Dispatches from 'Star Wars' geekdom
Ok. I'll come clean.
I cared enough about the new "Star Wars" movie that I went on the first day, taking a long lunch with a colleague (whose identitiy I am withholding for her own protection)on Thursday to slip into the 11:15 a.m. matinee.
I have been entranced by George Lucas's space operas since seeing the first "Star Wars" in Chapel Hill in 1977. I own the original trilogy on laser disc and DVD. I've even read books about Lucas and the "Star Wars" universe.
My favorite film is "The Empire Strikes Back." My least favorite is "Episode I," a slow, vapid concoction that marks time for the next two installments. And which unleashes the infamous He Who Shall Not Be Named upon the galaxy (Jar Jar Binks).
I am doubly happy, then, to report that the new and final film: "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith," is a vast improvement over the previous two prequels.
There's still leaden dialogue (for some reason Lucas has almost totally lost his gift to write gab over the years). Lucas seems especially ill at ease when his men have to talk to his women. Consider this groaner between lovers Padme and Anakin:
He: "You're so beautiful."
She: "That's only because I'm so in love."
He: "No, it's because I'm so in love with you."
The action sequences are more technically polished but not nearly as exhilarating as those in the original films. They just seem long now.
That said, the third act is a killer. The movie takes a sudden, darker turn and you actually begin to care about the characters. The birth of Darth Vader is compelling stuff, even for casual fans. I'll see the film again for that part alone.
Comments (9)
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Allen's got a girlfriend!
Posted on May 21, 2005 7:40 AM
Okay let's just hope you didn't slip out and change into costume. Laser beams are allowed.
Was quite interesting seeing those hardcore fans on TV camping out for 24 hours.
And I thought bloggers needed a life.
Posted on May 21, 2005 3:18 PM
I suspect there's a high correlation between bloggers and "Star Wars" fans. But wrong I could be.
Posted on May 21, 2005 3:41 PM
Could be the Star Wars fans and the Trekies have that correlation.
The real "interesting" guy was the one on TV with the Star War "collection". Couldn't fit anything else in his house. He was the one who paid thousands for the Darth Vador outfit. Now that is where collecting might cross the line to obsessing.
Just think if that was a blind date one met by blogging on the net. AHHH!
Posted on May 21, 2005 11:41 PM
Allen said:
"The action sequences are more technically polished but not nearly as exhilarating as those in the original films."
Out of curiosity, I pulled out my Star Wars VHS tape... the ORIGINAL release without the revisionist additions Lucas put out in 2000 (spit!).
I was particularly struck by the difference between the light saber duels. The first movie's fight between Darth Vader and Obi Wan Kenobi was a pathetic joke compared to the elaborately orchestrated fight in Episode 3.
You can sure learn a lot about how NOT to make a movie by watching this stuff in sequence. Oh, how I wish MST3K could have had a go at these films...
Posted on May 26, 2005 1:44 PM
Depends on what you're looking for. The light-saber duel in the first "Star Wars" was constrained by budgets and technology. But in Episode 3 they took far too long and became monotonous. The original movie, released in 1977, did not have the benefit of CGI, which isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes less is more.
Posted on May 26, 2005 1:50 PM
I agree completely that the technology advances are problematic. I prefer the strong, tight story lines of the first two movies to the flaccid, overblown rubbish that came out later.
Lucas had every opportunity to realize that he needed help with direction and writing. Too bad he never bothered to listen. The poor dope. Just imagine what might have been if he had stuck with the formula that made "Empire" the great film it was!
Posted on May 26, 2005 2:01 PM
Indeed. That's why "Empire" remains my all-time favorite. And what better action sequence is there than the battle between the rebels and the Imperial Walkers on Hoth?
Posted on May 26, 2005 2:11 PM
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Posted on October 19, 2006 5:10 AM