Mmkay I am usually a bit more patient with posts like this (inflammatory, insulting, and not well-thought-out) but today I’m in a crappy mood for various reasons, so I’m going to just shoot from the hip. Don’t take it personally—we all have shitty days and maybe you’re having one which is why you’ve made an ass of yourself here. I know I do this to myself more than I care to admit.

First of all, nothing that is a matter of opinion can be “objectively” true. So basically what I said is—you saying that the prequels are “objectively trash” is nonsensical. As a matter of opinion, this cannot be “objective,” since all opinions—even that that lovely girl in your school who everyone agreed was beautiful—are subjective. In parts of Southern Africa, if they say to you “You are fat!” and mean, by that, that your body is corpulent, you have to realize that they are, in fact, paying you a compliment, for various historical reasons. So you should rejoice to hear it. I use this factoid to illustrate that not all is what it seems, and our opinions can vary wildly over not only the same point, but even when we agree about something (a person’s fatness) our attitudes toward this can vary wildly. Because: It’s just opinion.

Secondly, you argue that “everybody agrees” that the prequels suck. That this doesn’t alter or refute my argument that this is “just your opinion, man” aside, let’s look at some objective numbers, shall we?

The first installment, “The Phantom Menace” grossed over 430 million US dollars domestically. That’s not peanuts, in case you’re wondering. This was on a budget of 115 million. Meaning in the US alone it made back its investment more than threefold. It also means that film is ranked 6 out of all films of all time in domestic gross. Adjusted for inflation that changes to 17th. Still not bad. Considering this film is often reviled as the worst of the prequels, it did better than either of the others in terms of box office. You could argue that is because people didn’t know what to expect, but still that number accounts for many repeat viewings. Consider—the 3D version, released years later after all the prequels had already come out, still made over 40 million..

“The Phantom Menace” was also nominated for 3 Academy Awards.

The second film, “Attack of the Clones” made over 300 million. and is ranked 45th in all-time domestic gross.

You see where I’m going with this. “Revenge of the Sith” made 380 million domestically.

So by any yardstick of popularity these films did well at the box office. They made money. You can argue now, if you feel defensive, that the reason this is true is that the filmgoing public consists of a bunch of subliterate morons who just like to see pretty flashy colors on the screen. But now you’re saying you disagree with a great many people who paid money—in many many cases more than once—to see these films. And this doesn’t even take into account international gross, or home video, DVD, or blu-Ray sales.

Well, you say, none of that means anything. The films are still objectively bad. So let me ask you: What is your criteria for determining this? Reddit and the opinions espoused here by likeminds to yourself? It’s great to have folks that agree with you—makes you feel affirmed, really. Gives you the sense that you’re not out of touch with reality. And I’m not suggesting your opinion is bad or that you’re bad to have it. Different strokes for different folks. But your opinion is just an opinion.

If none of this is compelling to you or has somehow ruffled your feathers, consider Roger Ebert’s review of the “Phantom Menace” in May 1999:

If it were the first "Star Wars" movie, "The Phantom Menace" would be hailed as a visionary breakthrough. But this is the fourth movie of the famous series, and we think we know the territory; many of the early reviews have been blase, paying lip service to the visuals and wondering why the characters aren't better developed. How quickly do we grow accustomed to wonders. I am reminded of the Isaac Asimov story "Nightfall," about the planet where the stars were visible only once in a thousand years. So awesome was the sight that it drove men mad. We who can see the stars every night glance up casually at the cosmos and then quickly down again, searching for a Dairy Queen. Source

Don’t like Ebert’s reviews? That’s okay. You might enjoy perusing this site: Star Wars Ring Theory which goes into great detail about the series (all 6 film) and suggests Lucas gave much more thought into much more of the prequels than has been widely noticed. Have a look, see what you think.

Finally, even if none of this convinces you you’re wrong, watch a kid as he views the prequels. Not a cynical teenager, a kid, a little kid of, say six or eight (I was eight when I saw the original film, and it marked me for life). Look at the child’s eyes when he first sees Qui Gon and ObiWan with their lightsabers fighting the Droidekas. Hear him laugh in glee at Jar Jar’s antics. Then you’ll feel, well, maybe your cynicism and jaded attitude toward the prequels is still right, but you’ll at least feel like the torch is being passed, that kids are still enjoying this series even if you no longer can, that someone somewhere had a plan and a target audience, and maybe—who knows, I don’t know, but maybe—you’re no longer it.

And now I’m done. I spent far more time writing this up than I intended. Please go and enjoy movies you like and enjoy them to the fullest. I truly hope that you do.