PT Share your "list" of nice things we got with the PT...

Since the late 90's star wars fandom overall has gotten to enjoy things which we could only DREAM about and LUST OVER the very idea of in the 80's. The Prequel trilogy has given us crucial, BASIC elements which were ALWAYS missing from the star wars universe in the old days which was what made everything in the OT so mysterious. Fans got things which we ALWAYS wanted to see.

We got to see the "bright center of the universe" as luke says he wishes he could see in the OT.

We got A TON of new badass monsters and fully emotive aliens.

We got to see an army of jedi knights fighting alongside each other as a group in an epic battle defending the old republic.

We finally got to see the fabled Clone Wars.

We got to see REAL jedi knights in their prime fighting in an age that was the prime OF the jedi. We finally got to know WHAT the jedi actually were and HOW they worked as an order.

We got to see breathtaking depictions of the Old Republic in an age when everything was polished and shiny and natural and beautiful with advanced sophisticated society's that actually age and become more war torn before the viewers eyes as one watches the movies in order bringing us up to the "lived in" galaxy we have in Episode 4.

We finally got to see what the Sith were and how their order worked. Not to mention so much as hearing the word "Sith" actually spoken for a change.

We finally got to see the absolutely legendary planet Coruscant.

We got to see the long fabled wookie planet with an ARMY of wookies fighting in the clone wars.

We got to see the fabled galactic senate filled with political intrigue, secret plots and corruption.

We got to see the origin of the Stormtroopers brilliantly and cleverly explained involving boba fett as being apart of that explanation like he always was as far back as 1979.

We got to see a REAL Mandalorian warrior in full action and as an integral, important part of the plot.

We got to see master yoda, the "great warrior" actually taking action battling against evil sith lords played with amazing charm by legendary actors like christopher lee and ian mcdiarmid.

We got to see the tragic and dramatic depiction of the mother of luke and leia as a strong willed queen fighting for democracy in a crumbling republic.

We FINALLY got to see the long anticipated epic duel between Ben Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader on a lava planet symbolic of hell EXACTLY as it was written over 30 years ago in the original back-story outline!

We actually got to go back to the homestead and see the origin of the skywalker family and why it is how it is in Episode 4.

We got to see exactly how and why the great jedi knights were betrayed and destroyed.

We got an amazing 3 film arc showing how a peaceful, beautiful democratic republic can turn into in evil, colorless dictatorship Empire.

We got to see the epic and dramatic story of how a good person and a hero turns into an evil person and the main villain of the entire piece.

All brought to life with a brand new ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL and breathtaking musical score by the legendary John Williams. As well as completely cutting edge, state of the art special effects techniques. Technologies that changed the movie business JUST as the old SW trilogy did! Techniques which have now become totally commonplace in every single super hero movie or summer action blockbuster that comes out today!

As fans we made wonderful memories getting to live through all of this. Going to the movie theater with our family/friends waving to the local news cameras and finding out that you might have actually been of the evening news over this! And ofcourse running home to anticipate the next installment (installments that were 30 YEARS in the making!)

It was perhaps the single greatest, most multi-generational fandom mania in american film HISTORY!

I for one, am NOT going to let misguided hipster trends and smug bashers let us forget these wonderful memory's.

Give a little list of some of YOUR favorite PT related things both in and outside the films. It can be also be pop culture related, nostalgia related or a even personal story you wish to share.

Okay...this could take a while:

