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When Did Star Wars Jump the Shark?

Posted by Zonk on from the meesa-think-it-was-jar-jar dept.

stm2 writes "As a long time fan of the stories, I watched as Star Wars transformed from one of the better sci-fi stories told to 'Whedon is my master now.' An article at the TechRepublic blog explores the weakness of the sequel trilogy and states that the Midi-chlorians are the culprit. Was it the Midi-chlorians, Jar Jar Binks, the actors? When did Star Wars jump the shark?. A bonus question: Did George Lucas redeem himself in Episode III?"

3 of 640 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I'll let Vader answer this one. by empaler · · Score: 4, Informative

    For the mods: DO NOT WANT!!!
    (Google Cache of http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/index.php/DO_NOT_WANT)

  2. Re: Casting Disasters by TaoPhoenix · · Score: 5, Informative

    I thought casting Hayden Christensen is on this list. The original Vader was played by a fellow who was nearly 6' 7" / 250lbs and a former champion-contender level bodybuilder who has remained committed to his work ever since. The voice was provided by the most iconic voice actor of the last century.

    His replacement is about 6' 1" / 190lbs, needed a special effects suit to fake the transformation, and at one point decided "Hollywood no longer interested him" after being handed the role of the decade over some 400 other applicants. (Though IMDB reports he's been involved in a few things since.)

    http://www.askmen.com/gossip/hayden-christensen/hayden-christensen-to-quit-acting.html

    --
    My first Journal Entry ever, in 8 years! http://slashdot.org/journal/365947/aphelion-scifi-fantasy-horror-poetry-webzine
  3. Re:In Jedi by Tawnos · · Score: 4, Informative

    I was always under the impression that the midichlorians were just used to tell who had the powers, because people with high force ability attracted them. At least, that was the impression I came away from Episode 1 with. Of course, then I had to go look up the script and find out just how bad it really was:

                          ANAKIN
      Master, sir... I've been wondering...
      what are midi-chlorians?

                      QUI-GON
      Midi-chlorians are a microcopic
      lifeform that reside within all living
      cells and communicates with the Force.

                      ANAKIN
      They live inside of me?

                      QUI-GON
      In your cells. We are symbionts with
      the midi-chlorians.

                      ANAKIN
      Symbionts?

                      QUI-GON
      Life forms living together for mutual
      advantage. Without the midi-chlorians,
      life could not exist, and we would
      have no knowledge of the Force. They
      continually speak to you, telling
      you the will of the Force.

                      ANAKIN
      They do??

                      QUI-GON
      When you learn to quiet your mind,
      you will hear them speaking to you.

    Oh well, so much for something being an indicator instead of a cause. Yeah, midichlorians were definitely the jump the shark moment.