I’ve long said that EpII should have been two films, with the first part being “Episode I” of the saga (basically ignore The Phantom Menace entirely). End with us seeing both the beginning of the Clone Wars and dealing with Anakin having a dark side when he murders the Tuskens. Second part is full-on clone wars, Anakin’s growing relationship with both Padme and Palpatine. It ends with Anakin’s turn to the dark side (“rhyming” with the dark cliff-hanger ending of Empire). Final film is Anakin hunting down and killing Jedi, with Obi-Wan on his tail.
Attack of the Clones crams way too much into its run-time and Revenge of the Sith presents Anakin’s turn to the dark side as something way too sudden. Plus it completely undercuts Obi-Wan’s dialogue in A New Hope about Vader being the one who hunts down and kills the Jedi.
This all being said, having watched the whole thing in “Machete Order” a few times in recent years with my kids, I have to say that Phantom Menace is probably the best prequel film. The use of practical effects is more frequent, the story is a bit tighter, the score is truly phenomenal, and Qui-Gon Jinn is just the best.
I’ve long said that EpII should have been two films, with the first part being “Episode I” of the saga (basically ignore The Phantom Menace entirely). End with us seeing both the beginning of the Clone Wars and dealing with Anakin having a dark side when he murders the Tuskens. Second part is full-on clone wars, Anakin’s growing relationship with both Padme and Palpatine. It ends with Anakin’s turn to the dark side (“rhyming” with the dark cliff-hanger ending of Empire). Final film is Anakin hunting down and killing Jedi, with Obi-Wan on his tail.
Attack of the Clones crams way too much into its run-time and Revenge of the Sith presents Anakin’s turn to the dark side as something way too sudden. Plus it completely undercuts Obi-Wan’s dialogue in A New Hope about Vader being the one who hunts down and kills the Jedi.
This all being said, having watched the whole thing in “Machete Order” a few times in recent years with my kids, I have to say that Phantom Menace is probably the best prequel film. The use of practical effects is more frequent, the story is a bit tighter, the score is truly phenomenal, and Qui-Gon Jinn is just the best.