The Phantom Menace
Qui-Gon Jinn
Padawan Obi-Wan
Their Master-Apprentice Relationship
The Padawan Braid
The word "padawan"
Naboo
Trade Federation Vessels -- excellent design choice, by the way
The Trade Federation
Droidekas
That scene of Qui-Gon cutting through the ship doors with his lightsaber
Obi-Wan's jokes
Darth Sidious' disguise
Intimidation of the Nemoidians
Queen Amidala
Padmé
Just to get it out of the way -- all of Padmé's costumes
Senator Palpatine
Panaka
Sio Bibble
The throne room
"I will not condone a course of action that will lead us to war"
The invasion music (really, all the music)
That shot of Padmé staring out the palace window
Jar Jar and the Gungans
The Gungan City -- Otoh Gunga
Symbiosis
Bongos
"There's always a bigger fish"
Theed
Handmaidens
Padmé making the decision to leave
Nubian Cruisers
R2 saving the day
Watto
Little Anakin -- "I'm a person and my name is Anakin!" along with "Are you an angel?"
Watto never calling Anakin by his name, only by "boy"
"What you think you're some kind of Jedi, waving your hand around like that?"
Qui-Gon's electric razor com
Sebulba
Qui-Gon and Anakin's relationship
Padmé and Anakin's relationship
Sebulba
Shmi
Shmi and Qui-Gon
Anakin showing Padmé C3PO
R2 telling him he's naked
Obi-Wan's concern for the Nubians
Jar Jar helping Shmi prepare dinner in the background
Coruscant
Darth Maul
"No one can kill a Jedi.", "I wish that were so."
Mom, you always say the biggest problem in the universe is that no one helps one another.
Padmé's rather childish -- "Well I don't approve."
Anakin crossing his arms when Watto makes fun of Qui-Gon
Qui-Gon and Shmi's conversation about Anakin and the shot composition
Podracers
Padmé helping Jar Jar
Anakin's dreams of seeing the stars
Midichlorians
Anakin's banner for the race
Darth Maul's ship
Qui-Gon's bet and his slight smirk
Anakin riding with Padmé
Kitster
Padmé's face when she hears that Anakin's never finished a race
The stadium
Anakin kissing his mom before the race
Qui-Gon's advice before the race
The podrace
Jar Jar's commentary
Qui-Gon comforting Shmi
Anakin's embarrassment over getting kissed by his mother
Anakin leaving his mother
Her words goodbye to him -- "But you can't stop the suns from setting"
Qui-Gon asking if Shmi will be alright
Anakin running back to his mother
Darth Maul's first duel against Qui-Gon
That shot of him retracting his lightsaber blade
Obi-Wan and Anakin's interactions and first meeting
Padmé comforting Anakin and him giving her the Japor snippet
The Arrival on Coruscant
Chancellor Valorum
PALPATINE, PALPATINE, PALPATINE, PALPATINE
Anakin looking to Qui-Gon for direction
The Queen's apartments
Palpatine's manipulaitons
The Jedi Temple
The Council Room
Mace Windu
Padmé's speech at the Senate -- I was not elected to watch my people suffer and die while you discuss this invasion in a committee.
Palpatine whispering in her ear
Valorum's tiredness and shock as she calls for the vote
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon's conversation at Sunset -- "I will do what I must" and Qui-Gon's hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder
Anakin's testing in front of the Jedi, him missing his mother, feeling cold
"Fear is the path to the Dark Side"
The Queen's fear for her people as she stares out the window
Padmé's conversation with Jar Jar
Palpatine's glee at being nominated -- "I will be Chancellor"
Qui-Gon's indignation at Anakin being refused training
The Chosen One prophecy
Obi-Wan's hurt
"Clouded this boy's future is."
Qui-Gon explaining midichlorians and bringing out symbiosis again
Him kneeling, so that he is on Anakin's level when he speaks to him
Jar Jar cheer to be going home
Obi-Wan's apology and Qui-Gon's praise
Padmé kneeling and requesting the Gungans' help
The looks Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon share when she reveals herself as Queen Amidala
"Wipe them out, all of them"
Padmé's plan
The fog from which the Gungans emerge
The Gungan shields
The Nubian fighters
Darth Maul's double-bladed lightsaber
Duel of the Fates (both the music and the battle)
The droid army activation
The close-ups of the duelists
The space battle
Padmé using her decoys to trap Nute Gunray
Qui-Gon slapping Darth Maul after he knocks Obi-Wan off the platform
Qui-Gon meditating as he and Maul are separated
Qui-Gon's death and Obi-Wan's anger
Obi-Wan versus Darth Maul -- some of the best fighting ever here
Jar Jar saying "I give up. I give up."
Anakin's accidental destruction of the control ship
Obi-Wan's defeat of Darth Maul and saying goodbye to Qui-Gon
Palpatine's joy at his election as Supreme Chancellor
Obi-Wan's stubbornness in carrying out Qui-Gon's last wish
Yoda's reservations
"Always two there are, no more, no less."
Qui-Gon's funeral
The final parade
Padmé and Anakin's smiles
Obi-Wan's look of concern
Using the Emperor's theme
The final Vader breath at the end of Anakin's theme once the credits are over

Note, this is only a partial list. I'll try to write something up for both AOTC and ROTS as well at some point.

