkett/star-wars/star-wars-episode-1-the-phantom-menace/

Just look at te redlettermedia Plinkett reviews for all three prequels movies. They capture perfectly what's wrong with them.

 

[brandonh83]

Weren't the streets more busy before the Emperor took over - just my thoughts that things went to shit and things were in a real state of despair when he took over things.

Another logical possibility. That's what I got out of it too. I think Lucas wanted to show more of the galaxy flourishing before Imperial rule, which could explain why things are so desolate in the originals and more detailed/vibrant in the prequels. Mos Eisley was absolutely under martial law, not to mention something like 30 years had passed.

On a side note, who's Plinkett?

 

[Sephzilla]

http://redlettermedia.com/plinkett/star-wars/star-wars-episode-1-the-phantom-menace/

Just look at te redlettermedia Plinkett reviews for all three prequels movies. They capture perfectly what's wrong with them.

I'll second this. The Plinkett reviews get nitpicky (and the reviews kind of acknowledge this) but they also shine a light on the basic filmmaking flaws of the prequels.

 

[DopeToast]

It's a miserably boring and disappointing movie to watch if you at all enjoyed the three previous Star Wars movies.

 

[A_Gorilla]

Its not that bad as most obnoxious star wars fans make it out to be.

Its also not some under-appreciated masterpiece like the Apologist Lucas Fanboys make it out to be.

 

[Ishida]

Another logical possibility that no one wants to consider. That's what I got out of it too. I think Lucas wanted to show more of the galaxy flourishing before Imperial rule, which could explain why things are so desolate in the originals and more detailed/vibrant in the prequels. Mos Eisley was absolutely under martial law, not to mention something like 30 years had passed.

On a side note, who's Plinkett?

The guy who nitpicked the prequels and made video reviews that are now considered the "go-to" solution to whenever someone posts anything related to the prequels.

"The prequels? Have you checked out the Plinkett reviews?"

You can see this same sentence posted over and over and over and over again in a Star Wars thread, as if Plinkett's opinion is somehow law. I watched the reviews, and they didn't change my mind about the prequels. They are great movies.

 

[brandonh83]

Its also not some under-appreciated masterpiece like the Apologist Lucas Fanboys make it out to be.

I certainly don't think it's a masterpiece. There's flaws all over the damn place. But I think it's good and very enjoyable.

The guy who nitpicked the prequels and made video reviews that are now considered the "go-to" solution to whenever someone posts anything related to the prequels.

It was a joke because I'm not sure how anyone could have not heard of these by this point because of the reasons you mentioned.

 

[The Elite]

Star Wars Episode 1: It's that bad.

 

[Seductivpancakes]

I liked episode 1, 2 and 3 for the Jedi cause Obi Wan got me intrigued and hyped for Jedi in New Hope.

 

[Ultra Numb]

No, I don't think it's as bad as people say. That doesn't mean it's good.

Episode II is bad though. Bad is an under statement.

What saves Episode 1 for me besides Liam Neeson is that Darth Maul fight. My favourite Saber fight in the whole series besides maybe the first Luke/DV fight. As much as most of the prequels are ass, that fight was fricken cool.

I agree with most of the complaints though

 

[StopMakingSense]

The main thing that gets me, for everything else wrong with it, is that so much of the movie would make so much more sense if Anakin was at least 4 years older.