The Mandalorian

[nelsonmuntz]

I wanted to give Carrano the benefit of the doubt, but when she is publicly mocking the star's sibling, I don't think the studio has a choice.

 

[Ts5034]

Just finished The Mandalorian. I thought it was great. The content and creativity of these Star Wars spin offs like Rogue One and Mandalorian have been far superior to the films of the new trilogy in my opinion. I cannot wait for season 3, but that wont be released until 2022.

 

[huskypantz]

Starting with episode 4 apparently doomed creativity in the prequels. That and Jar Jar.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Just finished The Mandalorian. I thought it was great. The content and creativity of these Star Wars spin offs like Rogue One and Mandalorian have been far superior to the films of the new trilogy in my opinion. I cannot wait for season 3, but that wont be released until 2022.

I actually liked Season 2 better than Season 1. Good show.

I also agree on the spinoffs, although I liked the Last Jedi a lot. I thought Rogue One was excellent and I liked Solo too.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I actually liked Season 2 better than Season 1. Good show.

I also agree on the spinoffs, although I liked the Last Jedi a lot. I thought Rogue One was excellent and I liked Solo too.

It is interesting that Solo was panned. I watched it and thought it was pretty solid. The prequels had fantastic material to work with, how Anakin becomes Darth Vader is the story of the series. And they cast Annkin so badly and the writing was awful. So much depth could have been added without Jar Jar or the stupid pod race. The clone war should have been better developed as well.

 

[Ts5034]

I actually liked Season 2 better than Season 1. Good show.

I also agree on the spinoffs, although I liked the Last Jedi a lot. I thought Rogue One was excellent and I liked Solo too.

The original trilogy was obviously the best. I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I prefer the prequel trilogy over the new Force Awakens trilogy. Regardless of the acting, It was compelling to actually see the why and how Anakin became Darth Vader. Ive said this in other Star Wars threads, but the Force Awakens trilogy seemed kind of hodge podge. They could have went many different ways with it, and there were some strong plot points within those movies, but it just didn't seem to have that classic Star Wars feel in my opinion.

If they knew about the Mandalorian project, It would have been an interesting plot point if they included the kid in the new trilogy in some way. Obviously to stay true to Star Wars Canon, without even finishing the Mandalorian series, we know the kid does not go on to become a Jedi or play a major role saving the galaxy from the First Order.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

It is interesting that Solo was panned. I watched it and thought it was pretty solid. The prequels had fantastic material to work with, how Anakin becomes Darth Vader is the story of the series. And they cast Annkin so badly and the writing was awful. So much depth could have been added without Jar Jar or the stupid pod race. The clone war should have been better developed as well.

The original trilogy was obviously the best. I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I prefer the prequel trilogy over the new Force Awakens trilogy. Regardless of the acting, It was compelling to actually see the why and how Anakin became Darth Vader. Ive said this in other Star Wars threads, but the Force Awakens trilogy seemed kind of hodge podge. They could have went many different ways with it, and there were some strong plot points within those movies, but it just didn't seem to have that classic Star Wars feel in my opinion.

If they knew about the Mandalorian project, It would have been an interesting plot point if they included the kid in the new trilogy in some way. Obviously to stay true to Star Wars Canon, without even finishing the Mandalorian series, we know the kid does not go on to become a Jedi or play a major role saving the galaxy from the First Order.

I will respond to both at once.

I am not a Star Wars fanboy by any means. I like the SWU, I don't love it.

I like New Hope and Empire Strikes Back. Return of the Jedi has issues. Those movies were made in a different time. I watched the Graduate a week ago. I get why that is considered a good movie, but it is also hopelessly dated and does not age well at all. New Hope is approaching 50 years. It still holds up, but I am not sure how much of the love for that movie is just nostalgia.


The Prequels had potential, but I have two issues:
1) They feel a lot like Lord of the Rings in space
2) George Lucas is a terrible Director. He killed Hayden Christensen's career and could have taken out Natalie Portman's too if she wasn't already a big star.


Force Awakens was fun, The Last Jedi was excellent, and the Rise of Skywalker is what happens when a studio lets internet fans write a screenplay.

The Mandalorian is well served by a slower pace and more character development of TV. The fact that the same frachise is alive this many years later is a credit to the source material, but its variance from the old "look and feel" of the movies is a natural modernization of franchise, and one that needed to happen.

 

[Ts5034]

I will respond to both at once.

