Of course Mike Nelson and Kevin Murphy of Mystery Science Theater 3000 fame decided neither was all that great. Or at the very least there were a lot of things to riff on in both The Phantom Menace and The Fellowship Of The Ring.

I just read that they've done an MP3 "audio commentary" that can be synched up with the DVD of the first film in each of these popular trilogies that's very similar to their riffing on MST3K.

I think I'll fire that up alongside The Phantom Menace and serve some adult beverages the next time I have a party. heh

LOTR hands down, Star Wars has its moments but the plot feels a bit random and non sequencial, especially in Empire Strikes Back.

A New Hope 1. Empire 2. Jedi 3.

Two Towers 4. Return 5. Fellowship 6.

I prefer the Lucas trilogy; its more archtypical and plot based, more iconic, but I do love what Jackson did with 3 very unreadable books..

I found the books unreadable too. Tolkien describes everything in so much (largely irrelevant) detail that you find yourself thinking 'GET ON WITH IT!'.

As for these films - they're all a bit of a mixed bag aren't they?

I saw Star Wars on it's original theatrical release in the 70s (I was 5). It was incredible. The audience gasped, cheered and applauded. It got a standing ovation at the end. You don't see that in the cinema these days. It may have dated but as an influential, groundbreaking piece of cinema it should not be dismissed.

Empire was great also. Jedi...hmmm... I like the first half a lot. It sort of fizzles out after that.

The new Star Wars films just don't have a sense of fun. They're way too po-faced. The actors in the original films thought Star Wars would be a stinker, so they hammed it up a little - it works brilliantly because you can have the occasional laugh at how ridiculous it all is. Lucas was wise to keep that in. The new films feature one dimensional characters who are little more than cardboard cut outs. I cringed a lot.

As for 'Lord of the rings' - I thought the first one was a little disjointed with a dissapointing ending - although it was very polished in all other respects and we can blame Tolkien for the faults. The second one was hugely entertaining, as was the third.

In order of preference on how much I enjoyed these films I'd say -

Star Wars (I was 5 - give me a break!)
Empire Strikes Back
Two Towers
Return of the king
Return of the Jedi
Fellowship of the Ring
Phantom Menace (utter rubbish)
Attack of the Clones (ditto)
Revenge of the Sith (do I have to sit through another one?)

i dont know why people are so skeptical towards the prequels. i guess because they think that they can't possibly be better than the original trilogy.

and they werent

but that doesn't mean that they were terrible movies. The acting wasn't as good but where they excelled was in the special effects and action sequences. also the story was just as good too.

between LOTR and Star Wars I have to pick Star Wars because just the original trilogy alone beats LOTR

I've read LOTR, the Hobbit and The Silmarillion alot and they are my favourite books. Personally peter jackson's films are bad - to many cop outs particularly in the third movie, so the Movies were a big let down. Star Wars doesn't come with the baggage of pre knowledge. Have to say my children have fallen into Star wars over the last year (from 11 to 5) enthusastically and I watch it but the LOTR extended versions just bore me!

I’d have to say Star Wars is my favorite. Lord of the Rings was awesome, but overall, it’s themes and characters and storyline don’t grab me that much, and having said that, each film runs for like 3 hours, so it’s hard for me to get through the original versions let alone the extended versions, since it’s not as appealing to me as it may be to others.

From a critical point of view, the one thing I felt that Lord of the Rings massively lacked was a memorable score, even right now as I write this, I can’t remember the music from any of the scenes, however if I think of almost any Star Wars scene, particularly A New Hope, when Luke was standing on the hill looking at the two suns setting, the music from that scene instantly comes to mind, even the very first time I heard it, it had this epic feel which instantly made it classic, it still brings shivers to my spine when I hear it in my head.

‘Luke’s Theme’ is an awesome piece of music, whether it’s an opening, action, or dramatic scene, the score translates awesomely with massive emotional impact and easily trumps anything put out by Lord of the Rings musically, hands down. Let us also not forget ‘The Imperial March’.

I actually find The Phantom Menace to be my favorite of the new films, I understand how Jar Jar Binks can be annoying, but if you look past that, I think Darth Maul was the most vicious and aggressive of Sith apprentices out of all 6 films, and I like the way the set the story up from the absolute beginning with Obi-Wan as an apprentice to Qui-Gon. The battle between Obi-Wan and Darth Maul is probably the most intense and realistic light saber duel out of all 6 films.

My only criticism of the new Star Wars films is Yoda in Revenge of the Sith. Through out the entire 6 films, Yoda has been built up to be the most fabled Jedi of all, not to mention he is essentially the leader of the Jedi, yet, he just gives up after fighting Sidious, and decides to go into exile, which really ticked me off, for crying out loud, suck it up! Yes, the republic has just been overthrown and turned into a galactic empire by a Sith Lord, whom just killed the majority of the Jedi, oh FYI, Padme just gave birth to twins from one of the most naturally gifted Jedi ever born. What does Yoda do? He tells Obi-Wan to “watch over” Luke in Tatooine, and they give Leya to the first Senator that asks for her. No, no, don’t bother personally training the two of them from birth, or nurture their natural gifts and build them into potentially the most powerful Jedi duo ever, what could that possibly accomplish? No, send them away! So that one day, when the time is right, maybe one of them could come back only so you can tell them that they’re TOO OLD TO BEGIN THE TRAINING!!!

