The prequels were bad in a completely different way than the sequels. They’re poorly written and directed, but they recontextualize the originals in a way that makes thematic sense and arguably improves them.
The original film is a standard Hero’s Journey, and the Original Trilogy as a whole stands on its own without any other context. It’s the story of one man’s rise from humble beginnings to becoming the hero who takes down a corrupt Empire and acts as a beacon of hope for the galaxy.
The Prequels change that, with the six movies now becoming the story of the rise, fall, and redemption of Anakin Skywalker, and shows how Luke lacks the flaws of the old Jedi Order while avoiding the traps that ensnared and corrupted his father, giving hope he and his friends can build a better system.
With the Sequels added, what story does the series tell? That Skywalkers have good intentions but inevitably fuck things up, only to redeem themselves through suicide? That it doesn’t matter if Good triumphs over Evil because the heroes will end up lower than where they started, the status quo maintained, and the villain will pop back up again for the next generation to deal with anyway? They’re a narrative mess and add negative value to the existing saga.
The prequels were bad in a completely different way than the sequels. They’re poorly written and directed, but they recontextualize the originals in a way that makes thematic sense and arguably improves them.
The original film is a standard Hero’s Journey, and the Original Trilogy as a whole stands on its own without any other context. It’s the story of one man’s rise from humble beginnings to becoming the hero who takes down a corrupt Empire and acts as a beacon of hope for the galaxy.
The Prequels change that, with the six movies now becoming the story of the rise, fall, and redemption of Anakin Skywalker, and shows how Luke lacks the flaws of the old Jedi Order while avoiding the traps that ensnared and corrupted his father, giving hope he and his friends can build a better system.
With the Sequels added, what story does the series tell? That Skywalkers have good intentions but inevitably fuck things up, only to redeem themselves through suicide? That it doesn’t matter if Good triumphs over Evil because the heroes will end up lower than where they started, the status quo maintained, and the villain will pop back up again for the next generation to deal with anyway? They’re a narrative mess and add negative value to the existing saga.