Didn't Lucas watch the original?

Rating: 1/10 (18 March 2006)

I guess I could have explained why I gave 2's to episode 1 and 2, but frankly, in my opinion, 3 was the worst.
To be honest, I was rather disappointed that he went back to the beginning, personally, I would have rather seen what happened to Luke, Leia and Han after 20 years had past. Instead, we got the front story, how Anakin became Darth Vader, how Boba Fett became who he was, and can a Jedi and an ex-queen find romance. I could care less about any of the points made in the movies, although I do think the special effects were quite marvelous, but like most movies made today, it was all about what he couldn't do in A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Those three movies were cutting edge in special effects, but since he couldn't do exactly what he wanted to do, the story had to be better than the effects. Unfortunately in Episode 1-3, the effects dwarf the contrived story lines.
Jar-Jar Binks, I don't think I have to say anything about the character, he has already got enough bashing from everyone else.
Amadala. Now while I consider Natalie Portman and very good actress, I feel for her for what she had to do as Amadala. First off, here she is, a young queen (elected by the populace no less) who is both independent and courageous. I wonder why a young woman, supposedly in her mid to late teens opted for a political future. She must have had something going for her, they elected her despite her young age. I thought how she carried herself, decisions about her people and the risks she took as Padme to be very well done. So, after her term is over and she becomes a Senator for Naboo, an emergency takes place and she has to leave. Before she does, she leaves Jar-Jar in charge to take over her duties on Corascant while she is away. At that point, my estimation of her abilities as a leader waiver. Jar-Jar in charge? What is she thinking. In the final installment, she is the secret wife of a Jedi and is pregnant with Luke and Leia. She sees the changes in Ani's personality and shows a lot of concern over it. When she finally confronts him and he almost kills her, she is whisked away to give birth and then die shortly afterward.(of a broken heart over the way Anikin has changed) In 3 movies she went from being a strong female leader to a simpering woman who dies from a broken heart. I don't buy it, sorry, I know if this was a romance novel I should be able to buy it, but it's not. The romance was forced, if not just out and out dull. I am not even going to touch the fact that she is at least 6 to 8 years older than him, meeting him when he was 10, and then again when he is 17 or 18 and falling in love is just a little creepy if you ask me. Just the thought of her dying because she can't live without him makes me ill. What about her children, they don't count. I would have lived for them, just to make sure he couldn't get to them and protect them, yet, apparently Luke and Leia didn't carry any weight there. In Return of the Jedi, Luke asks Leia what does she remember about her mother, her real mother. Leia answers him that she remember very little, but that she was very beautiful, but seemed sad all the time. Now, if Amadala died right after childbirth, how does Leia remember any of that. I know, I know, she may be talking about the adoptive mother, but Lukes pointedly states real mother. Maybe it's some sort of Jedi memory thing, but if so, it should have been explained in Return, not changed for episode 3. What I am saying, Didn't Lucas at least try to reference his earlier movies? Hmmm, I guess your wondering why I gave it a 1. For this little piece of the movie? I gave it a 1 because I was thoroughly disappointed by 1-3. It was all flash and no real story behind it. At least in A New Hope, Empire and Return you cared for the characters. You were truly engrossed in their story and cared enough about them that you cheered and rooted or cried for them. Episode 1-3 I didn't care about any of them, except Amadala and Qui-gon, even a little about Obi Wan, but as the trilogy pressed on, I started to care even less. You know when you first walk into the series, Anikin is going to turn evil, all the Jedi's are going to die but Yoda and Obi Wan and the Empire will be born. Where's the surprise in that? Now if he would have done the last 3, who knows where that could have gone.