Off-topic: NY Times says Episode III is better than Star Wars

[Iridium]

I bet the writer of the article didn't even see the movie...[:@]

Sorry, your gonna have to get a second source to confirm what came from the NY Times...[:'(][:D]

[DuckofTindalos]

ORIGINAL: Iridium

I bet the writer of the article didn't even see the movie...[:@]

Sorry, your gonna have to get a second source to confirm what came from the NY Times...[:'(][:D]

Yeah, 60 Minutes will probably be featuring it...[8D]

[DrewMatrix]

Sorry, your gonna have to get a second source to confirm what came from the NY Times...

Newsweek perhaps?

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: Beezle

Sorry, your gonna have to get a second source to confirm what came from the NY Times...

Newsweek perhaps?

I don't know weather to laugh or groan....[8|]

[Lord_Calidor]

Of course evil won! They didn't have to fight endless streams of respawning Death Stars and ISDs! Not to mention dissapearing deserting leaders!

(yes, sir Organa your royal highness, I don't know how, but Vader just appeared on our ship's bridge, just as Executor SSD bought the farm...)

[BraveHome]

Evil wins??

Just because a team is ahead at half-time doesn't mean they win the game....

"You may either win your peace or buy it: win it, by resistance to evil; buy it, by compromise with evil." (Ruskin)

[2Stepper]

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

Anyway, a surprisingly enthusiastic review from a newspaper that's not easy to please. Sounds like a not-to-be-missed final installment of Star Wars. If indeed it is final.

Originally, after Star Wars (the first movie, now episode 4) came out and was a success, Lucas said that it was to be a 9 part series, with episodes 7-9 talking about the eventual liberation of the robots, iirc (although i am not sure that was the main theme of the last 3). A friend made a big deal over the fact the only characters in all 9 episodes would be R2D2 and C3PO.

Actually that's "almost" spot on the facts.. "almost".

The original "intent" was for Lucas to have worked on Ep's 1-3 during the late 80's-early 90s while the cast from Ep 4-6 got a bit older. Once Eps 1-3 were done and released, he'd rejoin us with the cast of the first three movies in their new roles in the "New Republic" and the rebirth of the Jedi Knights and we'd get episodes 7-9 coming out now rather then the first trilogy.

In effect what Lucas did was he sold the book rights to the last three episodes to Timothy Zahn and other writers to fill in those story gaps. Primarily because 3 cast members swore up and down they'd have nothing more to do with another Star Wars movie. Alec Guiness, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fischer told Lucas to go fly a kite... Alec Guiness being the most vocal about it before he ultimately passed away.

SO that's the back-story on what ever happened to Episodes 7-9. You can find them, fractured that they are at your local book store. As for the first three we're seeing now? I've always loved the potential of them just like any other good bit of sci-fi, but I marvel at how awful Lucas is at directing young actors. Portman and Christianson are actually really good at what they do. Sad really, but I think all in all I'll enjoy the "completion" of this series. On one hand so I can see Lucas either quietly retire or just go back to doing special effects (something he's good at). And on the other hand so certain questions about how this story links to Episode 4 can be answered.

Things like... Will Padmae live, and if so, in what way does she become close to Bail Organa (played by Jimmy Smits)?

Or just as curiously, how does he explain away his one "gaff" he made by bringing the droids back to Luke's habitat on Tatooine in Episode 2? He acknowledged that was an opps he'd probably have to explain with a memory wipe or something...

That's just a few... Case you wondered, yes, I'm a Star Wars fan... Primarily though because I love how well Lucas built the story. That all along, the real bad guy wasn't Darth Vader, but that it was the Emperor and his machiavalian plans to rule the galaxy. Something he pulled of quite admirably...

Now he gets 30 plus years of ruling everything in sight and eating popcorn while his storm troopers take over the whole galaxy.

[Bossy573]

ORIGINAL: Grotius
The reviewer doesn't say it's perfect. "Mr. Lucas's indifference to two fairly important aspects of moviemaking -- acting and writing -- is remarkable."

Yeah, acting and writing sure can help. [:'(] Imagine that, The Times critic so blown away by the spectacle of it all that he overlooks a sure fire way to grump his way to an "Eh....." review.

Anyway, I still can't wait to see this movie. Wait till the boss finds out why I wont be at work Friday........

[Grotius]

Well, I saw and really enjoyed it. Not only was it hugely entertaining, but it was actually *troubling*, which is not something I expected from a Star Wars movie. This movie is actually about something -- how good becomes evil -- and while it doesn't completely succeed in answering that question, it makes a very spirited effort. Also, the acting and writing were noticeably better this time, even if Lucas still can't direct or write a romantic scene.

