PT Prequel nostalgia. Yes, it's a real thing.

I get so ridiculously nostalgic over the prequels.

Like, I was born in a time when the prequels - even if they are generally looked down upon today - were a BIG DEAL. I mean, a really, really big deal. I'm sure everyone who's old enough can remember the hype and the craze but imagine being born into it. It's insane.

(You know, I tried to write this out coherently, but I'm resorting to bullet points now.)

• I remember we used to play Star Wars on the playground - I distinctly remember being offended at the suggestion I give up my usual role of Princess Leia to be Queen Amidala. (Okay listen, I was ALWAYS Leia and my friend was ALWAYS Padme. Why should we change that?)
• The Saga Begins? That was on kids' radio stations all. the. time. I'm pretty sure my first introduction to any sort of plot in Star Wars was through "my, my, this here Anakin guy / maybe Vader someday later / now he's just a small fry / he left his home and kissed his mommy goodbye / sayin' soon I'm gonna be a Jedi". I've had those lyrics memorized for over a decade. Actually, I just figured out last year that it was a Weird Al parody of American Pie.
• In fact, the first time I remember seeing a Star Wars movie was a bit of TPM on television - Anakin was running through sand, I think.
• I used to read the children's novels about the Jedi Order. I don't remember the name of the series, but I remember that I loved pretending I was a Jedi.
• THE LEGO VIDEO GAMES. And once again, I was forced to play as Amidala to my utter dismay.

There's probably more. I was never really into Star Wars when I was young, but all my friends were and they dragged me into their playground games and EU novels. This is why I will always defend the prequels. I know some older fans say the PT "ruined" their childhood, but I don't think they realize that just by saying that they're dumping on another generation's fond memories. I associate the PT with friends, fun, and being a kid. I will take those good memories over good movies any time.

 

Absolutely......but i really wanted good movies. Overall it wasnt up to what we first had visions of and that's omay, but the lines and blue screen acting is what threw it off course. Nastolgia definitely helps make this time memorable as a true fan. It brought back what we all love and made it something to look forward to heading into the new century.

 

Phantom Menace was the very first film I watched in a cinema and is probably what got me interested in films in general, so I have a lot of fondness for that film.

 

I was in 7th grade when tpm came out, while I do not remeber a time before I had star wars in my life as I Had toy ewoks, the vhs of the ot were in the house and watched, and the first book I read that had actual chapters was most likely The Glove of Darth vader.

It was not till the period between the special edition releases of the OT and TPM that my fandom solidified so 1996-May 1999. In the summer of 1996 a new store Came into the area, barnes and noble, And a good portion of the science fiction section had star wars books. My grandpa took me and my little brother for the first time and will my sister, grandma, and mother were shopping for school clothing At the mall next door. Grandpa bought me the first rogue squadron book, the tales of the jedi: dark lords of the sith trade paperback and a Magazine that had all this news About George lucas making a New Star wars film.

the next year after going into.junior high, I found new friends who where star wars fans who were also excited about the new Movie. We played all the star wars games That came out for N64, we played our own version of a star wars rpg(none of us had any of the guides.) I bought anything star wars I could read, watched TRL for them to play the duel of the fates music video. At 13 when the film Came out I loved it. It was only later that I started to dislike it because of little nitpicky things.

I was a in high school when AOTC in 2002 came out and well Natalie Portman, those costumes and I was a 15 year old boy.

I was in college by the time ROTS came out 2005. I must have watched the trailers a couple times a week using headphones and the school library computers.then the film came out and it is the only film I have ever scene in theatres more that twice.

 

I'm no prequel apologist, but I have fond memories of watching them as a kid. Even though they came out during my lifetime, I first saw the Phantom Menace on VHS when I was eight years old. I had the flu on a rainy day, and my mom surprised me by putting it on. I was captivated by Qui Gon, Darth Maul, and even the Senate. I still enjoy watching it, even though it is my least favorite

 

This is my favorite half of the saga, I grew up with them, and honestly no other films have any chance to match them in my eyes.

 

I wonder if they should have waited until 2019 for TPM 3D so that there would be more time for nostalgia to grow in the public's minds.

 

I remember sitting with my girlfriend and anticipating the beginning of TPM, the first SW film in 16 years. Star Wars and Bond movies have the best, patented openings.

 

Anyone remember this gem? It first aired in front of Star Trek: Insurrection, and initially pissed me off so much because it trolled those of us who were hoping to see the new Star Wars trailer in front of the film... also, it had a fantastic "If you're going to see one film this summer..." joke.

