The Prequels Strike Back Documentary Defends the Prequel Trilogy
By Elaine Tveit
The Star Wars prequel trilogy is perhaps the most hotly debated subject of the entire franchise. On one side, you have the fans who hate Jar Jar Binks, the politics, and the abundance of CGI; there are even some fans who wouldn’t be at all opposed to the entire trilogy being rebooted. On the other side are the fierce defenders, the people who think that George Lucas is still a genius and that there is a lot of good to be found in the prequels.
Are you wondering how such polarity could exist over one set of films? Are you confused, wondering which side you are on? Or are you just scratching your head about how anyone could possibly see any good in the prequels whatsoever?
An independent film studio in Austin, TX called Ministry of Cinema is aiming to answer all of those questions. They plan to create a documentary called “The Prequels Strike Back” that will explore different fan and expert perspectives on the prequels, as well as show how The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith are good, even brilliant films in their own right.
But to get this awesome project off the ground, Ministry of Cinema needs our help.
Watch the video below to find out more about the documentary and their IndieGoGo campaign to bring it about.
If you go to their IndieGoGo campaign page, you can donate as little as $5 or as much as $1,250; every little bit helps. You can also help the making of the documentary by sharing this post and the campaign on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media outlets. Tell your friends and family. Let’s make this happen, because the prequel trilogy deserves more than to be thrust aside because some people can’t stand Jar Jar (I’m not one of those people, but I can understand why others are).
I’m going to be honest and admit: the prequels are flawed. But then, so were A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. And yes, there were some missteps (dialogue, for instance, which George admitted he wasn’t good at writing), but many of those missteps can be viewed in a kinder light when you know what they were intended to accomplish, much like those in the original trilogy. Also, there’s something brilliant going on in the Star Wars saga that needs the prequel films to work. It’s best summed up by the Star Wars Ring Theory that was mentioned in the above video. I recommend taking a look at this essay; it’s nine pages long, but just reading one or two of those pages will give you an understanding of the concept that the creator, Mike Klimo, is postulating. And once you have that understanding, you’ll begin to see the concept in action yourself the next time you watch all six Star Wars films.
I feel I need to add that I haven’t always been a huge supporter of the prequels. I, too, couldn’t look past things like what appeared to be bad acting and too much CGI. But, over the past year, my appreciation and love for the prequels has grown significantly. All it takes is giving them a chance, maybe by listening to and reading the work of people like Mike Klimo who provide insight to how great the prequels are as films. In the end, you may find that you enjoy the prequels more than you did before.
Please consider sharing and supporting this campaign to create “The Prequels Strike Back,” even if you are on the side that doesn’t like the prequel trilogy. The facts and theories that Ministry of Cinema presents may provide a different perspective for you, and the whole saga may become a better viewing experience for you as a result.