I thought it was the best Star Wars movie since "The Empire Strikes Back."

[DamoclesX]

I have to say, I LOVED the 3rd one, some parts were awsome and it was a good movie.

I couldnt belive what he did in the temple, I didnt think lucas had the balls for something like that.

Great movie

[rhondabrwn]

Just got home from the theatre. I would rate it as "passable action adventure fare" and nothing more. As others have commented in published reviews, I felt totally detached from the characters. I'm an emotional gal, but I didn't so much as tear up over any of the deaths. Anakin's "conversion" was ludicrous in it's speed. Later the physical transformation into Darth Vader looked like an INDY team changing tires in a pit stop! They didn't even bother to clean off the burnt skin and clothing remnants... whirrrrr... new legs on.... whirrrr... breath mask drops on.... clunk... add he helmet.... DONE!

I would have cut several of those endless battle scenes and used the time to expand Anakin's "conversion" in both the mental and later physical sense. The length of some of the lightsabre duels could have been shortened also.

Clearly, it was intended as a CGI fest and plot and acting was of lesser concern.

Technically, I HATE space battles that have huge ships flying around a few feet from each other surrounded by 10,000 fighters. I hated that in "Starship Troopers" and I hate it here. Starship combat would be at long distance missile range with a reasonable number of fighters and bombers coming in close. The original Star Wars had it about right in terms of the numbers of ships involved. Of course, then it was a lot harder to create the effects. Now it's too easy to use a "cookie cutter" to put ships into the film. "Independence Day" suffered a bit from skies full of formations of F-18's packed into tight formations as well as the swarms of alien fighters.

They are just overdoing the CGI, it starts looking like wallpaper after awhile.

BTW... surprisingly I thought the much ignored "Starship Troopers 2" was actually a pretty darn good movie. Much more realistic than the original even though it lacked the "stars". Check it out - it's worth watching.

[kaiser73]

The Movie is good. I don't think the actors were so bad. I think the weak point is Lucas as Director.

The story is (for once) "possible". With better dialogues and another director this movie would have become very very good.
As someone said, less battles and more dialogues and more time to the Padme/Anakin story and internal struggle of Anakin would have made wonders. Like giving more time for Anakin to pass to Dark Side...in the movie it happens in 1 minute without much thinking or struggle.

However, it's enjoyable, and much much much better than previous 2 (and of Return of the Jedi).

[Warfare1]

ORIGINAL: rhondabrwn

Just got home from the theatre. I would rate it as "passable action adventure fare" and nothing more. As others have commented in published reviews, I felt totally detached from the characters. I'm an emotional gal, but I didn't so much as tear up over any of the deaths. Anakin's "conversion" was ludicrous in it's speed. Later the physical transformation into Darth Vader looked like an INDY team changing tires in a pit stop! They didn't even bother to clean off the burnt skin and clothing remnants... whirrrrr... new legs on.... whirrrr... breath mask drops on.... clunk... add he helmet.... DONE!

I would have cut several of those endless battle scenes and used the time to expand Anakin's "conversion" in both the mental and later physical sense. The length of some of the lightsabre duels could have been shortened also.

Clearly, it was intended as a CGI fest and plot and acting was of lesser concern.

Technically, I HATE space battles that have huge ships flying around a few feet from each other surrounded by 10,000 fighters. I hated that in "Starship Troopers" and I hate it here. Starship combat would be at long distance missile range with a reasonable number of fighters and bombers coming in close. The original Star Wars had it about right in terms of the numbers of ships involved. Of course, then it was a lot harder to create the effects. Now it's too easy to use a "cookie cutter" to put ships into the film. "Independence Day" suffered a bit from skies full of formations of F-18's packed into tight formations as well as the swarms of alien fighters.

They are just overdoing the CGI, it starts looking like wallpaper after awhile.

BTW... surprisingly I thought the much ignored "Starship Troopers 2" was actually a pretty darn good movie. Much more realistic than the original even though it lacked the "stars". Check it out - it's worth watching.

I think you are spot on with your comments about CGI in movies. Some directors use too much CGI. And it becomes tiresome... and boring...

CGI should enhance a film; CGI should never be the film...

Movies such as Gladiator added CGI in a non-intrusive manner that enhanced the viewing experience...

Just having thousands upon thousands of starships or drones milling about everywhere is just silly...

