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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Star Wars original trilogy. () |
The prequel trilogy (commonly abbreviated PT by fans) is a term used to describe the three films of the Star Wars saga whose events take place before the original trilogy. They are:
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
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General synopsis
The Phantom Menace
In Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, the first film in the trilogy, Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi are sent to the planet Naboo to mediate a dispute between the Galactic Republic and the corrupt Trade Federation, and are charged with protecting Naboo's Queen, Padmé Amidala. The three are unexpectedly routed to the planet Tatooine, where they discover Anakin Skywalker, a nine-year-old slave, whom Qui-Gon believes to be destined to bring balance to the Force. After winning his freedom in a podrace, Anakin reluctantly leaves his mother behind on Tatooine. In the ensuing battle between the Naboo and the Trade Federation, Qui-Gon is killed in a battle with Sith Lord Darth Maul, who is in turn slain by Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan promises his dying master that he will train Anakin to become a Jedi Knight. Days later, Obi-Wan and Anakin are received as heroes on Naboo, honored by Queen Amidala — and the Republic's new Chancellor, Palpatine.
Attack of the Clones
Ten years later, in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, the mysterious Sith Lord Darth Sidious, along with disaffected Jedi Master Count Dooku, start the Confederacy of Independent Systems, also known as the Separatists, an alliance of planetary systems who want to secede from the Republic. Palpatine amasses near dictatorial emergency powers in response to the supposed threat, and starts a clone army for the Republic with which to fight the Separatists. In the midst of this, a teenaged Anakin Skywalker is assigned to guard Padmé, who is now a Senator. The two eventually fall in love, even though such an emotional attachment is forbidden to Jedi. Anakin is further tempted away from the Jedi Code by Palpatine, who subtly worsens the rift between him and Obi-Wan. The situation worsens when Anakin's mother, Shmi, is killed by Tusken Raiders, and Anakin murders them in a fit of rage. The Clone Wars break out soon afterward in a battle on the planet Geonosis, during which Anakin loses his right arm in a lightsaber duel with Dooku. He and Padmé are married days later, in a secret ceremony on Naboo, after escorting her home.
Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is set three years later, when Anakin has become a full-fledged Jedi Knight and hero of the Clone Wars. He and Obi-Wan are called back from the Outer Rim to Coruscant, to save Palpatine, who has been kidnapped by Dooku and General Grievous, a Separatist warlord. During the ensuing battle, Anakin kills Dooku in cold blood, at Palpatine's urging. He then reunites with Padmé, who tells him that she is pregnant, after returning to Coruscant. He is plagued by visions of her death in childbirth, and vows to do anything to save her. Palpatine uses his fear to lure him to the dark side, telling him he can learn the ability to stop death. He eventually reveals himself to Anakin as none other than Darth Sidious. When Anakin tells Mace Windu of Palpatine's treachery, Windu leads a group of fellow Jedi Masters to arrest the Chancellor. During the confrontation, Palpatine kills all but Windu, and engages the Jedi Master in a fierce lightsaber duel. Anakin intervenes at the last moment out, giving Palpatine the opportunity to kill Windu. Anakin then pledges himself to the dark side and becomes the Sith Lord Darth Vader. Thus indoctrinated in the ways of the Sith, he carries out Palpatine's orders to exterminate the Jedi. Palpatine seizes absolute power, and transform the Republic into the oppressive Galactic Empire. Suspecting that Padmé has betrayed him to Obi-Wan, Anakin uses the dark side to choke his wife into unconsciousness. Anakin and Obi-Wan duel until Obi-Wan slices off both of Anakin's legs and his remaining human arm, leaving him to die from lava burns, but he is rescued by Palpatine, who revives him with a life support suit of black body armor and cybernetic limbs. Padmé dies in childbirth after delivering healthy twins, Luke and Leia. Obi-Wan and Jedi Master Yoda decide that the children must be given new identities and hidden from the Empire.
Characters
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Locations
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Critical and commercial reaction
While all three films were huge commercial successes (The Phantom Menace in particular breaking box office records for an opening weekend), critical reaction was mixed. The first two films were generally commended for their visual effects, but the acting from some characters and screenwriting featured in them were panned. Jake Lloyd and Hayden Christensen, the two actors who portrayed Anakin, were both nominated for the Golden Raspberry, or "Razzie" award, for "Worst Supporting Actor," [1] while the first two films in the series were nominated for "Worst Picture" awards. [2] [3] The Phantom Menace was especially panned for the character Jar Jar Binks, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's bumbling sidekick; fans and critics alike lambasted the character as an obnoxious ploy to sell merchandise and appeal to child audiences. The character, who spoke in a slow-witted, cartoonish dialect, was even decried as a racist caricature similar to Stepin Fetchit. Lucas emphatically denied such assertions. [4] This inspired the "Phantom Edit" made by critics. Revenge of the Sith received more favorable reviews, making it the critically best-received of the trilogy. While Christensen's performance was again panned, the acting received higher marks than that featured in the previous two films, especially that of McGregor as the noble Obi-Wan and McDiarmid as the evil Palpatine. The script was generally seen as an improvement (playwright Tom Stoppard performed an uncredited rewrite), but still received a great deal of criticism, particularly the dialogue in the romantic scenes between Anakin and Padmé; Film critic Roger Ebert wrote that "greeting cards are more heartfelt" than that dialogue. Author Neal Stephenson has pointed out that the prequels are unlike the original trilogy in that much of the films make no sense without an understanding of the unpresented backstory.[5] A few critics speculated that the film was meant as a critique of George W. Bush and the Iraq war. David Edelstein of Slate Magazine even went so far as to coin the term "Darth Dubyous" in his review of the film, in reference to Bush[6]. Also, comedian Jon Stewart satirically compared Bush advisor Karl Rove to Palpatine in his book America (the Book).
See also
References
- ^ http://www.razzies.com/history/05nomSActo.asp
- ^ http://razzies.com/asp/content/XcNewsPlus.asp?cmd=view&articleid=1
- ^ http://razzies.com/asp/content/XcNewsPlus.asp?cmd=view&articleid=115
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/394542.stm
- ^ Turn On, Tune In, Veg Out
- ^ http://www.slate.com/id/2118604
