Have the Star Wars Prequels Been Vindicated by History?

[Yukaphile]

Well, Lucas himself seemed to have the view Lucasfilm does today - he was overestimating the appeal of Star Wars, and thought people would check it out no matter what. Solo proves that is not the case. I think that was a united stand by fandom, Legends fans, new canon fans, original trilogy fans, prequel fans alike, to send a clear message: FIX THIS! Or else.

[Mecha82]

While I am what you would call fan of most of SW to me Solo's biggest issue was that it felt that it wasn't needed. Unlike some I like sequels and Rogue One but to me Solo didn't have any appeal. It would had been much better and cheaper if they have had Solo as novel for those that would had cared about that instead of making big budget movie that most didn't care about. Including some of us that it was targeted towards.

[Yukaphile]

It wasn't needed. Legends told the story better.

[ChiggyvonRichthofen]

The worldbuilding of the prequels and their overall contribution to the lore/mythology of Star Wars have stood up very well. In fact I think they put Disney's Star Wars to shame in that regard, so in a sense Lucas has been vindicated. I don't know if the prequels have been, or are being, reexamined as films. I think TPM and AotC especially have their problems, and time hasn't changed that.

What seems more likely to me is that people have simply become less angry/vitriolic about it. Some movies go down as long-lived classics that will be actively loved for generations to come. Very few films live on in memory because of a core audience that actively hate the movie. The flaws of cult classics eventually come to be accepted or even become part of their particular charm. Prequel memes are an example of that.

To put it more succinctly- the prequels still aren't great, but fans got over it and appreciate them now for their substantial contributions to the Star Wars universe.

[Karha of Honor]

Well, Lucas himself seemed to have the view Lucasfilm does today - he was overestimating the appeal of Star Wars, and thought people would check it out no matter what. Solo proves that is not the case. I think that was a united stand by fandom, Legends fans, new canon fans, original trilogy fans, prequel fans alike, to send a clear message: FIX THIS! Or else.

Lucas overestimated the appeal of the brand based on?

I think Disney was right about the appeal of the brand. The problerm was what they shat out.

[Makeshift Python]

I'm very interested in listening to those that actually grew up with the prequels after their theatrical run, as I was a child that grew up with the original trilogy on VHS many years after their theatrical run (I was born in 1987). The generation that grew up watching the first six films at home on DVD before TFA became their first theatrical experience. I imagine there were plenty of 12 year olds in 2015 who were as hyped as I was when I was 12 in 1999.

For many years we got to read plenty of the complaints 20-30 something year old fans had with the prequels when they came out. I think it's about damn time to hear out the generation that grew up with the prequels and how they feel about them. I'll feel the same about wanting to hear those who grew up with the sequel trilogy 20 years later. Those that didn't actually see them in theaters, but saw all in a bundle at home like how I watched the trilogy when I was 6 years old.

[Yukaphile]

Same age as me then.

[Draco Dracul]

I was only 8 when the prequels came out. I liked them at the time, but they haven't held up at all on rewatch and any good from them is dependent on ancillary material released after the fact.

[TheOneTrueJack]

For me sadly the sequels have just drawn into sharper relief everything that was wrong with the prequels.

[Yukaphile]

Wow.