Star Wars - Episode III Impressions (OMG SPOILERS)

[Laner]

The thing that bothered me about the death of Windu's escort wasn't the fact that they were bested by a Sith Lord, but the fact that they were each struck down in a single blow.  I'm not sure why he even feels the need for an apprentice if he can single-handedly slaughter Jedi like they were standard droids.

Why bother getting your hands dirty when you can have your Sith apprentice do it for you?  Just sit back in your hidden fortress, sipping mint juleps and let some other shmuck run all over the galaxy to do the raping and pillaging.

[Chaz]

The thing that bothered me about the death of Windu's escort wasn't the fact that they were bested by a Sith Lord, but the fact that they were each struck down in a single blow.  I'm not sure why he even feels the need for an apprentice if he can single-handedly slaughter Jedi like they were standard droids.

Why bother getting your hands dirty when you can have your Sith apprentice do it for you?  Just sit back in your hidden fortress, sipping mint juleps and let some other shmuck run all over the galaxy to do the raping and pillaging.

If you're going to get someone else to do all your raping and pillaging, then what's the point of being evil?  Those are the job perks, cuz looks certainly aren't in the benefits package.

[TheMissingLink]

I saw it around 10:50 Saturday night and I was *really* tired, so I nearly dozed off at a couple of points...so when I was leaving the theatre, I wasn't very impressed.  

The day after: I give it a little more respect.  It was neat to know how everything came to be in the original trilogy.  I still think casting Samuel L. was a bad move - when I should have been thinking "badass jedi" I was thinking "badass motherfucker, that's Samuel L.!"  It still had the incredibly so-so diologue, but I found the acting to be way better then the first two, as far as I can recall.

Special mention goes to anything related to General Griveous (I think that's his name...something like that, anyway).  He was a great character.  Any part of the movie, whether it was the opening sequence, or the middle-ish area when Obi-Wan was taking him out, were highlights.  Incredibly cool character.

There also seemed to be more loopy, chase-following camera shots in this one.  Lots of twirls, barrels rolls, etc.  Not sure if this was good or bad, but it made me somewhat dizzy (remember, I was tired as hell).

I need to go for another viewing, I think.  But it definitely was the best out of the recent three.  As for comparing with the first three?  Not sure.  More viewings would be necessary to make that determination.

[Shkspr]

I'm sure it gets lonely being emperor sometimes.

Wait, when was Palpatine in prison?

[Crowley]

He's a sex offender. With a record. He served 6 months in Chino for exposing himself to an eight year old.  When he moved to Hollywood he had to go door to door to tell everyone he was a pederast.

Thus beginning his descent into the darkside.

[warning]

Okay here's my question.  How does it take the original Death Star roughly 20 years to be constructed and the second, Super Death Star in ROTJ took only a couple of years?

[Chaz]

I'm thinking that they already had the second Death Star under construction when the first one was being finished.  I mean, what's better than one super-sized battle station?  Two super-sized battle stations!

[wonderpug]

The second Death Star is also supposed to be much much bigger than the first one.  I forget how much exactly, but I thought it was listed as being at least twice the size as the first.

[farley2k]

You could no more transfuse midichlorians through a blood infusion than you could transfer your own DNA through the same. Midicholorians live within the cells of Jedi --

Yet Palpatine seemed to tempt Anakin by saying that there was a way to "force the midichlorians to reanimate cells" thus stopping death.  (at the Opera)

In order to save Padme then, the midichlorians would have to be in her body, but she wasn't a Jedi.

[whiteboyskim]

You could no more transfuse midichlorians through a blood infusion than you could transfer your own DNA through the same. Midicholorians live within the cells of Jedi --

Yet Palpatine seemed to tempt Anakin by saying that there was a way to "force the midichlorians to reanimate cells" thus stopping death.  (at the Opera)

In order to save Padme then, the midichlorians would have to be in her body, but she wasn't a Jedi.

But Anakin was told by Qui-Gonn that the midichlorians were in everyone but the Jedi were the only ones who could talk to them. Palpatine says that Darth Plagueous could manipulate them to create life. Knowing that Palpatine took all the knowledge from Darth Plagueous before killing him, he's kept himself alive long enough to implement his plan for galactic domination. The question to me wasn't whether Darth Plagueous was Anakin's creator, it's how old is Palpatine?

He spoke in just enough half-truths to get Anakin to believe that he had knowledge to save Padme when in fact it didn't matter whether he did or didn't. He wasn't going to let Padme live either way. As Obi-Wan says in Jedi, "The Emperor knew as I did that if Anakin had any off-spring they would be a threat to him." Palpatine's smile as Darth Vader loses it in the operating room says it all. He knows Vader is now completely his servant and is the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy. Ergo, Palpatine for teh win.

