Star Wars: EPISODE III Thread

[Squinky]

I never noticed too many "transitions"....I had watched that flash earlier and didn't understand it or think it worthy of the time it took to load....

[Redwall]

I found the transitions very distracting, possibly because the scenes themselves were very short (with the exception of the opening sequence, which took forever compared to the rest of them). It felt like Lucas just said, "Okay, we're done with showing off the CGI, cram some dialogue in and let's move onto the next scene. Ooh! More special effects! Let's do a horizantal bar fade to a double triangle to a circle to the next scene. Yeah, that might do it. For now."

Did anyone else think Grievous was a great villain in the wrong place? He was so ridiculous and over-the-top, with the constant cough and the cowardice and the four lightsabers, etc, he would have been a perfect villain for a movie that wasn't supposed to be serious and tragic. I was almost always laughing whenever he was on screen. Even his death was completely outrageous. Why the hell does he explode like that?

Also, I got the idea that the Jedi are a bunch of hypocrites and certainly not the perfect peacekeepers they're displayed as in the other movies. Unfortunately, this isn't developed, and instead Anakin just goes evil without really any discussion or reason.

However, I did enjoy: "So this is how liberty ends. . . with thunderous applause."

[MillsJROSS]

Overall, I was entertained by the movie. It was entertaining and had the action I desired. It did have minor things here and there. For the most part, like most people have already mentioned, the mood was kind of ruined by some of the "comic reliefy" stuff.

I actually giggled when darth vadar yelled out "No".

As far as unnatural dialog is concerned, there has rarely been an ounce of realistic dialog in any six of the movies. The characters are just too fictional to allow it. Many of the situations are just unbelievable no matter that it was a long time ago in a galaxy far far away. But you just have to accept that it's a movie and get over it.

The only thing I can't stand from fans is all the lucas bashing that goes around. He wrote a decent space opera, and has provided me with six movies of entertainment. They're not the best movies I have ever seen, but I take them for a light movie with some nice action and a bit of comedy, with science fiction, and I'm happy. Sure there are some mistakes he's made, but I think for anything bad he's done he's done just as much good to a movie.
But I'm rambling now, so I'll stop.

-MillsJROSS

[Nacho]

I've just seen it... It's quite cool, but I think that only because it leaves it all arranged for episode IV. I enjoyed it quite a lot, but it makes me feel so weird about the original trilogy, in the sense that the special effects, specially in the battle of Yavin, look quite rediculous (which doesn't mean that I think "A new hope" is bad... It is the second film of the 6 I like most). I would really revisit all that battle into a digitall one, with the new DVD's it shouldn't be a problem to sell both, original and revisited, together.

The fight between the old Ben Kenobi and Darth Vader in the death star looks very naive if compared with the fight they had 20 years before... Let's assume that the age of Ben and the wounds of Darth made it that way.

[Kinoko]

Farlander, no offense, but if you ever rule the world, I'll kill myself. ^_^

I wish people would leave original Star Wars alone. It's already been fucked around with enough (luckily we have both the DVDs and original, untouched LDs at my place).

[Nacho]

Because of that "don't touch the original ones" spirit, I'd release a good revisited ones with the original, with no revisit at all, to compare.Ã, 

I don't like the nowadays mix of models/digital, which looks quite confusing for me.

One thing it to remain blind to some silly things that happen in the Star Wars gallaxy (Like hearing sounds in the space, some gravity effects that should never happen in the space, the fact that you can have an open space to the space in the big spaceships without escape of the ship's atmosphera, the nice "unbloody" cut the lightsabers do...) You can image that that gallaxy was previous to the big bang and might have another physic laws. I am not annoyed by seeing a powder explossion of a spaceship model... My mind is opened to imagine that in "In a place far away, a long long time ago..." that was possible.

But another thing is to see in one scene a powder explossion of a model and in the next one a digital one... It make it very unconsistent, IMO.

[Haddas]

the fact that you can have an open space to the space in the big spaceships without escape of the ship's atmosphera, the nice "unbloody" cut the lightsabers do...)

It's got a force shield preventing oxygen and such from penetrating, and the lightsabers are tremendously hot, so they'd burn the wound shut.

[jetxl]

So in the SW universe there are klones and robots to fight your wars, there are flying cars andÃ, you can travel faster then light. Yet, they never heard of ANTI-CONCEPTION pills/objects? Anikin, can't you use forcepullout just before you reach climax?

...
One thing it to remain blind to some silly things that happen in the Star Wars gallaxy (Like hearing sounds in the space, some gravity effects that should never happen in the space, the fact that you can have an open space to the space in the big spaceships without escape of the ship's atmosphera, the nice "unbloody" cut the lightsabers do...)
...

There has never been a explosion in space while someone was taking a spacewalk without their suit on. The explosions might be bubbles of carbon dioxcide that make the shockwave be heard. And all the si-fi series have sound in space. It's weird that you nitpick on this.

...
I would really revisit all that battle into a digitall one, with the new DVD's it shouldn't be a problem to sell both, original and revisited, together.
...

