From: (No Email available)

Date: 2001-06-19 11:42:08

Comment:

Of the many tirades I've encountered regarding SW1, few that I've read actually touch on the why of the film.  Most write it off as greed (definitely a factor), or senility (I'm not denying this one either).  But the cardinal mistake is understanding that the undertaking and marketing of 3 films as opposed to one is a difficult task.

Essentially, GL could have released one of any number of stinkburgers (the Ewoks movies come to mind, as do Tucker, Willow, and Radioland Murders), he has that within his ability.  The problem was that with Ep1, he needed to make sure that he didn't create the best movie in the series and then create letdown with Ep2 and Ep3.

TPM served a three-fold purpose:  

1. Generate revenue through marketing (because GL holds the licensing rights for SW through shrewd negotiation with Fox) and ticket sales.  This was obviously successful, the marketing was through the roof with Pepsi, Frito-Lay and the owners of KenTacoHut all signing licensing agreements.  The ticket sales made were high because of the kitsch/nostalgia/curiosity factor.  Additionally, what was the last Lucasfilm released prior to TPM?  I forget. (RadioLand, possibly?)

2. Generate a fully interactive, realistic looking CGI character who would have a large number of *shudder* speaking scenes.  Hello, Jar Jar Binks.  I could see nothing flawed about the actual CGI work involving Jar Jar.  The only complaint I had was that his character was AWFUL!

3. Being the first chapter of a whole new saga with characters you know little or nothing about.  Of course Anakin was a dorky little dweeb.  With any luck, they'll reveal in Ep2 that while at the Jedi Academy, young "Annie" was beaten up regularly, had his lunch money taken by bullies and received super-powered Force-assisted wedgies from the other students.  This would attribute to the whole rage factor affecting Darth Vader in Eps4-6.  This also was successful.  If you hate Anakin now, then it'll make the transition easier for when he becomes a Dark Lord of the Sith.

All in all, following The Phantom Menace I wanted to soak my head in Listerine to get the bad taste out of my mouth.  That's why I only saw it 2 more times in theaters.  I kept hoping it would get better.  I don't know why I figured seeing it 3 times would improve my perception of it.  

Know this, though.  Lucas realizes that the hardcore fans are expecting Ep2 to knock their socks off, shake hands with them, and improve their sex lives.  The thing is, their expectations are now realistically low so it will be easier to meet and surpass those expectations.  And that is probably the most ingenious part of Emperor Lucas' plan.

--FW
(Oh, and by the way, I'll be cheering on the death of all Jedi.  I hate them.  I really always have ever since Yoda made his first appearance in Empire, but now I realize they're a bunch of sissies with magical powers.  The ultimate in nerdliness)