Thoughts on Revenge of the Sith
May. 20th, 2005 04:17 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
masque12I just got back from seeing Episode III. I will preface the rest of my remarks by saying that overall, it was a good movie. It had much more of the feel of the Holy Trilogy, and made up in part for Episodes I & II. Having said that, I had a problem with the very end. This post elaborates on my grievance with the flick.
Edit: I merged the two original posts into one.
OK, everyone knows whiny-ass Anakin is going to turn into ultra-badass Darth Vader. Hayden Christiansen was a horrible casting choice for Anakin, but I came to terms with that after the travesty of Episode II. All the scenes where he and Padme interact in Episode III are painfully forced. I can deal with that.
My problem is that after the drama, after the mighty lightsaber fight between Anakin and Obi-Wan where it leaves Anakin's body destroyed, we come to the scene of the re-birth of Darth Vader, suit, helmet, James Earl Jones voice and all. This is the climax, the part that everyone has been waiting for. We see his new cybernetic limbs being attached, we see the suit being activated, and finally we see the helmet being lowered onto his head. The table he is strapped to rises to a vertical position while we hear the first breaths from the mask respirator. It is dramatic, it is majestic, it is the payoff for the entire prequel trilogy. He starts to talk, and you hear the voice of James Earl Jones, and you think to yourself, "we are finally rid of that whiny fuck, here is the true master returned to us!" Until you hear what he says.
He is whining. In James Earl Jones' voice. Asking where Padme is. Whining. Sidious tells him that Padme is dead, by Anakin's hand (a lie). He starts whining that that's impossible, he pitches a fit causing the medical droids to explode, and lets out a long, whiny, "NOOOOOOOOOO!" In the voice of James Earl Jones. Whining.
I don't need that. Darth Vader doesn't need that. James Earl Jones certainly doesn't need that.
The scene was perfect, it was regal, it was glorious. And George Lucas had to fuck it up.
After subjecting us to the garbage that was Episodes I and II, he came through in the end, and produced what, when all is said and done, is a pretty good film. But whether he was misguided, was bitter at the criticism of him from the fans, or just out of spite, he ruined what should have been the greatest moment of the film. Is it his right? Yes. Does it fit with the plot and characterization of the prequel trilogy? Yes, indeed it does. But for fuck's sake. It ruins a perfect dramatic moment. I almost had closure on Star Wars. I was this )( close.
You have to understand. I used to be a huge Star Wars fan. I grew up watching the movies every weekend, reading the books, collecting the toys, playing the role-playing game, everything. I was hardcore. I lived and breathed Star Wars. When I heard there were going to be Special Editions of the originals made, I was ecstatic. When I saw them, some of the changes were decent, others were stupid, but it was still Star Wars and I still loved it. When I heard that the prequels were going to be made finally, I was gung ho. I wanted to love them. I really did. But Lucas kept letting me down.
After Han shooting first, after the revamped song and dance at Jabba's Palace, after Jar-Jar Binks, midichlorians, Threepio's bad one-liners, Jake Lloyd and Hayden Christiansen's horrible acting, after all that bullshit, I was watching this newest movie, and I was ready to forgive all the transgressions, and rekindle my passion for the Star Wars mythology. Right at the moment of triumph, at the literal reflection of Vader's own redemption in Return of the Jedi, it was snatched from me. The movie as a whole still works, it does make up for the last two films. But Lucas' final insult banishes all my hopes that I could ever feel the way about Star Wars that I used to.
I still love the original trilogy. I'm still a fan in that respect. I'll always have a love for the Star Wars that was, but it will never be the same. My memories and my love for Star Wars has been tainted, and now it will never be healed. That I regret.
Edit: I merged the two original posts into one.
OK, everyone knows whiny-ass Anakin is going to turn into ultra-badass Darth Vader. Hayden Christiansen was a horrible casting choice for Anakin, but I came to terms with that after the travesty of Episode II. All the scenes where he and Padme interact in Episode III are painfully forced. I can deal with that.
My problem is that after the drama, after the mighty lightsaber fight between Anakin and Obi-Wan where it leaves Anakin's body destroyed, we come to the scene of the re-birth of Darth Vader, suit, helmet, James Earl Jones voice and all. This is the climax, the part that everyone has been waiting for. We see his new cybernetic limbs being attached, we see the suit being activated, and finally we see the helmet being lowered onto his head. The table he is strapped to rises to a vertical position while we hear the first breaths from the mask respirator. It is dramatic, it is majestic, it is the payoff for the entire prequel trilogy. He starts to talk, and you hear the voice of James Earl Jones, and you think to yourself, "we are finally rid of that whiny fuck, here is the true master returned to us!" Until you hear what he says.
He is whining. In James Earl Jones' voice. Asking where Padme is. Whining. Sidious tells him that Padme is dead, by Anakin's hand (a lie). He starts whining that that's impossible, he pitches a fit causing the medical droids to explode, and lets out a long, whiny, "NOOOOOOOOOO!" In the voice of James Earl Jones. Whining.
I don't need that. Darth Vader doesn't need that. James Earl Jones certainly doesn't need that.
The scene was perfect, it was regal, it was glorious. And George Lucas had to fuck it up.
After subjecting us to the garbage that was Episodes I and II, he came through in the end, and produced what, when all is said and done, is a pretty good film. But whether he was misguided, was bitter at the criticism of him from the fans, or just out of spite, he ruined what should have been the greatest moment of the film. Is it his right? Yes. Does it fit with the plot and characterization of the prequel trilogy? Yes, indeed it does. But for fuck's sake. It ruins a perfect dramatic moment. I almost had closure on Star Wars. I was this )( close.
You have to understand. I used to be a huge Star Wars fan. I grew up watching the movies every weekend, reading the books, collecting the toys, playing the role-playing game, everything. I was hardcore. I lived and breathed Star Wars. When I heard there were going to be Special Editions of the originals made, I was ecstatic. When I saw them, some of the changes were decent, others were stupid, but it was still Star Wars and I still loved it. When I heard that the prequels were going to be made finally, I was gung ho. I wanted to love them. I really did. But Lucas kept letting me down.
After Han shooting first, after the revamped song and dance at Jabba's Palace, after Jar-Jar Binks, midichlorians, Threepio's bad one-liners, Jake Lloyd and Hayden Christiansen's horrible acting, after all that bullshit, I was watching this newest movie, and I was ready to forgive all the transgressions, and rekindle my passion for the Star Wars mythology. Right at the moment of triumph, at the literal reflection of Vader's own redemption in Return of the Jedi, it was snatched from me. The movie as a whole still works, it does make up for the last two films. But Lucas' final insult banishes all my hopes that I could ever feel the way about Star Wars that I used to.
I still love the original trilogy. I'm still a fan in that respect. I'll always have a love for the Star Wars that was, but it will never be the same. My memories and my love for Star Wars has been tainted, and now it will never be healed. That I regret.
