A COUPLE QUICK NOTES: 1) Yes, there are similarities between this video and the Plinkett reviews. Those videos were without a doubt foundational to criticism of these movies over the years, and some of their ideas worked their way into my head as ear-worms over time. For the most part though I can assure you that a lot of the similarities were unintentional. It has been years since I've rewatched those videos, and a lot of the opinions expressed here are genuinely my own. If they are similar, they are coincidental. EXCEPT FOR... the Anakin dating advice bit. I did lift that from those reviews, but I wanted to try and find a new way of approaching it that wasn't 1:1 with what those videos did. And I also wanted to hang a lantern on it by directly referencing the original gag at the end of this video. However, since a couple comments have pointed it out, I obviously didn't do enough, and that's my bad. I could've twisted the idea further or even found another way to tackle it, and for that I'm sorry. ALSO, for the sake of utmost clarity, other influences on this video are: The Cosmonaut Variety Hour, Mr. Sunday Movies, Patrick H. Willems, and a little bit of r/PrequelMemes. My observations and thoughts have been informed and influenced by all of them, and Plinkett, over the years, so I want to make sure that I properly credit them for all of that when making this video. 2) This is just a minor correction: The Phantom Menace was in fact NOT the very first movie to utilize digital previsualization. That honor goes back to Clear and Present Danger (1994) and perhaps even further back with Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989). So it'd be more accurate to say Phantom Menace was ONE OF the first to use digital pre-vis, but not actually THE first. So that's a mistake on my part. 3) Another correction: The Plaza de España is in fact NOT located in London, it is in Seville, Spain. That was just a complete misreading of information on my part. 4) I don't know exactly when Part 3 of this video is going to come out, because it's still in the copyright gauntlet. BUT I am working on it, don't worry. In the meantime I hope this doesn't sully your enjoyment of the video too much, and I hope you enjoy watching : )
The Prequels are flawed, sometimes even downright awful when you think about it. But these are what got me into Star Wars, how I was introduced to this series. Hayden Christiansen and Ewan McGregor are the absolute highlights for me. Fantastic video as always, Prime!
I think the fact that the prequels are a tragedy, a story of a Republic in decline, that tried it's best to tell a story that was too convoluted for cinema, like life, saves the movies The Prequels are a coherent Trilogy The Originals are a coherent Trilogy The Sequels are 3 seperare movies that are alright on their own, but don't work together as a Trilogy
@@Lostjayyhawk I personally love the Sequels as these were the movies that were coming out when I was in Middle and High School. I completely 100% see why people don’t vibe with them and that goes for the prequels too. I just want to love Star Wars without having to fight for my life.
@@Lostjayyhawkyou don't think people have children? I mean clearly you aren't ever going to have any but there are millions of kids who's first Star Wars movies were 7,8&9 You people ruined the sequel trilogy. You people complained until they brought back Palpatine. Can't you guys just stop trying to sound cool by repeating critical drinker hot takes like you're actually capable of independent thought.
For those of us who remember when the first movies came out, these were just terrible. All digital production did was make the scenes more cluttered. Yoda looks awful. The stories were awful, too.
I don't think a single one of these retrospectives you've done has gone by without me cackling in my chair with joy whenever there are clips like fans in the theater for The Phantom Menace screaming in excitement at the title card. The breakdowns of the general public's reception and anticipation (or dread) is easily my favorite part of these. People have said it in the comments before but it reeeeally puts you in the headspace of that time and what folks (or yourself if you were around) were feeling in those moments. Pure bliss.
Long time viewer, first time commenter. Just wanted to say, there's something incredibly special about the way you recap the histories of these franchises from development right through to reception. I don't think I have the correct vocabulary to express it beyond that, special. It's rare I get goose bumps or any kind of second-hand excitement when watching RUclips videos, and while the goosebumps may have been minimal, the excitement was real. Just wanted to say keep doing what you're doing. I haven't seen anyone do it in quite the way you've been before, and it's something special.
It is truly amazing how many movie firsts, innovations, and general technological advancements these movies made. And if you hate Jar-Jar, just remember that without him, Gollum might not look the way he ended up looking.
(Not trying to start an arguement. Just thinking outloud) A lot of people say the sequals will eventually get the same treatment as the prequals because the kids that grew up with them will see it as their definitive Star Wars. But what I think people forget is a lot of the reasons Prequal kids see it as definitive was because the franchise did everything in its power to make it definitive. When i was growing up i didn't just have the movies, I had two cartoons, comic books and multiple video games all Prequal focused. I think the OT is miles better than the PT but when i think of Star Wars as a brand the first thing that comes to mind is the Prequal era because it was impossible to escape it. The Sequals on the other hand have from the very beginning had to share the limelight with a ton of other media that is not Sequal focused. A popular cartoon that not only is set in the OT but pays major respect to the prequal era. Other movies that are also OT focused. Most games aren't Sequal focused and none of the new shows coming out are either. Why would kids today see the Sequal era as definitve Star Wars when they've been exposed to so much more content from other eras?
The sequels won’t get the love the pt eventually gotten is 1.toy sales no one bought st toys and most of those figures are sitting on the shelf 2. Media even if the movies where bad George creating a interesting world around that era for multiple media than actually enhanced the films even tho I consider the 08 show bad it was one of the reasons why the pt got love today the sequels attempted that with resistance and that garbage flopped hard 3. Prequel resurgence was in response to a bad sw project and there where plenty worse projects that came after the sequel,trilogy ahsoka,the acolyte,the Kenobi series bobf and no one looked back on those movies
It’s not loved, it’s acceptance. It’s also just going from “terrible” films to “okay films.” In 2019 I thought all 3 films were terrible, now I consider 7 to be average, 8 to be good, and 9 to still be terrible.
I agree with most of the points made in the video except for the one on Yoda. Palpatine took over the republic, had all the other Jedis killed, took over the Jedi temple, and then beat yoda in a force battle. What could Yoda have done? He had no back up, and an entire army searching to kill him, running away was all he really could do in that moment
It was a little more complicated than Yoda just running away and backup wouldn't have helped. I recommend the ROTS Novel. It explains why Yoda lost, and the real reason why he ran away.
14:40 You're the first person on RUclips I've seen who says he actually prefers "Yub Nub" over the new celebration music. Personally, I never liked "Yub Nub" even before the SE came out. So when the music was changed, I was absolutely thrilled.
Love your long videos like this bro! I grew up with the prequels so they are special to me. Episode 3 is probably my favorite movie of all time. The whole clone wars era of Star Wars is unbeatable imo
I don't care if phantom menace is bad or whatever. I'll never forget getting to the drive in at 930am. Yeah, we sat in that car until it got dark. We didn't have much money but my dad saved a little extra to pay the guy off and made damn sure we had a spot in the very front and when that opening hit, people were on top of their cars cheering. And I looked back seeing it all and was proud to be there. I was 8 at the time and have never been happier. My dad was freaking out. So we watch it together every summer and talk about that night. What a core memory. I got the tickets framed. Thanks dad. ❤
2:24:27 - DVDs weren't an HD format. That wasn't until Blu-ray. Even though the 2004 versions of the original trilogy were mastered in HD, DVDs maxed out at 480p (standard definition). The saga wasn't available in HD until the Blu-ray releases in 2011.
I remember seeing all these in theaters when they came out. Even then, many of the effects: rough. Dialogue delivery: rough. But I think what made it endearing was that every part of it was NEW. The designs, ideas, visuals, characters (with the exception of a couple of known names). They had brand new ideas that didn’t make social commentary the focus, that they fully and unabashedly committed to and didn’t wink at the camera about or take the piss out of. There’s stuff I don’t like about some of it, but it’s totally harmless because the story points and characters aren’t blatantly pointing vengeful fingers at real life people with no sense of creative subtlety (social commentary). Even though there were some jokes that didn’t land, they were innocent enough. It took its existential cheesiness seriously. The Greek tragedy concept of the story as a whole is timeless. It also helped a ton that, in my opinion, throughout the uncertainty and “hmmm” or “what?” moments, it stuck the landing. And they were introducing so much cool, new stuff that even if some of the effects were rough (a lot of them were fantastic) the idea of them was thought-provoking. As a whole they seemed to inspire more wonder and existential thinking, whereas the sequels and many things thereafter seem to have inspired more cynicism and bitterness towards people’s own neighbors.
I would advise you look into George’s intentions for this trilogy. He has stated pretty clearly that it was intended to be analogous to the Bush administration. He even went so far as to have Anakin quote GWB in ROS: “if you’re not with me you’re my enemy” was taken from a Bush speech. It is simply incorrect to state that there was “no social commentary” in these movies.
