Copyright © 2023 Rick and Ruth Coy

Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy

22 years after Star Wars episode 4 appeared, we finally got episode 1.  Lucas at the time of the original trilogy said there would be six more movies. 3 before and 3 after. It took a long time to get them all. Lucas in an interview said a lot of people wouldn’t like the first two, but they were needed for the third to work, and the third was the important one. Sadly fans agreed. Unlike a New Hope, their was nothing NEW with the prequels except the story. It wasn’t the ride the first three were. And to add salt the the wounds LucasFilms re-re-released the original trilogy before episode 1. First time in almost two decades to be able to see them on the wide screen.

Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace

1999

Starring: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Ian McDiarmid, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Frank Oz

Written and Directed by George Lucas

PG

LucasFilms

2H 16M

Episode 1 of the Star Wars Saga - the forth movie in the series.  For us old timers Episode 4: A New Hope was STAR WARS. In 1999 . Many of the people who went to see it were not even born when the first one came out.  The first three movies are the saga of Anakin Skywalker.  This give his childhood and meeting with a young Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi.  How the droids R2D2 and 3CPO became part of his life.  Critics panned this movie as not being up to the rest of the Star Wars Saga, but this was a needed part to complete the whole.  It gave us the roots of the saga. And much like all the rest it was a Wild Ride.  When watching don’t be a nitpicker, remember it’s Space Fantasy, not SF.  Set back and enjoy the ride.  Watch young Anakin as he meets the players of the Star Wars Saga, some just talked about until now. This along with the other episodes are now released on a new 4K edition.

Star Wars: Episode II -

Attack of the Clones

2002

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Christopher Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, Frank Oz, Jimmy Smits, Kenny Baker, Athony Daniels

Written and Directed by George Lucas

PG

LucasFilms

2H 22M

The much talked about Clone Wars. I always said the Storm Troopers were from the Clone Wars, so this made me happy. Again we are lead towards the time of Anakin turning to the dark side.  The sith trying to turn him and lure him. We see him teamed up with Obi-Wan Kenobi as they fight for the Republic in the Clone Wars.  Once again we are give a ride... The nitpickers need to just let it run with them and enjoy. Again this is not up to the original three, but it is a needed piece in the back  history.  Shows things that were just spoken of before.

Star Wars: III - Revenge of the Sith

2005

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Jimmy Smits, Frank Oz, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Christopher Lee, Jeremy Bullock, Peter Mayhew

Directed and Written by George Lucas

PG-13

LucaFilms

2H 20M

This is the film that episodes I and II were leading up to. Anakin’s turning to the Dark Side of the force. The birth of Darth Vader. This is the ride we have been waiting for. This is the film that changes how we look at  A NEW HOPE.  Why episode IV was called A NEW HOPE.  It explains so much of the Star Wars saga.  And it shows why the first two were needed.  Without them we would look at Anakin as a villain and not a victim.  And we can now see that the Star Wars Saga is about Anakin/Vader