Episodes VII and VIII were both particularly disappointing to me when I saw them for the first and last (perhaps not very last) time. I've never seen Episode IX, however. Despite the awkward acting in the Anakin/Padme scenes, Episode II has plenty of redeeming features, including Obi Wan's adventures and the cool lightsaber battles.
(I now see that I'm replying to a post from about 15 years ago; anyway, this demonstrates how even critics of the prequels could not have predicted the even greater disappointment to be found in the sequels).
The sequel trilogy is now my favorite Star Wars trilogy. I like it more than both the original trilogy and the prequels, personally. I will say this as someone who defended the prequels constantly when they were released, and now does the same with the sequels: both have received the same level of perceived hate within the fan community. The general audience was not aware of the hate, or just ignored it.
I don't believe, in the slightest, that the sequel trilogy was a "greater disappointment." The reception to The Force Awakens in 2015 was undoubtedly powerful. I've watched that movie a lot. The Last Jedi is one of the most misunderstood Star Wars movies, and people tend to misunderstand that it is all about Luke Skywalker, Jedi Master and symbol of hope.
I was there when the prequels released and the internet hate started in earnest... Jar Jar Binks became the most hated character in all of Star Wars overnight... it overshadowed Greedo shooting first in the special editions, and the Ewoks in Return of the Jedi. The response was so tepid that Binks' role was minimized further as the series continued. If people loved the character, who knows what the prequels would have looked like?
I understand being disappointed by Star Wars things... I was very disappointed by The Bounty Hunter Wars books by KW Jeter... and I don't think everything Clone Wars animated series is gold. Not all Star Wars is for everyone. The good thing is there's still more coming all the time, and there's the stuff that you do enjoy.
I enjoy the entire Skywalker Saga from time to time, and played through the Lego game of it entirely. Others may only enjoy the original trilogy or the prequels. Others still may only enjoy the animated series. That's okay. There's enough to go around.
What I have seen too much of in the community on twitter and Facebook in particular, are people putting other people down personally for liking the parts of Star Wars that they do. I mean there are people who love each of the Star Wars movies, and each one is a favorite for someone.
Also, I feel like the reason this 15 year old post you responded to seemed to reflect current day Star Wars hate, as I said before, doesn't have anything to do with a greater disappointment, because I don't think it is, based on my experience with it, and the groups I am now a part of on Facebook. I feel like it is a cycle repeating itself. Every time a new Star Wars trilogy is released, there are fans of the prior generations of Star Wars movies that hate the new thing. Every. Time.
The prequel trilogy even inspired a documentary called The People v. George Lucas, and Red Letter Media created videos longer than the movies about each prequel, tearing down every single thing in those movies. I haven't watched those videos nor the documentary, because I love the prequels. Do I think they are perfect movies? No. Nor is the Original Trilogy. Nor is the Sequel Trilogy.
What I think that responding to a 15 year old post about the prequels, with something about the Sequels says is: every generation has a Star Wars trilogy that they don't appreciate.
(In complete honesty, while I feel that the acting in a Star Wars movie is literally how the character acted at the time, as if in a documentary, which is how I choose to watch the movies, I can say that unequivocally I feel like the dialog and acting of the sequel trilogy is superior to that of the prequels, if taken to task. That said, viewed as a documentary with footage somehow captured of these events and edited together, I accept them all as they are, because I cannot control how they happen, I cannot impact what is made. I can respond with my money, and I have... I've spent probably 4000 on Rey related products, so you're welcome!
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