I fully enjoyed the new trilogy for its tellings on the nature of the Force and the history of the Darth/Sith conclave. The roots of the Empire and fall of the Jedi. Yet, it does suffer from a ‘sameness’. Perhaps because it traverses so many locales, perhaps it’s just the riddling detail of the CG rendered landscapes and characters or the fact that it crams a whole-lotta story into itself. Either way, there’s no bad taste in my mouth from them at all.

I do believe strongly that it’s a nearly impossible task for Lucas to surmount the mountain of glorious nostalgia we (25-40 year-olds) have pent up for the original trilogy in our collective hearts. I’ve never met anyone in the aforementioned age bracket who didn’t like Star Wars or at least not have any fond memories of it and its coolness. And I don’t think Lucas cares to try really. It’s his movie.

Now, I’m not 7 years-old anymore, and I’m not the target of his new saga (if they were attempting to market to me, Padme would have flashed some breast). I don’t desire (as a child consumer might) the toys/cereal/sheets/backpacks/pajamas anymore. So my stake in Star Wars is already in recession by default. I accept that. And I will always have the original trilogy — we all do. Barking at the new series is akin to the “things were better when I was your age” mantra we all despised our parents/grandparents for. I’m not gonna try to explain to some now-7 year-old kid that Phantom Menace is somewhat lacking in the whole landscape that is Star Wars. Ten minutes into it he’ll break in with, “What’s a lunchbox?” and probably finish with, “I like all six movies, Yoda is funny.”

He is. CG or otherwise.

Right after watching Attack of the Clones, I had more or less given up on the new trilogy, and I know many others who felt the same way. But when word got out that Revenge of the Sith was much better, it automatically got a free pass in everyone ‘s minds. But not me.

I knew going in that it was never going to be able to fix the damage that was done. The best I could hope was a strong film that could holds its own and be viewed independently, without the need to see Episodes 1 & 2, and on a certain level, it can.

But the directorial and filmmaking flaws were just too obvious. I also was extremely annoyed with the constant change of locations, which came off as way too showy. There’s something to be said about constructing a film set, making it “live” on screen via the actors, plus dealing with all the technical and story challenges that come along with it, as opposed to just creating whatever you want on a computer station with no real constraints against you.

When people who are new to Star Wars ask what order they should view the films, I say without hesitation, in the order of their release. Why? Aside from the narrative being broken in the new trilogy, which leads to inconsistencies in the later films, I believe its a bit of a learning experience to watch what began as some crazy guy making a movie in the desert and wasting everyone’s money, creating technology as he went along, into something that was created by the same said crazy guy, but with an army of ass kissers and a limitless budget, and turning a franchise, which basically defined and created a genre into one that’s a shell of its formers self.

I really wanted to leave the theatre feeling excited, feeling Lucas redeemed himself… but it just wasn’t happening. In addition to nearly everything you said, it felt so rushed. The pacing was really lanky, and anything with potential for drama was cut short. The end in particular. And the editing is so annoying. Those lame-o scene transitions were driving me nutty.

I’d like to think a second viewing will change my mind, but I know I’m lying to myself if I believe it will…