@lauraplitt3840 I always took that to be political commentary. The way all of that stuff is presented is general and ubiquitous enough to be interpreted many different ways and to apply to whatever government you want. The commentary was towards an administration or “government.” Even the people that supported Bush are still untrusting of the government, so the commentary presented is still something they can get behind. The jabs like that weren’t at billions of generalized people, it was at one political person. And even then, unless somebody asked George themself, it was subtle enough to be interpreted toward whichever side you wanted it to be, or not at all and just chalked up to “fantasy but real enough that it could happen in some way.” The social commentary on the other hand that the sequels leaned in to is the stuff that’s on a more personal and social level. Instead of pointing a non-specific enough finger at one person, the commentary blatantly generalized millions of real people that haven’t even done anything wrong. Villainizing neighbors, people they live with, friends, family. The common individuals “social” circle. I guess I may just be thinking of political commentary and social commentary as entirely different things.
it's a symbiote circle, like the Naboo and the Gungans. The Force, the midichlorians, and sentient life are all manipulating and being manipulated by each other. There's always a bigger fish.
54:37 I’m no fan of the midichlorians either but didn’t Qui-Gon specifically tell Anakin that they’re just microorganisms that allow living things to communicate with the Force (all living things carry them, not just Jedi), and that measuring an individual's midichlorian count provides a convenient way to measure the strength of their Force abilities? I don’t think they alone give the person Force powers. The nature of the Force itself is left vague enough that it can still be justifiably called "magic".
@@RebelTrooperHoth put it this way, I thought it was corny at 13, now I'm pushing 40, have 'rebel scum' tattooed across my chest for the last 15 years, I love the Wars. But midichlorians are f-ing stupid as heck.
That’s exactly right. All the midichlorians do is determine how naturally gifted someone is with the force. Anyone can still attain it, it’s just a matter of how much work you have to put into mastering your skills
As someone who was only old enough to become a hardcore Star Wars fan after all 6 were released, these retrospectives have been so great. Seeing all the anticipation before TPM gave me so much context as to why I grew up listening to tons of prequel hate (Which I never understood until now since the prequels were what interested me in Star Wars to begin with). I also didn't realize just how revolutionary George Lucas and ILM were for pushing the ENTIRE film industry forward through Star Wars. Overall, amazing videos 🔥🔥
following a tradition i seem to have stumbled into this in the middle of the series -- well worth the time investment as a star wars fan. who needs nostalgiaberries in new films when you can have actual nostalgia on youtube!
Man, I remember these days fondly. The anticipation and excitement for episode 1 was almost unbearable. I was 21 when it came out. All my friends were Star Wars fans to varying degrees. I would've called myself a fanboy but I had friends that were heavily into it. My friend Ben was a walking Star Wars encyclopedia. Opening night at the first midnight showing, he was there, dressed as a Jedi. Tents and sleeping bags. The whole nine yards. I look back and wish I would've done it with him. But I couldn't. I had work. Saw the pics and videos he made of them before and after they saw it. Looked like a blast. My first viewing came two nights later. I was at a party over at my friend's, Pat and Tom's apartment, when my buddy Mike and I decided to walk to the gas station to get some smokes and junk. There was a guy out front selling what he said were bootlegs of the Phantom Menace. Now, I don't care what was on that tape, if there was a chance that episode 1 was on it, I was buying it. Five bucks. VHS. Went back popped it in the vcr and there it was, Lucasfilm and then the crawl. We freaked out with joy and a bunch of us huddled around the TV and were so happy with finally seeing the movie. Like a week later I went and saw it in the theaters. Both viewings were awesome. I have my issues with the sequels but it still made it a great time to be alive. What are yalls first episode 1 stories?
I was only 7 so I don't have a clear memory of actually seeing it in the cinema but I know I enjoyed it. I was already Star Wars obsessed thanks to my Dad buying the Special Editions on video a few years before so to get to have a brand new story with more lightsabers and aliens and space battles was all my little child mind could want haha. With 2 and 3 I was a bit older and could see the flaws, but 1 still has that sheen of childhood nostalgia around it that makes it enjoyable for me to watch to this day.
When you talk about the creator/fan relationship, the other thing that coincided with the special editions and definitely the prequel trilogy is the rise of the internet and it being more accessible. In those days the ‘big’ voices had an opinion and I think a lot of people just went with it.
Please don't take this the wrong way, because the video is great and the analysis is top notch. But this is the video that hit me with the fact how much Mike Stoklasa's reviews of the prequels influenced you tube creators in the last decade. I always knew that they did, but this video hit me like a brick with it. The fragment about warning signs in Anakin did that. That's basically the RLM segment right here. Also the mention about the brief moment of characters not having lightsabers on the arena. I just so rarely hear these arguments anywhere else that the connection was instant. It's by no means a diss. Just an observation on how big of a blessing these reviews were for our internet culture. They took its time to spread their roots, I mean, between 2008 and like around 2012 not many people were doing long form video reviews, we were under the influence of James Rolfe back then; but now almost half of the reviews channels are making videos that start around 30 minutes long and go waaaaay up there.
@@RebelTrooperHoth Just to be clear: this review here is not "parroting" anything in any way and after scrolling through the comments I'm disgusted at people's misuse of the word. In fact what I intended was meant to be taken as a compliment.
@@ELEKTROSKANSEN This video is a hodge podge pastiche of pretty much every big RUclips video created on the prequels in the last 15 years. It's not a direct rip off per se, it's just nothing new and a waste of the creator's time and energy. If I was him and I wanted to create an epic RUclips series, I'd choose many other topics before I chose the most documented film series on the internet. I guess it was an easy video to research for though. If this came out a decade ago I'd say "fair enough". Two weeks ago is just pathetic. He even admits SOME of the places he took his ideas from.
This was a great watch for sure but check out The Bread Circus' 12 hour long retrospective of Phantom. 3 hours for 3 films is epic but 12 for just 1 is another thing entirely.
Idk to this day over 20 years later, I still can't get past the magic that was episode 1 and leading up to it. I was 12 years old when that movie dropped and it was so magical to me, I was lucky enough to see the re-releases of the original trilogy in the years leading up to that which got me into Star wars, but seeing episode 1 just blew me out of the water. Is my favorite Star wars movie and all everything about it just felt magical and unique and modern while still having it's traditional style. I kind of enjoyed the dry politics because it made the world feel more lived in, with the nuance that can start as trade disputes and turn into bloodshed, that felt real to me at the time lol. Not to mention Darth maul is to this day my favorite villain of all time and the lightsaber battle in tandem with duel of the Fates is probably my favorite scene of All Star wars. This is probably heavily nostalgia talking but to this day episode 1 holds a very special place in my heart
Good job with these. But I remember having a friend wait in line for me cause I stayed in line but then had to go take a history final at college then come back and buy everyone tickets. I saw phantom menace like 4 times in 3 days lol.
I was enjoying it at my leisure until 1.13.10, when I paused it for this commentary. It is true that Best was indeed attacked by fans, Jake was not, it was primarily his own classmates who made his life miserable and the first signs of his mental illness emerged. That the fans attacked him is a myth. That said, I will press play again and continue to enjoy this great retrospective documentary
Maybe it’s nostalgia talking, but me and my friends were so hyped and excited for episode one, we played the video games all the times… It’ll always have a special place in my heart
@@NoahWoodard-dn3kv the first time I saw it, I was in full on excitement mode. Loved every second of it. The more viewings I had, the more the cracks started to show and it quickly lost its Lustre.
@@NoahWoodard-dn3kv We were about seven-ish, so yeah, especially that lightsaber duel. My buddy dressed up as young Anakin and his dad dressed up as Darth Maul for Halloween.
2:41:24 The reason why there are three villains is because they are three components of Vader. As Maul is Vader as a monster. Dooku is represents how Vader is a fallen Jedi. And Grievous shows how Vader is a cyborg
1:52:16 --- this is brilliant and shows a deep understanding of the story. I will quibble about the comments when you said that you could tell that there were different directors because of the camera placement. I wonder if the different camera placement is really the camera being in the right place to tell that part of the story, that they were necessary for the actions of jumping from speeder to speeder while chasing the bounty hunter. Worst assassination plan of A hiring B... hiring worms to get her -- another brilliant observation! I have just under 2 hours to go on Election Day 2024 - I don't want to look at anything political until tomorrow, yet I am watching political theater that took place in a galaxy long ago - how ironic!
Maybe a hot take but I absolutely love the prequel trilogy. And it’s only grown on me over time. Phantom Menace is my go-to background noise/comfort movie ❤
@55:14 I've had to explain this countless times despite never having been asked - The midiclorian symbiotes catalyses access to the force, they are not made of the force. You're welcome!