We got epic battles between PT fanboys and OT fanatics!

Hayden Christensen. Also, just all those visuals people didn't get with the OT...Lucas' vision fulfilled, finally.
CLONES. These guys were great soldiers, as opposed to those clumsy, comedic stormtroopers.
Better lightsaber battles.

A lot more Ian!

Yoda duking it out with Dooku and Palpatine
Anakin as a child and just being a child
The birth of Darth Vader
The disfigured transformation of Palpatine and his lightning!
Anakin's reaction to the lightning (I love it!)
Padme and Anakin falling in love (awww)
The perfect wrap-up into A New Hope at the end of ROTS
A young C3P0
A young Obi
The seduction of Anakin over to The Dark Side

Count Dooku.
An interesting and diverse Jedi Council, in terms of race, species and gender.
MORE LIGHTSABERS.
Stuff blowing up.
Snarky younger Kenobi. ("Not to worry, we are still flying half a ship." and all the rest of his good lines.)
Naboo being just so pretty.
Costumes, costumes everywhere.
More aliens made with better technology and costumes, to make them look more real.
Kit frackin' Fisto.
Temuera as Jango and the clones.
Cute young Boba.
The spectacular tear-jerker that was Order 66 on screen.
Lots of new settings with awesome designs.
Reallly cool ships.

Your whole post is full of win, but I just wanted to highlight this one and say, "Good emoticon selection!" That's it, isn't it? The PT is nothing if not an epic mytho-political yarn where things are not only crashing and bashing, but brewing and simmering. "Wake up and smell the coffee!" could be a viewer's exhortation to the characters to get a clue; it may also be George Lucas' to the audience.

Well, I'm just going to take this and opportunity and make it a little less "partial" -- subjectively speaking.

Your list really brings home the bacon. I could picture the movie unfolding in my head as I read it. Can't resist adding to it.

"Turmoil has engulfed the Galactic Republic."
The red-hulled Radiant VII
"With all due respect, the ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor wish to board immediately..."
TC-14 at the Jedi's service
"I have a bad feeling about this..."
The wide shot of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon pacing to the window
"Be mindful of the living Force" -- as they regard Naboo, a planet rich in life, but through a membrane, from a distance
"Send the droid."
Darth Sidious in holographic form -- looks AWESOME in 3D
"I will make it legal!"
"Dioxis!"
*Seeing* the dioxis when the doors open: a chloro (yellow-green) cloud, much like chlorine gas
The Jedi emerging from said cloud
"Master, Destroyers!" -- even the Jedi get panicked by certain robots
"They have shield generators!" -- an early glimpse of better, more exotic technology
"They've gone up the ventilation shaft!" -- rather like the way THX escapes in THX-1138
The rippling viewscreen and Flash Gordon-y sound when Amidala first appears
The mental fronting between Amidala and the Neimoidians: seeds of war
"Battle droids!" / "It's an invasion army..." -- really sells the creepy, Machiavellian tone (this ain't your father's Star Wars)

The way Queen Amidala is sat
The way Queen Amidala barely moves when she speaks
"Negotiation? We've lost all communications!" (Sio Bibble: secret hip hop artist)
"This is a dangerous time, Your Highness..." (indeed, Panaka; indeed)

The TF troop carriers mowing down precious Naboo forest
The stampede of animals
Qui-Gon running over a patch of water
Jar Jar clinging to Qui-Gon
Jar Jar springing back to his feet
The crepuscular rays streaming through the trees
"The ability to speak does not make you intelligent"
"Stay down!"
Jar Jar's warm smile to Obi-Wan
"On second thought, not really, no" / "No???"
Jar Jar almost smacking Obi-Wan with his ear flap
Going underwater
The ethereal music as the Jedi swim behind Jar Jar to Otoh Gunga
Those porous city barriers and Obi-Wan's curious reaction to them
Bargaining with Boss Nass
"The speediest way tis goin' through ... de planet coorrrree!"
Jar Jar's disdain: "Better dead here than dead in da core!"
"Ooh, gooberfish!"
"Why were you banished, Jar Jar?"
The deep sea creatures: the opee sea killer, the colo claw fish, and the sando aqua monster
The music for the planet core sequence
"Mesa tinkin' dat wesa goin' back now!"

