The prequels really do lack the depth and characterization, and IMO, most importantly, the sense of fun of the first three. Lucas didn't have actors like Ford and Fisher, who both have really good script instincts (Fisher is one of Hollywood's highest paid script doctors now) who felt free to challenge him on lines and on character to add layers and believability around on the prequels and it shows.

Wait, Stoppard?

Does this mean I'm going to have to go and watch the damn thing?

Never saw either of the other two new ones so I'ma stay out of that conversation. But it's interesting, Barry - I've rarely seen the prequels strongly defended so it is kind of intriguing to read.

I can't speak for the second prequel, but I saw the first one, and was horribly disappointed. Star Wars the original captured me with its vision and creativity and the archetypal nature of the characters. There were lots of little moments of connection, bits of insight into this universe, some witty dialog, and a classic (if not original) story driving the plot.

Whereas The Phantom Menace struck me as a bunch of set pieces, with too many characters and no time to make me care about them. I felt overwhelmed by the CGI and underwhelmed by the dialog. It felt like 30% of a movie, and I never had any desire to see it again.

Or, What Robin Said.

"But it's interesting, Barry - I've rarely seen the prequels strongly defended so it is kind of intriguing to read."

Thanks. I never intended to be the lone defender but I did want to chime in with a different take to counter the outpouring of hatred for them. I mean, I understand folks being disappointed or thinking they suck but the prequels and by extention George Lucas get way too much hate then they deserve. The hyperbole is perfectly demonstrated by internet geeks declaring, "George Lucas raped my childhood!"

edit - nm, the snark was uncalled for.

Does this mean I'm going to have to go and watch the damn thing?

No.

Thanks. I never intended to be the lone defender but I did want to chime in with a different take to counter the outpouring of hatred for them.

As long as the good monkey crack doesn't wear off, go you with being the last defender of George. Here's another opinion stated as opinion: make the bad man stop making movies. No, not after this one. Right now.

Look, I saw the first Star Wars movie when I was twenty-two. My childhood? Not so much.

I disliked the prequels because I thought they were badly written. Most people agreed, before the prequels, that the best-written of the three movies was *The Empire Strikes Back*, which wasn't written by Lucas at all. I wasn't complaining that Lucas had raped my young-adulthood back when Empire came out, because Empire was in many ways better than Star Wars.

If I'm complaining about the prequels (and I am), it's because I felt no emotional connection to the events. I admired Han, Luke, and Leia in their separate ways. I feel contempt for Anakin and Amidala.

"As long as the good monkey crack doesn't wear off, go you with being the last defender of George."

I may be a lone defender at this board but there are plenty of folks that dig the movies elsewhere. Not that critical opinion is in any way needed to justify my opinion but both prequels have a fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Roger Ebert even gave The Phantom Menace three and a half stars out of four. Just saying.

"Here's another opinion stated as opinion: make the bad man stop making movies. No, not after this one. Right now."

Too late. It's already been shot. :p

I feel contempt for Anakin and Amidala.

What Betsy said. Did they ever go back and rescue that poor woman out of slavery?