 

I don't think I ever saw that.

I wonder if they had to say something like, "If you see only one movie this summer, see Star Wars"?

In light of the fact that they are clearly so blatantly using the iconography of the series? Licencing agreement?


Anyway, your trailer reminded me of the "Spider-Man" spoofing at the start of this "Yoda" spot for AOTC:

 

Wonderful thread.

I have a tremendous nostalgia for Revenge of the Sith. I was 22 at the time of its release, and upon reflection, those three theatrical ROTS viewings marked the very last time that a popcorn movie engendered an effusive, childlike sublimity. Just sheer, unadulterated joy, a resounding echo of what Lucas, Spielberg, Cameron, Zemekis and Tim Burton managed to do for me, time and again, with their 80s genre masterworks.

I never felt this again.

Certainly there'd be treasures to come (e.g., The Dark Knight, Casino Royale, Skyfall, Toy Story 3, Mad Max: Fury Road), but the perspective was that of an adult's. More admiration than immersion. I realize this is inevitable--and healthy--but I can't help but feel a scintilla of melancholia, watching the Skywalker family destroyed and dispatched, with Obi-Wan receding into the Tatooine desert. Thinking to myself, "This is where it all ended."

 

Coming from that thread https://boards.theforce.net/threads/1997-special-edition-nostalgia.50021855/page-7#post-56559386 I found this here too and thought i share some nostalgia for the Prequels. Due to them beeing released while I was in my late childhood and during my teens I have very very very fond memories about those.

Back when I had become a SW fan in 1997 I did read the new Dark Horse Comics of Ep IV (released in germany by Panini). One of them had a special page about Kenobi and/or Vader (I'd need to check, stoll have them of course) and explained their backstory. I vividly remember how in 97/98 I read about Kenobi and Vader fight atop of a vulcano and Vader falling into the lava and becoming the monster we knew and lovefeared . I imagined it in my head but thought to never ever experience this in some kind of movie.

Later in 98 I was watching some boulevard magazin and they showed the very first teaser of Episode I. I didnt know there was a movie coming, we didnt have internet back then and I had no sources of information then some magazines which hadnt covered much SW. I could have been possible that I knew that something was coming but I didnt had an idea what exactly it was. So the first teaser blow me away. I was excited, calling for my mom and didnt understand much of what was shown. I didnt know who the long haird guy was, if the little boy was Luke and so on. But the visuals where amazing. From that one I was able to learn more about Ep I and became more and more excited. As german we did have to wait for Ep I till August 19th 1999. BUT the novel and the game were available at the same time as for the US and so I got the game EARLY and played through it way before beeing able to watch the movie itself. The Episode I game I have very fond memories off. It was for me very immersive, I loved exploring Theed and Mos Espa and was excited to have a Lightsaber battle against Darth Maul. It wasnt like the first Jedi Knight but the graphics were fine, the voice actors from the german dubbing all replayed their roles for the game and the story was well told. The Death of Qui-Gon was a shock in the game and Obi-Wan became my favorite Character during that time.

Finally in August of 99 I was able to watch the movie in theater and it was packed! I remember when it was released in germany TV Shows covered the event, interviewed people after the screenings or went into a screening to show people watching the movie. When my day had come I went there with my best friend (still to this day). We were there early. It was way before beeing able to certain seats so who came early had the best places in the house. The movie BLEW me away. I knew the story so I could pay attention to so much stuff and I remember beeing amazed by the Pod-Race and duel of the fates, I loved Obi-Wan and Jar Jar and I was just soooo very satisfyed with the whole experience. I remember how we quoted certain movie lines, talked about the great duel and begun to fantasize on how it would continue. I know exactly how I felt after watching Episode I: "HOW SHOULD I MAKE IT TO EP II ANDIII??? ITS AGES AWAY!!!"

When the VHS was released in April of 2000 I went with the same guy I went to the cinema. We picked up the movie on a local electronic marked and rewatched it...until the release of Episode II TPM had become the most watched SW movie for me. I revisited it regulary, first on VHS, then on DvD (my very first EVER DvD). I knew and know the movie inside out and love every aspect of it. To this I can say that Episode I played a crucial part in my love for the saga and franchise. I started collecting SW Stuff after that movie was released.

BTW: In Germany Episode 1 was called:


Die Dunkle Bedrohung - more like The Dark Menace or The Dark Threat. They dropped KRIEG DER STERNE and went with STAR WARS.