I am not a Star Wars fanboy by any means. I like the SWU, I don't love it.

I like New Hope and Empire Strikes Back. Return of the Jedi has issues. Those movies were made in a different time. I watched the Graduate a week ago. I get why that is considered a good movie, but it is also hopelessly dated and does not age well at all. New Hope is approaching 50 years. It still holds up, but I am not sure how much of the love for that movie is just nostalgia.


The Prequels had potential, but I have two issues:
1) They feel a lot like Lord of the Rings in space
2) George Lucas is a terrible Director. He killed Hayden Christensen's career and could have taken out Natalie Portman's too if she wasn't already a big star.


Force Awakens was fun, The Last Jedi was excellent, and the Rise of Skywalker is what happens when a studio lets internet fans write a screenplay.

The Mandalorian is well served by a slower pace and more character development of TV. The fact that the same frachise is alive this many years later is a credit to the source material, but its variance from the old "look and feel" of the movies is a natural modernization of franchise, and one that needed to happen.

Like I said before, I liked the prequels. At the same time, I agree with you about Hayden Christensen. He was more of a whiny teenager opposed to this great revered Jedi like Anakin was always made out to be. I think they realized this, and when they made the Clone War's movie and animated series, the character of Anakin was way more mature.

The Last Jedi was definitely the strongest movie of the new trilogy, but I still don't think the way they went with the trilogy as a whole, and how they treated the original characters, was true to the Star Wars story. Mark Hamill even had issues with where they went with Luke's character how he just disappeared and went into hiding when things hit the fan. I understand you cannot please everybody, but I think they should have at least had Luke, Han, and Leia on screen together for at least one scene to pay homage to the past and the fans of the original trilogy.

 

[Rocktheworld]

 

[nwhoopfan]

"Hold me like you did at the lake on Naboo," Jar Jar Binks and young Anakin. Oh, not to mention how badly they mangled Anakin's transformation to Vader, which was only the entire point of the 3 prequel movies. Frankenstein/Vader unveiling "noooooooooooooooooooooooo" was definitely one of the low points in cinematic history.

 

[SubbaBub]

AFW doesn't get enough hate for being complete ripoff of A New Hope. TLJ as a stand alone movie is legit good. If that was the only sequel with a prologue explaining who the new random characters were, it would have been worshiped . The last one was a proforma snoozer (the Highlander 2 of the Star Wars Franchise). Really, after Luke saves the Alliance and becomes one with the Force, just end it there. But, they needed three movies and gender balanced hero tale.

The prequels were doomed the moment they decided to turn an innocent child into the worst (best) villain in cinematic history over the span of 6 hours of film time. We didn't find out baby yoda's name until Season 2. They would have been much better off starting Phantom Menace using the prologue for Solo, a street rat hustler who dabbles in crime trying to better himself (or make a better life for him and his slave mother). A pawn shop mascot who races go karts is too long a road to haul.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Oh, I forgot about midichlorians. What dumb recess of Lucas's mind did that come from? Just randomly totally changed the entire nature of "The Force" in one scene, never to be mentioned anywhere else ever again.

 

[August_West]

Oh, I forgot about midichlorians. What dumb recess of Lucas's mind did that come from? Just randomly totally changed the entire nature of "The Force" in one scene, never to be mentioned anywhere else ever again.

Not the greatest move. So then let’s flip that. How’s Rey a Jedi master of force with zero training? I mean anakin even of the killer midichlorian count needed training. Ben solo for Christ sakes needed training. Luke needed training, but Rey ? She’s a natural, amirite?

 

[nwhoopfan]

Not the greatest move. So then let’s flip that. How’s Rey a Jedi master of force with zero training? I mean anakin even of the killer midichlorian count needed training. Ben solo for Christ sakes needed training. Luke needed training, but Rey ? She’s a natural, amirite?

If ya got it, ya got it.

Okay, I'll concede we can both keep nit picking all kinds of problems w/ both the prequels and sequels. For me I'll take the Disney Star Wars w/ Mr. Lucas kicked to the curb. I'm not saying they were great, but lesser of two evils for me.

 

[Rocktheworld]

I’m in the sequelsarewayworsethantheprequels camp

 

[Rocktheworld]

If ya got it, ya got it.

Okay, I'll concede we can both keep nit picking all kinds of problems w/ both the prequels and sequels. For me I'll take the Disney Star Wars w/ Mr. Lucas kicked to the curb. I'm not saying they were great, but lesser of two evils for me.

