Note: you won’t find any spoilers in this message. I am so
opposed to spoilers of any kind that I actually never even watch previews of
upcoming shows or movies. Try it, you will be surprised how much more you
will enjoy the show.
I watched "Revenge of the Sith" last night and I have to say I wasn’t
disappointed. Just like everybody else who grew up with Star Wars as a
kid, this movie concludes a process that started twenty-five years ago when I
discovered the first Star Wars (which turned out to be the fourth one as I
learned only later).
The visual effects of this latest installment are stunning to the point of
sometimes being overwhelming. It seems to me episodes IV, V and VI had to
focus more on the plot and character development than their newer counterpart,
but there is still a tremendous amount of material in these prequels and the
Lucas team played it out perfectly well.
After reflecting over my experience last night for a few hours, I can’t think
of any gap that this episode didn’t cover and, indeed, everything is now ready
for the first scenes of "A New Hope".
Who can forget the fantastic opening of this episode showing a minuscule
shuttle lost in a dizzying array of lasers as it tries to escape a triangular
imperial battle cruiser that endlessly unfolds over our heads?
Leia was right: Obi Wan Kenobi was indeed their only hope, but the
difference is that watching "A New Hope" now will make him look like an old
friend.
Any disappointments for this last episode? Not many, really, but if I
have to list a few, I would say that some actors are way too old to make
credible laser saber fighters (Count Dooku and Palpatine himself) and the fact
that some acting scenes and dialogues are, frankly, embarrassing.
I was also afraid that knowing exactly what will happen to all the characters
(probably the ultimate spoiler in a movie) would ruin some of it but I was
wrong, since there is still a lot of mystery left as to how the characters
became what they are in Episode IV.
But what’s really interesting is that none of these negative points really
matter. Yes, George Lucas’ spell is that strong: it’s not about the
direction, the actors or the visual effects any more. It’s about
storytelling.
It’s about being nine years old all over again.
#1 by Elliot on May 19, 2005 - 11:41 am
Question: should those yet unborn watch starting from #1? Or should they start with #4 like we did and wrap around to #1 after #6?
Let me know soon; I’m thinking about fathering a child later today.
#2 by Cedric on May 19, 2005 - 11:44 am
Start with #1 and get back to me when you’re done watching them all, I’m curious to see if 4, 5 and 6 have aged well or if I’m still seeing them with starry eyes…
#3 by Roger on May 19, 2005 - 9:24 pm
I found a couple of things I think are missing. First is the back-story of Han and Chewie. We know much of it from lore, but when we first see them together in episode IV, their friendship is well established.
Second is Uncle Owens amnesia. How is it that in episode II, C3PO stays at his house, but he purchases them from the sand people in episode IV as though 3PO is a complete unknown.
Third is the mystery behind the twins. How did Darth manage to know in Episode V that Luke was his son? (this could be explained simply by the coincidence of name.)
Over all, even knowing the outcome of the story, getting to see the details of the journey, combined with the stunning eye candy of ILM, this is clearly the best of the 3 prequels.
#4 by scot on May 20, 2005 - 12:44 am
ahh nostalgia. the worst sort of marketing. have you seen the trashing that the new yorker gave it? tim bray’s got the link. hilarious. lucas ever only made one good film – american graffitti. the rest is rubbish. trite. lightweight.
#5 by Christian Parkers Blog on May 20, 2005 - 7:31 am
Episode III : Might actually not suck
I’ve been watching “Revenge of the Sith” blog reviews roll in. The more I read the more I actually want to see it. Like Cederic’s Blog said, the star wars geeky kid in me needs closure 😉 Might have to…
#6 by Gerald on May 20, 2005 - 7:54 am
This filter is annoying, I’m trying to answer Roger’s question but it keeps flagging the content as questionable. Isn’t the security code enough?
#7 by Guillaume Laurent on May 24, 2005 - 11:45 am
You can’t think of any gap this episode didn’t cover ? Really ? I don’t even know where to start.
How come Leia and Luke have faint memories of their real mother ?
How come Anakin also becomes “immortal” like Obi Wan and Yoda when he dies, even though he didn’t follow Qui Gon’s teachings ?
After a duel like the one in Mustafar, ending with Anakin screaming that he hates the guts of Obi Wan, when they meet again 20 years later all that Vador says is “you’re weak, now I’m the master” ? No mention of killing Padm
#8 by Creford on July 4, 2005 - 12:55 am
There were extremely excellent and the best scenes in the movie “Revenge of the Sith”.
Good originality and great imagination, great story in this movie!
Here’s Photo gallery for Hayden Christensen(Anakin) of this movie. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0159789/photogallery-ss-0
I love Star Wars series the most!