The Prequels Strike Back: A Fan's Journey Review

ThePrequels Strike Backwon’t change opinions about the prequel trilogy, but it makes for a fascinating deconstruction of the movies.

The Prequels hit Back : A Fan ’s Journeyis a documentary that chroniclesStar Warsfan Bradley Weatherholt ’s pursuance to to the full realize the maligned prequel trilogy and George Lucas ' approach to makingThe Phantom Menace , Attack of the Clones , andRevenge of the Sith . With Lucasfilm ’s Disney era set to get afoot with the release ofStar Wars : The Force Awakensin 2015 , Weatherholt thought it would be interesting to examine the saga ’s past before its future becomes the dominant item of discussion . run across several fan and film scholars along the way , Weatherholt must " unlearn what he has get wind " as he tries to look at the franchise like never before .

The perceived shortcomings of the prequels have been well - documented by this point , but in recent years more light has been shined on their various merits . jump with the query " where doesStar Warsbegin ? " Weatherholt seek to instance why the entire series ( and not just the original trilogy ) has value , show his audience how the prequels relate to older filmmaking proficiency , take cues from writings on ancient mythology , and revolutionized the industry for the gravid good . His goal is to view the prequels from a dissimilar point of opinion and see why people feel the manner they do about them .

Being a infotainment , The Prequels Strike Backwill appeal to a specific hearing ( Star Warsfans ) , but given the subject matter , it should have a wide appeal . Weatherholt is impudent about the way he handle his film , never pushing an agenda ( i.e. " this is why you ’re wrong about hating the prequels " ) and rather taking the theatrical role of rum observer , verbalise to several people about the divisive film . ThePrequels Strike Backwon’t change opinions about the prequel trilogy , but it make for a fascinating deconstruction of the movies . Those who approach it with an open judgment will bump enjoyment in Weatherholt ’s odyssey .

Din Djarin and Ahsoka-1

Perhaps the most interesting view of the documentary film is the comparison to the response of the prequels with the initial critical reception of the original trilogy . Today , A New HopeandThe Empire Strikes Backare see as great films , but at the clock time of their release , they were ridiculed by some professional learned person who saw them as nothing more than kids ' movies . Even today , the 1977 original barely registers on the BFI ’s lean of the heavy films of all - time . Nobody realize the case that the prequels ' repute will transfer in a handful of years , but the anecdote are comic to hear . The only difference , of course , is that by the time the prequels get around , fans of a certain age share the opinions of the critic . It ’s pointed out numerous times that those who saw the prequels as Thomas Kyd tend to view them positively , posing the tricky query of who the intended target audience ofStar Warsis .

As one would expect , much time is also spent on George Lucas and some of the most coarse ill about the prequels ( namely , the composition and the performing ) . Using Lucas ' claim that he is the"king of wooden dialogue,“as a launching point , several interview subject explain how his directorial trend prioritize the sound recording and visuals over the dialogue . Lucas was heavily influenced by the works of dumb filmmakers , and used those method as a guide forStar Wars . There ’s an interesting juxtaposition where some of Jar - Jar Binks ' jinks during the climactic Battle of Naboo inEpisode Iare revealed as homages to classic slapstick comedies . The trouble there , plainly , is that the sensibilities and tastes of modern audiences have changed since then , but Lucas was never try on to update his approach for the current geezerhood . From the beginning , he was endeavor to bring the older techniques to his audience . Even the love story between Han Solo and Princess Leia bear resemblance to the witty fuss of 1930s on - screen couples .

Again , nobody in the infotainment is charge those who did n’t wish the prequels of " not getting it , " these are simply the linear perspective of cinephiles and motion-picture show scholars analyzing Lucas as a film producer . Lucas ' fondness of mythology is also covered to great extent , which include the now - famed ring theory proposition , in which the various parallels between the films ( everything from ocular pool cue to melodious tracks ) are detailed . Some detractor will remain skeptical that this was indeed Lucas ' intention going in , but it ’s hard to traverse that there are heavy coincidences showcased . Whether or not this encourages the viewer to guess of Lucas as a storytelling flair is up for single rendition , but like most things inThe Prequels Strike Back , it make for a not bad give-and-take .

One of the more unmarked factor of the prequel trilogy is how it advanced moviemaking applied science , andPrequels shine Backmakes indisputable to give this topic its just due . onrush of the Cloneswas the first major feature movie to be shot entirely on digital , and it popularized that data format to the point where it became very cost - good . In fact , Weatherholt was able to make his docudrama because of Lucas ' efforts to promote digital TV production . Other portion of Lucas ' legacy , such as his creation of companies like THX and ILM , and his pioneering of nonlinear editing are also meet upon , underlining just how important a figure he was in this industry . He opened the doorway for so many aspiring film producer , and there is a sense of hold for what he ’s done present in the infotainment .

In the end , The Prequels Strike Backis a great watch forStar Warsfans and serves as a tonic discussion on the prequels . Though Weatherholt leans more to the positive side of the spectrum when it comes to the three pic , he does n’t outright take a side in the debate . The documentary realise why some people disliked the movies , while also explaining why others love them . It finds a happy medium between the two , and shows that even if the prequels may not have been the easily fulfill works in the 21st 100 , there was a sure method to Lucas ' madness and he was toying with some tasteful concepts . The soundbites here may not give " the haters " the jog they want to giveEpisode Ianother try , but no matter how you feel about the prequel trilogy , it ’s deserving checking out this documentary .