Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[alexdg1]

Originally Posted by Kryptonic

They're only hated by a small minority of cynical fans who are very vocal online. Ask a 9 year-old what he thinks of the Prequels and you'll get the proper response.

I'm a Star Wars fan from the 1977 Generation (was 14 when the first - now fourth - film was released), and I don't hate the Prequel Trilogy.

Granted, there are things about the Prequels that I don't love, but I am not one of those "George Lucas ruined Star Wars for me..." bashers.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

But surely most of the ticket sales were from adults and fans from the original movie era. I'm not sure there is a ton of enthusiasm amongst 9-year-olds in regards to Star Wars today. Every kid lived and breathed it in the 70s and 80s, but times were different and Star Wars was truly a revolutionary and cultural phenomenon at that time. I was part of it being 5 yrs old in 1977. Nowadays, there are so many other things. I also think the original trilogy had far more appeal in ways (heart and soul) compared to the prequels which no one really connected to despite the time and era change.

Don't underestimate the power of the force. My young nephews are crazy about Star Wars thanks to the Clone Wars cartoon, I bought one of them a Darth Vader costume Christmas before last and he loves it. When he saw my collection of mini-posters for eps I-VI on the wall he pointed and said (in an almost reverential tone): "Star Wars!".

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Don't underestimate the power of the force. My young nephews are crazy about Star Wars thanks to the Clone Wars cartoon, I bought one of them a Darth Vader costume Christmas before last and he loves it. When he saw my collection of mini-posters for eps I-VI on the wall he pointed and said (in an almost reverential tone): "Star Wars!".

I wouldn't doubt there are kids out there that like it; I'm just saying Star Wars in 2015 does not compare to a lot of other things out there in kids' minds.

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

But surely most of the ticket sales were from adults and fans from the original movie era. I'm not sure there is a ton of enthusiasm amongst 9-year-olds in regards to Star Wars today. Every kid lived and breathed it in the 70s and 80s, but times were different and Star Wars was truly a revolutionary and cultural phenomenon at that time. I was part of it being 5 yrs old in 1977. Nowadays, there are so many other things. I also think the original trilogy had far more appeal in ways (heart and soul) compared to the prequels which no one really connected to despite the time and era change.

The Prequels and The Clone Wars/Rebels have done a wonderful job of keeping Star Wars relevant among children, especially in this day and age when there is so much geared at younger audiences. Back in 1977, there wasn't much at all. If people hated the movies so much, then I don't see how they continually got fresh ratings, strong audiences scores, and made tons of money.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Kryptonic

The Prequels and The Clone Wars/Rebels have done a wonderful job of keeping Star Wars relevant among children, especially in this day and age when there is so much geared at younger audiences. Back in 1977, there wasn't much at all. If people hated the movies so much, then I don't see how they continually got fresh ratings, strong audiences scores, and made tons of money.

Phantom Menace is rotten on RT.

[Gold Ranger]

I was 17 when The Phantom Menace came out. I saw it 8 times in the cinema. I still love it!

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

Phantom Menace is rotten on RT.

It wasn't at the time of its release. I think it was in the mid to high 60's or maybe higher. They added reviews for the 3D release. Either way, 57% is not a terrible score. There are a lot of great movies that have scores in the 50's.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Gold Ranger

I was 17 when The Phantom Menace came out. I saw it 8 times in the cinema. I still love it!

I was 17 as well and saw it three times myself.

[alexdg1]

Originally Posted by Kryptonic

The Prequels and The Clone Wars/Rebels have done a wonderful job of keeping Star Wars relevant among children, especially in this day and age when there is so much geared at younger audiences. Back in 1977, there wasn't much at all. If people hated the movies so much, then I don't see how they continually got fresh ratings, strong audiences scores, and made tons of money.

I agree. I'd rather live in a universe where the nine-part Star Wars saga and TV spin-offs exist rather than in one where only one Trilogy (and only the original version of it) exists. True, the 1997 version of the Original Trilogy has its flaws (the original CG version of Jabba looked weird, and I'm on the fence about Greedo shooting first), but I liked most of the other changes. I also liked the way they fixed the Jabba CG model in A New Hope for the 2004 DVD version.

The one editorial change I don't think was necessary for the 2011 BDs was adding rocks to R2-D2's hiding place in the Jundland Wastes.

When I was younger (14 or so) in 1977, I never quite noticed some of the visual flaws in Star Wars (matte lines, repeated shots of TIE fighters in the Death Star battle, and so forth). Frankly, I don't think they were THAT obvious in the theater. On home video, even on VHS, though, I did see them. Maybe it's because I was watching the movie more often and attentively, but I did notice the visual flaws inherent to the compositing techniques of the time.

[alexdg1]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I was 17 as well and saw it three times myself.

I was 36 when The Phantom Menace premiered in 1999. I saw it three times during its theatrical run.

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by alexdg1

I was 36 when The Phantom Menace premiered in 1999. I saw it three times during its theatrical run.

I was 15 and saw it 21 times that summer and once during the 3D re-release.

[30hertzrumble]

Originally Posted by Kryptonic

It wasn't at the time of its release. I think it was in the mid to high 60's or maybe higher. They added reviews for the 3D release. Either way, 57% is not a terrible score. There are a lot of great movies that have scores in the 50's.

What's odd is that after my first rewatch of the Prequels for the first time in years, Phantom Menace increased in my estimation while Attack of the Clones fell dramatically. Up until this rewatch I'd been a defender of AOTC and a PM naysayer.

Outside a couple of standout action scenes, that film is just a narrative disaster with some of those worst dialogue and pacing of the three prequels.

I don't think George Lucas ruined Star Wars. But the creative freedoms he'd been offered by CGI curtailed the immense creativity required to create the OT under the technological limitations of the time period. I do think he was out of ideas and drained by the experience of making the prequels.

I was optimistically hesitant when Disney bought the rights, but after seeing what they've done with the Rebels series, I've become quite hopeful. The scenarios and themes of that series have given me feels I've not felt since the OT. Disney at first impression seems to want to do right by fans first and foremost because they believe that doing right by fans -- and justifiably so -- means $$$. If they believe that releasing the untainted OT on Blu-ray will = $$$ I firmly believe they will do so.

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by Kryptonic

I was 15 and saw it 21 times that summer and once during the 3D re-release.

16 times in '99. I was in college. Sophomore year.

[Kryptonic]

The Prequels are far more imaginative, daring, and narratively complex than the Original Trilogy. That's not a slight against the Original Trilogy, but they are very simple films and I think that's part of the appeal for some people.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Kryptonic

The Prequels are far more imaginative, daring, and narratively complex than the Original Trilogy. That's not a slight against the Original Trilogy, but they are very simple films and I think that's part of the appeal for some people.

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I figured as much.

[stvn1974]

The Phantom Menace - Terrible
Attack Of The Clones - Horrendous
Revenge Of The Sith - Awful

[Jumpman]

Originally Posted by Kryptonic

The Prequels are far more imaginative, daring, and narratively complex than the Original Trilogy. That's not a slight against the Original Trilogy, but they are very simple films and I think that's part of the appeal for some people.

Completely agree.

[kamphausd1]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

The Phantom Menace - Terrible
Attack Of The Clones - Horrendous
Revenge Of The Sith - Awful

Hey careful man, you'll be accused of being a butthurt fanbody saying things like that around here.

[stvn1974]

Originally Posted by kamphausd1

Hey careful man, you'll be accused of being a butthurt fanbody saying things like that around here.

I was butthurt after leaving Revenge Of The Sith. You would have thought that after the first two times I would have skipped on the third. My own fault for the pain.