The magic just isn't there with the prequels. The storytelling is off, and they picked the wrong kids to play Anakin. I think it's pretty clear that Lucas captured lightning in a bottle the first time around.
In the first trilogy he had Harrison Ford and Alec Guinness to carry things, along with Carrie Fisher. Mark Hamill sucked, but not enough that the rest couldn't compensate
In Phantom Menace, you could tell that the storyline was originally done with a teenage Anakin in mind, but they cut/pasted the little kid in for marketing reasons
With a good teenage actor who could act, and a good director, the first movie would have been a lot better.
The romantic plotline of the Clones was just out the window. Anakin as a deranged, creepy stalker does not come across as the kind of person an older planetary executive would fall for
Not just Hayden Christisn. Natalie Portman's acting was not very impressive either.
I agree totally about the kids who played Mannikin.
THe little boy is dull and expressionless and looks NOTHING like Hadyn Christiansen, who would have been better as one of those live store window exhibits at Bloomingdale's. In fact, none of the three actors look remotely like each other!
I saw the screen test of the three boys that Lucas had to pick from and there was a much blonder boy who I thought could have done a better job, and was cuter besides.
As for Christiansen, all I can say is
WHHHHHYYYYYYYYY????????
The problem is more that people are viewing them through the lens of someone considerably older than when they saw the original triology and getting their first impressions through that prism. The Force isn't quite as mysterious to them, either, since you already know what that is.
"I think it's pretty clear that Lucas captured lightning in a bottle the first time around."
With help from the people who produced the film, edited it, etc., which may explain why he is apparently obsessed with expurgating that version of the film from public availability until he died.
His refusal to have a studio release of the original version of the films is only explained by ego rather than business sense, as there is clearly a large demand for it.
You're absolutely right. The first three worked so well because Lucas combined the fun of the old-time Saturday afternoon serial with an undercurrent of mythology. He also had a good story with characters you cared about. The special effects made the movie unique and fun, but the movie would've been forgotten if it hadn't had all of the other elements.
The first three movies are soooo much better than the second three, although "Revenge of the Sith" was a good effort.