[Starshifter]

I just want to reiterate that this was one fine movie.  I saw it for the second time this weekend with my kids and loved it even more.  The music right after the beginning crawl with the loud BOOM-BOOM {pause} BOOM-BOOM [pause} BOOM-BOOM was goose bump forming!  And, even now I'm still laughing at Yoda Force whacking the emperor's guards as he walked in the door.  That was priceless.  

SPOILER:
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Sure enough, my son was very upset that all his favorite Jedi were killed:  Mace Windu, Plo Koon, Ki Adi Mundi, and Kit Fisto.  Although my son, who is eight, said that we never really know if Mace Windu actually died.  Maybe he grabbed (with his remaining hand) on to something like a passing ship, similar to what Anakin did in Episode II.  Interesting.

[Kevin Grey]

Starshifter, how did your son react, if at all, to Anakin's implied slaughter of the Younglings?  I found that to be the most disturbing part of the movie but I'm curious if children would miss it due to the way it was filmed.

[Starshifter]

Starshifter, how did your son react, if at all, to Anakin's implied slaughter of the Younglings?  I found that to be the most disturbing part of the movie but I'm curious if children would miss it due to the way it was filmed.

No real reaction at all as far as I could see.  He didn't miss it and he did pick up on it and understand what happened.  My daughter (who is 12) was more upset that the younglings were killed.  As a father, I didn't worry about the dark nature of this film and its effect on my son because I know my son and I know he knows its only sci fi fantasy.  After all we play similar videogames together.

I did think it was interesting that my son thought it was really cool when that one youngling fought the clone troopers (in vain) to save Bail Organa.  When this youngling was finally cut down with laser fire my son turned to me and said "Dad, that youngling was a hero."

[Knightshade Dragon]

my son turned to me and said "Dad, that youngling was a hero."

Thats awesome dude!  Your kid is cool in my book.

[Jag]

I did think it was interesting that my son thought it was really cool when that one youngling fought the clone troopers (in vain) to save Bail Organa.  When this youngling was finally cut down with laser fire my son turned to me and said "Dad, that youngling was a hero."

That youngling was also Lucas' son.

[Booner]

Saw it enjoyed it......but sometimes you wonder what Lucas is thinking.

[wonderpug]

That youngling was also Lucas' son.

Oh god are you serious?  Next thing you know he'll want to cast NSYNC as extras in a Star Wars movie...

[leo8877]

That youngling was also Lucas' son.

Oh god are you serious?  Next thing you know he'll want to cast NSYNC as extras in a Star Wars movie...

All of Lucas' kids have cameos in the prequels.  Since Ep 1.

So question for you all....which death was the saddest for you?  For me it  was Ki-Adi Mundi.  I hated seeing him go.

[Kevin Grey]

Lucas himself was in ROTS too.

As for saddest death- outside of the younglings I'd say Aayla Secura.  She's a major character in the Republic comics which I enjoy plus the way she was killed with no chance to fight back was a kick in the shorts.

[Starshifter]

Saddest Death:  Mace Windu. My son and I hated to see him go. :cry:

[Starshifter]

Lucas himself was in ROTS too.

Where was Lucas in the movie?

[Starshifter]

my son turned to me and said "Dad, that youngling was a hero."

Thats awesome dude!  Your kid is cool in my book.

Thanks!!!

[Kevin Grey]

Lucas himself was in ROTS too.

Where was Lucas in the movie?

He's an extra in the scene at the opera.  Some Baron or something like that.

[Dafones]

I'm not sure if this is a strange comment, but I think one of the best bits of acting was the little youngling who came out to great Anakin. His little back step in surprise when Anakin's saber was ignited was just amazing.

[whiteboyskim]

Lucas himself was in ROTS too.

Where was Lucas in the movie?

He's an extra in the scene at the opera.  Some Baron or something like that.

He was Baron Papanoida and I've now seen the movie three times and each time I miss looking around for him because I'm watching so many other things. If that was Lucas' son that was killed, then that makes it resonate because he was the one who showed up in the Library in Attack of the Clones. When the Librarian berrates Obi-Wan about the missing planet, a kid shows up and she and he walk off together. That was Lucas' son. Interesting to see the same kid sorta grown up then killed.

[Jag]

Lucas himself was in ROTS too.

Where was Lucas in the movie?

He's an extra in the scene at the opera.  Some Baron or something like that.

Yes, he's all dressed up in blue paint. theforce.net has the pic on the easter egg thread, but i can't spend another 2 hours on that site  :wink:

[Kevin Grey]

He was Baron Papanoida and I've now seen the movie three times and each time I miss looking around for him because I'm watching so many other things.

Went back for a second viewing today and saw him.  He's all the way on the left of the shot where Anakin runs up the steps into the Chancellor's Opera booth.

Also caught the Millenium Falcon landing too.

[zinckiwi]

At the very end the second time I saw it I caught the face of the imperial walking away from the Emperor and Vader as they're standing on the bridge. Thought to myself, "that looks an awful lot like a younger Peter Cushing." Sure enough, "Governor Tarkin" is in the credits.