To be continued...

 

Picking up where we left after Episode I my Hype for SW was higher then ever! I started to get more and more merch, mostly picking up with books and Comics.

I became a member of the Official SW Fan Club Germany around 2001 (still am) and received the german SW Insider since then. I got my first novels, bought the Visual Dictonarys and Cross Sections of the OT and Ep I and played more SW games then ever. One game I returned to so much was the Ep I game of Course, Jedi Knight I and II and the Ep I Racer.

I regulary watched the OT (owning the 95 THX Versions as well as the Special Edition) and of course Ep I. When the Ep I DvD came out I started to study the movie even more, watching all the behind the Scenes stuff without understanding much because I didnt speak english that well with my 13/14 years old.That would change because of SW too.

Closing in on Ep II I remember a friend got me all the Trailers because I didnt have fast Internet back then. The Breathing Teaser again I saw first on Free TV beeing amazed by what I saw: grown up Anakin, Padme, Obi-Wan with a beard, a Boba Fett like armored guy. I was hyped. The rest of the Trailers I watched on my Computer from a CD Rom, which my friend provided me with. I loved the Teaser Poster for Ep II and was so curious about what would happen in the movie. The Slogan made me so curious and wondering about the plot.



I remember how my mom got me some Action figures which were sold before the movie was released: Jango, Zam, Anakin in is traveler Outfit and Padme in Geonosian Battle Amor. And as the day came nearer I was so hyped I made my own Poster by cutting out SW Pictures from non SW related magazines and pinned it to my wall. The movie in Germany was called "Angriff der Klonkrieger" which would be "Attack of the Clone Warriors" in english. A proper Translation would have been "Angriff der Klone".

The movie was released on May 16th 2002 and I went to the movie on Saturday May 18th with a couple of School friends, my best friend who I watched Ep I with was there too of course. The evening before I rewatched Ep I of course and after this there was a Making of Special for Ep II n TV what I watched too. Beeing 15 in May of 2002 it was so easy for me to relate to Anakin and his Problems with Girls. I LOVED the movie. It became my most watched movie (still is I think). I loved the plot, the Action, the Jedi Action, the Relations between Anakin and Padme and and and. I remember I went to a Restaurant with my parents that evening and just thinking about that movie. I couldnt stop thinking about it. And again my biggest concern was: How should I make it to 2005? It was way to far away for my 15 year old me. The questions of how everyhing would resolve in Ep III was on my mind every day until 2005.

I watched the movie 2 times in Theater. At my very first viewing we had some older Boys some seats on the right from me. They talked through the whole opening and first 30 to 40 minutes. When we came to the fireplace Scene they were so loud I lost my Patience and got so angry that I screamed at them to shut up what got me some Applause from the Theater. From that Moment on it was quiet.

Beeing 15 I was finally able to work after School or during Holiday. I started to work part time during my Holidays and made good Money in those weeks. ALL of the Money went into SW merch, mostly novels, comics, making of books and the dictonarys. I was able to watch Ep II as often as I wanted because I got my Hands on a bad Quality bootleg Version online I rewatched so often I awestruck watching the DvD in November of 2002 and seeing the great Colors and Details. I still have the DvD and it had a spelling mistake on the spine, spelling it "Angrief der Klonkieger". Ep II became the first movie I watched in englisch when I had the DvD because I knew it well enough to feel safe watching it in its native language. I was suprised of how deep Anakins voice was in english, his german voice was higher and more boyish when his english voice was very aduld and grown up! Still I had some Problems understanding EVERYTHING. Luckily this has changed since then

Here you go with some of the voices of SW in german:



From Ep II my life was dominated by discovering the clone wars (now Legends) and following the production of Episode III. More on that later.

 

I continue my nostalgic journey of the Prequels. I hope you guys dont mind and like reading about it.

Like I said before Episode III was (and is to this day) my most anticipated movie EVER. I've never ever longed for a movie as much as for this one and my hype for Ep III was bigger then for any other movie before and after.

After Ep II was released my family finally got fast internet which made it possible for me to join Fan Forums and follow the production of Ep III more closely then with Ep I and II. What struck me and made me sad was the hatred and bashing withhin the fandom of SW which I encountered for the first time back in late 2002 when I joined a big german fan forum. I never had encountered so much negativity against the Prequel movies before and was suprised by it. Through the next 3 years (and beyond) I went on defending those movies and Lucas. What was obvious for me was that OT Generation fans were more aggressive against the new movies (and it's fans for that matter). I really fought with many older/adult users and didnt always play nice, just as they did. Reflecting this now I have to say that my doings and words were not ok all the time. But I was 15/16/17 and defended something I passionatly loved. Nowadays I'd act more civil for sure. On the other hand...there are always two persons in a fight.

