tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post8586193639877215833..comments2023-12-24T19:38:00.242-08:00Comments on Mendelson's Memos: In defense of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace...Scott Mendelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08131426080984100749noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-43704100326079837372012-11-02T05:12:33.631-07:002012-11-02T05:12:33.631-07:00No. The prequels deserve to be condemned. Ultimate...No. The prequels deserve to be condemned. Ultimately it fails to even be a competent film and that I think is its worst crime. I fully believe that when films like this succeed financially it hurts the cinema industry, it encourages the studios' contemptuous attitude to audiences. <br /><br />The prequels are now almost universally held to be grotesque follies and this is fair. My generation got three excellent films full of amazing special effects, memorable characters, a gripping plot and countless unforgettable moments. The next generation got three cynical, shambling, incoherent toy adverts and that is a shame.Marlownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-24907007405550838942012-02-25T07:46:51.219-08:002012-02-25T07:46:51.219-08:00Actually, JarJar is what really turned me off to t...Actually, JarJar is what really turned me off to this movie. I saw it again later when I was late to the theater, missed the beginning and was surprised how much better the film seemed. My overall objection is how George Lucas doesn't feel the need to tie himself in to his original ideas. He seemingly shortened the timeline between Eps I-III and Episode IV-VI. He can't leave the originals alone so that you really have to work to find what was originally in the theaters. He made Greedo shoot first and now has convinced himself that this was the way it always was, you just couldn't tell. The maddening thing is that Lucas is so into Lucas and it shows in the films (ie- he didn't work with any director who could balance some of his way-out instincts). That kids today are in love with the newer movies is a shame because they aren't as intense as the originals (and I find the new ones eminently watchable, especially Episode II).Karlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-71502784473595667052012-02-17T06:59:54.562-08:002012-02-17T06:59:54.562-08:00I actually had not seen the original films when I ...I actually had not seen the original films when I saw TPM for the first time as a teenager sometime during that long summer. I knew friends who skipped school to wait in line for tickets.<br />To be completely honest, I thought the film was lame. I did enjoy the final light-saber battle as well as the performances of Portman, Neeson and MacGregor. I thought the costumes, setting and music were fantastic. But the story didn't captivate me and the characters/plotlines that I thought were interesting weren't really explored as much as others.<br />After watching Episode II, I've decided that I don't need to see Episode III. It's disappointing that so much love, time and energy go into films that have so little real substance.<br />I saw the original trilogy much later over a weekend when I was recovering from a cold. I offended a long-time fan when I called Ewoks "little Wookies".<br /><br />For the record, the last time I watched the extended trilogy of LOTR (years ago), I skipped through a lot of it (really only watching the key plot- or character-centric scenes). I'm still mad with Jackson for butchering Faramir's character!Dianenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-40639421506781030592012-02-11T20:55:46.227-08:002012-02-11T20:55:46.227-08:00Thanks for a great piece. I saw it again last nig...Thanks for a great piece. I saw it again last night and I actually thought most of Jake Lloyd's performance was fine. But I have a question -- what does this mean -- "a fine (if famously compromised) score by John Williams"? I like the work Williams did on the prequels, a lot, but is there some story behind this?Sigmundshennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-79698572873903918222012-02-09T22:17:14.315-08:002012-02-09T22:17:14.315-08:00I don't understand how skipping through scene/...I don't understand how skipping through scene/s from a film is any way to legitimately watch it.Alexander Helsternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-56547558820990203062012-02-08T20:47:57.502-08:002012-02-08T20:47:57.502-08:00The objections you raise to objections to TPM are ...The objections you raise to objections to TPM are merely so many straw men. You do not address the fundamental objection to TPM, the maddeningly incompetent story structure. The expectations for TPM were NOT crushingly high, they were lackadaisically low - simple story, fun characters, action - you know, old time sci-fi serial stuff. No serious critique of TPM discounts the acting, design, or technical execution.Carl555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-67020635688882324802012-02-08T12:29:34.713-08:002012-02-08T12:29:34.713-08:00This is a terrific write-up. It saddens me that an...This is a terrific write-up. It saddens me that an entire generation has spent the last 13 years of their lives bashing this movie on internet message boards just because it failed to live up to their expectations. This is a really great movie that gets unfairly derided just because the shadow of the OT looms so large. But for me, TPM is actually probably the closest Lucas came to capturing the feel of the Saturday afternoon serials that served as his initial inspiration as it's essentially one long chase movie. It also feels the most Star Wars-y (if that's an actual term) of the PT. Come Feb. 10, the haters can stay home and shut up. I know where I'll be.The Video Vacuumhttp://thevideovacuum.livejournal.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-10966006501630780742012-02-08T10:46:53.872-08:002012-02-08T10:46:53.872-08:00"In the 13 years since it was first released,..."In the 13 years since it was first released, an entire generation of moviegoers grown up loving or liking The Phantom Menace in the same way we fell for Star Wars all those decades ago." <br /><br />This statement is an impossibility for the simple reason that the kids that saw this movie were told what STAR WARS was and that they had to like it because it was STAR WARS. When the original came out there was no such thing as STAR WARS so it was the movie alone that made us fall in love with it, not the marketing campaign. <br /><br />To add to this point, anything that had the title STAR WARS attached to it would have been a raging success and kids would have bought the toys and costumes and merchandising whether or not it was a dark gritty violent film or a fun fantasy adventure. <br /><br />For the record I think starting the trilogy off light-hearted and kid friendly is the perfect way to go, the reason the film is derided by many is because its not a good story. its just poorly written. <br /><br />While the original for whatever reason you would like to attribute it, is tight, lean, focused and unwavering. Much like a young man in his mid 20's and an old man in his mid 50's the original is sharp and crisp while the prequel is bloated and blustery, with no real direction. <br /><br />With all that said I enjoy the prequel trilogy, yet i refuse to apologize for its ineptitude and limpness and I would never compare it to the original.Ziserwahnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-34516983025722506972012-02-08T08:23:47.206-08:002012-02-08T08:23:47.206-08:00excellent post Scott... this is really great stuff...excellent post Scott... this is really great stuffwhnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-8457445126620294552012-02-08T07:44:49.395-08:002012-02-08T07:44:49.395-08:00Thank you for your well thought out and written po...Thank you for your well thought out and written post. I took my little brothers to see The Phantom Menace 13 years ago and watched them grow up into Star Wars fans. Later this year the three of us will go together to Florida and the Star Wars Celebration. No other series of films could make me travel all the way across the country for a con.Dave Atteberrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-29237417839933236142012-02-08T07:28:07.185-08:002012-02-08T07:28:07.185-08:00yes, Yes, YES! For close to 12 years, this is wha...yes, Yes, YES! For close to 12 years, this is what the minority have been screaming about the Prequels. And major kudos to you for pointing out Portman's performance in Episode I. Clearly, nearly everyone missed the boat on how she played Padme and the Queen in the film. Other than the dramatic moments in Episode III, her performance in Episode I is her best because it's the most exact.<br /><br />For me, the best thing about this film is the fact that it acts as if the other films don't exist, which to me, is what every prequel (if a filmmaker chooses to do one) should do. <br /><br />In contrast to what Jackson is going to do with the Hobbit (bringing back Wood and Holm...which I think is a huge mistake), Lucas didn't bring any of the main players back and then basically have the entire film play out as an extended flashback. It starts and you have to catch up, which oddly enough happens with Episode IV when certain things that are in the Prequels finally get explained by Ben Kenobi to Luke.<br /><br />Still, fantastic write up. Gosh, it felt lonely for the last 12 years....corysimsnoreply@blogger.com