Cantina Cast has a debut entry from a new blogger. It’s a fairly short post but it shows that these movies touched and inspired a lot of people out there:
But then… 1999 came, and with it, the Phantom Menace. As a sixteen-year-old high school student, I attended an opening night showing with some buddies; it was my first experience seeing a Star Wars film in the theaters. It was phenomenal. When the doors opened and Darth Maul emerged, blasting the opening fanfare of “Duel of the Fates,” I got goosebumps. The entire, yes the ENTIRE, audience clapped and cheered when Obi-Wan managed to leap over Maul and cut him down. I had never witnessed such a spectacle at a movie before. The audience’s reaction solidified my love for this movie, as well as the cementing of Obi-Wan as my favorite character for the rest of my life. This ended up being the first film I saw in a theater multiple times.
Tags: Fans, fans who get it
starwarsprequelappreciationsociety.wordpress.com 
November 23, 2015 at 9:28 pm |
There aren’t many films made where a father gets the opportunity to take his son to see them too. Great article!
I loved it when the author said he had to go force-choke some prequel haters. LMAO!
November 24, 2015 at 12:29 am |
I was six, just a month shy of seven when The Phantom Menace came out. I was hardly a Star Wars fan and as far as I was concerned Star Wars were the old and boring movies made way before I was born. When we went to see The Phantom Menace I actually didn’t have a clue what movie we were going to see. I only realized we were watching Star Wars when the recognizable title crawl started. At first I was disappointed because I thought we were going to watch one of the older movies, but once the crawl ended I was actually surprised to find it was a new movie, with new characters and I loved it. Everything about the movie just looked fantastic. I thought the Jedi were cool, the droid march was epic, I could relate to Anakin(was him for Halloween) and I laughed at Jar Jars antics. What made it even better and solidified my love of the movie was all my friends were getting into fanfare. We talked about the characters and movies, bought and played with toys. We’d re-enact scenes which lead to some hilarity. Star Wars especially for kids isn’t just the movies, but enjoying a lot of the fanfare that surrounds them. While I’ve got some personal gripes about how TFA is shaping up I do hope it brings a whole new generation of fans to the franchise and they can have a hoot with their friends about it.
November 24, 2015 at 3:35 pm |
I couldn’t agree more about TFA – that it brings a whole new era of fans. I have high hopes for it, even though Lucas has no part in it. It’s still Star Wars and I think that’s great.
November 24, 2015 at 8:05 am |
I’ve never been afraid to state my love for the Prequels and I would regard being called a “Prequel Lover” as a badge of honour.
November 24, 2015 at 2:33 pm |
That is always the right way to be. Never be afraid to state how you feel about something. I myself am damn proud that I love the PT.
November 24, 2015 at 2:46 pm
I totally agree and also consider my love for the prequels a badge of honor that i wear proudly.
November 24, 2015 at 3:42 pm |
Reminds me of Hermione in Deathly Hallows: “Mudblood, and proud of it!”
November 24, 2015 at 12:06 pm |
It’s interesting to see that the PT-haters are sore winners as well as sore losers. Lately I’ve seen them complaining about the (slightly) more positive treatment that the prequels have been getting in (a few parts of) the media, or on (a few) message boards/sites. One actually had the nerve to say, “I think we who hate the PT have shown enormous restraint in the face of all this positivity toward movies that ruined SW!”
WHAAAAAAAAAAA—–? When have the haters EVER shown even the SLIGHTEST restraint? They’ve controlled the mothereffing microphone for almost two decades! They’re the ones that the media quotes and presents as representing all of SW fandom!
Also, in TFA, they’ve gotten what they want — Lucas away from SW, a new SW movie made by people intent on kissing their asses, 99% of the media and internet on their side, presenting them as the voice of SW fandom, probably record-breaking box office numbers and all kinds of major awards nominations for TFA, which will give them “gloat material” as well as “haha all over you, Lucas!” material for YEARS to come…
…and they’re still whining about PT fans having one or two places where they can voice their liking without fear of being set upon, yelled at, harassed, and bullied into silence. What do they care what PT fans say? As they’ve confidently, and repeatedly, declared, PT fans are in the minority, and they are in the majority. So what does it matter to them if we poor, deluded few speak our opinions? Can’t they just enjoy their victory instead of begrudging their opponents even the slightest solace?
November 24, 2015 at 2:52 pm |
The haters are wrong about us being a minority. Even though we’re not as mouthy as they are, prequel lovers outnumber the haters at least 2 to 1. We just don’t brag about a phony love of SW. We already know the WHOLE SAGA is loved all over the world.
November 24, 2015 at 6:19 pm |
The whole “majority of fans” arguments are really getting old. This seems to be the battle hymn of PT haters by large is the whole “the PT sucks and the majority of fans will agree with me”
Now to anyone that read that quote I just made and tell me if you have ever encountered that or even something similar to that on SW forums in the past? I bet my pension that most people here have. I know for myself that I love the SW universe. I don’t need anyone’s validation on that matter. It’s cool if people share my sentiment, but I don’t need it to validate my love for SW anymore than I do right now.
But this isn’t just restricted to the SW fandom this is a common occurrence throughout many fandoms in the “geek” world. The internet has become a safe haven for sheep/herd mentality. Individuals that like to use the safety of anonymity while telling others they are wrong for liking something they don’t and that the “majority” agrees with them.
I have in past debates put out the question of who exactly is this majority? Funny how I never get an answer. But I get some answers even though they have nothing to do with the question. Like,
Me: Who hates the PT?
Hater: The majority of fans do!