I remember the time between Ep II and III to have some great stuff to pass the gap. They released amazing Clone Wars novels and Comics telling the story between the movies in almost real time. Hightlights were the The Battle of Jabiim, Cloak of Deception, Jedi Trials, Labyrinth of Evil, Obsession to name some. But the greatest thing for me was the Clone Wars Mini Series. I remember watching the first episode with my Hyperspace account and just loving it. My english was well enough developted so I could eveything and was so happy to have a weekly dose of new SW content. I think to this day that the way LFL filled the gap between Ep II and III during the production of the final movie was genius. I felt like I knew these characters inside out and developted an even deeper attachment to them. I really felt like I experienced the Clone Wars in those years with those characters so when Ep III came along I had so much backstory in my head and was so connected to the characters that Ep III felt really really like coming full circle.


Clone Wars 2003-2005

Beside the great in-universe media content LFL did a great job covering the production. Do you guys remember the VERY first pic of Anakin/Hayden we got through the webcam from Hyperspace? It was the one pic were he hold his finger up just like Vader did. I guess the scene was the cut scene from the Bluray were he talks like R2 . LFL provided us with regular webdocs which I watched multiple times just to catch as many details as possible. They released Behind the Scenes pics with their "Before the Helmet" Series, showed Sets with the "Knoll Vision" Series and many more I cant recall. It made it easier and harder at the same time to wait for the movie. I was cautious to not spoil myself with leaks but of course I followed all and every official release from LFL online and with print media and so I knew LOTS of new Designs and new Aliens. The Trailers of course were must watch releases and I recall how a good friend of mine wrote me an SMS during my school day that the first teaser had been released and I headed home as quick as possible after school to watch it. The second trailer made me choke up really bad and I couldnt stand having to wait two more months.

2004 marked the first time I ever attended a convention. German Jedi-Con 2004 was the very ever event for me and I felt at home from the start. It was during easter of 2004 and I just had the time of my life. The best thing about the event was to meeting a guy I would call my best friend for the next 6 years. He was there with a good friend too and we met because had conctact through a forum before and he wanted to say hi. Though he lived like 400 kilometers away we manage to stay in contact, connect more and more and became best friends. To this day I cherrish this friendship and miss those times because I've never connected with anyone as much as with him (beside my girlfriend). He become like my big older brother (he is older then me) and lots of stuff I love and do nowadays I learned through him. Unfortunatly we parted somehow but we are still in contact and talk now and then.

As of 2005 was my final year at what in US would be High School of course I also dreaded May because tests and exams would be right around the corner. But still the anticipation was to big to let that cloud my mood for the film. When tickets went on sale in april for the premiere on May 18th 2005 I RUN RUN RUN for the theater and bought like 5 or 6 tickets (I dont remember how many friends went along) for preview screening. I finally HAD them! I was so happy and so excited. It was hard for me to concentrade on my studys for the final tests but somehow I made it through. I remember getting the novel some days earlier then the release of the movie and putting it into the shelf not daring to take it into my hand again. When the day finally had come I rewatched Episodes I and II the evening before and all episodes of the Clone Wars Mini Series again. I also played the first Battlefront obsessivly to distract me. Sitting inside the theater finally I was shaking...I was so nervous I could not stand the commercials. I need to say this again: this was and is the most ever anticipated movie for me. So when the crawl started I started to cry. I felt relief and happy and sad at the same time. Relief and Happiness of finally beeing able to watch this movie. Sad because the past 3 years of waiting, anticipating and following the production of the movie were amazing and so much fun. And it was to be the last SW movie ever (LOL). I cried many times through the movie and was speechless at the end. I could not stand up. I recall beeing just silent. To this day I dont remember how I got out of the cinema or how I got home. Just that when I was home I called my friend from Jedi-Con and we talked about the movie. I felt asleep feeling satisfyed and empty at the same time. The next days were strange. It felt like I had lost something. I know now it was the whole pressure and anticipation of the movie but I couldnt put my finger on it back then.

