Star Wars... For Kids?

Okay, I'm a casual fan of the Star Wars movies. I've seen them all. I like the movies, but the plot (in the 2 and 3 episodes) kind of confuses me. I saw the trailer for Star Wars: Clone Wars, and although I usually don't have a problem with animated features (especially the ones that can simultaneously target kids AND adults like TMNT) the new Star Wars just looks plain kiddie. I really have no desire to see this movie, but I'll probably end up downloading it anyway. Any thoughts/comments?

i doubt very much that i'll see the animated feature.  i was nine, i think, when the first movie came out, so i have a pretty strong bond with the franchise ;)  i saw episode 1 when it first came out, but only recently saw 2 and 3.  my impression generally is that the first three (episodes 4 - 6) are far-and-away the better movies; more complex and character-driven.  the recent ones--especially eps 2 & 3--are more about looking cool than they are about story and character.  i didn't for a moment buy the romance between padme and anikin - there was no chemistry.  i usually love natalie portman, but she just made me wish carrie fisher would show up (and i really didn't buy the idea that two simps like padme and anikin could produce luke and leia).

i think they've dumbed-down the whole bloody concept, to tell you the truth.

Original Post by pgeorgian:

i doubt very much that i'll see the animated feature.  i was nine, i think, when the first movie came out, so i have a pretty strong bond with the franchise ;)  i saw episode 1 when it first came out, but only recently saw 2 and 3.  my impression generally is that the first three (episodes 4 - 6) are far-and-away the better movies; more complex and character-driven.  the recent ones--especially eps 2 & 3--are more about looking cool than they are about story and character.  i didn't for a moment buy the romance between padme and anikin - there was no chemistry.  i usually love natalie portman, but she just made me wish carrie fisher would show up (and i really didn't buy the idea that two simps like padme and anikin could produce luke and leia).

i think they've dumbed-down the whole bloody concept, to tell you the truth.

Agreed. Bad acting.. Bad acting...

Original Post by joekame:

Agreed. Bad acting.. Bad acting...

No no. Bad directing.. Bad directing..

It might be good, the cartoon series wasn't bad. I won't be going to the theatre for it though.

It looks like a video game.

Okay, yes. Yes I'm going to go to the theatre to see this movie. I saw the original SW when I was 20. I think I saw it about 40 times. Yep, big fan. I'm not a big fan of the animation style, but I just can't NOT go to see this. I'll agree about the direction (SW:TESB was my favorite...thank you, Mr. Kershner.)

Going with CGI in episodes 1-3 was a bad move, should've stuck with the original concept of guys in rubber masks and costumes. Jar-jar binks was enough for me to abandon the entire series and not bother to watch 2 or 3..I still have the old lunchbox and figures from the old days, but the further desecration of this saga by releasing an animated version is tempting me to have a memorabilia yard sale

gary, see eps 2 & 3.  just because.  yes, jar-jar is an abomination, and yes, they screwed us over, and yes, they even screwed up a major continuity plot point (Leia remembered her mother, but stupid Padme died in childbirth?), but...well, you get to see hayden christiansen burn.  and then, right at the end of episode 3, hayden christiansen turns into james earl jones and suddenly you're mourning your childhood like a crazy person, because it's OVER!  and there's nothing to look forward to, ever.  aaahhhhg!!

edit: never mind.  it appears that you're too young for a star wars identity crisis.

I'm 33, yeah I was pretty young back in '77 but was prime time age when Empire and Return of the Jedi arrived. Loved the movies, collected the action figures...good times. I'll take your advice and watch parts 2,3. Bought 3 on dvd a few years back and never got around to watching it...

see, devotchka, even that is frustrating, don't you find?   "the first three" and "the newer three" which are also "the last three" and "the first three".

for those of us old enough to have registered the couple of decades in between, it's confusing enough, but when i (40) try to talk about these with my students (6-16), i constantly find myself making statements like, "The first ones, which are the last ones...i mean episode three--no--four--you know, the old ones, which take place later...like, Luke and Leia.  you know Luke and Leia...?"

and then there's all the cutting-off of hands and the M-F-M dynamics and the inevitable repeating-of-history...it's friggen hard to keep your head straight!

the GOOD news is that if you decide to have a marathon, you get to end with the good stuff ;)

edit: if any of my radical pinko feminist friends are reading this, i want to assure you that i haven't a lick of star wars paraphernalia.  only BtVS. 

I hear the latest Indiana Jones flick was downright horrible....

STAR WARS ROX MY WORLD i have heaps of Star Wars Memorabilia in my locker at school it is......

SUPER WICKED AWESOME