5 Things The Star Wars Prequels Did Better Than The Force Awakens
That's not true! That's impossible!
Let's get one thing straight: The Force Awakens is monumentally superior in almost every way to the three Star Wars prequels written and directed by George Lucas.
Now that’s been covered, we can discuss some of the things that The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith actually did better than Episode VII of the Star Wars saga. Because it wasn't quite a whitewash for JJ Abrams' revival episode.
The Force Awakens, though lauded by critics and audiences alike, has had criticisms laid against it. For instance, some have suggested the film’s plot is too similar to that of A New Hope, whilst others have accused the character of Rey of being a ‘Mary Sue’. There is certainly some credence in these opinions, but generally, the seventh Star Wars instalment has rightfully been labelled as the film the fans both wanted and deserved back in 1999.
The Phantom Menace, on the other hand, is today seen as an iconic piece of terrible film-making and is remembered as one of the most disappointing films of all time. Whilst a large part of the hatred directed at all three of the Star Wars prequels is somewhat overdone, it is not unfair to say that they are comfortably bad films. Having said this, there are a ton of bright spots throughout the prequel trilogy, which can make for an enjoyable experience. These are often forgotten in favour of ridicule and fervent criticism.
Consequently, when comparing the prequel trilogy to the more recent The Force Awakens, it is not unusual to hear it suggested that the latter supersedes the former in every single way. This is simply not true. There are things that the prequel trilogy actually did better than The Force Awakens.
Five, specifically...
5. Creating A Visually Memorable Villain
Visually memorable villains are hard to come by. Hannibal Lector, The Joker and Darth Vader are three examples of villains who are instantly recognisable by their unique and iconic design. Darth Maul wouldn’t be out of place on this list.
Everybody remembers the moment from the trailer, when the demonic face of Maul is revealed, before he ignites his double-sided lightsabre. It’s a moment imprinted on the minds of even those who despise The Phantom Menace and everything it stands for.
Now, Kylo Ren is a good villain: he’s menacing, powerful and emotionally complex. He isn’t visually memorable, though. In fact, non-fanatics are more likely to mistake Kylo Ren for Darth Vader than recognise him in his own right. And who could blame them?
Clad in black robes and with a very familiar mask, Kylo Ren does look extremely like Darth Vader. Whilst this is almost certainly intentional, it means The Force Awakens lacks what both the original and prequel trilogies had; an instantly recognisable bad guy to fans and non-fans alike.
Some have suggested that Kylo Ren’s cross-guard lightsabre was an attempt to recreate the reaction to Maul’s. It failed. People were too busy arguing over the logistics of it to see it as 'cool'. Perhaps that’s a result of the internet, but it shows the difference between the overall response to the visual designs of Ren and Maul.
The former was muted; he looked good, but no different to any other of the numerous Star Wars villains. Maul, though, was something entirely alien, a true triumph in character design who became an, unfortunately brief, highlight of The Phantom Menace.