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again…..The Star Wars prequels were made at the perfectly worst time in cinema. 10 years either way would have solved nearly every problem. But………………....very unlikely we’d have gotten duel of the fates music, choreography and that would be a shame….because it was awesome. Maul pacing like a caged animal….Obi-wan bursting out with a flurry of hits, the back guard to front slap down…..glorious
I will always have a super soft spot for these Prequels man. These came out when I was a kid and these were the first Star Wars movies I consumed and I just remember being in AWE. Hell my parents even made me wait till I was 13 to watch ROTS and I think they knew what they were doing because my goodness. But regardless of their flaws and cringeworthy moments in the first two, I will always be a defender of the story that Lucas came up with. Anakin Skywalker is my favorite character in any piece of media ever for a good reason. Can’t wait to binge this entire video right now 😎😎
I really hope you're as critical of the Disney movies as are you with these ones ... PS. The: "Don't do on a date with Andakin Skywalker" segment is hilarious and awesome!
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This is a really fantastic video. It’s really fun revisiting what it was like anticipating each films release with all the media coverage and tie ins. We also have very similar sensibilities for the most part. Every critique of the films are the same ones I have. Same with the highlights. It’s really refreshing to watch something not pretending the prequels are masterpieces but still appreciating the good parts that exist.
You, my friend, have given me an entirely new perspective on Attack of the Clones. Specifically, the "Things to not do on a date..." bit was awesome. lol
Nowadays I watch the Star Wars prequel trilogy edited by HAL 9000 (a fan editor famous for his edition of "The Skywalker Saga"), it has become my favorite version because it is a more mature, attractive, fresh and faithful reinterpretation to the spirit of the original Star Wars trilogy. I still fondly remember the original versions, but the problem is the continuity errors.
I’m glad people haven’t watched it cw 08 actively retcons the 6 films and the expanded universe for the sake of appealing to prequels haters the prequels are bad sure but that doesn’t mean u have to actively retcon those movies
@Deity_devil, what are you talking about? Half my generation has seen that show included every Star Wars fan and non star wars fans as well, for example, red Letter Media they really like that show for just seeing the og flims
@@Wizardmaster85_3.0 rlm those terrible film reviewers especially plinkett lol Ahsoka is the most shoe horned character in all of sw u can’t introduce a character like Ahsoka and not have her be mentioned in the 6 line films They contradict Anakins established characterization from the movie having him be a generic quippy hero and play his crimes up for jokes while the movies portray his crimes as horror The inhibitor chips is the most obvious retcon Darth maul returning was the gateway into characters surviving fatal lightsaber wounds Retconned the mandalorians into pacifist and a human only race Contradicted barris offee and quin lan vos characterization Anakin being knighted to months after the battle of geonosis even tho he’s supposed to be knighted 9 months before the battle coruscant They made the force more physical and tangible than it already was They made asaji ventless and darth maul come from the same species Turned korriban into morriban Brought eeth koth from the dead after he died on geonosis Just few continuity retcons and character contradictions on the top of my head
For as many flaws as this prequel trilogy has. That last fight between Anakin and obi-wan is so memorable. The first part of it is till this day some of the coolest fight choreography I've ever seen It's so fast and fluid and you can tell that they are almost predicting each others next move because they know which others fight Style so well .
This is the first one of these retrospectives I would like to see redone. Excellent work as always, but depending on your age it’s told completely differently. ❤
Fantastic job on the video! The prequels had the impossible task of trying to recapture the magic of the first trilogy. As a 5 yr old watching The Star Wars in the movie theater in 1977; the movie impacted my life. Because of The Star Wars, I went to the Air Force Academy with dreams of being an astronaut. How could any movie recapture that magic? It can’t. I still love all the Star Wars movies. Maybe I’m a fan boy. Maybe I just love being propelled into space. But I look at them with a 5 year old’s eye. 4 will always be my favorite as it impacted my life like no other movie. The adult me loves Rogue One; the Saving Private Ryan of Star Wars. But… that’s just me 🙂
I always thought the reason OT Yoda acted so much crazier than the PT Yoda was because living alone in a swamp for 20 years, probably contemplating the events and the failures that had led him to Dagobah, literally did drive him a little crazy.
3:00:58 The second you brought up ILM in the part one, I was waiting for you mention this franchise. And you brought up the crossover toys! And here I was already having a good day.
I think whenever you were a kid and saw the star wars trilogy at that time. You will always prefer more. I will always love the prequels more than the OG because it’s what Star Wars is to me. Also I personally hate Return of the Jedi and I think it’s the worst of the first six. Revenge of the Sith will always be my favorite. I like the talking points and solid video!
I am loving this series!! So far, you are capturing all of the feelings I have for this saga. Not sure if anyone remembers the documentary: The People VS George Lucas. That's also a good rescource for some of these conversations.
It’s OK I don’t know what the time stamp is here is it’s $1.4836. Do I have that right? Princess Leia is not a princess because Padme was the queen . Nobody knew Padme was her mother. Princess Leia is a princess because her adoptive mother is the queen of Alderaan, wife of Senator Organa, of Alderaan.
OG guy here and saw them all for my birthday with friends as a kid, at the end of May. When Ep1 came out, I had tickets for the first showing and came out so so happy about it. Ya, Jar kinda ruined some of the moments but it ultimately didn't matter as I was back in the universe again after so many years. I had a bunch of memorabilia, mostly Pepsi stuff I acquired through family business but some asshole broke into my house and took a bunch, the rest eventually just went away. Didn't get into the cartoon stuff at all but I probably should have but at 30+, cartoons weren't my thing. Anyway, I'd say you could probably end the series here but I get it, those last 3 (🤮) still exist. Thanks for the time and effort over the last 6 and ya, I'll still sit through the next 3.
2:46:54 I like to think that this scene indicates that Palpatine was so attuned to the force that he somehow knew what would become of Anakin and the suit he would need, making the pause even more ominous.
I will always remember this era especially for the Lego sets and games, the clone wars show, and the awesome saber fights that I had fun imitating as a kid. I used to just always skip to the action when watching these movies
George Lucas’s Star Wars prequels are a masterpiece, a magnificent, exciting, and incredibly rich work that has greatly contributed to the story, universe, characters, lore, and mythology of Star Wars. They are the greatest movies-a thrilling, cult classic trilogy from beginning to end. These are the Star Wars movies George Lucas always intended to make, and they are the best, most complete, and richest of all the Star Wars trilogies. Everything is superb: the deepening of the Star Wars universe and its narrative elements is stunning and engaging. The detailed exploration of the Clone Wars, a pivotal moment in Star Wars history, is fascinating. The period of the Clone Wars is the best era in the Star Wars saga. The gripping storyline develops throughout the films, with the rise of Palpatine (Darth Sidious) portrayed masterfully. His behind-the-scenes machinations to undermine the Galactic Republic and bring the galaxy under his control are meticulously shown. His manipulation to create a massive clone army and wipe out the Jedi with Order 66 is central to the story, explaining how the Galactic Empire came to be after the fall of the Republic and how Anakin turned to the dark side, becoming Darth Vader. Anakin’s fall, driven by his desire to save those he loved, is tragic and profound. His transformation into Darth Vader is a breathtaking, iconic scene. The connection to the original trilogy is seamlessly handled. Anakin’s internal conflict-torn between his loyalty to the Jedi Order and his desire to protect those he loves-makes his story deep and tragic. Key moments such as his confrontation with Count Dooku and his heartbreaking final duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar heighten the drama. The prequels also brought invaluable depth to the Star Wars universe, offering detailed insight into the Jedi Order, the training of Padawans, the Sith, and Jedi teachings. The focus on the Sith and their philosophy strengthened the dark side of the Force, adding layers of depth and complexity to the saga. The political aspect of the prequel trilogy introduces a new dimension to Star Wars, with Palpatine’s machinations in the Galactic Senate and the growing tensions between planetary systems, creating a richer context for the events of the Original Trilogy-the rise of the Empire, the fall of the Republic, the extinction of the Jedi, and the tragic story of Anakin Skywalker. The expansion of the Star Wars universe is also amazing, with new planets, races, creatures, and cultures. The introduction of Dug, Gungans, Toydarians, Kaminoans, the underwater city, the Queen’s palace, the Galactic Senate, the cloning facility, and planets like Naboo and Coruscant-all of which are among the best-help create a larger, more diverse world. Iconic locations such as Kamino, Geonosis, Utapau, Felucia, and Mustafar provide visually captivating settings for action scenes, plot development, and key moments in the story. The trilogy also gave us legendary characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padmé Amidala, Qui-Gon Jinn, Mace Windu, General Grievous, Jango Fett, and more. The action scenes and lightsaber battles are some of the most memorable in the saga. Epic battles such as the Battle of Geonosis, the podrace on Tatooine, the Battle of Naboo, and the Battle over Coruscant are iconic, visually stunning, and filled with emotional stakes, involving characters we’ve grown to love. Lightsaber duels between legendary figures like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Darth Maul, and Yoda are executed with exceptional choreography, adding visceral energy to the story. The duel on Naboo, the clash with Count Dooku, Yoda’s fight with Darth Sidious in the Senate, Darth Maul’s encounter, and the tragic brotherly battle between Obi-Wan and Anakin are unforgettable. These episodes also enriched Star Wars lore with charismatic new characters, unforgettable music like 'Duel of the Fates,' 'Across the Stars,' and 'Battle of the Heroes,' a fascinating and expansive mythology, and a cast of talented actors, including Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Liam Neeson. Natalie Portman is stunning, graceful, and charismatic as Padmé Amidala, queen and senator of Naboo. She brings strength, determination, and courage to her role, evolving from a queen to a senator and eventually into a strong, elegant, and determined woman-a central feature of the trilogy. Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson deliver a classy and memorable presence onscreen, and their dynamic as Jedi Masters is palpable, conveying wisdom and resolve that ground the story in Jedi heritage. Christopher Lee’s presence as Count Dooku adds a touch of class, elegance, and charisma, enhanced by his Shakespearean delivery. The Star Wars prequels were the revival of the Star Wars saga, bringing real dramatic weight, political context, meaningful stakes, new and iconic characters, and thrilling action scenes. They vastly expanded the Star Wars universe, making it more diverse and richly developed, with a lore that perfectly complements the Original Trilogy and is inseparable from it. These Star Wars episodes are masterpieces that form an incredible whole, a single, exceptional galactic epic. It is the story of Anakin Skywalker-from his training as a Jedi to his fall to the dark side, and ultimately his redemption in saving his son, destroying the Sith, and bringing balance to the Force. It’s also the story of the Galactic Empire, once a democratic Republic, and Palpatine’s rise from senator to emperor of the galaxy-his manipulation to secure his authority in the Senate, create his own Empire, destroy the Jedi Order, and keep Anakin as his apprentice. Furthermore, this trilogy marked a major advancement in digital filmmaking, modern technologies, editing, and special effects, allowing the creation of new worlds, incredible world-building, and the extraordinary narrative of the Star Wars prequels. Like Avatar, it is a vast, rich, and unlimited universe that explores new planets, civilizations, technologies, and worlds. This trilogy is the greatest, most ambitious, and best-executed in Star Wars, as George Lucas was able to build his universe exactly as he envisioned it. Without the prequels, the Star Wars universe would not be as interesting, vast, developed, or as exciting and rich as it is today.
Star Wars Episodes 1, 2, and 3 are the greatest movies in the Star Wars universe. They are a legendary and essential work, pivotal in shaping the world of Star Wars, representing the best the franchise has to offer in every aspect. From Episodes I to VI, all the Star Wars movies are masterpieces-iconic, stunning, incredibly rich, exciting, and timeless. These movies remain unmatched, defining the pinnacle of science fiction with the best characters, actors, casting, scenes, universe, and storytelling. The depth, the expansion, and the sheer creativity of this universe are unparalleled, with its planets, environments, creatures, and civilizations revolutionizing cinema with groundbreaking technology, digital effects, and editing advancements. Together, these two epic trilogies form a perfect, magical, and exceptional whole-an inseparable part of a grand, unified story: the tale of Anakin Skywalker, his journey from a Jedi to the dark side, and his ultimate redemption through self-sacrifice to save his son, destroy the Sith, and restore balance to the Force. It’s also the rise and fall of a dictatorship, showing the transformation of a democracy into tyranny, all set in a vast, sprawling universe that is breathtakingly rich and endlessly creative. Star Wars Episodes I through VI tell the same story, set in the same universe-George Lucas’s singular vision of an extraordinary science fiction saga. Both trilogies are integral to the Star Wars world, two sides of the same galaxy. These two monumental trilogies are masterpieces that have greatly contributed to building the universe and lore of Star Wars as we know it today. They are legendary, exciting, and iconic works of science fiction, the crowning achievement of George Lucas. Six incredible movies that together form an inseparable whole.
I love all of your videos! The line, "He's a straight man, and she's Natalie Portman," made me laugh a little more than it probably should. If this is a retrospective on the movies only, ok. But I'd like to see more about The Clone Wars from you. That made me appreciate this trilogy so much more, as you mentioned. The Clone Wars and Rebels are some of my favorite Star Wars content. Maybe an episode dedicated to just those 🤞 You can include Resistance if you feel it's necessary.
Palpatine has the best naming sense ever: 1- I'm In-Sidious. 2- You're the spiky Jedi Maul-er. 3- You're a Count? Hmmmmm.... Tyran(t)-us. 4- You turned to the dark side because you fear your wife dying in childbirth?... You're.... Vater! No, wait! Let's be subtle for once! VADER! Yes! Perfect. What name was he gonna give Luke? lol, Darth "Orfan"? "Anakin Jr"? Leia would be "Wincestia". Ok, bye.
Thank you so much for this retrospective. I started with the prequels as a kid. Phantom Menace was one of my earliest theatrical experiences, so that entire era is nostalgic.
I still like the theory that JarJar was supposed to be more pulling strings and playing up the fool to hide in plain sight, but the hate for him took that away. If I'm remembering right Gorge liked some book or whatever that had a jester that turned out to the the bad guy in the end. That was years ago so I could be remembering a lot of this wrong.
A COUPLE QUICK NOTES:
1) Yes, there are similarities between this video and the Plinkett reviews. Those videos were without a doubt foundational to criticism of these movies over the years, and some of their ideas worked their way into my head as ear-worms over time. For the most part though I can assure you that a lot of the similarities were unintentional. It has been years since I've rewatched those videos, and a lot of the opinions expressed here are genuinely my own. If they are similar, they are coincidental.
EXCEPT FOR... the Anakin dating advice bit. I did lift that from those reviews, but I wanted to try and find a new way of approaching it that wasn't 1:1 with what those videos did. And I also wanted to hang a lantern on it by directly referencing the original gag at the end of this video. However, since a couple comments have pointed it out, I obviously didn't do enough, and that's my bad. I could've twisted the idea further or even found another way to tackle it, and for that I'm sorry.
ALSO, for the sake of utmost clarity, other influences on this video are: The Cosmonaut Variety Hour, Mr. Sunday Movies, Patrick H. Willems, and a little bit of r/PrequelMemes. My observations and thoughts have been informed and influenced by all of them, and Plinkett, over the years, so I want to make sure that I properly credit them for all of that when making this video.
2) This is just a minor correction: The Phantom Menace was in fact NOT the very first movie to utilize digital previsualization. That honor goes back to Clear and Present Danger (1994) and perhaps even further back with Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989). So it'd be more accurate to say Phantom Menace was ONE OF the first to use digital pre-vis, but not actually THE first. So that's a mistake on my part.
3) Another correction: The Plaza de España is in fact NOT located in London, it is in Seville, Spain. That was just a complete misreading of information on my part.
4) I don't know exactly when Part 3 of this video is going to come out, because it's still in the copyright gauntlet. BUT I am working on it, don't worry.
In the meantime I hope this doesn't sully your enjoyment of the video too much, and I hope you enjoy watching : )
Either way tpm certainly popularized it just like how the spider verse films popularized 2.5d/5d animation
Please put a hyphen between “pre” and “vis”. I keep seeing “digital penis” and my brain can’t cope😂😂
The sliced up Maul comes back in Solo 😂
Yes I know he was back in the Clone Wars Cartoon but that's a Cartoon not live action
Will you be covering The Clone Wars Cartoon movie and TV series
@@geraintthatcher3076 it being a cartoon does not discount it from being canon
I'm sure this comment section will be perfectly civil!
Lol
I know I’ll be… at least
And perfectly legal…
I have a baaad feeling about this...
Lol wait for the comment section in the Sequels video.
The Prequels are flawed, sometimes even downright awful when you think about it. But these are what got me into Star Wars, how I was introduced to this series.
Hayden Christiansen and Ewan McGregor are the absolute highlights for me.
Fantastic video as always, Prime!
Funny, because I don't think anyone in the future will say this about the Disney sequels.
I think the fact that the prequels are a tragedy, a story of a Republic in decline, that tried it's best to tell a story that was too convoluted for cinema, like life, saves the movies
The Prequels are a coherent Trilogy
The Originals are a coherent Trilogy
The Sequels are 3 seperare movies that are alright on their own, but don't work together as a Trilogy
@@Lostjayyhawk I personally love the Sequels as these were the movies that were coming out when I was in Middle and High School. I completely 100% see why people don’t vibe with them and that goes for the prequels too. I just want to love Star Wars without having to fight for my life.
