Star Wars Prequel Trilogy: 10 Things That Didn't Suck

I was re-watching one of the Star Wars prequels today, and starting thinking about the prequels in general. I find the prequels equal parts good and bad - there are enough good bits to keep me interested and happy, but just as many negatives to make me feel frustrated about what could have been. I decided to capture a list of the 10 best things from the newer trilogy, I will do the same in a future post about the 10 worst things.

Counting down, Letterman-style:


10) The Fetts



The Fett legacy only grows with the prequels. Boba doesn't do anything of significance, but his papa looks pretty damn cool in that blue-and-silver armor, and he duel-wields those pistols with panache. Plus we get to see more of Slave 1, the coolest ship in the Star Wars universe. The only downer is that we don't get to see more of the Fetts (not counting the millions of look-alikes, of course).

9) Count Dooku

Christopher Lee has made a career of portraying villains and monsters on the big screen, and Dooku's title pays homage to the most famous of those. Though evil through-and-through, Dooku has a gentlemanly air about him, so that we almost think he isn't really evil. During his seduction of Obi-Wan, seems geniune and true, and he also seems to genuinely want to spare the lives of the Jedi in the arena. But when the time comes, Dooku shows his true colors as a Sith, and an evil, power-hungry one at that (but aren't they all)?

8) Darth Maul
Maul is the most under-used villain in the entire Star Wars saga, surpassing even Boba Fett. It seems George Lucas has this habit of creating really cool bad guys, but then doesn't make the most of them, and kills them too soon. Maul was the villain in Episode 1; his tattooed face is iconic and easily recognizable even by casual followers of Star Wars. His mere presence exudes evil, and when he is on the screen, you can't take your eyes off of him.

And then there is the lightsaber. Fan boys the world over fainted when the trailers showed Maul unleashing the double-bladed weapon. Maul employs his lightsaber with acrobatic ferocity, and though out-numbered, he beats Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan handily. If only he hadn't been so easily caught off-guard by Obi-Wan...

Maul could have been near the top of this list, if only he had been better utilized.


7) Clone Troopers

As one Jedi might say, the Clones are some bad Mother F'ers. They look sweet in that gleaming armor, can actually run and shoot at the same time (unlikely the Stormtroopers to follow), and they are genetic replicas of the infamous Fetts. Plus they ride around in those sweet gunships.

Even though the Clones become the Empire's shock troops, you almost still feel sympathetic as they turn on their Jedi commanders.

6) Mace Windu

The baddest Jedi in all the galaxy. Mace was largely wasted in Episode 1 (who wasn't?), but in the last two prequels Mace gets out of his chair and shows everyone why he is second in power only to Yoda. His fighting style is as unique as his purple-hued lightsaber: precise, minimalist, and with an undercurrent of fury bordering on the dark side.
Some question why Samuel L Jackson is in the prequels, but there is only one actor who could wear Windu's robes so well.

5) Qui-Gon Jinn

Our first glimpse at a 'real' Jedi is through the prism of Liam Neeson's performance as the contemplating and wise Jedi Master Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon is the epitome of a Jedi - thoughtful, powerful, empathetic, and wise. Liam's own thoughts on Episode 1 aside, his performance is understated and perfect for the character.

4) Lightsaber battles

The strength of the prequels is not in its story or dialog, but the prequels really come alive when lightsabers are bared and humming. For those that grew-up with the OT (original trilogy), lightsaber duels were generally slow, deliberate affairs. The prequels are the first real glimpse at the Jedi of old, and it does not disappoint. The fights are fast and intense, full of jumps, flips, and showmanship. The Maul/Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon duel is still my favorite across the entire spectrum of duels. Obi-Wan and Anakin is more powerful (see #3 below), but the Maul battle retains the coolness factor, especially since it was the first major fight.

3) Obi-Wan vs Anakin

The mother of all lightsaber battles, the fight between Obi-Wan and Anakin is the most powerful of the entire 6-act saga. Intense and non-stop, the fight itself is a chorographical masterpiece, but it is the emotional undercurrent that really adds weight to the battle. Apprentice vs Master. Anakin's all-consuming hate vs Obi-Wan's resignation and regret. Watching the fight, especially against the volcanic backdrop, you almost think that they will stop fighting and help each other escape the inferno. But there is no stopping this train wreck, and all you can do is sit back and watch.

2) Ian McDiarmid

Palpatine's progression from straight-faced and conniving senator to emperor overlaps the 3-act prequels, and Ian McDiarmid plays the part with such skill and relish that all other performances in the prequels pale by comparison. His seduction of Anakin Skywalker ratchets up dramatically in Episode 3. Palpatine is the ultimate salesman, telling Anakin what he wants to hear and opening the door to Anakin's fall from grace. But it is the understated way that Palpatine operates that makes this so powerful and even believable, to the point that the viewer feels sympathetic and wants to believe that Palpatine is really a man interested in the greater good. It isn't until Palpatine's physical metamorphosis that he becomes the all-evil emperor in outward appearance as well.

1) Obi-Wan Kenobi

Ewan McGregor perfectly captures the spirit of Alec Guinness' original performance, while simultaneously adding his own unique twist, to the point that when I hear the name Obi-Wan, I picture Ewan's young and vibrant version. Over the prequels, we see him grow from eager Padawan to confident Jedi Knight to powerful Jedi Master. Though under-used and obscured by Qui-Gon's long shadow in Episode 1, Obi-Wan continues to develop, fully coming into his own in the final act. He is confident and able, self-depreciating and wise. Anakin is the tragic hero in the prequels, but it is Obi-Wan's loss that feels most acute, more so even than Padme's.

Without question, Ian McDiarmid's is a better performance, but Ewan's Obi-Wan is my favorite character of this trilogy, and easily in the top 3 across the entire saga.