Instead of revising the originals into a rendered movie, play some lucasart games like rogue sqadron and x-wing vs tie-fighter.

...
And I think this was the problem with the new Episodes. In the original trilogy the effects were there to help immerse you in this alternate galaxy while your onscreen buddies go on an adventurous romp, to help suspend your disbelief. The new trilogy is nothing BUT special effects, everything is founded inside the computer where suddenly it becomes so unbelieveable that it's quite blatant everything you see is just an elaborate set-piece done in Maya and you stop caring for anything that's going on. When Darth Vader and Obi-Wan duel in Episode 4 it's much more exciting as although it's not as acrobatically 'impressive' as their "hi-we're-keyframed-computer-models-moving-too-fast-to-concentrate-on" battle in 'Sith', it actually _feels_ like two guys fighting with lightsabres - you become totally engrossed in the tension created by the wise bearded hermit taking on the face of evil. Anakin and Obi-Wan swinging their things around on a platform about to plunge into molten rock? It's ok, they're just zeros and ones hanging over more zeros and ones. My disbelief is not suspended no matter how many hours it took to render that frame.
...

I agree with one, zero, zero percent. A movie like shaulin soccer uses over-the-top CG effects too, but they use it only on special occasions. In this way, the special FX feel like the single candy you get from your grandparents just before you go home. While eps.I-III & the matrix gives so much candy that your tummy hurts.

[Nacho]

As said, I am open to accept that the Star Wars Universe physic laws are different, so, don't discuss with me about that examples I gave, because they don't specially annoy me.

I don't really understand the spirit of your "play X-wing and Rogue Squadron"  I finished X-wing and Tie-Fighter games, and I am proud of it!

About the mix of old an new effects... well, they left a bad feeling on me when seeing them together. That must not necessarilly happen to everybody... I don't really see the point of discussing about such personal feelings.

[Darth Mandarb]

At first I was angry about all the CGI in the prequels ...

But then I realized that if he used the same special effects from eps IV-VI it would have been a disaster!  The movies would have been even less accepted then.

George had a vision back in the day to create this Space Opera.   He made the first 3 movies as close to his vision as the technology would allow at the time.  Now that he can go back and make the rest of his vision exactly how he wanted to back then why wouldn't he?

Also ... somebody commented earlier about why the wookies were included and they didn't belong etc.  Ewoks were originally supposed to be wookies and Endor was Kashyyk but the budget and technology didn't permit so the Ewoks were born.  He always wanted to visit the wookies homeworld, so he did it in Episode III.  I liked it.

Lastly ... a scene (perhaps my fav in the movie) that keeps sticking in my head is the scene where Bail Organa is shooed away from the Jedi Temple as the purge is going on and that young padawan comes out and goes down fighting.  For some reason that was my favorite scene in the movie.  I just really liked it.

[Blackthorne]

That young Padawan in that scene was Lucas's son, Jett.


I wish George Lucas would fuck around with the original Star Wars trilogy more.  I think the 1977 release sucked major ass, and if I had my druthers, I'd replace it all with CG.  I'm actually glad that one can't own the original trilogy on DVD, as it stinks like rotten crotch.


Bt

[Potch]

Hmmm, there's been a lot of things said here that I would like to comment on... but I'll only comment on a few...

First of all, I think the comparisons that people are making in comparing this movie to George Bush are ludicrous.  Ok, NOT a Bush fan here.  And I suppose I can see WHY someone would make the comparison... but these stories were written 30 YEARS AGO, while Bush was busy getting DUI's... long before he was even in politics. 

Someone asked why it took so long to build the Death Star between 3 and 4, but not 5 and 6.  The Death Star wasn't finished in 6.  Remember?

I've seen so many people comment on the acting and dialogue in the prequels.  Come on now.  I agree with that.  It was pretty piss poor, althought I do think that Hayden was much better in 3 than he was in 2.  Still bad, but better.  Ok.  But really.  Look at the original trilogy. Now, I'm a HUGE Star Wars fan.  Always have been.  I mean, I love it.  But really.  Much of the acting was AWFUL in the original.  Harrison Ford was great, but ever think about WHY Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher have done JACK since those movies.  Because they are terrible terrible actors.  They were awful in those movies.  Of course, the dialogue didn't help.  As much as I love George Lucas and his work... he really doesn't have any idea how people communicate.  Two scenes right off the top of my head.... the scene on Endor.. "Leia, you're my sister." "I know, somehow I've always known." and then Han comes out and there's the whole "Hold me" Scene.  Awful awful scene.  And in Empire, when Han is rubbing Leias hand and she's like, "Stop that my hands are dirty."  "My hands are dirty too..."  Terrible.  Yet, I still love the movies, because it's the story that's important. 

So I watch the prequels and think... wow.  What a cool story.  The movies are fun to watch.  Yeah, there is bad acting and inconsistencies, but there was the same in the original trilogy.  So I ignore that, and just sit back and enjoy the films for what they are. 