@@Lostjayyhawkyou don't think people have children?
I mean clearly you aren't ever going to have any but there are millions of kids who's first Star Wars movies were 7,8&9
You people ruined the sequel trilogy. You people complained until they brought back Palpatine.
Can't you guys just stop trying to sound cool by repeating critical drinker hot takes like you're actually capable of independent thought.
For those of us who remember when the first movies came out, these were just terrible. All digital production did was make the scenes more cluttered. Yoda looks awful. The stories were awful, too.
I don't think a single one of these retrospectives you've done has gone by without me cackling in my chair with joy whenever there are clips like fans in the theater for The Phantom Menace screaming in excitement at the title card. The breakdowns of the general public's reception and anticipation (or dread) is easily my favorite part of these. People have said it in the comments before but it reeeeally puts you in the headspace of that time and what folks (or yourself if you were around) were feeling in those moments. Pure bliss.
Long time viewer, first time commenter.
Just wanted to say, there's something incredibly special about the way you recap the histories of these franchises from development right through to reception.
I don't think I have the correct vocabulary to express it beyond that, special. It's rare I get goose bumps or any kind of second-hand excitement when watching RUclips videos, and while the goosebumps may have been minimal, the excitement was real.
Just wanted to say keep doing what you're doing. I haven't seen anyone do it in quite the way you've been before, and it's something special.
Well said.
It is truly amazing how many movie firsts, innovations, and general technological advancements these movies made. And if you hate Jar-Jar, just remember that without him, Gollum might not look the way he ended up looking.
Jar jar isn’t even as annoying as c3po yet Danny’s bum off him. I can’t stand the useless prick lol
2? 3?
I hate you. In 20 years I never noticed the digital zooms in AotC and now, because of you, I can't unseen them😫
im so sorry lmao
The digital zooms never bothered me, but now, they do a little.
I've been a massive fan of the prequels ever since I was a kid. While I don't think they're the best Star Wars movies, I think they're my favorite:)
I know that a lot of people had issues with the prequel trilogy, but I thoroughly enjoyed them. They are what really got me into Star Wars.
Me too
not me.
You are 31
(Not trying to start an arguement. Just thinking outloud)
A lot of people say the sequals will eventually get the same treatment as the prequals because the kids that grew up with them will see it as their definitive Star Wars. But what I think people forget is a lot of the reasons Prequal kids see it as definitive was because the franchise did everything in its power to make it definitive. When i was growing up i didn't just have the movies, I had two cartoons, comic books and multiple video games all Prequal focused. I think the OT is miles better than the PT but when i think of Star Wars as a brand the first thing that comes to mind is the Prequal era because it was impossible to escape it.
The Sequals on the other hand have from the very beginning had to share the limelight with a ton of other media that is not Sequal focused. A popular cartoon that not only is set in the OT but pays major respect to the prequal era. Other movies that are also OT focused. Most games aren't Sequal focused and none of the new shows coming out are either. Why would kids today see the Sequal era as definitve Star Wars when they've been exposed to so much more content from other eras?
The sequels won’t get the love the pt eventually gotten is
1.toy sales no one bought st toys and most of those figures are sitting on the shelf
2. Media even if the movies where bad George creating a interesting world around that era for multiple media than actually enhanced the films even tho I consider the 08 show bad it was one of the reasons why the pt got love today the sequels attempted that with resistance and that garbage flopped hard
3. Prequel resurgence was in response to a bad sw project and there where plenty worse projects that came after the sequel,trilogy ahsoka,the acolyte,the Kenobi series bobf and no one looked back on those movies
@@Deity_devil That too
It’s not loved, it’s acceptance. It’s also just going from “terrible” films to “okay films.”
In 2019 I thought all 3 films were terrible, now I consider 7 to be average, 8 to be good, and 9 to still be terrible.
@@barkley8285 I'm not talkng about older fans. I'm talking about the kids that will grow up with the movies
@ Do u like luke skywalker as a character if the answer is yes than if u like tlj u like character assassination
I grew with this era of Star Wars, words cannot express how revolutionary it was for film history
I agree with most of the points made in the video except for the one on Yoda. Palpatine took over the republic, had all the other Jedis killed, took over the Jedi temple, and then beat yoda in a force battle. What could Yoda have done? He had no back up, and an entire army searching to kill him, running away was all he really could do in that moment
It was a little more complicated than Yoda just running away and backup wouldn't have helped.
I recommend the ROTS Novel. It explains why Yoda lost, and the real reason why he ran away.
14:40 You're the first person on RUclips I've seen who says he actually prefers "Yub Nub" over the new celebration music. Personally, I never liked "Yub Nub" even before the SE came out. So when the music was changed, I was absolutely thrilled.
Consider me the second …
I liked both...
Yub nub fits better thematically
Love your long videos like this bro! I grew up with the prequels so they are special to me. Episode 3 is probably my favorite movie of all time. The whole clone wars era of Star Wars is unbeatable imo
I don't care if phantom menace is bad or whatever. I'll never forget getting to the drive in at 930am. Yeah, we sat in that car until it got dark.
We didn't have much money but my dad saved a little extra to pay the guy off and made damn sure we had a spot in the very front and when that opening hit, people were on top of their cars cheering. And I looked back seeing it all and was proud to be there. I was 8 at the time and have never been happier. My dad was freaking out.
So we watch it together every summer and talk about that night. What a core memory. I got the tickets framed. Thanks dad. ❤
2:24:27 - DVDs weren't an HD format. That wasn't until Blu-ray.
Even though the 2004 versions of the original trilogy were mastered in HD, DVDs maxed out at 480p (standard definition). The saga wasn't available in HD until the Blu-ray releases in 2011.
I remember seeing all these in theaters when they came out. Even then, many of the effects: rough. Dialogue delivery: rough. But I think what made it endearing was that every part of it was NEW. The designs, ideas, visuals, characters (with the exception of a couple of known names). They had brand new ideas that didn’t make social commentary the focus, that they fully and unabashedly committed to and didn’t wink at the camera about or take the piss out of. There’s stuff I don’t like about some of it, but it’s totally harmless because the story points and characters aren’t blatantly pointing vengeful fingers at real life people with no sense of creative subtlety (social commentary). Even though there were some jokes that didn’t land, they were innocent enough. It took its existential cheesiness seriously. The Greek tragedy concept of the story as a whole is timeless. It also helped a ton that, in my opinion, throughout the uncertainty and “hmmm” or “what?” moments, it stuck the landing. And they were introducing so much cool, new stuff that even if some of the effects were rough (a lot of them were fantastic) the idea of them was thought-provoking. As a whole they seemed to inspire more wonder and existential thinking, whereas the sequels and many things thereafter seem to have inspired more cynicism and bitterness towards people’s own neighbors.
I would advise you look into George’s intentions for this trilogy. He has stated pretty clearly that it was intended to be analogous to the Bush administration. He even went so far as to have Anakin quote GWB in ROS: “if you’re not with me you’re my enemy” was taken from a Bush speech. It is simply incorrect to state that there was “no social commentary” in these movies.
@lauraplitt3840 I always took that to be political commentary. The way all of that stuff is presented is general and ubiquitous enough to be interpreted many different ways and to apply to whatever government you want. The commentary was towards an administration or “government.” Even the people that supported Bush are still untrusting of the government, so the commentary presented is still something they can get behind. The jabs like that weren’t at billions of generalized people, it was at one political person. And even then, unless somebody asked George themself, it was subtle enough to be interpreted toward whichever side you wanted it to be, or not at all and just chalked up to “fantasy but real enough that it could happen in some way.” The social commentary on the other hand that the sequels leaned in to is the stuff that’s on a more personal and social level. Instead of pointing a non-specific enough finger at one person, the commentary blatantly generalized millions of real people that haven’t even done anything wrong. Villainizing neighbors, people they live with, friends, family. The common individuals “social” circle. I guess I may just be thinking of political commentary and social commentary as entirely different things.
55:00 Midicholrians are not the force. They are organelle that allows bigger life forums to sense and interact with the force.
it's a symbiote circle, like the Naboo and the Gungans. The Force, the midichlorians, and sentient life are all manipulating and being manipulated by each other. There's always a bigger fish.
54:37 I’m no fan of the midichlorians either but didn’t Qui-Gon specifically tell Anakin that they’re just microorganisms that allow living things to communicate with the Force (all living things carry them, not just Jedi), and that measuring an individual's midichlorian count provides a convenient way to measure the strength of their Force abilities? I don’t think they alone give the person Force powers. The nature of the Force itself is left vague enough that it can still be justifiably called "magic".
Well, kinda...