To this day the whole era of the prequels which I made through the ages of 12 to 18 I recall beeing amazing. I could not wish for anything more then to grow up with those movies. To me those movies are STAR WARS. I love them and cherrish them. Watching them makes me happy. To this day I never have waited so much for a movie like I did for Episode III. To me Lucas is a genius and I love him for what he gave me: a passion to enjoy and love.

 

This was when we saw for the first time Yoda fighting.

 

I haven't read the whole thread, it's getting late, but it's nice to see some love for the prequels. My anticipation for them was enormous and unlike some other people I was mostly satisfied. If I am completely honest, it was hurtful to me to see people cracking wise and talking trash on this one thing that I deeply loved, and up until the prequels nearly everyone loved. I just wanted to have a positive conversation about this thing, and most people my age (mid twenties at the time) went with the herd and not only said they didn't like it, they bought into all the toxic backlash. Being a person to whom Star Wars is insanely special this became really difficult for me to take. But I am glad people are softening up and more people are seeing the virtues in the prequel episodes. Oddly, some people are appreciating them more in the wake of the sequel trilogy. My thoughts on this pattern could be very complicated but it's late so I will just say thank you all for being here. Good night.

 

I have quite a bit of nostalgia for the PT. I had just graduated high school when TPM came out, and during the anticipation to the release of AOTC is when I grew into the hardcore fan I am now. I remember seeing that first red-tinted teaser poster for AOTC in the theaters. To this day it still brings back that feeling of anticipation I had then! The time between AOTC and ROTS was probably the most excitement and anticipation I had ever had for any movie-to this day! My excitement was so strong for ROTS that it was even what caused me to sign up as a user on this very website! Simply so I could speculate about Episode III on these very forums.

Probably my most stand out moment of shock and awe while watching all three in the theaters for the first time was seeing Yoda ignite his lightsaber and duel for the first time! GOOSEBUMPS! I haven't had an experience like that in theaters since that day...

Those were also very formative and memorable times in my life as well-from the times of the releases of TPM - ROTS, saw my graduation from high school, several girlfriends, my family moving to different houses twice, ALL of my college years, graduating college, getting married, and getting a full-time job.

Man, those were the days. It was a great time to be a SW fan!

 

It also affects me deeply to see chinks in my beloved Star Wars armor. This shouldn’t be but it can be hard not to take someone else’s dislike of something you loved your whole life, personally. It happened during the prequel era (I was in my mid 20s) and more recently, with the TLJ backlash.

 

I believe the nostalgia for it is real. Been thinking back to those days. Cutting class to grab the ROTS Slurpee cups. I'm looking at it right now. It sits proudly on a shelf in my room.

 

That line was fantastic. It reflected the fact that just about EVERYONE, not "fans" or only obsessed people were champing at the bit to get to see this first new Star Wars movie in sixteen years. It was the running joke all over the place. I think there was an Onion article (since I beleive the Onion existed already--this kind of thing was very new on the internet) that said President Clinton really looked forward to the movie because "There's this part where a fish attacks them and it's really cool." The reason this joke could land was that nobody, nobody said they didn't care or weren't interested.

Sadly, for the next Austin Powers movie they said "If you see only one movie this summer, see Austin Powers. If you see two movies, see Austin Powers again." The callback to the joke was based on the highly publicized disappointment of some critics and fans. It was funny too but it made me a little sad.

 

THERE'S ROTS SLURPEE CUPS???

Well, now I wanna find one on Ebay

 

Buy. Buy more. Buy more now.

 

Yup. I have Anakin vs Obi-Wan fighting on Mustafar.

 

I always get nostalgic for the prequels. I was 24 when TPM came out and one of my fondest memories was getting up at 2am to stand in line for tickets the day they went on sale at the theater. It was at Texas Station in Vegas and the news crews came out to interview us for the local news. The Krispy Kreme donuts shop in the casino came outside and offered us free donuts and coffee. I loved the energy of being in the element of like minded people and everyone talking about what they hoped to see in the prequels. And I still thoroughly enjoy TPM to this day when I watch it, even though it's not my favorite.
I stood in line from the wee early hours for AOTC and ROTS as well, but they were at an actual movie theater so no treats for us. I only got to go to the midnight showing of ROTS because I had the good sense and asked for the night off when I didn't for the other two movies.

I love the prequels and always have. They are the beginning of the Skywalker Saga and they will always hold a special place in my heart.

 

TPM is pretty much the epitome of my SW nostalgia these days. Probably the best time I ever had as a SW fan.