Worried about the Prequels legacy? Don't be. Look at the Indiana Jones Films

Around these forums people are often concerned that people will continue to think of these new Star Wars films as "less than" the ones that came before (the Classic Trilogy).

People who are worried about the legacy of the Prequels should relax and look no further than to the cousin of Star Wars--the Indiana Jones movies. In particular, "The Temple of Doom" and "The Last Crusade".

"Raiders of the Lost Ark" was, of course,an immense critical and box office success. However, critics routinely spat upon "The Temple of Doom" and many of them saw "The Last Crusade" as good, but not as good as "Raiders". Neither of the Indiana Jones sequels were the #1 box office draw during the year they were released. In 1984, "The Temple of Doom" was beat out by "Ghostbusters", and in 1989 "Batman" was the top draw over "The Last Crusade", much like "Spider-Man" was over "Attack of the Clones" in 2002.

Now, flashfoward to 2004. Which movies have the greater legacy? "Ghostbusters", "Batman", or "Indiana Jones"? Which movies are more beloved? Which movies were in the highest demand on DVD? Indiana Jones. This is how it will be with the Prequels.

What I am trying to say is this: At the end of 1999 it became cool for fanboys to hate "The Phantom Menace" and "The Matrix" was the new, ground breaking, sci fi darling. In 5 short years "The Matrix" has sputtered out and people are still salivating over the next installment of "Star Wars". The fact is that "Star Wars" is what it is. The Prequels will only gain in stature as time goes on. They will be necessary pieces to the puzzle. I am willing to bet that many people, who were/are kids when the Prequels came out, will like those "Star Wars" movies better than the Original Trilogy. That is because the Prequel Trilogy is THEIR "Star Wars". It is to them what the OT was to 20/30 somethings back when they were children and not so cynical.

****It should be noted that the criticisms that are being thrown upon the prequel trilogy are the same criticisms that were leveled at the original trilogy when they first were released. When they were 1st released, many older viewers dismissed the movies as being "for kids".Only in recent years has the Original Trilogy become regarded as a classic by anyone over 30 years old. That is because everyone who was a kid when the OT came out have grown up loving the OT and, in doing so, have made it a bonafide classic.****

 

interesting thoughts, jaimestarr.

however, i remember when i was a young lad that kids wanted to dress up as luke skywalker, han solo or darth vader. i don't recall too many kids dressing up as anakin, jar jar or count dooku.

Attack of the Clones isn't quite The Temple of Doom.

But, I'm sure there are many members in this forum that will agree with you assessment.

 

I have seen this since '99. It's like people forgot the classic trilogy had it's problems too.

 

I think that we, as a community, care too much about what other people think of these films and this saga. If George gives me six films that I will watch over and over and love to to pieces, then why should I care what other people think? I have a saga that I love and that is all should matter to me.




Mace Windy,
too windy for spoilers!

 

I'm not sure why anyone would care what the "legacy" of Star Wars will be down the road. If you like it, fine, but don't look for external validation to bolster your feelings.

You bring up some good points to consider, although I ultimately disagree with you. First, comparing Indiana Jones to SW is a bit unfair, since the former had the reputation of one (fairly recent) movie to live up to. The latter gestated in the minds of people for decades, to the point where it was almost unquestionbly considered the greatest series of all time. It started out with the largest movie success in history, both in audience reaction and in box office terms. Raiders and (more to the point) TPM did not.

Interesting that you brought up the Matrix, because I see parallels between the "legacies" of the two franchises. The general mood among people is that the first Matrix is a classic, while the sequels were...uh...not so good. The legacy of the sequels are primarily jokes Colonel Sanders playing the architect.


Similarly, I think the legacy will always be that the OT was better than the PT (rightly or wrongly, depending on your opinions on the recent films). The pervading mood of disappointment and mockery is what will linger, overshadowing the merits of TPM and AOTC. When I talk to people about SW, what I see are generally derisive jokes about Jar Jar and the "Roger Roger Robots", Count "Dookie" and the hokey love story. I suspect these opinions are too firmly entrenched in the public mind to shake, and will remain. Whether this is a direct reaction to the subpar quality of the prequels or an undeserved response to genuinely superior movies is still up for debate.

 

I understand the want to have the films with a positive legacy, which is probably why many members here often defend them.

 

The legacy is already there - George has captured the kids, just like he did in '77

 

"The legacy is already there - George has captured the kids, just like he did in '77"

He did for me. I was 12 when I saw TPM as a Star Wars "newbie". I hadn't seen any of the other films, but I knew that DV was Luke's father, etc.

TPM blew me away. I had no idea what I was entering into when I stepped into that theatre. I loved it, and of course I went and became a fan and saw all the other movies. I love them all, but TPM still holds a special place in my heart .