I still think it’s points away from the movie because so much people think they work this way, so they evidentially explained something wrong
@@RebelTrooperHoth put it this way, I thought it was corny at 13, now I'm pushing 40, have 'rebel scum' tattooed across my chest for the last 15 years, I love the Wars. But midichlorians are f-ing stupid as heck.
That’s exactly right. All the midichlorians do is determine how naturally gifted someone is with the force. Anyone can still attain it, it’s just a matter of how much work you have to put into mastering your skills
@@Gadgetprime14
A couple of weeks on Dagobah otta do it!
As someone who was only old enough to become a hardcore Star Wars fan after all 6 were released, these retrospectives have been so great. Seeing all the anticipation before TPM gave me so much context as to why I grew up listening to tons of prequel hate (Which I never understood until now since the prequels were what interested me in Star Wars to begin with). I also didn't realize just how revolutionary George Lucas and ILM were for pushing the ENTIRE film industry forward through Star Wars. Overall, amazing videos 🔥🔥
following a tradition i seem to have stumbled into this in the middle of the series -- well worth the time investment as a star wars fan. who needs nostalgiaberries in new films when you can have actual nostalgia on youtube!
Never say the word nostalgiaberries again lol
"Heroes on both sides" means that there are also good guys who wants to leave the republic.
Man, I remember these days fondly. The anticipation and excitement for episode 1 was almost unbearable. I was 21 when it came out. All my friends were Star Wars fans to varying degrees. I would've called myself a fanboy but I had friends that were heavily into it. My friend Ben was a walking Star Wars encyclopedia. Opening night at the first midnight showing, he was there, dressed as a Jedi. Tents and sleeping bags. The whole nine yards. I look back and wish I would've done it with him. But I couldn't. I had work. Saw the pics and videos he made of them before and after they saw it. Looked like a blast. My first viewing came two nights later. I was at a party over at my friend's, Pat and Tom's apartment, when my buddy Mike and I decided to walk to the gas station to get some smokes and junk. There was a guy out front selling what he said were bootlegs of the Phantom Menace. Now, I don't care what was on that tape, if there was a chance that episode 1 was on it, I was buying it. Five bucks. VHS. Went back popped it in the vcr and there it was, Lucasfilm and then the crawl. We freaked out with joy and a bunch of us huddled around the TV and were so happy with finally seeing the movie. Like a week later I went and saw it in the theaters. Both viewings were awesome. I have my issues with the sequels but it still made it a great time to be alive. What are yalls first episode 1 stories?
I was only 7 so I don't have a clear memory of actually seeing it in the cinema but I know I enjoyed it. I was already Star Wars obsessed thanks to my Dad buying the Special Editions on video a few years before so to get to have a brand new story with more lightsabers and aliens and space battles was all my little child mind could want haha.
With 2 and 3 I was a bit older and could see the flaws, but 1 still has that sheen of childhood nostalgia around it that makes it enjoyable for me to watch to this day.
Its one of my first movie going experiences with my dad. We saw every star wars prequels and harry potter.
When you talk about the creator/fan relationship, the other thing that coincided with the special editions and definitely the prequel trilogy is the rise of the internet and it being more accessible. In those days the ‘big’ voices had an opinion and I think a lot of people just went with it.
Please don't take this the wrong way, because the video is great and the analysis is top notch. But this is the video that hit me with the fact how much Mike Stoklasa's reviews of the prequels influenced you tube creators in the last decade. I always knew that they did, but this video hit me like a brick with it. The fragment about warning signs in Anakin did that. That's basically the RLM segment right here. Also the mention about the brief moment of characters not having lightsabers on the arena. I just so rarely hear these arguments anywhere else that the connection was instant. It's by no means a diss. Just an observation on how big of a blessing these reviews were for our internet culture. They took its time to spread their roots, I mean, between 2008 and like around 2012 not many people were doing long form video reviews, we were under the influence of James Rolfe back then; but now almost half of the reviews channels are making videos that start around 30 minutes long and go waaaaay up there.
Oh and it's only now that I noticed the pinned comment :D
@@ELEKTROSKANSEN The Sheev Talks review of TPM really opened my eyes on how to hate the first 2 prequels while not parroting RLM
@@RebelTrooperHoth Just to be clear: this review here is not "parroting" anything in any way and after scrolling through the comments I'm disgusted at people's misuse of the word. In fact what I intended was meant to be taken as a compliment.
@@ELEKTROSKANSEN This video is a hodge podge pastiche of pretty much every big RUclips video created on the prequels in the last 15 years. It's not a direct rip off per se, it's just nothing new and a waste of the creator's time and energy. If I was him and I wanted to create an epic RUclips series, I'd choose many other topics before I chose the most documented film series on the internet. I guess it was an easy video to research for though. If this came out a decade ago I'd say "fair enough". Two weeks ago is just pathetic. He even admits SOME of the places he took his ideas from.
Prime is the GOAT of long form retrospectives - thanks for this mate
This was a great watch for sure but check out The Bread Circus' 12 hour long retrospective of Phantom. 3 hours for 3 films is epic but 12 for just 1 is another thing entirely.
Idk to this day over 20 years later, I still can't get past the magic that was episode 1 and leading up to it. I was 12 years old when that movie dropped and it was so magical to me, I was lucky enough to see the re-releases of the original trilogy in the years leading up to that which got me into Star wars, but seeing episode 1 just blew me out of the water. Is my favorite Star wars movie and all everything about it just felt magical and unique and modern while still having it's traditional style. I kind of enjoyed the dry politics because it made the world feel more lived in, with the nuance that can start as trade disputes and turn into bloodshed, that felt real to me at the time lol. Not to mention Darth maul is to this day my favorite villain of all time and the lightsaber battle in tandem with duel of the Fates is probably my favorite scene of All Star wars. This is probably heavily nostalgia talking but to this day episode 1 holds a very special place in my heart
Good job with these. But I remember having a friend wait in line for me cause I stayed in line but then had to go take a history final at college then come back and buy everyone tickets. I saw phantom menace like 4 times in 3 days lol.
I was enjoying it at my leisure until 1.13.10, when I paused it for this commentary.
It is true that Best was indeed attacked by fans, Jake was not, it was primarily his own classmates who made his life miserable and the first signs of his mental illness emerged.
That the fans attacked him is a myth.
That said, I will press play again and continue to enjoy this great retrospective documentary
Incredible retrospective. Long time super fan that still learned something new from this video!
1:13:20 Turned out Loyd didn't actually care and his issues were more medical and tragic.
Maybe it’s nostalgia talking, but me and my friends were so hyped and excited for episode one, we played the video games all the times… It’ll always have a special place in my heart
Me too. I was 21 when it came out. I played both the games. The movie game was OK but I freaking loved that pod racing game. Mars Guo was my guy!
Did you guys enjoy it when you saw it?
@@NoahWoodard-dn3kv the first time I saw it, I was in full on excitement mode. Loved every second of it. The more viewings I had, the more the cracks started to show and it quickly lost its Lustre.
@@NoahWoodard-dn3kv We were about seven-ish, so yeah, especially that lightsaber duel. My buddy dressed up as young Anakin and his dad dressed up as Darth Maul for Halloween.
@@claycollins9852 Good times
2:41:24
The reason why there are three villains is because they are three components of Vader. As Maul is Vader as a monster. Dooku is represents how Vader is a fallen Jedi. And Grievous shows how Vader is a cyborg
1:52:16 --- this is brilliant and shows a deep understanding of the story.
I will quibble about the comments when you said that you could tell that there were different directors because of the camera placement. I wonder if the different camera placement is really the camera being in the right place to tell that part of the story, that they were necessary for the actions of jumping from speeder to speeder while chasing the bounty hunter.
Worst assassination plan of A hiring B... hiring worms to get her -- another brilliant observation!
I have just under 2 hours to go on Election Day 2024 - I don't want to look at anything political until tomorrow, yet I am watching political theater that took place in a galaxy long ago - how ironic!
Maybe a hot take but I absolutely love the prequel trilogy. And it’s only grown on me over time.
Phantom Menace is my go-to background noise/comfort movie ❤
@55:14 I've had to explain this countless times despite never having been asked - The midiclorian symbiotes catalyses access to the force, they are not made of the force. You're welcome!
Thanks for taking the time to make this great, indepth and long documentary! I enjoyed it 😃
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again…..The Star Wars prequels were made at the perfectly worst time in cinema. 10 years either way would have solved nearly every problem.
But………………....very unlikely we’d have gotten duel of the fates music, choreography and that would be a shame….because it was awesome. Maul pacing like a caged animal….Obi-wan bursting out with a flurry of hits, the back guard to front slap down…..glorious
You honestly deserve way more views with how much effort you put into making these videos informative and entertaining, honestly deserve way more subs
that full trailer you show at 38:12 is what i downloaded on realplayer 4000 times, because it kept stopping where Padme says "i will not..."
