We’re not sure if “butthurt” is a Jedi or Sith power of the Force, but Ewan McGregor is flexing that strength in a recent GQ Magazine interview. The men’s bougie fashion magazine holds the annual “GQ Heroes” event and invites entertainment notables for live fireside chats.
This year, Ewan McGregor was interviewed by GQ’s Deputy Global Editorial Director, Adam Baldawl. During the live face-to-face, Baldawl went straight for the jugular. And to his journalistic credit, we’re all talking about Obi-Wan’s comments today.
Essentially, a considerable amount of blame was hurled at the Star Wars prequels’ critics who expected the films to be more like the original trilogy.
Ewan McGregor Should Have Gone Jedi Mind Trick Here
Not wasting any time during this casual lovefest, Ewan McGregor dove headfirst into the deep end of prequel criticism with a Triple Lindy or something. In short, he wasn’t having it.
He began the discussion by sharing that “all [the cast of the prequels] heard was the critical side of things.” To his credit, the Star Wars fandom can get a skosh toxic when something is presented from the mind of George Lucas and looks like some drivel from the mind of Brittany Spears or Kayne West.
Never mind, the prequels made a collective haul of $2 billion, but Marvel has one movie that surpassed that total. That may be why the cosplay clan of Star Wars fans was hoping for more.
That led to Ewan McGregor’s interesting theory of butthurtedness:
“I think the critics just wanted to feel like they were seven or eight again, and they didn’t get that,” he posited. “So I was left with that [reaction] for years and years, and it took [until I started] meeting people, and I realized how important our films have been to them.”
Ewan McGregor, GQ Magazine, July 2022
The Phantom (Was a) Menace for Everyone
So, the critical acclaim of “meh” caused fans to about-face the geek utopia of Star Wars? I believe I have another idea on their behalf, which looks like this.
Jar Jar Binks was the eroding mist beneath the armpit sweat-stained wings of the Prequel Trilogy. Being on the inside, you may not know this, Ewan, but that Gungan dude killed two of the prequels.
Credit: Jonathan Fisher/Lucasfilm LTD./The Walt Disney Co.
Revenge of the Sith was greatness; we are honored to have seen it. Your Disney+ series, Obi-Wan Kenobi, received critical love and fan service overload. Maybe, some of those pre-pubescent critics were fans first?
We all expected something to knock us out. It was a 16-year labor of love to make those prequel films.
Of course, the expectation was through the roof, but dang. Those first two were fart-and-fall-down moments, except for Mace Windu, CGI Yoda, and the enigmatic Darth Maul.
The interview wasn’t all bad. Ewan McGregor gave George Lucas some much-needed love. Although the first two prequels were lackluster, to say the least, real recognizes real.
I admire George for having tried to do something different with them,” he said. “He didn’t just set out to make another three Star Wars films that felt like the original ones. I respected him for that. I think that’s ballsy and interesting.”
Ewan McGregor, GQ Magazine, July 2022
Yes, we agree. However, critics come and go, but the Jedi lasts forever. Lucas wasn’t on his A-Game for the prequel trilogy, but that’s being Ben. “I will do what I must,” right? Sad to know Ewan McGregor thought he should do what he must also. It wasn’t a good look with that interview, but we applaud your efforts.
Next time, just go full-Old School mode and wave those lovely fingers of yours if you want the critics and (most knucklehead) fans to agree with your point-of-view. We’ll wait.
How do you feel about the Star Wars prequels? Let us know in the comments below! And be sure to follow The Cinema Spot on Twitter (@TheCinemaSpot), Facebook (@TheCinemaSpotFB), and Instagram (@thecinemaspot_) for the latest coming from a galaxy far, far away!
Source: GQ Magazine
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