I have something to confess.
(deep breath)
I like the Star Wars prequels.
There, I said it.
I know, I know. The plot is full of holes, Hayden Christensen is a model trapped in an actor's body, Jar-Jar is annoying, the yappy little cartoon droids are annoying, and it's all a big toy commercial. I don't really think they're good movies, but I watch them often. And, Grod help me, I enjoy it.
Please forgive me.
I like them too. You wanna hear something even more blasphemous? My favorite is the first one. Yes, even though it has the most Jar-Jar. I don't care. I still love it.
ReplyDeleteI was blown away by Phantom Menace when it came out. I don't seem to watch it as often as II and III, but I still like it. Ever notice how that one has more sunlight than any of the others, and Revenge of the Sith is full of sunsets and night scenes? I can't think of any particular lighting theme in Clones, unless you count the fact that it starts with a cloudy day and Obi-Wan spends a fair amount of time in the rain.
ReplyDeleteI haven't watched Ep. II in a while, but the visual theme that comes to mind is something like "obscurement." Lots of clouds and rain, as you mentioned, and the image that for some reason has always stuck with me is a squad of clone troops standing as a huge dust cloud envelops them.
ReplyDeleteMaybe that's symbolism -- the galaxy becoming enveloped in Sidious' ruse, etc. -- or maybe Lucas was just watching Iraq war footage. No, wait, that didn't happen until a year after Ep. II.
I loved how Phantom Menace was full of new things and mysteries and promises to be fulfilled. And I like how it paralleled the structure of Star Wars but reversed the meaning of everything. And it had the best lightsaber action of any of the six movies. That's enough for me to forgive Jar-Jar and midichlorians.