The best prequel movie was episode 3. The last hour of the movie was so good that I got teared up.
I will always have a super soft spot for these Prequels man. These came out when I was a kid and these were the first Star Wars movies I consumed and I just remember being in AWE. Hell my parents even made me wait till I was 13 to watch ROTS and I think they knew what they were doing because my goodness. But regardless of their flaws and cringeworthy moments in the first two, I will always be a defender of the story that Lucas came up with. Anakin Skywalker is my favorite character in any piece of media ever for a good reason. Can’t wait to binge this entire video right now 😎😎
This is a good video... when it's not regurgitating Plinkett.
2:30:13 Surprised you didn't mention the "Battle of the Heroes" music video.
I really hope you're as critical of the Disney movies as are you with these ones ...
PS. The: "Don't do on a date with Andakin Skywalker" segment is hilarious and awesome!
Stage actors may find it easier to adapt to environments where they must react to non-existent elements, such as green or blue screens, due to their training and experience in live performances where imaginative engagement is often required.
I’m so glad I have on dvd the original trilogy that has both edited and unedited discs.
What a ride. Thank you for producing hq content!
Since the shows on Disney+ the prequels hits different now
They hit fine but now it's different
This is a really fantastic video. It’s really fun revisiting what it was like anticipating each films release with all the media coverage and tie ins.
We also have very similar sensibilities for the most part. Every critique of the films are the same ones I have. Same with the highlights. It’s really refreshing to watch something not pretending the prequels are masterpieces but still appreciating the good parts that exist.
These retrospectives ney. Your retrospectives might have to be some of my favorite youtube videos ever
You, my friend, have given me an entirely new perspective on Attack of the Clones. Specifically, the "Things to not do on a date..." bit was awesome. lol
Nowadays I watch the Star Wars prequel trilogy edited by HAL 9000 (a fan editor famous for his edition of "The Skywalker Saga"), it has become my favorite version because it is a more mature, attractive, fresh and faithful reinterpretation to the spirit of the original Star Wars trilogy. I still fondly remember the original versions, but the problem is the continuity errors.
1 minute ago feels illegal to be this early lmao
God the clone wars adds so much to the lore and is soooooo good as a show!!! Cant believe there are still people who haven’t watched it.
I’m glad people haven’t watched it cw 08 actively retcons the 6 films and the expanded universe for the sake of appealing to prequels haters the prequels are bad sure but that doesn’t mean u have to actively retcon those movies
@@Deity_devilL take
@@leaferrootersonnah w take u casuals just hate continuity
@Deity_devil, what are you talking about? Half my generation has seen that show included every Star Wars fan and non star wars fans as well, for example, red Letter Media they really like that show for just seeing the og flims
@@Wizardmaster85_3.0 rlm those terrible film reviewers especially plinkett lol
Ahsoka is the most shoe horned character in all of sw u can’t introduce a character like Ahsoka and not have her be mentioned in the 6 line films
They contradict Anakins established characterization from the movie having him be a generic quippy hero and play his crimes up for jokes while the movies portray his crimes as horror
The inhibitor chips is the most obvious retcon
Darth maul returning was the gateway into characters surviving fatal lightsaber wounds
Retconned the mandalorians into pacifist and a human only race
Contradicted barris offee and quin lan vos characterization
Anakin being knighted to months after the battle of geonosis even tho he’s supposed to be knighted 9 months before the battle coruscant
They made the force more physical and tangible than it already was
They made asaji ventless and darth maul come from the same species
Turned korriban into morriban
Brought eeth koth from the dead after he died on geonosis
Just few continuity retcons and character contradictions on the top of my head
I remember when Phantom menace came out, I'm getting bored all over again LoL
6:41 - There was something, yet unofficial - the 'Source book' for a SW game, that became a basis for most of the novels that published after 1991
For as many flaws as this prequel trilogy has. That last fight between Anakin and obi-wan is so memorable. The first part of it is till this day some of the coolest fight choreography I've ever seen
It's so fast and fluid and you can tell that they are almost predicting each others next move because they know which others fight Style so well
.
This is the first one of these retrospectives I would like to see redone. Excellent work as always, but depending on your age it’s told completely differently. ❤
Let’s go!, I watch on the treadmill and hours pass fast. Thanks prime!
this video, like all of your videos, is absolutely tremendous. great job, Prime!
Loved the OG trilogy version you did, can't wait to watch this
No, that's okay we don't need a part 3...
Which movies could he even possibly cover?
There are only 6 of them after all!
I don't think there is enough material for a 2 hour video.
@erarzemieslnikow3196 just like the sequels
@@annieme-tions And that's the biggest flaw. Sequels weren't allowed to be great.
You deserve more subscribers, man. Love the channel, great work!
liking and commenting for the algorithm because Prime’s content deserves to be seen, but this is gonna have to wait till I’m at work on Monday lol
Fantastic job on the video! The prequels had the impossible task of trying to recapture the magic of the first trilogy. As a 5 yr old watching The Star Wars in the movie theater in 1977; the movie impacted my life. Because of The Star Wars, I went to the Air Force Academy with dreams of being an astronaut. How could any movie recapture that magic? It can’t. I still love all the Star Wars movies. Maybe I’m a fan boy. Maybe I just love being propelled into space. But I look at them with a 5 year old’s eye. 4 will always be my favorite as it impacted my life like no other movie. The adult me loves Rogue One; the Saving Private Ryan of Star Wars. But… that’s just me 🙂
Clone Wars and ROTS are my favorite ones in the entire franchise.
Excellent video, thanks so much, I really enjoyed watching it.
I always thought the reason OT Yoda acted so much crazier than the PT Yoda was because living alone in a swamp for 20 years, probably contemplating the events and the failures that had led him to Dagobah, literally did drive him a little crazy.
I thought his crazy act was just to see if Luke was ready, he drops it pretty quickly
3:00:58
The second you brought up ILM in the part one, I was waiting for you mention this franchise. And you brought up the crossover toys! And here I was already having a good day.
I think whenever you were a kid and saw the star wars trilogy at that time. You will always prefer more.
I will always love the prequels more than the OG because it’s what Star Wars is to me. Also I personally hate Return of the Jedi and I think it’s the worst of the first six. Revenge of the Sith will always be my favorite.
I like the talking points and solid video!
Say what you will I love the politics of Star Wars
Great retrospectives. Well done
I am loving this series!! So far, you are capturing all of the feelings I have for this saga.
Not sure if anyone remembers the documentary: The People VS George Lucas. That's also a good rescource for some of these conversations.
Thanks for this love all your videos
I don’t think there’s anything in pop culture that I’ve ever talked about as much as Star Wars.
Good Video i love your Retrospectives, can't wait for the next part !
I can
Can't wait for the 7-9 sequel series.
Hope before Christmas 2024
It’s OK I don’t know what the time stamp is here is it’s $1.4836. Do I have that right?
Princess Leia is not a princess because Padme was the queen . Nobody knew Padme was her mother.
Princess Leia is a princess because her adoptive mother is the queen of Alderaan, wife of Senator Organa, of Alderaan.
The Prequels are like a guilty pleasure for me. They arent the greatest in terms of story and dialogue but damn do i love them
These retrospective videos are fire🔥
OG guy here and saw them all for my birthday with friends as a kid, at the end of May. When Ep1 came out, I had tickets for the first showing and came out so so happy about it. Ya, Jar kinda ruined some of the moments but it ultimately didn't matter as I was back in the universe again after so many years. I had a bunch of memorabilia, mostly Pepsi stuff I acquired through family business but some asshole broke into my house and took a bunch, the rest eventually just went away. Didn't get into the cartoon stuff at all but I probably should have but at 30+, cartoons weren't my thing.
Anyway, I'd say you could probably end the series here but I get it, those last 3 (🤮) still exist.
Thanks for the time and effort over the last 6 and ya, I'll still sit through the next 3.
Respect to the amount of effort put into your videos!
I love your work Prime. Thanks for doing it. 😊
So good. I thought the section on “Things Not To Do On A Date With Anakin Skywalker” is comedic genius 😭😜😆🤣👌✊🤜
2:46:54 I like to think that this scene indicates that Palpatine was so attuned to the force that he somehow knew what would become of Anakin and the suit he would need, making the pause even more ominous.