Unfortunately the hero of the sequels is far and away the worst of the three, from a writing standpoint at least

 

[nwhoopfan]

Unfortunately the hero of the sequels is far and away the worst of the three, from a writing standpoint at least

I get that there's a lot of backlash toward Rey. But Lucas takes the cake on bad writing. The horrid romance between Padme and Anakin, the mind numbingly dumb dialogue, the totally unbelievable "Anakin turns evil but Palpatine tricked/manipulated him into it." There were some good actors like Portman, MGregor and Neeson, but they didn't have much to work with.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I get that there's a lot of backlash toward Rey. But Lucas takes the cake on bad writing. The horrid romance between Padme and Anakin, the mind numbingly dumb dialogue, the totally unbelievable "Anakin turns evil but Palpatine tricked/manipulated him into it." There were some good actors like Portman, MGregor and Neeson, but they didn't have much to work with.

This is why I think the sequels are better. They were at least executed and written competently. Their failure is that they were searching for a story to tell and didn't really have one. So they ripped off New Hope and then made it up on the way. The prequels had a absolutely fantastic story to tell, and through utter incompetence failed at it. The writing was among the worst ever. The casting of Anakin, both of them, was awful. They took what was worst about Return of the Jedi and made that the focus.

Mandalorian is the opposite. Slowly exploring the story and developing characters. I'm looking forward to the other shows.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

This is why I think the sequels are better. They were at least executed and written competently. Their failure is that they were searching for a story to tell and didn't really have one. So they ripped off New Hope and then made it up on the way. The prequels had a absolutely fantastic story to tell, and through utter incompetence failed at it. The writing was among the worst ever. The casting of Anakin, both of them, was awful. They took what was worst about Return of the Jedi and made that the focus.

Mandalorian is the opposite. Slowly exploring the story and developing characters. I'm looking forward to the other shows.

The prequels did give us Clone Wars though and through Clone Wars we have The Mandolorian.

I also believe midichlorians, for better or worse, have been in Lucas' script for Star Wars all the way back to the Journal of the Whills. They just showed-up in Phantom first.

My biggest hang-up with the sequels is how Disney treated what came before it. Yes, some of the books post ROTJ before Disney were not good, but, Zahn basically saved Star Wars in the early 1990's after Star Wars was off of everyone's radar for a decade. At the very least, his Thrawn trilogy should, including Thrawn and Jade, should have been kept in cannon. Second, of course, is have a freaking plot and story to tell from beginning to end. Don't have 2 different directors with 2 separate stories that ignore each other followed by a 3 story that somehow tries to tie it all together like humpty dumpty. Disney did it with Avengers. Why could they not do the same with Star Wars?

 

[Rocktheworld]

I get that there's a lot of backlash toward Rey. But Lucas takes the cake on bad writing. The horrid romance between Padme and Anakin, the mind numbingly dumb dialogue, the totally unbelievable "Anakin turns evil but Palpatine tricked/manipulated him into it." There were some good actors like Portman, MGregor and Neeson, but they didn't have much to work with.

So the shoehorned love interest between Rey and Kylo made more sense to you?

what’s so unbelievable about a young vulnerable mind being swayed by a sith lord? Is that any more believable than said Sith Lord coming back after being blown up twice?

Awful start for you

 

[nwhoopfan]

what’s so unbelievable about a young vulnerable mind being swayed by a sith lord?

The concept was fine, the execution was horrible.

 

[nwhoopfan]

So the shoehorned love interest between Rey and Kylo made more sense to you?

At least they were peers. How about the ick factor of Padme and Anakin? He was what, about 8 in episode one and she was in her 20s? Next thing you know the actors are around the same age and they're hooking up. That's pretty weird. Down here on earth we usually refer to that as grooming and it has all kinds of negative connotations.


edit--almost every love interest shoehorned into an action movie is forced and nonsensical if we're being honest, so Rey and Kylo were par for the course, but not as cringy as Padme and Anakin

 

[DarthGrumpy]

At least they were peers. How about the ick factor of Padme and Anakin? He was what, about 8 in episode one and she was in her 20s? Next thing you know the actors are around the same age and they're hooking up. That's pretty weird. Down here on earth we usually refer to that as grooming and it has all kinds of negative connotations.

