# Are the prequels ruining Star Wars for you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 22, 2003, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339 "2003-04-22T15:53:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339/41 "2003-04-23T09:39:40Z")
Linus Van Pelt, please specify what you’re spoiling. I think you just ruined a tremendous short story for me, one I’ve been meaning to read. ---
**Author:** ![Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linus_Van_Pelt)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339/42 "2003-04-23T10:37:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Priceguy \* > \*\*Linus Van Pelt, please specify what you’re spoiling. I think you just ruined a tremendous short story for me, one I’ve been meaning to read. \*\* **Priceguy** , if I spoiled the story for you, I am sorry. The reason that I used the spoiler tag was that I was following the format used by **terrifel** and **ISiddiqui** , not because I was afraid of spoiling a famous 125 year old story, any more than I would have been afraid of an offhand comment referencing Romeo and Juliet that mentions the fact that… …they both kill themselves at the end Surely there must be some statute of limitations on spoilers. That being said, I really do regret any pleasure that I may have taken from your reading of the story. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339/43 "2003-04-23T10:41:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Linus Van Pelt \* > **Surely there must be some statute of limitations on spoilers** Fair enough. Somehow I’ve failed to know very much about the story and I’ve so far (inadvertently) avoided reading it, but after hearing so many people sing its praise in another thread, I’ve been meaning to. Now, I can sort of guess the ending. Well, it’s my fault for being an uneducated barbarian. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339/44 "2003-04-23T10:48:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Linus Van Pelt \* > …I would have been afraid of an offhand comment referencing Romeo and Juliet that mentions the fact that… …they both kill themselves at the end Surely there must be some statute of limitations on spoilers. Considering that it’s stated in sixth line of the play, and then mentioned again in the eighth, ninth, and eleventh lines, I don’t think you have to worry too much about giving it away. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linus_Van_Pelt)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339/45 "2003-04-23T11:01:05Z")
Darn it **Achernar** , I forgot about the prologue. I knew I should have used Hamlet instead, but I couldn’t remember for sure who the one guy alive at the end was. 🙂 (Old, sort of lame, Shakespeare joke: Q: How can you tell the difference between Shakespeare’s comedies and tragedies? A: At the end of the tragedies, everyone dies. At the end of the comedies, everyone gets married). Sorry about the extended hijack. ---
**Author:** ![GarniGal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@GarniGal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GarniGal)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339/46 "2003-04-23T14:51:14Z")
? > [@](#): > > is there anyone in sci-fi who can write children well? Yeah, Orson Scott Card. Well, if you are into frighteningly adult and genius children. Unfortunately, I don’t think it will ever be made into a movie - too thought provoking. As for the prequels, I agree with the opinion that it’s just a bunch of expensive movies, so get over it. Of course, at the end of Attack of the Clones I was ticked. Happy ending!? How can it have a sweet, romantic ending like that when you know that everyone is just going to get _%#$_ in the end? ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339/47 "2003-04-23T14:58:16Z")
Frankly, I don’t care much to watch any Star Wars after the original movie, and I prefer the original version of that movie. Empire was a better film, but I didn’t care for where the story began to go during Empire, so I don’t care to watch it. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339/48 "2003-04-23T15:41:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\*IIRC, that’s been proven to be BS. Lucas and Kasdan supposedly had a falling out _years_ ago. I, personally find it hard to believe that Kasdan would have turned Lucas down. Would anyone here turn down such an offer? I think not. Hell, there’s actors who’ve appeared in Star Trek, even though they _hate_ the program because they know that it’ll impress their kids! Why would _anyone_ turn down the opportunity to work with Lucas on _the_ most talked about movie of the year? \*\* Take it up with Kasdan; it was his claim. I just read it in the L.A. Times. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339/49 "2003-04-23T15:54:00Z")
Oh, and of course the prequels didn’t ruin the original trilogy. They’re just movies. And it’s not like the originals were such masterworks. Lucas’s talent was always in the universe he created and not in the actual plotting. I enjoyed Eps. I & II. But then, I don’t treat Star Wars as as some sort of holy writ. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339/50 "2003-04-23T16:49:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Yookeroo \* > \*\*…I don’t treat Star Wars as as some sort of holy writ. \*\* I find your lack of faith disturbing. _mimes choking motion with thumb and forefinger_ ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339/51 "2003-04-23T19:50:09Z")