Greetings, Prime
Great recap! Revenge of the Sith is the greatest Star Wars movie ever made and you'll never change my mind. :)
I will always remember this era especially for the Lego sets and games, the clone wars show, and the awesome saber fights that I had fun imitating as a kid. I used to just always skip to the action when watching these movies
George Lucas’s Star Wars prequels are a masterpiece, a magnificent, exciting, and incredibly rich work that has greatly contributed to the story, universe, characters, lore, and mythology of Star Wars. They are the greatest movies-a thrilling, cult classic trilogy from beginning to end. These are the Star Wars movies George Lucas always intended to make, and they are the best, most complete, and richest of all the Star Wars trilogies. Everything is superb: the deepening of the Star Wars universe and its narrative elements is stunning and engaging. The detailed exploration of the Clone Wars, a pivotal moment in Star Wars history, is fascinating. The period of the Clone Wars is the best era in the Star Wars saga.
The gripping storyline develops throughout the films, with the rise of Palpatine (Darth Sidious) portrayed masterfully. His behind-the-scenes machinations to undermine the Galactic Republic and bring the galaxy under his control are meticulously shown. His manipulation to create a massive clone army and wipe out the Jedi with Order 66 is central to the story, explaining how the Galactic Empire came to be after the fall of the Republic and how Anakin turned to the dark side, becoming Darth Vader. Anakin’s fall, driven by his desire to save those he loved, is tragic and profound. His transformation into Darth Vader is a breathtaking, iconic scene. The connection to the original trilogy is seamlessly handled. Anakin’s internal conflict-torn between his loyalty to the Jedi Order and his desire to protect those he loves-makes his story deep and tragic. Key moments such as his confrontation with Count Dooku and his heartbreaking final duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar heighten the drama.
The prequels also brought invaluable depth to the Star Wars universe, offering detailed insight into the Jedi Order, the training of Padawans, the Sith, and Jedi teachings. The focus on the Sith and their philosophy strengthened the dark side of the Force, adding layers of depth and complexity to the saga.
The political aspect of the prequel trilogy introduces a new dimension to Star Wars, with Palpatine’s machinations in the Galactic Senate and the growing tensions between planetary systems, creating a richer context for the events of the Original Trilogy-the rise of the Empire, the fall of the Republic, the extinction of the Jedi, and the tragic story of Anakin Skywalker.
The expansion of the Star Wars universe is also amazing, with new planets, races, creatures, and cultures. The introduction of Dug, Gungans, Toydarians, Kaminoans, the underwater city, the Queen’s palace, the Galactic Senate, the cloning facility, and planets like Naboo and Coruscant-all of which are among the best-help create a larger, more diverse world. Iconic locations such as Kamino, Geonosis, Utapau, Felucia, and Mustafar provide visually captivating settings for action scenes, plot development, and key moments in the story. The trilogy also gave us legendary characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padmé Amidala, Qui-Gon Jinn, Mace Windu, General Grievous, Jango Fett, and more.
The action scenes and lightsaber battles are some of the most memorable in the saga. Epic battles such as the Battle of Geonosis, the podrace on Tatooine, the Battle of Naboo, and the Battle over Coruscant are iconic, visually stunning, and filled with emotional stakes, involving characters we’ve grown to love. Lightsaber duels between legendary figures like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Darth Maul, and Yoda are executed with exceptional choreography, adding visceral energy to the story. The duel on Naboo, the clash with Count Dooku, Yoda’s fight with Darth Sidious in the Senate, Darth Maul’s encounter, and the tragic brotherly battle between Obi-Wan and Anakin are unforgettable.
These episodes also enriched Star Wars lore with charismatic new characters, unforgettable music like 'Duel of the Fates,' 'Across the Stars,' and 'Battle of the Heroes,' a fascinating and expansive mythology, and a cast of talented actors, including Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Liam Neeson.
Natalie Portman is stunning, graceful, and charismatic as Padmé Amidala, queen and senator of Naboo. She brings strength, determination, and courage to her role, evolving from a queen to a senator and eventually into a strong, elegant, and determined woman-a central feature of the trilogy.
Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson deliver a classy and memorable presence onscreen, and their dynamic as Jedi Masters is palpable, conveying wisdom and resolve that ground the story in Jedi heritage. Christopher Lee’s presence as Count Dooku adds a touch of class, elegance, and charisma, enhanced by his Shakespearean delivery.
The Star Wars prequels were the revival of the Star Wars saga, bringing real dramatic weight, political context, meaningful stakes, new and iconic characters, and thrilling action scenes. They vastly expanded the Star Wars universe, making it more diverse and richly developed, with a lore that perfectly complements the Original Trilogy and is inseparable from it.
These Star Wars episodes are masterpieces that form an incredible whole, a single, exceptional galactic epic. It is the story of Anakin Skywalker-from his training as a Jedi to his fall to the dark side, and ultimately his redemption in saving his son, destroying the Sith, and bringing balance to the Force. It’s also the story of the Galactic Empire, once a democratic Republic, and Palpatine’s rise from senator to emperor of the galaxy-his manipulation to secure his authority in the Senate, create his own Empire, destroy the Jedi Order, and keep Anakin as his apprentice. Furthermore, this trilogy marked a major advancement in digital filmmaking, modern technologies, editing, and special effects, allowing the creation of new worlds, incredible world-building, and the extraordinary narrative of the Star Wars prequels. Like Avatar, it is a vast, rich, and unlimited universe that explores new planets, civilizations, technologies, and worlds.
This trilogy is the greatest, most ambitious, and best-executed in Star Wars, as George Lucas was able to build his universe exactly as he envisioned it. Without the prequels, the Star Wars universe would not be as interesting, vast, developed, or as exciting and rich as it is today.
Star Wars Episodes 1, 2, and 3 are the greatest movies in the Star Wars universe. They are a legendary and essential work, pivotal in shaping the world of Star Wars, representing the best the franchise has to offer in every aspect. From Episodes I to VI, all the Star Wars movies are masterpieces-iconic, stunning, incredibly rich, exciting, and timeless. These movies remain unmatched, defining the pinnacle of science fiction with the best characters, actors, casting, scenes, universe, and storytelling. The depth, the expansion, and the sheer creativity of this universe are unparalleled, with its planets, environments, creatures, and civilizations revolutionizing cinema with groundbreaking technology, digital effects, and editing advancements.
Together, these two epic trilogies form a perfect, magical, and exceptional whole-an inseparable part of a grand, unified story: the tale of Anakin Skywalker, his journey from a Jedi to the dark side, and his ultimate redemption through self-sacrifice to save his son, destroy the Sith, and restore balance to the Force. It’s also the rise and fall of a dictatorship, showing the transformation of a democracy into tyranny, all set in a vast, sprawling universe that is breathtakingly rich and endlessly creative.
Star Wars Episodes I through VI tell the same story, set in the same universe-George Lucas’s singular vision of an extraordinary science fiction saga. Both trilogies are integral to the Star Wars world, two sides of the same galaxy. These two monumental trilogies are masterpieces that have greatly contributed to building the universe and lore of Star Wars as we know it today. They are legendary, exciting, and iconic works of science fiction, the crowning achievement of George Lucas. Six incredible movies that together form an inseparable whole.
You should totally do a retrospect series for Jurassic Park!
I love all of your videos! The line, "He's a straight man, and she's Natalie Portman," made me laugh a little more than it probably should. If this is a retrospective on the movies only, ok. But I'd like to see more about The Clone Wars from you. That made me appreciate this trilogy so much more, as you mentioned. The Clone Wars and Rebels are some of my favorite Star Wars content. Maybe an episode dedicated to just those 🤞 You can include Resistance if you feel it's necessary.
Great video! 3 hours flew by.
Wooo hoo! Great stuff man, love your vids!
Ah yes. The beautiful Plaza de Espana in London.
(Great Video)
Ive always thought that poster with Vader's shadow was cold as hell
Trueeeeee
had it as a poster in my room when I was young
Palpatine has the best naming sense ever:
1- I'm In-Sidious.
2- You're the spiky Jedi Maul-er.
3- You're a Count? Hmmmmm.... Tyran(t)-us.
4- You turned to the dark side because you fear your wife dying in childbirth?... You're.... Vater! No, wait! Let's be subtle for once! VADER! Yes! Perfect.
What name was he gonna give Luke? lol, Darth "Orfan"? "Anakin Jr"? Leia would be "Wincestia".
Ok, bye.
Thanks to episode 3 for being my favorite movie of all time
Thank you so much for this retrospective. I started with the prequels as a kid. Phantom Menace was one of my earliest theatrical experiences, so that entire era is nostalgic.
I still like the theory that JarJar was supposed to be more pulling strings and playing up the fool to hide in plain sight, but the hate for him took that away. If I'm remembering right Gorge liked some book or whatever that had a jester that turned out to the the bad guy in the end. That was years ago so I could be remembering a lot of this wrong.
That's still my head canon.
Amazing work!