Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith
Lo, I have seen it. And it was tasty.
I caught a 12:01 AM showing of it (remind me never to do that again) and holy crap was it sweet. Even walking out of the theater I caught bits of conversations stating, "At least it was better than the first two..."
The film moves fast but never too fast that you feel lost. Some of the old problems are still there (Padme and Anakin talking about "love" made me feel embarrassed for the screen) but most have been fixed. The movie is also surprisingly funny. And not funny in spite itself but genuinely funny when it's supposed to be. R2 is a badass! Don't believe me? See the film.
Additionally, the film is genuinely moving. Anyone who knows anything about Star Wars know that come Episode 4 all the Jedi are gone. I don't think it's a spoiler to say they all bite it in Episode 3 (if it is then you haven't been paying attention). Knowing this as I did going in I didn't expect to be as hurt as i was when I finally saw it before me. It broke my heart and I probably would have shed a tear or two if asses behind be weren't laughing at moments that weren't remotely funny (this is why I hate seeing movies opening day).
The music was incredible. Which, if you look a number of posts below where I talk about the soundtrack, surprised me. There were excellent queues that were not in the soundtrack. Queues that you'd expect to be like, I dunno, the montage of all the Jedi getting killed and Yoda and the Emperor fighting! That pissed me off.
The fight between Anakin and Obi-Wan was simply awesome. It's at the end of this fight you see how truly betrayed Obi-Wan feels by, now, Darth Vader. It gives more weight to their confrontation in Episode 4. And it also makes that same fight seem downright geriatric. Like two old guys swinging their walkers at one another. While funny at one level, it's very, very sad on another.
James Earl Jones did a good job here as the voice of Vader. To be honest, it was weird hearing Vader emote like he does but it makes sense.
Anyway, see this movie. If you like Star Wars you must see it. If you won't because of the first two, still see it. It's a lot better.
Oh, one last thing. Jar Jar is in it. But he has no lines.
Okay, I didn't want to say anything about this (lest people think I'm looking for a fight) but I've seen it noted in a few places and when Fox News mentions it I figure I have the go-ahead to do so myself. George Lucas' problem with the current Administration seems to come out here. "You're either with me or you're my enemy," Darth Vader says to Obi-Wan. "Only the Sith deal in absolutes!" Obi-Wan retorts (awfully absolutist of him I'd say). And there are other things being said and done by the Sith to support this supposition. Indeed the whole plot by Palpatine to have the Republic sacrifice liberties to him in order for increased security seems fairly familiar. And I think I caught a shot at the Patriot Act as well.
Indeed, I had planned to write a thought provoking post on liberty vs. security but I've not completed my research. It is a compelling topic nonetheless. For the safety of everyone liberty must be restrained. Freedom but be chained to a regard and this is something that is fairly simple to understand. But where does one draw the line?
While I do not think George Lucas was hoping to provoke these questions in Episode 3 (rather he was just taking shots at GWB) they are good questions that need debate.
But what really bugged me was the absolutist remark. First, that makes absolutely (heh, pun) no sense within the context of the films. George Lucas, with the original trilogy, sought out to make a black-and-white morality play in space. In every conceivable way it is absolutist. And now absolutism is the way of the Sith? That is completely retarded. Jedi good. Sith bad. Absolutist. What, are the Jedi ready to admit the Sith might be right - from a certain point of view? What the hell is that?
I also take offense to it as a Christian. The Christian faith is absolutist. Either you're with God or you're against Him. Now that's a bad thing? Screw you Lucas!
And Han f***ing shot first you revisionist prick!
I caught a 12:01 AM showing of it (remind me never to do that again) and holy crap was it sweet. Even walking out of the theater I caught bits of conversations stating, "At least it was better than the first two..."
The film moves fast but never too fast that you feel lost. Some of the old problems are still there (Padme and Anakin talking about "love" made me feel embarrassed for the screen) but most have been fixed. The movie is also surprisingly funny. And not funny in spite itself but genuinely funny when it's supposed to be. R2 is a badass! Don't believe me? See the film.
Additionally, the film is genuinely moving. Anyone who knows anything about Star Wars know that come Episode 4 all the Jedi are gone. I don't think it's a spoiler to say they all bite it in Episode 3 (if it is then you haven't been paying attention). Knowing this as I did going in I didn't expect to be as hurt as i was when I finally saw it before me. It broke my heart and I probably would have shed a tear or two if asses behind be weren't laughing at moments that weren't remotely funny (this is why I hate seeing movies opening day).
The music was incredible. Which, if you look a number of posts below where I talk about the soundtrack, surprised me. There were excellent queues that were not in the soundtrack. Queues that you'd expect to be like, I dunno, the montage of all the Jedi getting killed and Yoda and the Emperor fighting! That pissed me off.
The fight between Anakin and Obi-Wan was simply awesome. It's at the end of this fight you see how truly betrayed Obi-Wan feels by, now, Darth Vader. It gives more weight to their confrontation in Episode 4. And it also makes that same fight seem downright geriatric. Like two old guys swinging their walkers at one another. While funny at one level, it's very, very sad on another.
James Earl Jones did a good job here as the voice of Vader. To be honest, it was weird hearing Vader emote like he does but it makes sense.
Anyway, see this movie. If you like Star Wars you must see it. If you won't because of the first two, still see it. It's a lot better.
Oh, one last thing. Jar Jar is in it. But he has no lines.
Update:
Okay, I didn't want to say anything about this (lest people think I'm looking for a fight) but I've seen it noted in a few places and when Fox News mentions it I figure I have the go-ahead to do so myself. George Lucas' problem with the current Administration seems to come out here. "You're either with me or you're my enemy," Darth Vader says to Obi-Wan. "Only the Sith deal in absolutes!" Obi-Wan retorts (awfully absolutist of him I'd say). And there are other things being said and done by the Sith to support this supposition. Indeed the whole plot by Palpatine to have the Republic sacrifice liberties to him in order for increased security seems fairly familiar. And I think I caught a shot at the Patriot Act as well.
Indeed, I had planned to write a thought provoking post on liberty vs. security but I've not completed my research. It is a compelling topic nonetheless. For the safety of everyone liberty must be restrained. Freedom but be chained to a regard and this is something that is fairly simple to understand. But where does one draw the line?
While I do not think George Lucas was hoping to provoke these questions in Episode 3 (rather he was just taking shots at GWB) they are good questions that need debate.
But what really bugged me was the absolutist remark. First, that makes absolutely (heh, pun) no sense within the context of the films. George Lucas, with the original trilogy, sought out to make a black-and-white morality play in space. In every conceivable way it is absolutist. And now absolutism is the way of the Sith? That is completely retarded. Jedi good. Sith bad. Absolutist. What, are the Jedi ready to admit the Sith might be right - from a certain point of view? What the hell is that?
I also take offense to it as a Christian. The Christian faith is absolutist. Either you're with God or you're against Him. Now that's a bad thing? Screw you Lucas!
And Han f***ing shot first you revisionist prick!
