The Star Wars Prequels: Cult Classics?

For the longest time, it was agreed upon by virtually everyone in the Star Wars fandom that the "prequels" of the series (Episodes 1, 2, and 3) were the worst Star Wars had to offer. Yes, there are some relatively decent parts, and Revenge of the Sith isn't the worst movie of all time, but it was clear that these prequels did not measure up in terms of quality to the original trilogy, or "OT."

Critics, including myself, often cite the overuse of CGI (especially in Attack of the Clones), the absurdity of the writing, the blatant miscasting of some characters, and the all too familiar wooden, stiff acting from some of the series' stars. Popular YouTube channel RedLetterMedia has outlined the problems with these movies very well, albeit, in a bit of an awkward fashion, so I would recommend checking out his review when you have the time. He takes the time, especially in The Phantom Menace, to seriously articulate the absolute ridiculous decisions George Lucas frequently made over the course of the development of these films. Check that out here.

However, as time has passed, making the film's flaws even more apparent in the prequels (especially how poorly the CGI has aged), these monstrosities have developed somewhat of a cult following from a specific generation; zoomers (or Generation Z).

Being of the Millennial/Generation Z generations, I certainly have a nostalgic love for these movies, but I certainly recognize how terrible they are in terms of overall quality. The films are objectively bad, but that doesn't mean I can't watch them and reflect on my childhood. But, this movement is drawing increasingly more power amongst the Star Wars community.

For example, doing a simple Google search of "the star wars prequels," returns the top suggestion of "the star wars prequels are good."

After clicking on this suggestion, you'll find that there are entire subreddits, articles, threads, videos, and websites dedicated to various people (mostly Gen Z and Millennials) laying out their arguments as to why the prequels are actually good. These aren't just a counterargument anymore; they've become a mainstream opinion.

But why is this? Why are these clearly significantly flawed films being regarded as hidden masterpieces? In my opinion there are two reasons: nostalgia, and memes.

First off, I understand the nostalgia. I had a Phantom Menace VHS that I popped in all too frequently. I dressed up as Obi-Wan Kenobi for Halloween at least twice, and swung my canonicly correct lightsaber around with the Duel of Fates scene. I loved watching that movie, and I love looking back on those memories. This does not make the movie good. We can like different things, and we can enjoy a movie that other people don't like, but our nostalgic memories do not make the film any better. My Obi-Wan Kenobi costume does not negate the fact that 30% of the Phantom Menace scenes revolve around politics. My color-changing Anakin Skywalker lightsaber does not erase the ridiculous "so love has blinded you" mess of a sequence in Revenge of the Sith. Nostalgia may make a film enjoyable, but it does not make it good, as many of the Gen Z and Millennial commentators may suggest.

The second reason, in my opinion, is memes. One of the largest subreddits on the entire Reddit site is the of r/PrequelMemes. Through this subreddit, certain lines have been immortalized and are great for making relatable, funny memes. Lines such as "Hello there," "I am the Senate," and "Execute Order 66" are all good examples of this. Even the formerly most-subscribed YouTuber PewDiePie made a video about the subreddit. This, coupled with the nostalgia that Gen Z and Millennials have for the series, create an apparent formula for a rising love of the series.

I believe that it's these rose-colored glasses that create a fandom for these movies. From a critical perspective, we have to recognize that these movies are not the quality Star Wars fans deserve, and if we continue to fool ourselves into thinking so, the next films will be mirror images of these prequels. Be careful what you wish for.