[Ascendent]

I hated Mace Windu's death, I was like yes kick his ass! Then whoops there goes the hand, and out the window. So question did Mace beat him? or was Sid just faking it to get Anakin to act on his behalf?

Ascendent

[Dafones]

Sid was toying with Windu, and using the confrontation to push Anakin over the edge.

[Crowley]

my son turned to me and said "Dad, that youngling was a hero."

Thats awesome dude!  Your kid is cool in my book.

That scene kind of confused me at first, but the second viewing cleared it up. At first it would seem like the kid jedis save the day, but this isnt the case. Bail comes to the temple and is told to leave, to which some padawans come out trying to hop on his speeder to save thier skin. Had Bail not have been exposed to the clones trying to kill the jedis, he wouldnt have been fired on as he left, and most certainly wouldnt have been given a false explanation and told to leave.

So the kids arnt heros as I see it. Good scene though, and your kid's probably cool too.

[warning]

Darth Noooo!!!!!

Destined to be a classic.

[Sam Hell]

Awesome movie! Very, very satisfying.

I have one small complaint though.
 
Anakin should NOT have been the one to kill all the younglings. He hadn't completely switched to the Dark Side yet but seemed to have no problem offing a dozen children.

Just seemed a little too soon for that degree of evil.

[Dafones]

SPOILER
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Natalie Portman should learn how take a Force Choke better. She sucks at it. On the flip side, Hayden should learn how to give one better. All I could think about was the ol' "I am squishing your head" skit from Kids in the Hall as Anakin gave it to the wife.

[gameoverman]

Awesome movie! Very, very satisfying.

I have one small complaint though.
 
Anakin should NOT have been the one to kill all the younglings. He hadn't completely switched to the Dark Side yet but seemed to have no problem offing a dozen children.

Just seemed a little too soon for that degree of evil.

I disagree a bit on this.  I think that once Anakin knew Palpatine was the Sith Lord and didn't kill him, he was partially switched.  Imagine Obi-wan, Yoda or Mace finding out Palpatine is the Sith and just walking away...not gonna happen, right?  Yes, he reported it but that's not quite the same thing, as we see when things take the next turn-

He takes sides against a Jedi Master in favor of a Sith Lord.  That's it, stick a fork in him, he's done.  Everything he does after that is consistent with that choice, even the force choke of Padme(who he thinks has betrayed him).

The part I quibble with is the flip flop way Mace handles things.  As it is, I'd be inclined to blame him for everything.  If Mace had taken Anakin, Anakin probably wouldn't have sided with the Emperor, since he would have seen the Emperor draw first blood.  If Mace had declared to Anakin his intentions and stuck to it, instead of the 'I'm gonna arrest him...wait! No, I'm gonna kill him' unJedi like indecision, maybe Anakin backs his play.

[JayG]

Spoiler.




I thought that all the Jedis were pretty stupid, especially Yoda. Yoda telling Anarkin that he should allow Padme to die and that all things seem to lead to the dark side was pretty stupid. The Jedi's had lost all connections to the emotional aspects of life, and always seemed to take the safe route. In the original trilogy Yoda tells Luke to allow his friends to die, and to care for them would lead to the dark side. Yet Luke triumphs, and becomes a Jedi with strong family attachments, the very thing the original Jedi's cautioned against. Maybe that was to be the balance of the Force that the chosen one would bring, Jedi's who would be one with nature and able to have family bonds. Personally I felt that the Jedi's deserved their fate. Their arrogence blinded them to Pal's obvious manipulations.

Yoda's still the coolest charecter in the new trilogy though. Very good film, but I still prefer the original trilogy.

[Ibby]

At the theatre I was in, the scene that got the most laughs outside of FrankenVader's "NoooooOOOOO!" was where Mace Windu says (with the most serious look on his face) "I sense a plot to destroy the Jedi Council..."

No shit? Idiot Jedi.

And speaking of blind Jedi, how come they have this entire sensorium of security holograms watching Palpatine and probably everything else that goes on around the city, and yet Obi Wan can push a button in an instant to see that:

1) Ah! Anakin slaughtered the Jedi Temple.  
2) Aha! Palpatine is the Sith Lord!  
3) Oh look! Anakin is the new apprentice.

However, I was really impressed by the capitol ship battle going on at the beginning of the movie.  It was spectacular!

[th'FOOL]

And speaking of blind Jedi, how come they have this entire sensorium of security holograms watching Palpatine and probably everything else that goes on around the city, and yet Obi Wan can push a button in an instant to see that:

1) Ah! Anakin slaughtered the Jedi Temple.  
2) Aha! Palpatine is the Sith Lord!  
3) Oh look! Anakin is the new apprentice.

That hologram sequence was taken within the Jedi temple itself.  Chances are pretty good that they had security cameras there, that they could access there.

Of course, that still doesn't explain the 'highlight reel' that Obi-Wan got, but, hey...

[CrayolaSmoker]

Found this out there.