> [@](#): > > …and I prefer the original version of that movie. I don’t get it… Everyone seems to be talking as if there’s more than one version of _Star Wars_. **There is only one version** , dammit! Stop getting confused by cheap ripoff fanfic movies! Just because some spoiled fans [sub]like George Lucas[/sub] think that Greedo shot first, doesn’t change the fact that in the One and Only Version of Star Wars, Han shot in cold blood. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339/52 "2003-04-23T20:27:51Z")
It was a pre-emptive strike, though I read on a fanboard that Darth Chirac opposed it! ---
**Author:** ![Auntie\_Social](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@Auntie\_Social](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntie_Social)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339/53 "2003-04-23T23:01:55Z")
I think age and appreciation of some of the finer points of story-telling and film-making have diminished my appreciation of Star Wars more than the prequels. Star Trek V was god awful, but I can still watch Star Trek II quite happily. Just because the crap-fests in the Star Wars franchise were set chronologically before the gems doesn’t diminish the gems. And Lucas can release all the crap-tastic, super-revised, now-with-75%-more-Hutt versions of the original as he wants. But when he claims some special ownership over the first movie and wants to never sell DVDs of the 75%-less-Hutt versions, that’s just stupid. Once you put your art in the public realm, it’s as much the public’s as it is yours. Obviously the creator can choose to not sell DVDs, but I imagine Lucas sitting around with little greedy Lucas on one shoulder saying “sell the original on DVD!” and little selfish Lucas on the other saying “No, make them all watch the Extra Special Lucas Is Cool Edition!” ---
**Author:** ![c\_carol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@c\_carol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_carol)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339/54 "2003-04-23T23:11:53Z")
[off-topic] > [@](#): > > Unfortunately, I don’t think it will ever be made into a movie GarniGal, take a look at [this](http://www.frescopictures.com/movies/ender/endersgame_update.html). [/off-topic] ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339/55 "2003-04-24T00:42:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GarniGal \* > > > [@](#): > > > > is there anyone in sci-fi who can write children well? > > **Yeah, Orson Scott Card. Well, if you are into frighteningly adult and genius children.** I beg to differ. In order to make the Wiggin children (and Bean) into super-geniuses, Orson Scott Card basically had to dumb down everybody else. This trend becomes painfully obvious in _Speaker for the Dead_, when it completely eludes the xenologers for decades that maybe, just maybe, The Piggies’ reproductive cycle might **require** the males to die … considering there are species ON EARTH that work the same way. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339/56 "2003-04-24T02:50:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Priceguy \* > \*\*So many things wrong. Qui-Gon’s existence, midi-chlorians, R2-D2, C3P0… > > And could someone tell me why in the blue blazes of heaven Obi-Wan would hide infant Luke on Darth Vader’s home planet, with people Vader _knows_? \*\* :😕: What’s wrong with Qui-Gon’s existence? As for why… Hmm. A challenge! Perhaps it’s the purloined letter principle? Plus who says Vader was particularly looking for Luke, or even knew about him at the times it was important? And how much DID Anakin know Beru and Lars, really? I didn’t see Phantom Menace, so I wouldn’t know… ---
**Author:** ![torben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@torben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/torben)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339/57 "2003-04-24T03:54:36Z")
The prequels haven’t ruined anything for me. They suck, but I choose to treat the prequels as mindless entertainment and the original trilogy as something special. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339/58 "2003-04-24T04:27:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Leaper \* > **:😕: What’s wrong with Qui-Gon’s existence?** “Go to the Dagobah system, Luke. There, you will be trained by Yoda, the Jedi master who instructed me.” – Obi-Wan Kenobi’s ghost, _The Empire Strikes Back_ And then, in _The Phantom Menace_, they go back and show Obi-Wan Kenobi as being the apprentice of this Qui-Gon Jinn person. Hmph! ---
**Author:** ![ResIpsaLoquitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@ResIpsaLoquitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ResIpsaLoquitor)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339/59 "2003-04-24T04:31:23Z")
…and in _Clones_, they reveal that Yoda instructs all Jedi children. Problem fixed. By the way, [StarWars.com](http://StarWars.com) officially revealed tonight that…no, this is a big one; you might not want to highlight… Chewbacca is appearing in Episode III. I warned you. You HAD to highlight it, didn’t you? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339/60 "2003-04-24T05:58:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The MacDairmuid \* > You cannot ruin Star Wars for me. It is one of those movies… if I walk through a room and it is playing, I will look for a place to sit. Empire and Return are less so, but still they are tempting. I guess it depends on what else I have to do. > \*\* You know…you probably are right. Every time Episode I or II (or III) is on USA I will probably end up watching them. I guess the real test will be in 5 years when the boxed set is released. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-prequels-ruining-star-wars-for-you/170339.md?page=4)