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Star Wars: Return of the Sith
I finally saw it. I know, I know, major SF/Fantasy release and I wait weeks before going to see it! What is the world coming to, I ask you? I was there, first day, first show, "The Empire Strikes Back." I was there, first day, first show, "Return of the Jedi." I scored tickets and sat for the Lord of the Rings movie marathon, getting in line for seats at 7: 00 AM for the noon seating, and left theatre at 2:00 AM the next day.
So why did it take so long? Mild dread, I suppose. "The Phantom Menace" and "Attack of the Clones" both made me cringe in my seats. There is very little short of actual cash that could persuade me to sit through "Phantom Menace" again. And I will put on "Attack of the Clones" only to mock the awful dialogue between Padme and Anakin. There was little enthusiasm on my part to go and see the third movie, only a vague need for closure. You know, I've suffered this much, might as well let Lucas give the deathblow to my enjoyment of the franchise.
So on a whim, ichicolco, Mike and I went after work.
Color me surprised: it didn't suck.
Oh, it's not a great movie by any means. But Lucas focused more on what he does well--action--than on what he doesn't--actual human emotion. I could sit and watch, forgive--and where I couldn't forgive, let go--and focus on the story. The story is what saved the movie for me.
There were several moments that were still cringe-worthy acting-wise. Mike, who is the most forgiving of movie/television viewers, finally said, "Maybe Natalie Portman really can't act." We KNOW Ewan McGregor is capable of so much more, ditto Samuel L. Jackson, but at least they were better here than in the previous movies. Mike actually mused that he'd like to see the performances that were left on the cutting room floor--maybe George picked the worst takes... The best acting came from Yoda, of all places. His expression of sorrow resonated much more than the human performances! And I can't believe I'm saying this, but Yoda's "bad ass" expression was actually more convincing than Samuel L's. How sorry a director does Lucas have to be, people-wise, when an animatronic has a better snarl than Samuel L. Jackson's?
That said, this was the best acted of the trilogy.
So if you could fast-forward through the scenes of Anakin and Padme (though I admit that on the balcony she did look particularly lovely and dewy) and cut to the action, the action absolutely rocked, from the opening space battle to the climatic duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin. Then the seminal scenes: the creation of Darth Vader as we know him, the closing of the mask, the hiding of the twins...these are things that made the spine tingle, as they should be.
I couldn't help but think when it was all over that it didn't have to be 3 movies, it could have easily been two, or even one LOTR-sized installment. I didn't carry away anything of import from "Phantom Menace" other than a hatred of Jar Jar Binks. And when you get down to it, all that happened in "Attack of the Clones" was the commission of the Clone Army and the love story of Anakin and Padme (worst.dialogue.EVAH).
In our conversations later, we came to the conclusion that while Anakin might have been the most powerful Jedi/Sith (EVAH), it was obvious he wasn't the brightest one in the bunch! Come'n, wasn't Palpatine's little, "Oh, help me, I'm sooooo weak, I need a big, strong, handsome Jedi to save me" routine a bit obvious? And, dude, if you have nightmares/premonitions of your beloved dying in childbirth, why don't you try taking her to a OB/GYN first before selling your soul and turning evil? Don't they have pre-natal care in the future? Maybe, y'know, she should stay off her feet, watch her diet, take some vitamin supplements? Oh, yeah, and where did the whole, "I am going to rule the empire" shtick come from? One moment it's all about saving Padme at all costs, suddenly it's about ruling the universe? I woulda/coulda liked to have seen where that leap was made, y'know? :)
Other musings: If Mace Windu had tempered himself, if he had, indeed, followed the Jedi way and not gone for the killing of Palpatine, could the tragedy have been averted? Could Anakin have been diverted off his dark path, or would he still have been driven by his fear of losing Padme?
In the end, the movie did what it was supposed to do, it got all the characters into place for "Star Wars: A New Hope." And that, ultimately, was what was satisfying about the movie.
So why did it take so long? Mild dread, I suppose. "The Phantom Menace" and "Attack of the Clones" both made me cringe in my seats. There is very little short of actual cash that could persuade me to sit through "Phantom Menace" again. And I will put on "Attack of the Clones" only to mock the awful dialogue between Padme and Anakin. There was little enthusiasm on my part to go and see the third movie, only a vague need for closure. You know, I've suffered this much, might as well let Lucas give the deathblow to my enjoyment of the franchise.
So on a whim, ichicolco, Mike and I went after work.
Color me surprised: it didn't suck.
Oh, it's not a great movie by any means. But Lucas focused more on what he does well--action--than on what he doesn't--actual human emotion. I could sit and watch, forgive--and where I couldn't forgive, let go--and focus on the story. The story is what saved the movie for me.
There were several moments that were still cringe-worthy acting-wise. Mike, who is the most forgiving of movie/television viewers, finally said, "Maybe Natalie Portman really can't act." We KNOW Ewan McGregor is capable of so much more, ditto Samuel L. Jackson, but at least they were better here than in the previous movies. Mike actually mused that he'd like to see the performances that were left on the cutting room floor--maybe George picked the worst takes... The best acting came from Yoda, of all places. His expression of sorrow resonated much more than the human performances! And I can't believe I'm saying this, but Yoda's "bad ass" expression was actually more convincing than Samuel L's. How sorry a director does Lucas have to be, people-wise, when an animatronic has a better snarl than Samuel L. Jackson's?
That said, this was the best acted of the trilogy.
So if you could fast-forward through the scenes of Anakin and Padme (though I admit that on the balcony she did look particularly lovely and dewy) and cut to the action, the action absolutely rocked, from the opening space battle to the climatic duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin. Then the seminal scenes: the creation of Darth Vader as we know him, the closing of the mask, the hiding of the twins...these are things that made the spine tingle, as they should be.
I couldn't help but think when it was all over that it didn't have to be 3 movies, it could have easily been two, or even one LOTR-sized installment. I didn't carry away anything of import from "Phantom Menace" other than a hatred of Jar Jar Binks. And when you get down to it, all that happened in "Attack of the Clones" was the commission of the Clone Army and the love story of Anakin and Padme (worst.dialogue.EVAH).
In our conversations later, we came to the conclusion that while Anakin might have been the most powerful Jedi/Sith (EVAH), it was obvious he wasn't the brightest one in the bunch! Come'n, wasn't Palpatine's little, "Oh, help me, I'm sooooo weak, I need a big, strong, handsome Jedi to save me" routine a bit obvious? And, dude, if you have nightmares/premonitions of your beloved dying in childbirth, why don't you try taking her to a OB/GYN first before selling your soul and turning evil? Don't they have pre-natal care in the future? Maybe, y'know, she should stay off her feet, watch her diet, take some vitamin supplements? Oh, yeah, and where did the whole, "I am going to rule the empire" shtick come from? One moment it's all about saving Padme at all costs, suddenly it's about ruling the universe? I woulda/coulda liked to have seen where that leap was made, y'know? :)
Other musings: If Mace Windu had tempered himself, if he had, indeed, followed the Jedi way and not gone for the killing of Palpatine, could the tragedy have been averted? Could Anakin have been diverted off his dark path, or would he still have been driven by his fear of losing Padme?
In the end, the movie did what it was supposed to do, it got all the characters into place for "Star Wars: A New Hope." And that, ultimately, was what was satisfying about the movie.