Star Wars Prequel Movie Posters
Star Wars Prequel posters. Should Disney remake them?

“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

Yoda

Sunday night, the final episode of Game of Thrones aired. Within hours of the end credits, disgruntled fans formed an online petition to remake the entire final season of GoT. Not sure about the fear, but there is plenty of anger. And hate. And suffering. A message to GoT fans: Star Wars fans feel your pain. For the last two decades we’ve been feeling it over the Star Wars prequels trilogy, and we’re still not over it—twenty years later.

Dany riding a dragon
Many GoT fans had a similar expression after the final episode aired on May 19th

Were the Star Wars prequels really that bad?

Since the release of The Phantom Menace in 1999, Star Wars fans have suffered the same affliction. The prequels were a long-awaited continuation of the Skywalker saga, and few truly liked them. That didn’t stop throngs of rabid fans from standing in line—some for several days—to see the prequel films.

London theater opening
Fans wait outside London’s Odeon Leicester Square cinema to see Episode I: The Phantom Menace in 1999.

What were the good parts?

Oh sure, they have plenty of cool tidbits for the most rabid of fans. Seeing the Wookies defend Kachirho Beach on Kashyyyk alongside the Clone Army and Yoda is a personal favorite of mine. Ewan McGregor’s portrayal of young Obi-Wan has fans still asking for a stand-alone Kenobi movie, and the light saber duels pitting Darth Maul against Obi-Wan and Qui Gon, and the final duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin are among the best we’ve seen on any screen—big or small. Finally, Ian McDiarmid’s portrayal of Palpatine gave life to the villian we look forward to seeing again in Episode IX. These are just a few of many redeeming facets of the prequels.

The Wookies prepare to defend Kashyyyk
The Wookies prepare to defend Kachirho Beach from the Separatist Droid Army
in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Where did the Star Wars prequels go wrong?

Even with those highlights, the prequels had their cringe-worthy moments. The acting was dry. The story felt like a trudge at times. The CGI had issues (Anakin jumping on the Shaak on Naboo still hurts to watch). Then there’s the midi-chlorians, and… well… Jar-Jar.

However, they are not just canon, but George Lucas’ canon. Like them or not, they are the machinations of their original creator. They were his ideas for the universe we all know and love. Fans have a love-hate relationship with the beloved Star Wars creator, but the fact is he doesn’t owe us any explanation or apology. They’re his films.

George Lucas during the Star Wars prequels
Director George Lucas is shown standing next to a digital movie camera used to shoot, ‘Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones,’ on the set of the film, in this undated photo. Lucas shot the entire film using digital cameras and hoped to have the film shown with digital projectors in theaters. Studio and theater executives counter that the technology is not ready for mass use and that complex questions remain on setting industry-wide standards, avoiding piracy and financing digital-projection systems, which can cost up to $150,000 for each screen. (AP Photo/Lucasfilm Ltd.)

Is remaking them the answer?

Should Disney remake the prequels? I don’t think so. History shouldn’t change because it might make some fans feel better about it. The Star Wars prequels happened, and they should be left alone with their warts and all. They are part of the history of the franchise, just like the abysmal 1978 Holiday Special we love to hate. I’d rather see Disney make new movies about new stories than go back to rehash old ones. What do you think?

Source: Collider