 

The future is bright - the future is flannel

Tomorrow belongs to George

 

The legacy will still be here. How many people will be talking about The Matrix in say twenty years after or Spider-Man with a great passion like SW. These films will stand time and be able to stand next to the OT proudly.

 

Although your points are valid, I don't think you can say Ghostbusters doesn't have a legacy, and one of the reasons it is less in demand than indiana jones on dvd is because that box set has only been released recently.

When I was a kid I wanted to be a ghostbuster, and I still do now!

That said all the films you mentioned are great and in the future it is the films themselves and not the cinema ratings that will decide thier legacy.

 

Of course the newer films will be able to stand next to the older films - after all, it's one big story

 

In 20 years nobody will even know that the difference between OT and PT. There will always be people who complain, so let them. They can't really make anyone not like the movies.

 

The Prequels will only gain in stature as time goes on. They will be necessary pieces to the puzzle. I am willing to bet that many people, who were/are kids when the Prequels came out, will like those "Star Wars" movies better than the Original Trilogy. That is because the Prequel Trilogy is THEIR "Star Wars". It is to them what the OT was to 20/30 somethings back when they were children and not so cynical.

Amen.

That is what I've been trying to say for a LONG TIME now. I know what I speak of, because I'm one of those next-gen fans.

I knew about SW for some time before the prequels, but it wasn't until TPM that I became a "fan". Qui-Gon easily became one of my favorite fictional characters ever. Darth Maul scared me. And seeing young Anakin being so sweet was simultaneously heartwarming and chilling.

GL... can't wait for Episode III.

 

<A HREF="http://www.runleiarun.com/adamghostbuster.jpg">I agree that Ghostbusters still has a legacy. But then I might be biased.</A>


Rick McCallum loves you!

 

I never thought of Indy along the same lines as the PT..made sense.
..I've been saying this for awhile too...The PT will live as long as the OT(and that's a reeeally long time) ..because when future generations of SW fans come along, they'll see SW as one six-part saga, and not OT and PT like we do.

I too am one of the next-gen fans who claim the PT as 'their' Star Wars. I wasn't exactly a SW newbie when TPM came out...I'd seen the OT countless times on video. But seeing TPM and especially AOTC in theatres were some of the best experiences of my life...Nothing will ever diminish that.

 

The Matrix has been just as influential for our generation as Star Wars was back in 77. I guaruntee The Matrix will have it's own legacy.

As for the prequels, I was also 12 when I saw TPM. When I got home from the theatres all I could think about was that frickin' awesome lightsaber fight I had just witnessed and tried to reenact it with my brothers. Of course, I was a Star Wars fan even before that so I liked all of them.

 

The prequel trilogy is a part of our mythological heritage steeped in motif's. It is of great value in adhearing to what it is that it will be essentially there of. Of course, in conjunction, and adjacent to the climactic overlay- I would have to say, yes. The prequels, in their undergoing, are symbolic in the relic sense of imaging the staple of visual conduction of the moters without hence. By depriving the ever donning essence withheld without departure of the closing agreeing argumentative diolog in question. It truly is what you really thought it aint to be. Therefor the structure catergory renamed by the hands of incompletion thus finality inquires the effect of seperating aotomic membrainial comradery of the affected area on a higher note.

 

It doesn't matter if its the OT or PT. STAR WARS movies are in a class all by themselves above anything else. In my opinion, they set the standard for what a sci-fi movie should be. Nothing else comes close.

Movies like the Terminator, Matrix, or even SpiderMan and Batman movies are great, but Star Wars movies are on a different level and reign supreme.

 

I think it's a good point to remember that the people who really brought the OT into the conciousness were the kids, not cynical 20-30 somethings. Thta's why I think the PT will have a great legacy. In 20 years, film critics will be back pedalling to say they really enjoyed the films (another reversal).

 

"however, i remember when i was a young lad that kids wanted to dress up as luke skywalker, han solo or darth vader. i don't recall too many kids dressing up as anakin, jar jar or count dooku."


Maybe you haven't seen kids at Halloween lately-

Darth Maul, Jango Fett, Jedi Knights w/ plastic lightsabers, and yes-even some little ones are Jar Jar.

 

Nice ghostbuster costume Adam, and I've also got to say I very much enjoyed reding about the chopped off hands, great stuff.

 

It's not just the kids who like to dress up at Halloween

 

How many people will be talking about The Matrix in say twenty years after or Spider-Man with a great passion like SW.

I don't know about the Matrix...but people have been talking about Spider-Man "with great passion" since 1963.

 

I'm not the least bit worried about the legacy the PT has with other people.