The Jedi sneaking with Jar Jar
The Jedi taking out those battle droids
"The negotiations never took place..."
"Senator Palpatine will need your help..."
"Where are you taking them?"
Chrome ship zooming out of the hangar
"Now, stay here, and keep out of trouble!"
"Hello, boyos!"
"Here, Master, Tatooine..."
"Not for a Sith!"
"We should not have made this bargain..."

"Whosa are yousa?"
"Be wary. I sense a disturbance in the Force."
Jedi poncho FTW!
"This sun is doin' murder to mesa skin!"
"Wait..."
"We'll try one of the smaller dealers..."
Ding! And Watto flying in
"Ah, yes! Nubian! We have lots of that!"
"Don't touch *anything*"
"Are you an angel?"
Jar Jar struggling with that pit droid
"Credits will do fine..."
"I'm sure another solution will present itself..."
"No! No again!"
The chuba that Jar Jar tries to eat, which gave rise to this: http://swmerchandise.wikia.com/wiki/Young_Jedi:Jar_Jar_Binks,_Gungan_Chuba_Thief
Jira and her pallies
Anakin accidentally glimpsing Qui-Gon's "laser sword"
"Sandstorms are very, very dangerous"
"I'm Qui-Gon Jinn"
"He's perfect!"

The way it cuts to Coruscant after Qui-Gon says, "Either way, we're running out of time..."
The whole dinner scene, but especially:
"How wude!" and Anakin's disapproving look as Jar Jar slurps his drink
"Perhaps I killed a Jedi and took it from him?"
"He can help you. He was *meant* to help you."
Closing on Qui-Gon's contemplative face
"I hope you didn't kill anyone I know for it..."
The way Qui-Gon paces and the way Anakin is watching Qui-Gon during the betting scene
Shmi's belt
Anakin's disbelieving friends
"It's working! It's working!" and Shmi's sad look
Darth Maul's binoculars
Watto raging at Qui-Gon
Qui-Gon's flirty "Good morning!"

The two-headed announcer
Anakin acknowledging the crowd
Jar Jar getting farted on
"He's fine"
The podracer engines starting up
Kitster shading his eyes and watching from the sidelines
Jabba beheading that frog to start the race
Watto laughing heartily at a stalled Anakin
The first-person views of the canyon features whizzing by
The tunnel and that poor alien meeting his doom, triggering a fiery backdraft
The Tuskens shooting at the podracers
"Ooh, there goes Ben Quadinaro's power coupling!"
"Go, Ani!"
The way Anakin coolly dodges that dying podracer which almost beheads him
The display screen and the sounds when Anakin regains power to both engines
Going offramp and Sebulba's crafty laugh as Anakin launches toward the heavens
Falling back to Earth Tatooine and breaking ahead of Sebulba with that awesome sound effect
Anakin and Sebulba tussling
Sebulba's pod biting the dust
Anakin's dirt-beard
"You have brought hope to those who have none" -- a HUMAN slave winning a podrace is a big deal in the GFFA

Qui-Gon and Watto's last scene and the Middle Eastern music
Qui-Gon lurking in shadow as mother and son share a personal moment
Anakin saying farewell to Threepio and Threepio's POV
"What does your heart tell you?"
Anakin's necklace
Anakin's backpack
"Don't look back..."
The classic Star Wars / Skywalker / Transition / Force Theme
Deleted scene with Jira
Cutting down an evil probe
Running to the ship
Darth Maul almost beheading Anakin with his bike
The way the camera pans back as Obi-Wan and Anakin emerge to check on Qui-Gon
"We shall be patient"
Theed Palace at night
How realistic the battle droids look
Nute Gunray's pimpin' chair
"Tek him awegh!"
Jar Jar snoozing
Padme bringing up the transmission
Anakin sadly saying to Padme he feels cold
Padme with the makeshift blanket (I know, you kinda mentioned this, but I wanted to include it)
The way the sadness of Anakin's face is wiped away by the reveal of Coruscant

