RE: what appeals to me about the prequels: I like stories that feature geo-politics. You gloss over a lot of that, because Star Wars isn't a story "about" geopolitics, per se, but the power games in it are very much an issue of political control of the galaxy.
I always felt slightly confused by the original movies, as if I never really understood what all the fighting was about. I think the prequels do a good job of filling in the parts of the story I felt were missing. And that Wagnerian-feel you mention appeals to me aesthetically. The first three together form a tragedy in the classic sense, and I like tragedy. It might be why I also liked the inclusion of Jar Jar; a little levity keeps it from sinking from "tragic" to simply "depressing."
I also think some things are better taken together as whole; I liked "The Hunger Games" but it became a more interesting and better told story to me after I had completed all 3 books. I think Star Wars -- to me personally -- becomes more interesting as 6 movies than as any combination of less-than-six.
Geo-politics is one of the main thing that appeals to me about J. Carey's Kushiel trilogy and related sequels; she has an incredibly well developed sense of geo-politics.
If you're on G+, check out my stream. I shared your essay and its sparked some interesting conversation.
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timeasmymeasure
Re: Your degree at work...
Date: 2012-05-02 09:17 pm (UTC)I always felt slightly confused by the original movies, as if I never really understood what all the fighting was about. I think the prequels do a good job of filling in the parts of the story I felt were missing. And that Wagnerian-feel you mention appeals to me aesthetically. The first three together form a tragedy in the classic sense, and I like tragedy. It might be why I also liked the inclusion of Jar Jar; a little levity keeps it from sinking from "tragic" to simply "depressing."
I also think some things are better taken together as whole; I liked "The Hunger Games" but it became a more interesting and better told story to me after I had completed all 3 books. I think Star Wars -- to me personally -- becomes more interesting as 6 movies than as any combination of less-than-six.
Geo-politics is one of the main thing that appeals to me about J. Carey's Kushiel trilogy and related sequels; she has an incredibly well developed sense of geo-politics.
If you're on G+, check out my stream. I shared your essay and its sparked some interesting conversation.