Revenge of the Sith, finally.
Okay, I can finally converse intelligently (or at least semi-knowledgably) with the cool kids.
First off, that whole "Building the Vader Suit" scene? So freaking cool! Best thing in the whole film for me. Effect mostly killed for me by the tragio-comedic Frankensteinesque "NOOOOOOOO!" at the end of the next scene. Must say, though, that despite the cheeze factor and my low-level-mocking reaction to it, I was really moved by hearing THE Darth Vader voice asking something caring. And also watching Anakin's eyes before that mask came on. Really really cool and sad.
Second, and I know I'm not alone in this one, but I really miss Puppet!Yoda. I still love me some Yoda, but he's just not the soft, Muppety guy he got to be in his really old age.
I accidentally laughed really loud during Padme's death. The medical droid had some unfortunate timing on his "She's lost her will to live. We'll have to operate quickly"-- *pregnant pause, I laugh loudly enough for my neighbors to look at me funny, waiting for him to finish, "to find and restore it"* "--to save the twins."
And Senator Organa (sigh, Jimmy Smits... mmmmm)'s "We'll take the girl. We've always wanted to adopt a baby girl," left me finishing that thought with "yeah, because boys--slugs and snails and puppy dog tails! Better off without 'em."
And, my final little knee-jerk reaction--For the love of custard, is there anyone whose hand/arm DOESN'T get foreshadowingly lopped off? That trick is tired, Mr. Lucas. We got it last time, when whatshisbucket took Anakin's off. That was cool. This was overkill.
Oh, and a question. I think I'm getting this really late. But in that last fight, did Obi Wan cut Anakin's legs off? At first I thought it was his other arm, and that his legs had burnt away, but the more I think back, the more I think they got lopped right off as he flipped over Obi Wan's head.
Overall, I enjoyed myself a lot. I wasn't looking for great writing or acting. I stopped looking for both of those things after The Phantom Menace. These movies aren't about the dialogue or the acting; they're about the greater story and mythologies put forward, and for me, this one paid it off/set up up nicely. I'll probably groan a lot more actively at the writing if/when I see it again.
I had real problems (and I think I saw cunien say something like this) with Obi Wan's reaction to Anakin's final fall. First, I really expected Anakin to fall directly into the lava, though I've been wondering for 25 or so years how one survives that. Anyway. But that Obi Wan gave Anakin a lecture (a very heartfelt lecture, which, incidentally, made me cry a little bit) and then watched him catch fire and scream and suffer as he burnt mostly to death just seemed off for that character. I get that Obi Wan is betrayed and outraged and horrified and not the perfect Jedi. He clearly wasn't able to keep himself from loving any more than Anakin was. But still. For two reasons, that was a bad call. First, if you're looking to destroy the guy who's the rising power for the Big Bad forces of darkness, then freaking finish the job. Second, if you're trying to restore the balance of Good/Evil, then demonstrate the humanity Anakin has lost and give him a merciful death. The Jedi are not about revenge, remember? The solution to both is to take the guy's head off. But again, one of the cool things about Obi Wan is that he isn't perfect. He's flawed, as we all are, but still manages to stay Good.
And in closing, I admit to crying like a titty baby at that sunset shot on Tatooine. I am so ready to get home and watch the first three all over again.
Okay. It's late and I've rambled on forever.
First off, that whole "Building the Vader Suit" scene? So freaking cool! Best thing in the whole film for me. Effect mostly killed for me by the tragio-comedic Frankensteinesque "NOOOOOOOO!" at the end of the next scene. Must say, though, that despite the cheeze factor and my low-level-mocking reaction to it, I was really moved by hearing THE Darth Vader voice asking something caring. And also watching Anakin's eyes before that mask came on. Really really cool and sad.
Second, and I know I'm not alone in this one, but I really miss Puppet!Yoda. I still love me some Yoda, but he's just not the soft, Muppety guy he got to be in his really old age.
I accidentally laughed really loud during Padme's death. The medical droid had some unfortunate timing on his "She's lost her will to live. We'll have to operate quickly"-- *pregnant pause, I laugh loudly enough for my neighbors to look at me funny, waiting for him to finish, "to find and restore it"* "--to save the twins."
And Senator Organa (sigh, Jimmy Smits... mmmmm)'s "We'll take the girl. We've always wanted to adopt a baby girl," left me finishing that thought with "yeah, because boys--slugs and snails and puppy dog tails! Better off without 'em."
And, my final little knee-jerk reaction--For the love of custard, is there anyone whose hand/arm DOESN'T get foreshadowingly lopped off? That trick is tired, Mr. Lucas. We got it last time, when whatshisbucket took Anakin's off. That was cool. This was overkill.
Oh, and a question. I think I'm getting this really late. But in that last fight, did Obi Wan cut Anakin's legs off? At first I thought it was his other arm, and that his legs had burnt away, but the more I think back, the more I think they got lopped right off as he flipped over Obi Wan's head.
Overall, I enjoyed myself a lot. I wasn't looking for great writing or acting. I stopped looking for both of those things after The Phantom Menace. These movies aren't about the dialogue or the acting; they're about the greater story and mythologies put forward, and for me, this one paid it off/set up up nicely. I'll probably groan a lot more actively at the writing if/when I see it again.
I had real problems (and I think I saw cunien say something like this) with Obi Wan's reaction to Anakin's final fall. First, I really expected Anakin to fall directly into the lava, though I've been wondering for 25 or so years how one survives that. Anyway. But that Obi Wan gave Anakin a lecture (a very heartfelt lecture, which, incidentally, made me cry a little bit) and then watched him catch fire and scream and suffer as he burnt mostly to death just seemed off for that character. I get that Obi Wan is betrayed and outraged and horrified and not the perfect Jedi. He clearly wasn't able to keep himself from loving any more than Anakin was. But still. For two reasons, that was a bad call. First, if you're looking to destroy the guy who's the rising power for the Big Bad forces of darkness, then freaking finish the job. Second, if you're trying to restore the balance of Good/Evil, then demonstrate the humanity Anakin has lost and give him a merciful death. The Jedi are not about revenge, remember? The solution to both is to take the guy's head off. But again, one of the cool things about Obi Wan is that he isn't perfect. He's flawed, as we all are, but still manages to stay Good.
And in closing, I admit to crying like a titty baby at that sunset shot on Tatooine. I am so ready to get home and watch the first three all over again.
Okay. It's late and I've rambled on forever.