Ric Olie tutoring Anakin
The music yet again
Palpatine simply waiting
Anakin looking at Padme, then later Qui-Gon, for reassurance
"It's an honour to finally meet you in person" -- O, RLY?
Jar Jar confiding in Anakin: "Da queen's a-bein' grossly nice mesa tinks"
Jar Jar and Anakin shut out of Palpatine's apartment then walking away
Palpatine wants to be "frank"
Queen Amidala framed within that metal circle thing
The eerie music for the first scene with the Jedi Council
"A vergence, you say?"
"We are sure her heart goes with you"
Palpatine pressing the button that starts the pod off
"The oppression of the Trade Federation" -- said in a flat yet insinuating tone
The way the camera circles Amidala as it captures her disbelief
"And now they will elect a new Chancellor..."
The way Mace is testing Anakin with that screen and us coming in and glimpsing the end of the test
"How feel you?"
Anakin's impertinence
The beautiful transition from twilight to night: the sun going down on Anakin's soul and the Republic
Jar Jar and the silver ornament (lots of chrome/silver and reflective surfaces in this movie)
"I hope not..." (Padme does rather "hope not", in general, doesn't she?)
Jar Jar's insight
Palpatine's surprise at Padme's sudden decision to return to Naboo
"I pray you will bring sanity and compassion back to the Senate"
"The Code forbids it"
"Our *own* counsel we will keep on who is ready!"
Qui-Gon stewing
Artoo's sad little sound at Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon's disagreement
Anakin not understanding Qui-Gon's explanation
"Come on, Artoo!"
The wipe back to Theed Palace at night again

Ric Olie tutoring Anakin again
"Mesa, Your Highness?"
"I foresee you will become a great Jedi Knight" (I just had to have this line)
The way even Jar Jar kneels to Nass
"Maybe wesa like bein' friends..."
Nute Gunray on Amidala's throne
Anakin running back to base camp over that green, green grass
Creating a diversion in the occupied street with red and blue laser pens
Anakin being quickly ushered inside the hangar
Padme's chrome pistol
Anakin taking refuge in the N-1 starfighter
The blast doors opening to reveal Maul
Obi-Wan's vaulting leap
Anakin blowing the droidekas away and then taking off into the clouds
"Roger, Bravo Leader"
Chaos in space
The lethalness of the tank blasts and how menacing the battle droids look in formation
The whole "War And Peace" vibe of the Gungan-droid battle
The power generator facility and its awesome columns of plasma energy
The laser gates
Over-the-shoulder shot of taking out battle droids in the throne room
"And now, Viceroy, we will discuss a new treaty..."
Obi-Wan hanging onto that red ruby light thing (like the red ruby studding Amidala's forehead in the opening scenes)
The missiles that Anakin fires into the reactor -- more plasma energy from your favourite Sci-Fi Renaissance planet, Naboo!
"Now, *this* is podracing!"
Maul intimidating Obi-Wan with the sparks
Qui-Gon wiping away Obi-Wan's tear
The big red-hulled shuttle touching down
"We shall watch your career with great interest"
Mysterious room on Naboo serving as temporary Jedi HQ (sorta)
The sadness of Jar Jar at Qui-Gon's funeral
Padme/Amidala in her exquisite parade dress, handing Nass the Globe of Peace
Nass bellowing "Peace!"
The big group shot with Palpatine smiling to himself
IRIS OUT
Anakin's Theme

Duel of the Fates, Destroyer Droids, Qui-Gon Jinn, Coruscant, Podracing, Execution Arena, Double-sided lightsaber, Darth Maul, Jedi Interceptors (Episode 3 ships), return of the Tusken Raiders (Episode 1), The Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise, Super Battle Droids, Seismic charges, Clones assembled (end of Episode 2), Droid Invasion theme, Love Across the Stars, Love Pledge and the Arena, This Party's over, return of R2-D2 and C-3PO, Kamino, Utapau, Mustafar

Cryogenic- - "Your whole post is full of win, but I just wanted to highlight this one and say, "Good emoticon selection!" That's it, isn't it? The PT is nothing if not an epic mytho-political yarn where things are not only crashing and bashing, but brewing and simmering. "Wake up and smell the coffee!" could be a viewer's exhortation to the characters to get a clue; it may also be George Lucas' to the audience."

Thank you so much Cryo! I have always thought that your posts are among the best on SW I see. And I agree 100% about Lucas lining the whole 6 film story with "Wake up and smell the coffee!'

