[ SECRET POST #3126 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #3126 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 056 secrets from Secret Submission Post #447.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

Re: Star Wars

[(Anonymous)]

I am prequel anon so I could write you PAGES of meta about Revenge of the Sith (though I have never seen the 2003 Clone Wars film, much to my shame).

There's stuff on boards.theforce.net that is from that time period.

http://boards.theforce.net/forums/prequel-trilogy.10669/page-232

This starts in 2004.

http://boards.theforce.net/forums/star-wars-saga-in-depth.10456/page-113

This in 2003.

And there's the inactive forums:

http://boards.theforce.net/categories/inactive-jc-forums.10833/

Re: Star Wars

[(Anonymous)]

I would recommend the 2003 TV series. I really enjoyed it, especially the first and second seasons.

What do you think is the most interesting meta to come out of the prequels? Or what interests you the most?

Re: Star Wars

[(Anonymous)]

I didn't join the fandom until well after the prequels were released (post 2010) and so I can't give you much of an idea of the meta at the time.

For my part, though, I feel like the discussion of how the prequels enriched the original trilogy has been the most compelling. I think too often fans point out how different the prequels (PT) are to the original trilogy (OT) films. The PT characters are unlikable compared to OT characters. The PT characters often act in morally ambiguous ways (much more so than the OT characters). It's hard to support the cause of the PT characters in comparison to the OT. The PT are too "pretty" compared to the OT which is a used future.

But I find this a strength rather than a weakness.

I think that the fact that the PT characters are less easy to like is a big reflection of one of the major themes of the PT -- they're flawed people of the establishment fighting in a war of corporate and political maneuvering rather than a bunch of rag-tag outer rim rebels taking on a totalitarian empire. The PT was the end of a Golden Age so of course there was still beauty and artistry -- it shows us what the Empire snuffed out, to replace with conformity, militarism, and pragmatism.

To me, the PT really has a chiaroscuro effect with the OT in that they bring out the best in one another by being opposites. But they can also sometimes reflect and reinforce each other.

On a smaller scale level, I've heard a lot of people dislike the character of Anakin Skywalker and be unable to see how he becomes Darth Vader. But I see it perfectly. When Jerjerrod in Episode VI greets Vader with what an honor it is for him to be aboard the second Death Star, Vader bluntly dismisses him, telling him to "dispense with the pleasantries." This is in stark contrast to Episode II when a young Anakin soaked up Palpatine's praise of him being the "greatest of all Jedi" -- praise that made him easily manipulated. Vader clearly learned his lesson.

Or Vader torturing Han and Leia to draw out Luke. By having Anakin go after his tortured mother in Episode II, Lucas now shows how Anakin utilized to his knowledge of the terror and pain that this experience had on him (not to mention pushing him towards the Dark Side) in order to manipulate Luke. The action becomes especially chilling and cold-hearted in this context because we as the audience are now aware that Vader knows EXACTLY what he is putting Luke through.

This stuff is what interests me the most.

(Along with Anakins' fall in Episode III).

I don't know if you wanted my thoughts specifically or links to meta from the time. Sorry if you were looking for the latter -- I'm not as familiar with that.

Re: Star Wars

[(Anonymous)]

Interesting!

For me, I grew up on the OT but my brother is the big fan. I did like the flashy lightsaber battles, cool locations, and to see the Jedi at the height of their strength. I was also very impressed with the political maneuvering Palpatine did to get his position and to take out the Jedi - how he worked both sides of the war.

I think what you said is partly why I'm not as enthusiastic about the PT as the OT. I like the fairytale aspect that was retold in OT (the wise wizard, the adventurer youth, etc.). I'm personally drawn to happy endings and strong good-or-bad divisions. I'm not very big on "complexity". But I know that often puts me in the minority; I would think a lot of people would enjoy that aspect of the PT. And we knew going in that the movies were going to go into a dark direction, so it wasn't a surprise. It was just so sad to see the Jedi betrayed and cut down. I think that will always have me leaning towards the OT just because of the happy ending.

I didn't find the characters unlikeable so much as they were rather flat. And, sadly, I do find some of the acting distracting, which isn't very usual for me. But overall, they're still enjoyable films. I was curious what others who've given it more thought than I have had to say about the PT. I haven't really considered OT in terms of PT, but someone here recently laid out Obi Wan's whole history and that was really interesting in from a character POV.

Is there anything else you think the PT did for the OT?

Re: Star Wars

[(Anonymous)]

"Is there anything else you think the PT did for the OT?"

A couple.

I think the PT really helped to flesh out Obi-Wan. I don't find him a very sympathetic character JUST with the OT. In ANH, he tends to be the "old master" archetype a bit too much while he doesn't get much screentime in ESB or ROTJ. I think the PT, and especially Ewan McGregor's performance, helped to make him a character I could really invest in.

I think the PT helps to explain away the plot hole of why Obi-Wan would hide with Luke on Tatooine with Anakin's family. The death of Anakin's mother means that Obi-Wan is likely aware that Anakin is going to steer VERY clear of that particular planet (and Anakin thinking the twins died with Padmé).

Palpatine is also a character GREATLY improved by the PT, in my opinion. He's a good antagonist in ROTJ, don't get me wrong, but seeing his long term maneuvering in the PT REALLY impressed me. For example, in TPM, you see how quickly he can adapt to changing circumstances -- he may have planned to have the Queen killed for a sympathy vote but now that he's here he can use her to his advantage. In AOTC, we see how he sets up events so that either outcome benefits him -- in the case of Padmé, if she's killed, then that's one less dissenting voice in the Senate (plus the pacification of Nute Gunray) while if she lives, he can throw her across Anakin's path to act as temptation to stray away from the Jedi.

There's also some visual elements that I think work really well when contrasted -- Anakin burning on Mustafar vs Luke freezing on Hoth, for example.

There's probably more but I'd have to organize my thoughts a bit better!