In a recent interview with Empire, Christensen shared his thoughts on the Prequel Trilogy’s impact 19 years after the release of “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.” He believes this trilogy has aged well, and, thematically, I agree with him. Fascism is on the rise all over the globe, and, per the rhetoric of republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, is ready for its Executive Branch close-up. This is frightening stuff!
You know what’s not frightening? The scene where Anakin rolls up on a Padawan and fires up his lightsaber before Lucas cuts us out of the moment (at least he doesn’t use a wipe here). This is because Lucas, in his writing and management of tone, has inadequately prepared us for this remorseless bloodletting. Worse, Christensen has failed to register as more than a petulant emo brat. On one hand, that’s precisely what Anakin is. But the overall broadness of these movies doesn’t make this realization – that a bitter twentysomething could weaponize the government to make the galaxy suffer for his childhood trauma – as terrifying as it should be.
So what do you do when you can’t strike mortal fear into a little kid? You scare ’em the old-fashioned way.