I think too many people don't know or realize that Lucas was a real actual hippy in the 60's and 70's. He was a big History, sociology and film major in college and when he met Coppola he basically was a beatnik type, hanging out in the Sanfrancisco movie clubs and stuff and if you just put 2 and 2 together you can see it all over SW. Just as "The Godfather" is actually a metaphor for the evils of capitalism so is Star Wars in a lot of ways.

The cantina scene in ANH is one gigantic example (beatnik clubs) and all the political overtones would be another and so on. It runs through all 6 films but is very sophisticated and prominent in the PT. This may sound funny but In all seriousness I think I know what deep down what those aliens with the hookahs in the cantina are smoking

To this day Lucas is one of the biggest, most liberal philanthropists in this country. He directs all of LFL to keeping SW synonymous with charity and such. He signed a pledge to donate at least HALF of all his money to charity. Thats why I never feel bad about buying something SW because I know the moneys going in a good place. Its going towards all the things I agree with and like to enjoy.

I just thought of Two more:

1.) That moment when you found out/realized that Nute Gunray is named after a cross between Newt Gingrich and Ronald Reagan.

2.) That moment when you realized that when beggar's canyon is shown in the podrace during TPM they made it look exactly like the death star trench as a nod to luke's famous quote "Its just like beggar's canyon back home..."

...and so many people don't ever even realize it.

Well, thank you!

That is all true, I think.

But Lucas also has many conservative impulses, and his art shows this side of him, too.

Not everything about the counter-culture movement of the 1960s was positive -- far from it. And I think Lucas is far too intelligent a man to fail to recognize inherent weaknesses and limitations in all social systems, all revolutions and creeds.

I do also think that Lucas is pretty anti-smoking. I've also read a few accounts that essentially paint him as rather hostile to drug-taking and people living it up too freely -- at least, on his own premises.

Every person craves some degree of serenity and order -- and they will exude their own bigotries and act on their own disgusts when that personal craving, or the vision itself, is threatened. Human nature, I'm afraid.

What is Anakin's journey to the Dark Side if not a paean for the turbulence within us, and the way we all have things that animate us to behave in less than noble ways at times?

Yes. On the whole, I'd say that Lucas is a pretty left-leaning guy. He certainly hasn't been shy about associating himself with the left, in any case.

And that's a good point where SW merchandise is concerned. Some of that money is going elsewhere, so we shouldn't feel too guilty, I guess, about indulging our hobby, now and then.

Badda bing, badda boom!

I'll add to that -- somewhat tongue-in-cheek:

3) That moment you discovered George Lucas had ripped off "Dinotopia" and probably made a guilt-ridden phone call to Dinotopia creator James Gurney, brokering an under-the-table deal, the day after TPM was released in 1999 (presumably, in North American cinemas, that is): http://www.echostation.com/interview/gurney.htm

4) That moment you realized Lucas probably also took some inspiration from David Lynch's adaptation of Frank Herbert's "Dune" (a big influence on Star Wars) when he put the Gungan shield concept into the epic droid battle. In Lynch's film, two characters -- the main protagonist, Paul Atreides, played by Kyle MacLachlan, and a teacher of his, Gurney Halleck, played by Patrick Stewart (pre-ST:TNG fame) -- get into a sparring match, using personal shield generators that isolate them from heavy blows. However, Stewart's character gets the upperhand on Paul Atreides, advising him to "look down", where he holds a knife flush to his body, telling him, in one of the film's most famous lines, "the slow blade penetrates the shield". In the droid battle, high-velocity tank shots explode harmlessly against the shield, but slow-moving battle droids are able to walk through, leading to the shield generator's eventual destruction, forcing a Gungan retreat.

Good to see you back Cryo!

Ultimately with everyone listing so much I will keep mine simple.

The prequels brought stability and control to the star wars universe. They let the audience know what the Jedi Order was like, and how the empire came to be.

Through this, people could build greatly onto the existing work and add more to the star wars lore.

The wonder of Star Wars is that it is a never ending story. The universe grows every year. The prequels revitalized and hammered down concepts that would be expanded upon.

Watching the originals on their own. Its classic, but watching the saga in its whole. You feel like there really is an expansive universe to step into.

So, I tip my hat to GL for bringing star wars more life.

Palpatine.

