Political Memes

Footage of Vance during the negotiations:

I totally think Star Wars could've pulled off a more political plot – I actually even think it could've been just as good for a popcorn flick as the OT and far better for the people who want deep, complex, meaningful lore while enhancing the OT. Palpatine's plan to instigate a war and play both sides, to me, is the actually perfect Palpatine backstory. Anakin's backstory in the (very) broad strokes is extremely compelling too, and Obi-Wan was overall fantastic. Problem is that George completely fucked up the writing, Anakin's character development and his relationship with Padmé, a lot of the acting, etc., and squandered so much of the potential the premise had.

This new wave of prequel apologia, that, imo, was catalyzed by the influx of memes, is pointing at criticisms of the prequels from like 15 years ago while totally ignoring the more nuanced, well-argued, and – I think – damning criticisms of the modern day. It's basically strawmanning when the criticisms are so old and so dead.

And it's like we sent Jar Jar Binks to negotiate for us.

Sigh. An administration both evil and incompetent. I swear, the U.S. has had such bad luck with its recent government you'd think we'd built the nation on an ancient Indian burial ground or something…

Fair enough. Don’t ask me to forgive him for his dialogue, though

It still doesn't explain WHY the blockade was happening. The horrible forced love scenes that made no sense. "I'm a senator!" As well as rolling around a hill of flowers. Not to mention the rest of all of the prequels and dealing with medichlorions as a medical fact rather than the mythos of force sensitive beings having measured for power. I still enjoy them, no doubt. But they got issues.

I feel like star wars could have gone more into politics and philosophy, maybe flesh out the main story a bit more (aka not spinoff shows). They could have done so much more but of course story and consistency are clearly secondary to magic space wizards swinging around spicy glow sticks.

the blockade was the least offensive thing about TPM.

Also, the theme of unforeseen consequences of individualism and elitism have on a person is spot on for Lucas. Yeah, individualism can be good, especially as someone who came from a collectivist culture where conformity is upheld and loathed it, but I have to admit individualism killed community. It's one reason for the male loneliness epidemic, which is the low key theme of Star War prequels and how Anakin became Darth Vader. This is alongside with toxic masculinity on keeping a stiff upper lip, and not being attached to emotions including love. The blind worshipping of rationality of elites dismisses emotion, even though the latter is just as real as facts. Corruption also drives populism and the yearning for dictators.

George Lucas presented these interesting ideas and themes, but have done so in such an awkward way on the prequels. I think the amazing action scenes are what lifted and saved the prequel series rather than the heavy themes.

Edit: clarity and formatting

the prequels politics were really interesting. it was most things else about them that sucked

It's fascinating how they were able to blockade something in 3d space with something that looked a lot like a 2d structure. Must be some Liu Cixin kind of shit going on there.

The base idea doesn't make the writing and direction any less terrible

He's still on the hook for the special editions which were a worse crime than any of the prequels

Politics in film can be interesting when it is executed well. The problem with the prequels wasn't necessarily the ideas, but the execution was just awful.

Soon I will have a new apprentice this one far more racist and moronic!

The theatrical 35mm scan versions of the prequels floating around on the internet are really cool if you're a fan. Not quite as polished as the 4k77 or Despecialized stuff, but still super neat to watch if you saw the prequels in theaters.

Nope, I’ll never get those 20 minutes back from the senate scene