re: Watched the phantom menace for the first time in years

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The pod race is fricking awesome. Anyone that denies that needs to get over themself.

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Great scene, would have liked it better if they didn't spend so much time on Tatooine. I also think Vader should have been a little older as well.

I think you could make a strong argument that Phantom Menace is the best prequel. It lacks majority of the god awful dialogue that plagued Episodes II and III, no romance subplot, has the fan-favorite antagonist (Darth Maul), and arguably the best, most realistic ending duel in the PT.

They shouldn't have killed off Maul in the first one.

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Lucas having zero say and giving zero input on how the new trilogy should be made is the primary reason I'm looking forward to it.

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Couldn't have said this better myself!

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It lacks majority of the god awful dialogue that plagued Episodes II and III, no romance subplot, has the fan-favorite antagonist (Darth Maul), and arguably the best, most realistic ending duel in the PT.

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The dialogue and many of the plot points in Episode I are just awful. Just a few bits off the top of my head:
1) Midichlorians
2) Pod Race Betting
3) After Obi Wan and Qui Gon have been gassed for 5 seconds, "They must be dead by now, destroy what's left of them"
4) "Are you an angel?"
5) The idiot instantly jumping to the random conclusion that an invasion happening because a single transmission got jammed
6) Qui Gon jumping to the conclusion very quickly that Anakin is the chosen one after all he does is walk around and show him the ropes of Mos Espa
7) Did I mention midichlorians. When they measure Anakin's midichlorian count I turn pale and start vomiting every time.
8) Midichlorians. Anakin was conceived by them.

And everything anyone says is so lifeless. There is no sense of urgency. Anakin in a dangeous pod race? Eh, who cares, let's speak in monotones and have blank stares.

Darth Maul is a fan favorite antagonist solely because he looks cool and uses a double-bladed lightsaber. He has no backstory, and he's in the movie for less than 5 minutes total leading up to the final fight.

The beginning of the movie is so jammed with dialogue and different characters that it took me multiple rewinds to figure out what is going on every time I try to watch.

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I haven't seen any of the originals (please don't hurt me) and saw the prequels so long ago I can't remember them. I'm planning on watching all of them before the new one comes out. Should I start with the prequels or originals?

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DO NOT WATCH THE PREQUELS

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Why did Lucas successfully direct a good film in the original episode IV? Who knows. Maybe because his ideas weren't rushed at that point like the entire prequel trilogy. Lucas was very hands off for episode V and that was easily the best movie in the series. He started meddling with the direction of episode VI, and there was a noticeable drop off in quality from episode V, but it was still a great movie. The prequel trilogy was just rushed crap, with a director who was largely out of the game for almost 20 years. This is probably just looking into it too much though as its likely Lucas is really just a massive sellout.

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The reason Lucas was able to successfully direct Star Wars was because of Gary Kurtz. Kurtz was deeply involved in all ask aspects of the first two films. He even did some 2nd unit directing on Empire.
After the success of the first two films, Kurtz and Lucas parted ways because Lucas wanted Return to be a thrill ride blockbuster rather than a nuanced film like Empire. He also wanted the film to push his expanding Star Wars merchandise brand. The Ewoks are a prime example of this. Warrior teddy bears were going to be a hit with the kids. Same concept behind Jar Jar.

Kurtz was the last producer for Lucas who wasn't a spineless yes man. Rick McCallum basically did everything Lucas wanted for the prequels and the best producers rarely sit idly and let a director run amok. There was nobody involved in the prequels who could keep George from being his worst enemy.

But he made billions of dollars and created some industry standard technologies and educational tools. He's always cared more about that stuff than he did about making good movies.

GOAT Anakin line. I use it almost daily on the interstate.

Phantom Menace def had potential. I think that's what pisses so many off, including myself.

The pod-racing scene (minus the dialogue) was fvcking awesome. If you argue otherwise you're just a hater. Darth Maul also was a badass villain.

However, the political stuff they tried to setup was awful and the midiclorian nonsense they created to explain the force was infuriating. That's before we even get to Jar Jar.