[Nacho]

It bugs me (sorry if it'sbeen mentioned before or someone explained why) is that in episode V Ben Kenobi's ghost seems to know nothing at all about Luke and Leia being brother's, whereas in ep. III he is witness of the birth.

[Blackthorne]

It bugs me (sorry if it'sbeen mentioned before or someone explained why) is that in episode V Ben Kenobi's ghost seems to know nothing at all about Luke and Leia being brother's, whereas in ep. III he is witness of the birth.

He never says he doesn't know of Leia.

He merely says "That boy is our last hope."
To which Yoda replies "No, there is another."

Those lines, however, are more for the audience, as in 1980 they kept audiences in suspence for three years as they waited for the sequel.  One must remember that these movies did come out sequentially, and the audiences at the time did not have the "glut" of Star Wars related information that we do now.  It was a film/dialogue suspension/tension builder.


Bt

[Potch]

Maybe Ben didn't know that Leia also fad the ability to use the force.  Maybe he thought that only one child could have the power.

Just a theory. :-)

[Nacho]

It bugs me (sorry if it's been mentioned before or someone explained why) is that in episode V Ben Kenobi's ghost seems to know nothing at all about Luke and Leia being brother's, whereas in ep. III he is witness of the birth.

Note the SEEMS... SEEMS SEEMS!!!11oneone!!!1 

Come on... It is quite clear that what George had in mind in 1981 was that Ben knew nothing about Leia, and it's surelly been a headache for him in 2005. I am more close to Potch's theory. Being a ghost Ben might been not so able to perceive the force as Yoda was.

[Darth Mandarb]

Ben and Yoda both know that in order to "save the galaxy" Darth Vader must be killed/removed from the equation.

They had both been assuming it would be Luke to do it.

When they realized that Luke might be killed because he was facing Vader too early (wasn't ready yet) Ben made the statement, "That boy was our only hope ..."

Yoda, a little more optimistically says, "No ... there is another."

I never took from this that Ben didn't know about Leia. Ã, I figured it was more like, "We're out of time ... that boy was our only hope."

To which Yoda replies, "No, there is another. Ã, Enough time we must have!"

Sure, Ben knows about Leia, but Leia hasn't been studying the force for the past 3 years and practicing with a lightsaber, etc.Ã,  She doesn't even know she has force potential.Ã,  She doesn't know Vader is her father.

If there's one thing the prequels have cleared up for me about the Originals is that the Jedi are arrogant and manipulative and think they always know what's right/best.Ã,  (which in most cases they do)Ã,  Yoda and Ben are just doing what they believe to be right and that is steering Luke towards a confrontation with his father and hoping that the outcome would be the one they want.

Just my thoughts ...

[Snarky]

First of all, I think the comparisons that people are making in comparing this movie to George Bush are ludicrous.Ã,  Ok, NOT a Bush fan here.Ã,  And I suppose I can see WHY someone would make the comparison... but these stories were written 30 YEARS AGO, while Bush was busy getting DUI's... long before he was even in politics.

No, Lucas did not write the script thirty years ago. I would guess it was written around the time of or after Episode II. Just because he originally had some of the ideas that went into this film back in the seventies, it doesn't mean he had the story, much less every single line of dialogue, all this time.

Some people seem to have this weird idea that Lucas created the entire Star Wars saga in his mind before he even started shooting the first film, when all the evidence shows that he's been developing it all the way, sometimes changing the story radically from his original plans (Luke and Leia as siblings, for example). I mean, that's one of the main reasons why he keeps going back and changing the earlier movies.

To get back on point, I think it's fairly obvious that specific things that are emphasized in the film, and some lines of dialogue in particular, are none-too-subtle jabs at the current administration. "If you're not with me, you're my enemy!" - "Only a Sith thinks in absolutes." This can be true even if the general story predates our current situation.

[Potch]

I didn't say he wrote the script.  I said he wrote the story.  And Lucas has said in many interviews that he had the whole story planned out in 9 episodes before he even started writing A New Hope.  Plus, from what I understand, Ep 2 began fliming before Ep 1 was even in theaters, and Ep 3 began before Ep 2 aired.  I could be wrong about that though.  Lucas KNEW what kind of characters the emperor and vader were before he wrote the script.  he know what the Clone Wars and the Rebellion were all about.  it's not like he planned this big conspiracy to put this movie out and protest against George Bush.  Lucas's whole goal for the Star Wars movies was to take us AWAY from this place and take us to another world.  I just can't see him purposely bringing us back into our world, just to make a political statement.

[Darth Mandarb]

Geeze - Oh - Peets!

"If you're not with me you're my enemy" is NOT a statement coined by George Bush.

It has been said throughout history countless times.

It has been used in several movies in Hollywood's history as well.

Revenge of the Sith is not a political statement about the current administration nor is it anti-Bush.

George Lucas doesn't have to make statements this way.  If he has something to say, he'd simply say it.

Anakin had gone over to the darkside.  He was saying, "support me or oppose me ... make your choice" it had NOTHING to do with George Bush. 

Can parallels be drawn?  Sure.  But I could also draw parallels to Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, etc.