[rhondabrwn]

ORIGINAL: Warfare1

ORIGINAL: rhondabrwn

Just got home from the theatre. I would rate it as "passable action adventure fare" and nothing more. As others have commented in published reviews, I felt totally detached from the characters. I'm an emotional gal, but I didn't so much as tear up over any of the deaths. Anakin's "conversion" was ludicrous in it's speed. Later the physical transformation into Darth Vader looked like an INDY team changing tires in a pit stop! They didn't even bother to clean off the burnt skin and clothing remnants... whirrrrr... new legs on.... whirrrr... breath mask drops on.... clunk... add he helmet.... DONE!

I would have cut several of those endless battle scenes and used the time to expand Anakin's "conversion" in both the mental and later physical sense. The length of some of the lightsabre duels could have been shortened also.

Clearly, it was intended as a CGI fest and plot and acting was of lesser concern.

Technically, I HATE space battles that have huge ships flying around a few feet from each other surrounded by 10,000 fighters. I hated that in "Starship Troopers" and I hate it here. Starship combat would be at long distance missile range with a reasonable number of fighters and bombers coming in close. The original Star Wars had it about right in terms of the numbers of ships involved. Of course, then it was a lot harder to create the effects. Now it's too easy to use a "cookie cutter" to put ships into the film. "Independence Day" suffered a bit from skies full of formations of F-18's packed into tight formations as well as the swarms of alien fighters.

They are just overdoing the CGI, it starts looking like wallpaper after awhile.

BTW... surprisingly I thought the much ignored "Starship Troopers 2" was actually a pretty darn good movie. Much more realistic than the original even though it lacked the "stars". Check it out - it's worth watching.

I think you are spot on with your comments about CGI in movies. Some directors use too much CGI. And it becomes tiresome... and boring...

CGI should enhance a film; CGI should never be the film...

Movies such as Gladiator added CGI in a non-intrusive manner that enhanced the viewing experience...

Just having thousands upon thousands of starships or drones milling about everywhere is just silly...

Exactly! The first time you see 100,000 CGI troops arrayed it is amazing (LOTR) the next time you see it (TROY) it is boring. Ultimately, it is always going to be the storyline and the acting that makes a great motion picture. Graphics just help enhance the experience.

[Bossy573]

ORIGINAL: rhondabrwn
I felt totally detached from the characters.
Anakin's "conversion" was ludicrous in it's speed.

I was good with them but being a Star Wars junkie, I would have been surprised if it was any different.
The movie was long aleady for this type of thing. Basically, Lucas was making up for the time lost in the unexplainable Episodes I & II. The character development you seek should have been handled more thoroughly before Episode III ever hit the screens. Saw it twivce this weekend and came away fron the second viewing even more impressed. But like I said, I dig the whole scene so mine is not an "unbiased" opinion. [:)]

[coregames]

ORIGINAL: rhondabrwn
Clearly, it was intended as a CGI fest and plot and acting was of lesser concern.

While I enjoyed Episode III, I agree that all three prequels overuse CG to the extreme. At least it didn't seem quite as jolting this time, as Lucas and crew attempted to bridge the gap between the looks of the two trilogies. This movie had the worst dialogue moments of all the Star Wars movies, making me cringe in places (I almost groaned out loud during the lovey dovey moments between Anakin and Padme).

This is one reason I prefer Peter Jackson to Lucas today. Obviously, Jackson owes a lot to the innovations Lucas has brought to moviemaking, but Jackson has retained his love of miniatures and real sets, and also, slaves over the screenplay as lovingly as he does the special effects. It helps that he realizes his limitations and collaborates with his wife and Philippa Bowens. I can't wait for his take on King Kong.

[riverbravo]

I really liked episode 3.I mite even go see it again.

Finaly the dark side wins,the jedi are almost wiped out,yoda is in exile,kenobi to watch over luke.We get to see how Vader became a cyborg,the fall of Annakin, the whole schmeel....man I really liked it.After the last two episodes[8|]

Episode 2 was decent.

Also the Boba Fett thing was pretty neat too....its worth seeing on the big screen.

[pasternakski]

ORIGINAL: coregames
This is one reason I prefer Peter Jackson to Lucas today.

Yeah, I can hardly wait for King Kong XXIII.

[Mr.Frag]

Effects were certainly Lucas level but it just seems like the acting between action scenes was aimed at the absolute minimum number of words to get to the next action shot.

Oh well, thats what you get when you cater to 3 generations at once. Just seemed too rushed to me. Guess LotR has spoiled us to what a movie should be [:D]

[parusski]

Oh yes the acting was wooden. I enjoyed the movie for one reason: Knowing why Darth Vader wore that life support suit. The ending should be re-done though. Show what happens to Luke and Lea first, then show the mask going on DV. The last thing we should hear is Darth Vader taking that fist wicked breath.