Posted on 06/06/2005 11:32:51 AM PDT by quidnunc
What can you say about a movie whose most engaging character is a two-foot tall, pointy-eared, green alien? "Star War III: The Revenge of the Sith" is heavy on special effects but sparse on drama, romance, and emotion.
It’s also filled with director George Lucas’s muddled thinking. And, yes, it’s science fiction in the service of Michael Moore’s worldview.
Despite its record-breaking opening, the last Star Wars installment is bad cinema, because it is a poor narrative. The light-saber duels are fun. The alien creations are cool. The attempts to portray passion or the corruption of the human spirit (how a man loses his soul) are pathetic.
In Christensen and Portman, Lucas has found a romantic duo who belong in a remake of "Beach Blanket Bingo." As Anakin Skywalker, Hayden Christensen is a sulking, pretty boy who scowls a lot and attempts to project angst. His transformation from the basically-decent-but-flawed Jedi Knight to the evil Darth Vader is Faust Light.
As former Princess, now Senator, Padme (Anakin’s secret wife), Natalie Portman seems perpetually bewildered. (A condition that probably results from reading too much Jedi philosophy — "Thus Spake Yoda.") Her expressions span the spectrum from looking moonstruck to being perplexed over her husband’s increasingly erratic behavior.
Then there’s Anakin’s less-than-credible conversion to the Dark Side of the Force. The sinister Chancellor Palpatine seduces our young Jedi by promising to give him the power to save his beloved wife from death (of which Skywalker has graphic premonitions). Then, in the climatic scene — believing Padame has betrayed him — Skywalker/Vader tries to strangle his pregnant spouse. "Luke, I’m your father — and I’m confused as hell!"
That’s about all the space the plot deserves.
-snip-
I wasted my time and money on it this weekend and agree.
I'm having a hard time understanding how liberals think that they are really sticking it to the GOP with this film though. The Dim's are the ones who love every dictator they find around the globe. This entire plot was based on the old soviet empire. Are the lib's suddenly disavowing their loyalty to the old Marxist ideals? Do they now suddenly agree with the GOP that the Soviet regime needed to be overthrown? Sorry, either I'm very confused or they are. Either way, its Lucas' fault now.
Did anyone seriously expect Citizen Kane? It's a sci-fi epic, not some la-de-da production of a Chekov play designed to provoke beard-scratching discussion about its deeper message. Some people have just got to get over themselves and realize that not everything has to be subjected to intensive analysis. Just enjoy it or don't as the case may be.
Wookies.....
I thought the scenery was fantastic. I enjoyed every minute of it. The plot was a little weak...but it wasn't that bad ....There are ALOT worse out there playing. I would see this again.
Well said. I thought if anything it supported the Republican position..good over evil.
Its a shame the actors were not allowed to use facial expressions.
Wow. What's David Mamet got that Lucas ain't?
/sarcasm
Fill in the blanks with words that are anagrams of the same four letters:
"I'm not sure I want to see ____ ____ ____."
"Many sequels do I see, much merchandise will we sell."
I didnt expect Citizen Kane, but I expected the actors to speak their lines with some emotion. It appeared as though a "run through" had been printed and edited in by mistake. S.L Jackson was especially bad. Jimmy Smits was there, why?
There were a few places where my wife and I laughed out loud to the point where I think we annoyed those around us.
And, at the end, they are stading in front of the "death star" that was just about at the construction point as it was at the begining of the original star wars. The only problem was that the kids still had about 17 years to grow. Was this Death star being built by union labor?
I watched "Independence Day" twice on Sunday. Enjoyed it both times. One was called the "DVD" version and the other was called the "enhanced" version.
You would be correct if the movie was made purely for its entertainment value.
But when Lucas injected politics into it, it became fair game for criticism at all levels.
My 11 yr old daughter didnt even want to go see it with us!
The whole audience groaned after that piece of genius dialouge in the theatre I was in.
I enjoyed the action...and took the movie for what it is...mere entertainment but it could have been so much more if a talented writer had done the script. Sad.
You're so beautiful.
It's only because I'm so in love.
No, it's because I'm so in love with you.
Nuh-uh, I love you more!
Yuh-huh, I do to love you more!
No way!
Way!
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