In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months, there’s gong to be a new Star Wars movie. There’s a lot of hype surrounding it, with old cast members returning and some new characters being added to the mix. However, the last time we all got hyped for a new Star Wars movie, we were more disappointed than a kid getting a fruit for Christmas. Yet that disappointment has clouded judgement over the Star Wars prequels, which do have some positives. So, I’m going to finally acknowledge the good elements of the Star Wars prequels
The Music
First off the bat, we have to acknowledge John Williams excellent score. The score can change the mood and tone of a scene completely, and sometimes it even makes up for the wooden acting. It just sounds perfectly in place and makes us feel like we’re returning to that familiar Star Wars world.
Ewan McGregor
Whoever had the idea to recruit McGregor deserves a serious salary boost, because he fits the role of Obi-Wan like a glove. The casting was risky-McGregor was known for appearing in Scottish indie films like Trainspotting and had to change his Tayside brogue into an English tone to resemble the original Obi-Wan (Alec Guiness). Yet he nails the role perfectly, capturing the wiseness of Guiness’s Obi-Wan, while bringing his own energy to the performance. McGregor was a massive fan of the series as a child, with his uncle Denis Lawson appearing in the original trilogy, and when shooting lightsaber duels McGregor got so invested he kept making the lightsaber noises himself!
The Mythos
One of the reasons the prequels had for existing is that they would shed light on the events that forced the Jedi into hiding and the rise of the Empire. The prequels accomplish this really well. We learn about the origins of the force, of the Emperor, of Darth Vader, of Obi-Wan, everything we would want to know.
Corcrusant
The seat of the Jedi council on Corcrusant looks fantastic, as does the rest of the planet. With the giant buildings and flying cars it does adhee to the formula of ‘metropolis of the future’ a little too much but in Attack of the Clones we see the city at ground level, and that’s when Corcrusant gains its charm. Maybe it’s because the only funny scene in the prequels happens here, but I think Corcrusant is an amazing setting and could easily fit into the original trilogy.
The Demise of the Jedi
The scenes in Revenge of the Sith, where the clone army turn on the Jedi knights, shooting them in the back, is brilliantly done. The score is used to maximum effect as we switch between different locations, watching the Jedi fall to the clones. The Jedi are unprepared and very few manage to put up any resistance whatsoever, highlighting the helplessness of their cause. Only two Jedi make it away with their lives, Obi-Wan and Yoda.
So, those are the best bits of the prequels, to my mind anyway. Hopefully the next movie will deliver something new to the franchise, and maybe redeem the poor track record Star Wars has had recently.
Words by Gabriel Rutherford