A character whom I once dismissed as a Margaret Hamilton-knockoff emerged, with the PT, as one of the most multi-faceted antagonists in genre film. Urbane and wizened yet unfathomably monstrous when unmasked, the Supreme Chancellor could be a stand-in for nearly any politician (the higher-ranking, the better).

And those who complain about his manic personality shift in the second half of ROTS are clearly missing Lucas's point: the Palpatines of the world really are half-formed grotesqueries.

Thank you, BF!

I might not post as much as I used to, however.

This new software/design has really knocked the wind out of my sails. It doesn't feel like TFN anymore.

That... and I might also be getting bored. Too many discussions, it seems, are about exactly the same thing, whether they start out that way or degenerate into typical pro-PT/anti-PT cant. Fun in short bursts, but dispiriting long-term.

Y'know, I've been here seven years, so while this may sound arrogant, I've pretty much seen it all. These days, I am starting to get the feel that all I'm contributing to is an empty morass -- a deadening effect reinforced by the (current) loss of post data owed to a flawed transition process from the old board to this new one.

The urge took hold of me a bit, so I was happy to break my embargo and post in this thread (my first contribution to the new board), but I'm not feeling it now. Transitory thing. I might re-emerge next year with a blog or a book or something. Continuing to post to message boards (this isn't the only place I do my yapping) has started to feel absolutely pointless and a complete waste of my time. But thanks.

Well if people start leaving the whole thing falls apart and then it really wont be TFN anymore. They are going to be updating it slowly but surly as they always have. Im more than sure we are going to get all our banners and old stuff back as the weeks go on. And thats on top of all the new features we already just got which makes it an all around improvement. Keep in mind it has only even been a few days since the site came back. As someone who loves this site I would hate to see good posters like you be lost.

Your enthusiasm is genuinely encouraging, obi-rob. I might just be in a blue mood or something.

But I am kinda ticked about the whole transition. Especially not having all those posts intact.

There was a terrific thread about the RLM AOTC review which had some real life to it before the move; but now -- right now, at least -- it's dead in the water.

I consider that fact and I sarcastically think, "Good job!" I'm turning into Obi-Wan, aren't I? I dunno. I guess the posts will be restored eventually, the look of the forums may be tweaked and adjusted more along the lines of the old look, and the same people may resume posting in the thread I mentioned. That would brighten my mood and make me feel things were finally picking up where they left off.

Not for the moment, however.

And again, I may be tiring of message boards. I'd hate to say it's all been said, because there is always more one could say, but it's starting to feel useless. At the end of the day, this is a hobby. If you're not having fun with something, or serious doubts are entering your mind, it may be time to quit and find something better to do.

Just some personal thoughts.

I don't really consider discussing things you like with other people who share the same passion to be pointless. But I suppose if one has been on the same site for seven years they may feel like moving on?

I do definitely agree about Palpatine. The PT really made him into a charismatic villain. What was already good in ROTJ as been amplified to great heights in ROTS.

Well, that can also be like talking in an echo chamber.

Albert Einstein: "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving."

One of the great contributions of the PT, absolutely.

A nice thing that's often overlooked are the "Making Of", "Art Of", "Incredible Cross-Section" books, et al.

There's a lot of high-quality behind-the-scenes material available for the prequels, including all the DVD/Blu-ray material. I hasten to add that I don't have a Blu-ray player yet, but the DVDs could have won awards for their top-drawer presentation of bonus material. Just cast your mind back to TPM's documentary: "The Beginning". That documentary alone must have one of the most astounding behind-the-scenes bits ever: Lucas watching silent podrace footage in a darkened auditorium for the first time. Said before and will say again: it's like Edison and the lightbulb. Appropriate, I think, that a lightbulb is the key design element in the logo for ILM.

Half the fun of the movies, near enough, is discovering how they were put together, and the various personalities that came together and brought them into being. Sometimes, with all my "Lucas" this and "Lucas" that patina, I might inadvertently cloud over the contributions of others. It was a big effort to put these films together from multiple parties, and you only begin to appreciate that when you start rooting around behind the curtain, as it were. But again, as I think my "Edison" example proves, these are Lucas' babies first and foremost, so it's all the more incredible to think that all these minds and bodies were ultimately working to express the vision of a single person.

