"The Prequels Change Everything"

If you read Bantha Tracks, the online fan club newsletter, you may have already read that quote, given by reader and fan Chris Cassidy in this edition's "Top Ten." She was referring to how the stories and characters in the Star Wars prequels change how she views the characters in the entire saga. For example, her vote for her favorite character from A New Hope changed from Princess Leia Organa to Obi-Wan Kenobi.

I'm going to tell on Chris a little, because we have known each other for years. Not only did Obi-Wan surpass her beloved Leia, but before the prequels Chris had a hearty dislike for Obi-Wan. Or at least she found him less than honest. Now, she is totally, totally in the Obi-Wan camp.

Han Solo will always be my favorite Star Wars character of all time. I love those conflicted heros, who want to believe and act one way, but end up choosing another patch, because they can't ignore what they really believe. Plus, I love the way that blaster holster sits on his hips.

I have to admit, however, that the dashing Obi-Wan, even though not as conflicted as Solo, has moved waaaaaaaaayyyyyyy up on my list - now in second place behind Solo. Back during the original trilogy he was a wonderful supporting character for the Big Three, but now I see him as a major character with layers of purpose and conflict. And I don't mind a bit the way he drops his Jedi robe.

Yoda and Darth Vader are principle characters for me, too, layered with tragedy and far more meaning than they were pre-prequel.

So the prequels have changed everything for me and for many, and especially Revenge of the Sith, and Matt Stover's novelization. It would have been hard to imagine, several years ago, that the original trilogy could mean even more to me than it already did.