Obviously, they couldn’t be trained from birth because that wouldn’t coincide with the original films, I just wish they found a better reason for the children having to be split up without Yoda being aware of it, because it just made Yoda look like a total jack-ass who gives up too easily. But you could go on all day about these things...

Star Wars! The only thing worse than Star Wars nerds are Star Trek nerds, and the only thing worse than Star Trek nerds are LotR/D&D nerds.

quote:

Originally posted by Alchemy:
My only criticism of the new Star Wars films is Yoda in Revenge of the Sith. Through out the entire 6 films, Yoda has been built up to be the most fabled Jedi of all, not to mention he is essentially the leader of the Jedi, yet, he just gives up after fighting Sidious, and decides to go into exile, which really ticked me off, for crying out loud, suck it up! Yes, the republic has just been overthrown and turned into a galactic empire by a Sith Lord, whom just killed the majority of the Jedi, oh FYI, Padme just gave birth to twins from one of the most naturally gifted Jedi ever born. What does Yoda do? He tells Obi-Wan to “watch over” Luke in Tatooine, and they give Leya to the first Senator that asks for her. No, no, don’t bother personally training the two of them from birth, or nurture their natural gifts and build them into potentially the most powerful Jedi duo ever, what could that possibly accomplish? No, send them away! So that one day, when the time is right, maybe one of them could come back only so you can tell them that they’re TOO OLD TO BEGIN THE TRAINING!!!

Obviously, they couldn’t be trained from birth because that wouldn’t coincide with the original films, I just wish they found a better reason for the children having to be split up without Yoda being aware of it, because it just made Yoda look like a total jack-ass who gives up too easily. But you could go on all day about these things...

Yeah, at first glance, it seems kinda stupid, but if you really think about it, it makes sense. Yoda was utterly defeated by Sidious. He had lost his lightsaber and fell quite far to the floor of the Senate. He couldn't just hop back up and start fighting again, he was injured and unarmed. He didn't "give up too easily", he got his @ss handed to him! His only choice was to go into hiding because of the power Sidious now possessed. He'd lost all hope of the Jedi ever making a return. The original plan wasn't to train Luke and Leia to later come back and fight, but to hide them from the Emperor. It was Obi-Wan who decided that Luke could be the one to destroy Vader, but Luke was trapped on Tatooine because his uncle wouldn't let him go anywhere for fear that he'd end up like his father. Once Obi-Wan got him to Yoda, it really was too late and he wasn't sure if he should train Luke because of what his father had done. Remember, Anakin was deemed "too old" as well and he couldn't control his emotions because of this. Luke even shows the same desire to change the future that Anakin had! So, ya see? It makes sense... "from a certain point of view."

I guess if you wanted to enjoy the film you could look at it from that point of view But I’m too stubborn to enjoy something I love, no matter how ironic or futile it is, it’s far more logical for me to pick it apart, and criticize it, then actually enjoy it for what it is, HAH! Enjoy it for what it is? You’re crazy man...

quote:

Originally posted by Alchemy:
I guess if you wanted to enjoy the film you could look at it from that point of view But I’m too stubborn to enjoy something I love, no matter how ironic or futile it is, it’s far more logical for me to pick it apart, and criticize it, then actually enjoy it for what it is, HAH!

Whatever floats your boat, I suppose. My "Star Wars buddy" and I make all sorts of comments at the saga's expense, he actually spends most of "Episode I" talkin' trash on Qui-Gon Jinn! He truly hates him and believes Obi-Wan to be a much better Jedi than he ever was.

quote:

Originally posted by jediknightcub:
Of course Mike Nelson and Kevin Murphy of Mystery Science Theater 3000 fame decided neither was all that great. Or at the very least there were a lot of things to riff on in both The Phantom Menace and The Fellowship Of The Ring.

Typing of making fun of movies, I found the website that has the downloads for the very commentaries jediknightclub was typing about! You can download 'em over here!

You're welcome.

I completely disagree with Star Wars being better than Lord of The Rings. Perhaps Star Wars may have been great in the 70's and 80's but Lord of The Rings is epic. I'm not discrediting Star Wars for the simple fact that it is older than the Lord of The Rings movies, but in all defense Lord of The Rings was around far before Star Wars by at least 20 years. So Star Wars being the "Original Trilogy" is completely false, unless you are speaking of the movies.
I personally dislike Star Wars for the simple fact I really don't understand it. I try watching the first movie and it just describes what is going on in the movie. It gives me no history of how this happened it just thrusts me into space.
Lord of The Rings on the other hand is great because it fills me in on everything that has happened up to the point of the story. The characters come to life with their heritage and everything. It is just a great story. If you dislike Lord of The Rings may I suggest you read the books before you pass judgment upon it?

quote:

If you dislike Lord of The Rings may I suggest you read the books before you pass judgment upon it?

It really shouldn't be necessary to read a book to like a movie.

They have very different sets of aesthetics. The Lord of the Rings is very modern. Old clichés are charming. Modern clichés are annoying. Star Wars (IV,V,VI) is more fun than The Lord of the Rings, although The Lord of the Rings has great music and beautiful landscapes.
They're both fantasys, so the stories have a lot of similarities.