Me: Who is this majority?
Hater: People who like good filmmaking!
I know there has to be folks on here that has seen the “people who like good filmmaking” garbage brought into debates? I know I have seen this one many of times. Or how about the “you have no taste in cinema”?
What makes me laugh is how these haters immerse themselves in herd/sheep/follower mentality and take pride in it? Yet they will deny it up and down while still needing the opinions of the “majority” to validate their stance on the subject.
PT haters are certainly an unusual bunch. They can’t stand Lucas when he makes changes to his movies, but in turn they stand up and applaud every tom, dick and harry that makes a fan edit of the SW films. I have never watched any of the fan edits of any SW films. I love them just the way Lucas intended them to be. And maybe some of these fan edits are good? Maybe not? I don’t know nor do I care. I give no credit to someone that tries to rearrange someone else’s work. I do give credit to people that try to create their vision and are willing to go the distance to do it.
November 24, 2015 at 8:20 pm |
I’ve encountered the “majority” thing myself. I even had one guy tell me there was a consensus that most SW fans hated the prequels. I sure don’t remember being asked whether I liked the prequels or not! You’re right about never getting a straight answer from haters too. They’ll ALWAYS change the subject when you want to know who this made-up “majority” is.
Thinking about this feud that was created by haters reminds me of the light-hearted feud between Star Wars and Star Trek fans. The Trekkie feud isn’t really taken seriously by most fans, although I imagine there are a few who do take it to heart. However, the feud fueled by haters has become a real battle and I’m ashamed to admit it, but I’ve been dragged into some serious combat situations myself. I’m hoping the video we’re making for Mr. Lucas will blow the haters out of existence, but I doubt that will ever happen.
November 24, 2015 at 8:40 pm
Yeah I am always disgusted with the “majority” and even “consensus” arguments. I have also seen the “consensus” brought up. All that rambling these people do about what the majority of fans think, it really doesn’t add anything to their argument. I would say to haters that if this “majority” agrees with your opinion then show me some numbers to back up your argument? Of course no numbers are produced. Not that I was expecting any! lol
November 24, 2015 at 9:19 pm
What aggravates me even more is when i post something like… “Isn’t it about time to let go of your hate?” or “Talk about who’s the real whiner in this situation.” – they’ll always reply with a real nasty remark, attacking me personally. I mean enough is enough. It’s been over ten years since the prequels came out. When are they ever gonna quit?! Don’t bother to answer… I already know the answer… never! Lord, give me strength!
November 24, 2015 at 10:25 pm
Well I am pretty sure after all the hype wears off for this new film, they will bash that one too. Bashing movies is the “in” thing to do on the internet. They will pick apart the new films and they will bash them like they did with the PT. Nothing is sacred to the whiny fan boys on the internet.
November 25, 2015 at 11:12 am
I totally agree with you that the haters will bash TFA too. They don’t know when to keep their big mouths shut and they’d die if not able to complain.
November 25, 2015 at 1:07 pm
Yeah this new film is just more meat for the grinder for the haters in Hatersville. When all the internet arm chair directors get a hold of the film they will dissect it down to the bone and exploit any and every detail they can about it. And those details range from insignificant all the way through to legit criticisms. I have noticed over many years of how people that hate the PT seem to hate a lot more things than they actually enjoy. Some fans only like ANH and TESB and that is it. They can dislike/like whatever they choose, but I say that why even be part of a fandom that you seem to more material from it than you actually like? This is the kind of questions some of the people need to ask themselves. As we know there are people out there that gained popularity for bashing the PT! To me that wouldn’t be something to be proud of. But some of those people enjoy getting under the spotlight. Even if it is for poor reasons and a few minutes of recognition.
November 25, 2015 at 3:17 pm
You hit the nail on the head! That’s the main reason they shout so loud.. to have their 15 minutes of fame. Too bad the jerks don’t realize it’s bad publicity for them though.
November 24, 2015 at 8:29 pm |
TO ALL:
One of our group members posted her “thank you to Lucas” video on youtube under a private setting and used the email address I provided everyone in order attach their recordings in an email to me. However I use a different email address for my youtube account. If you plan to do the same thing – posting your video to youtube under a private setting – use this email address instead —-
susanbowes456@gmail.com
Thanks and Force be with you,
Sue Bowes (aka:Forcechild)
November 24, 2015 at 9:02 pm |
The level of art of the prequels, with the OTs, as a saga is not really conducive to that of arguing and bashing on-line. Nor is that of the OT films by themselves.
But the ground breaking pop culture phenonmenon of the OT’s history has that element to it, & it has been mega amplified. Star Wars has become swamped by this currently.
My guess is that overtime, the GL era of live action star wars films and the prequel sets in particular will be distant from this. Then the PT’s will become a more cultish version of the OTs before the special editions and then following Prequel live action cinematic release period & it’s home releases, revived Star Wars in a more tangible way.
While the prequels have some flaws ( mostly with the last acts/3rd parts of the films in the first two episodes to me in some editing story/tone mis-steps of different degress) there is soo much mastercraftship within, that they will always be a singular & Major cinematic delight of scope and form for their Genre.
November 25, 2015 at 2:20 pm |
Talking of ‘Badges of Honour’ as Jacobescio and susanbowes mentioned above, It occurred to me to make a badge to wear when I go to See TFA….what do you think of a badge saying ‘Simon Pegg doesn’t respect me’ ? when I mentioned this to my wife she said ‘make me one too’…and she’s a Star Trek fan!
November 25, 2015 at 3:09 pm |
Sounds good to me. (Y)