sithsaber408
Intelligently Designed
An excellent post on a similar topic by a member of TF.N:
"Regarding the point of the thread...the originals will always be remembered, especially A New Hope...it was the film that changed the movie industry after all.
As for the prequels, I think they'll be remembered as being part of Star Wars, but I don't think that this generation will look back on them the way people who were around in '77 look at the originals.
As for future generations...well only time will tell.
There is the general idea with ANH that it didn't just change movies...it changed the way movies are made. And I think on a technical side, the PT will be remembered the same way...remember, Jar Jar and Watto came before Gollum.
The PT has some cool action, it was a lot of fun and had a great story, just like the OT, however, in a world where blockbusters are a dime a dozen, people have tended to focus on negatives more than positives.
Remember when TPM came out and people complained about all the politics? the pay off for that came in ROTS with the declaration of the Empire, but it didn't matter. The fact that Lucas has managed to create a true trilogy (as opposed to the OT which was essentially ANH...and then the sequels) has gone unnoticed.
I like what Cryo posted: "And I see TPM in a new light today. It is the light of irony and allusion. I could elaborate, but people will only argue over particulars, even though these particulars may be enough to blow people's minds. It all rests in the dialogue. Yes: the dialogue, the very thing Lucas is supposed to suck at. For example, when the Queen (as Padme) says to Anakin, "We are sure her heart goes with you," this is now a clear allusion to ROTS where Padme dies and effectively gives her heart to Anakin. All manner of lines in TPM have fascinating depths like this. When Sio Bibble tells the Queen that Palpatine will need her help, he doesn't realise the full extent of his remark: that Palpatine will certainly need her, not simply to plead her case, but to get elected as Chancellor, and to help turn Anakin. Then there is a casual line by Yoda: "Young Skywalker's fate will be decided later." And indeed, it was decided later: in Palpatine's office when he became a Sith, and even later still above a sanctuary moon. The saga is profound in all sorts of ways. But this all needs time to sink in. One day, maybe it will. "
^^^Cryo mentioned the lines of dialogue in TPM that reflect on later events...the PT has so much depth to it, but people refuse to acknowledge it...either that or they just don't want to look.
ANH is my favourite movie...as far as I'm concerned it's the greatest movie ever made...and a lot of others feel the same way. Others like Empire more...generally speaking ROTJ tends to be overlooked...now I love ROTJ, I love all the films...and between 1977 and 1983, people experienced a phenomenon...they saw their dreams come to life. Things that seemed impossible were shown on the big screen.
When the prequels came around, people expected another OT...they expected a Han Solo character, they expected the "used future" look. Lucas delivered a story that said "this is how the galaxy becomes a used future, this is what happens that makes Solo-type characters appear later on". But it didn't matter. The idea of progression...evolution of the story and the state of the galaxy was ignored.
It seemed as if people wanted a clone of the OT. And I really think that's unfair.
Yes, there are flaws within the PT...but there are also flaws in the OT.
I think that, because there are so many blockbusters now, compared to '77 when there was none (Jaws had been a few years beforehand) the prequels won't be remembered individually the way the originals are.
However, in 30 years, I think people will look at the saga as a whole. I think it will be used in film schools to show the evolution of how films are made. Like The Wizard of Oz, the saga will be shown at Christmas every year...films for the whole family to sit around and enjoy.
As long as there is cinema, Star Wars will have a place, not just three films from the late 70's and early 80's, but as a saga, a story spanning 6 films and a couple of generations. "