I think nobody needs my opinion on TROS, since you all know I don't like the Sequels (I really tried to though).
But I got a story to share:
My 13-year-old sister said she hates Star Wars. Well, yesterday she had a friend here for a sleepover and at 10 pm they suddenly came downstairs and wanted to watch the first Episode of Star Wars.
Her friend watched The Rise of Skywalker (Der Aufstieg Skywalkers is the German title) in theatre on Saturday and she LOVED it! So she animated my sister to watch the entire SAGA! Good Job JJ - you made two teen girls get into STAR WARS, one of which hated it before.
So my dad surrendered right away because he was tired and didn't want to explain the whole story to the girls. So it was all on me.
Where do I start? It was the first time I had to explain my favorite movies to two giggling girls.
Do I recommend them to watch The Phantom Menace or A New Hope first?
One thing was clear to me: They had to watch the movies themselves without me telling and explaining everything to them.
Show, don't tell, right?
If you don't like the Prequels, grab your popcorn and read on!
My sister's friend asked me a lot of questions before I could even start explaining. She asked me what the name of this golden droid is - mp3? I said it's C-3PO - took three times 'til she remembered that. I write this to let you know where I started at. She remembered Joey (Chewie) who is cute. And she told me that Yoda was Darth Vader and Palpatine are the bad guys. The Skywalkers are the good guys! Did I warn you of spoilers already? Well, here you go.
The character she remembers most is Rey. And she really likes Ben. She asked who Han Solo is.
Since she was so interested in Palpatine I let them watch TPM first. Maybe because I grew up with the Prequels myself. I know many fans out there absolutely hate the Prequels. It's interesting to see that so many people who grew up with the PT have issues with the Sequels now.
It's the gap of generations.
Since the two girls were busy giggling looking on their Smartphones they missed the opening crawl. They didn't understand a Thing so they started all over and I told them to pay Attention because it's worth it.
So while they were watching Episode I they kept asking when the Millenium Falcon finally appears.
I was busy hearing how they react to each sequence and it was an all new experience to me.
Here's the summary for your time's sake:
- they got confused with the political Situation at the beginning. Sadly, they don't know what a Blockade is or what the Seperatists are. (…)
- thought Obi-Wan was Anakin and didn't care so much about Qui-Gon
- they did not like Jar Jar Binks.
- asking when Anakin was coming
- Podrace was too Long, they got bored - back to the Smartphones
- confusion about the Queen and who she actually is - Padmé or the Queen?
- too much politics - I said you'll love Episode II then. They looked up what the Death Star was meanwhile
- told them that the Prequels tell the story about how Anakin is found, tained to become a Jedi and how he is seduced by Palpatine who gains the ultimate power through a perfidious game.
I said Palpatine Plays chess with the Republic and the Separatist. The board is a Democracy that doesn't work and the game is called The Clone Wars.
- more questions: Are the Stormtroopers (of the First Order) the Clones? Who are the Clones then? Who are the Jedi? What are the Sith? And why are they against each other?
- they really liked the romance between Anakin and Padmé, they wanted to see Anakin as an adult (attraction) since Anakin is too young for them in TPM
- as I'm writing this they're watching AOTC
- they liked Yoda in TPM but couldn't help themselved, but giggled all the way through
- Darth Maul was intimidating and my sister said Maul is the devil inside her constantly trying to make her break her diet. Interesting.
- at the end of the movie they said it was just obsolete - they wanted to see Anakin as an adult. To see Luke, Han, the Millenium Falcon and Joey...I mean Chewie.
I guess the average movie goer of STAR WARS has changed by now. Rey attracts girls, indeed! And romance.
-------------------------------------------------
My dad went to see TROS with a friend. And they liked it! My dad says it's a solid movie to watch. He liked it!
By now I was asked by two girls if I went to watch it with them. I passed.
Three of my friends saw it already and they all suggest me to give it a chance - it's good they say. It's nostalgic.
And my sister and her friend? The're watching AOTC right now and want to watch TROS together.
Well, I'm not taking them to the theater that's for sure.
Her firend said, TROS made sense and all.
And I asked one question: Would the Rise of Skywalker make sense if the Emperor wasn't part of it?
She said: Not so much.
Cheers!
