"All Good Things Must Come To An End."
Farewell "Star Wars", on the big screen. Very few things are more important than money to the Cable and Satellite Federations!
Seriously, I'll start with the bad: Lucas can't write dialogue between lovers worth beans. He has a couple of handicaps: Anakin hasn't *essentially* changed, despite his promotion to Jedi Knight. Furthermore, the upper classes of the Old Republic learned a formal way of speaking. But I have heard better dialogue in BBC period pieces.
Worst of all, the more Anakin is consumed by the dark side, the more often Christensen speaks through clenched teeth. (There is one beautiful exception, see below).
As before, EVERY political and philosophical point, and counter-point, is spoken aloud. Ah well, the few quiet and perceptive kids will investigate these points further. I hope they will, even if their high school history and government classes aren't known for intellectual rigor.
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The Most Memorable Line -- by a mile -- are Obi-wan's last words (for 18 years) to "the chosen one." I've been there, once or twice. I can empathise.
During a conference, Yoda smoothes his hair. The second-most-powerful Jedi has a healthy amount of pride. ;-D
The leader of an outer-rim planet gives a confident and smiling Obi-wan a formal greeting. Pause. He leans forward and quickly tells Obi-wan where the Separatist commander is hiding. Some boys never "grow up." :-D
Yoda's advice to Anakin: to banish fear, and the siren's call of the dark side which follows upon that, a Jedi must accept that even those he or she loves will die. My father needs to hear that . . .
. . . As well as Amidala's teary-eyed complaint to Darth Vader about what the dark side has done to the man she knew and loved. When you cling to power -- blinding, dessicating, "ultimate" power -- power pushes love out of your heart and out of your life.
Darth Vader's lines in this scene are understandable. They are also reminiscent of Heathcliff persuading Mrs. Catherine Earnshaw to run away with him; his desire to completely possess his beloved is the subtext of his declarations of love.
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I have to say it: Ian McDiarmid is superb as the silky, enigmatic and manipulative Palpatine. However, an old, cherished friend of mine returns in "Sith." Ewan McGregor is pure joy to watch as Obi-wan Kenobi. The wise and supportive friend and mentor I admire, and, the wry and playful wit I adore <3 have finally emerged. He is a Jedi Master, indeed.
Seriously, I'll start with the bad: Lucas can't write dialogue between lovers worth beans. He has a couple of handicaps: Anakin hasn't *essentially* changed, despite his promotion to Jedi Knight. Furthermore, the upper classes of the Old Republic learned a formal way of speaking. But I have heard better dialogue in BBC period pieces.
Worst of all, the more Anakin is consumed by the dark side, the more often Christensen speaks through clenched teeth. (There is one beautiful exception, see below).
As before, EVERY political and philosophical point, and counter-point, is spoken aloud. Ah well, the few quiet and perceptive kids will investigate these points further. I hope they will, even if their high school history and government classes aren't known for intellectual rigor.
***************************************************************************
The Most Memorable Line -- by a mile -- are Obi-wan's last words (for 18 years) to "the chosen one." I've been there, once or twice. I can empathise.
During a conference, Yoda smoothes his hair. The second-most-powerful Jedi has a healthy amount of pride. ;-D
The leader of an outer-rim planet gives a confident and smiling Obi-wan a formal greeting. Pause. He leans forward and quickly tells Obi-wan where the Separatist commander is hiding. Some boys never "grow up." :-D
Yoda's advice to Anakin: to banish fear, and the siren's call of the dark side which follows upon that, a Jedi must accept that even those he or she loves will die. My father needs to hear that . . .
. . . As well as Amidala's teary-eyed complaint to Darth Vader about what the dark side has done to the man she knew and loved. When you cling to power -- blinding, dessicating, "ultimate" power -- power pushes love out of your heart and out of your life.
Darth Vader's lines in this scene are understandable. They are also reminiscent of Heathcliff persuading Mrs. Catherine Earnshaw to run away with him; his desire to completely possess his beloved is the subtext of his declarations of love.
***************************************************************************
I have to say it: Ian McDiarmid is superb as the silky, enigmatic and manipulative Palpatine. However, an old, cherished friend of mine returns in "Sith." Ewan McGregor is pure joy to watch as Obi-wan Kenobi. The wise and supportive friend and mentor I admire, and, the wry and playful wit I adore <3 have finally emerged. He is a Jedi Master, indeed.