Officially, Padme is 5 years older than Anakin. She was 14 in Phantom and he was 9. They would be 24 and 19 respectively by the end of Clones when they married She died at the age of 27 while Darth Vader was born when Anakin was 22.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Officially, Padme is 5 years older than Anakin. She was 14 in Phantom and he was 9. They would be 24 and 19 respectively by the end of Clones when they married She died at the age of 27 while Darth Vader was born when Anakin was 22.

Huh. I'm assuming that's from books, because the movies never give ages as far as I'm aware. I looked up the actors, Portman is 8 years older than the kid who played Anakin in the first one, although the gap seemed much bigger than that. Portman and Christiansen are the same age. That's just a horrible job of casting all the way around as far as that goes.

Still, if someone 14 years old is hanging around someone 5 years younger and then they start dating eventually, that's raising some eyebrows on planet earth.



Yeah, Portman was supposed to be a 14 year old in episode 1? Nope, that's just ridiculous they tried to pull that off.

 

[Rocktheworld]

At least they were peers. How about the ick factor of Padme and Anakin? He was what, about 8 in episode one and she was in her 20s? Next thing you know the actors are around the same age and they're hooking up. That's pretty weird. Down here on earth we usually refer to that as grooming and it has all kinds of negative connotations.


edit--almost every love interest shoehorned into an action movie is forced and nonsensical if we're being honest, so Rey and Kylo were par for the course, but not as cringy as Padme and Anakin

So that has nothing to do with execution, just the choice of actors. So fictional Padme was max in her mid 20s when anakin became an adult. Wow.

Its truly hilarious you’re trying to use a good concept/meh execution as a whatabout argument against bad concept/bad execution. That’s how you know you’re on a hill you’re only gonna die on.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Huh. I'm assuming that's from books, because the movies never give ages as far as I'm aware. I looked up the actors, Portman is 8 years older than the kid who played Anakin in the first one, although the gap seemed much bigger than that. Portman and Christiansen are the same age. That's just a horrible job of casting all the way around as far as that goes.

Still, if someone 14 years old is hanging around someone 5 years younger and then they start dating eventually, that's raising some eyebrows on planet earth.



Yeah, Portman was supposed to be a 14 year old in episode 1? Nope, that's just ridiculous they tried to pull that off.

They made the explicit point that they had not seen each other in years and she barely recognized him when they reunited after his training. It’s not eyebrow raising at all. Grasp harder.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Its truly hilarious you’re trying to use a good concept/meh execution as a whatabout argument against bad concept/bad execution. That’s how you know you’re on a hill you’re only gonna die on.

You've got you're opinion, I've got mine. To me the prequels were horrid. The sequels were mostly enjoyable. There's no comparison to me. You obviously feel differently. I'm not going to convince you, you're not going to convince me.

 

[Rocktheworld]

You've got you're opinion, I've got mine. To me the prequels were horrid. The sequels were mostly enjoyable. There's no comparison to me. You obviously feel differently. I'm not going to convince you, you're not going to convince me.

But at least you can look back on the concept of Anakin and Padme as a good concept as the catalyst of the great turn to the dark side that dominates episodes 1-6. The Kylo-Rey thing just never made sense even on paper, let alone execution, which was at least as bad as how it was executed in the prequels.

 

[Rocktheworld]

This is why I think the sequels are better. They were at least executed and written competently. Their failure is that they were searching for a story to tell and didn't really have one. So they ripped off New Hope and then made it up on the way. The prequels had a absolutely fantastic story to tell, and through utter incompetence failed at it. The writing was among the worst ever. The casting of Anakin, both of them, was awful. They took what was worst about Return of the Jedi and made that the focus.

Mandalorian is the opposite. Slowly exploring the story and developing characters. I'm looking forward to the other shows.

They actually had ENDLESS canon material from tv, books, comics, and video games.

If you really think that “competent” describes the writing of this trilogy well, I know of a YouTube channel that has hours-long breakdowns of these movies that takes them behind the shed. These movies were absolute abominations from a writing standpoint.

 

[HuskyHawk]

They actually had ENDLESS canon material from tv, books, comics, and video games.

If you really think that “competent” describes the writing of this trilogy well, I know of a YouTube channel that has hours-long breakdowns of these movies that takes them behind the shed. These movies were absolute abominations from a writing standpoint.

The dialogue was better in the last three than in the prequels. The stories weren’t great, that’s for sure. The whole “the thing/guy we need is on this other planet” bit is just so ridiculous.