I guess that also forms a sublimated motive for my current avatar: Ahmed Best resting on a bar with his Jar Jar arms, wearing the suit, with some plywood platform and bluescreen behind him. It's good to get at the creative impulses and mundane esoterica that lie behind the movies. That heterogeneous pool of resources and how those resources were shaped accordingly are just cool to examine and to think about. And without wishing to dehumanize, I will also repeat and add back in, personalities. It is, after all, people that make and perceive art, and the prequels were graced with some talented and interesting people, indeed.

Well I didn't mean talking with people who share the passion to be talking to yes-men. Everyone here has varying opinions about the films, its not clean-cut.

I just feel its much healthier to discuss things with a mostly positive community who shares the passion, rather than a faceless, negative community such as IMDB....

The Red Letter Media reviews

How did you know I post there? I'm promiscuous -- er, prolific -- aren't I? Well, maybe you didn't, but I do!

Yes, it's generally healthier to be amongst positive peeps, not negative ones. At times, though, it's fun to clash with idiots. I mean, people who don't share my opinion. Where the HELL has that whistling emoticon gone?

Both communities -- TFN and IMDb -- are pretty faceless, though. The anonymity of the Internet is a large part of the draw for people; they can be full of bluster and not really held accountable. TFN does at least offer some degree of moderation over its contents, though: and, relievedly, open, transparent moderation (that side of IMDb is very faceless, indeed -- yes, for all the daily inanity of IMDb, you WILL see active threads disappear, and your own posts deleted, from time to time, but with no warning or explanation whatsoever; and that's to say nothing of the automatic deletion of old threads, which is the NORM at IMDb).

I like variety of opinion, sure. But, like the "echo chamber" effect of everyone having the same or almost the same opinion, it can sometimes lead to a lot of generic back and forth, along with baiting and sniping. It's all a question of balance.

Well from what little I have seen from IMDB, i know to steer clear of it. Browsing the phantom menace board first page has a topic that "cryogenic" created. I assumed it was you.

I also saw something titled "urgent read" and it contained nonsense about High school shootings. I don't post on IMDB, but when I occasionally visit I find many reasons not to come back.

It also obvious that it was you cryo, due to the thought provoking and extreme in-depth analysis! a

But going back to the list of nice things we got from the PT, i would have to say that it brought star wars to a new generation.

I would hope each decade there is some form of star wars that reaches people. It truly is a magnificent take on epic myths.

also, it inspired ME! I consider that a nice thing ;D

Thank ye.

Rank stupidity -- including, but not limited to, flagrant bigotry -- is also the norm at IMDb.

I don't know if you know the name, but a guy called Pendulous_Dewlap used to post here. Turns out, recently, he was also posting at IMDb, under the name d-rilla-705-585040. He enjoys bashing and saying extreme things; though, for the record, he seems an alright chap, to me. Anyway, his posts recently got deleted in one fell swoop, but that other guy you've mentioned -- rotf22 -- has said the most extreme things and the kill switch hasn't been flipped on him. I think that says something about how batty IMDb is. And it's merely one trifling example.

I've tried to do what I can at the TPM board, primarily. Inject it with the occasional new and interesting thread (if I do say so myself!). And add what I can to lots of pre-existing theads, crossing swords with, it seems, dozens of people in the past few months alone. It becomes a grind, however. It's the same discussions, over and over, the same remarks, even the same people. And the amount of willful ignorance from those inclined to bash the prequel movies on IMDb gets to be pretty staggering. My words are either completely ignored or distorted all the time. It's a pretty smug and hostile place. I'll probably be jacking it in soon.

Ah, yes. You may enjoy the following website:

http://www.moongadget.com/origins/index.html

Almost forgot. The Clone Wars tv show.

We wouldn't have a weekly Star Wars television show that a whole new generation of kids (and fans in general) love without the first half of the Saga.

Also:

Celebration 6 and all the other SW celebrations since 99.

And something else everyone takes for granted:

Force lightning. Yes. Force Lightning. Before in the old days (and even after TPM came out) nobody knew or even thought that Force lightning was something that any sith could just do. In the old days it was just some bizarre, shocking thing that the emperor did at the last minute of ROTJ.

It wasn't until AOTC when we saw Darth Tyranus do it and (unless you knew some spoilers before watching the film) it was every bit as shocking as when palpatine did it in ROTJ.