I do try to always be an intellectual, but can this man be any hotter or more amazing?!? Good night!
I have just returned from seeing Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. I have to say, I enjoyed it rather immensely. I loved the original trilogy, couldn't stomach Episode I and didn't even bother with Episode II. Suffice it to say, I was a bit lost at the beginning of this film as far as characters went, but the principles were obviously the same, so I caught up quickly.
The CGI aspects of this film were unprecendented. The folks working on that part of the film out did themselves, many times over. The battle scenes and duels were incredible, the acting was much better (than in Ep. I...gag me, it was so bad, except for Ewen, of course:), and the character development was great. Hayden Christensen did a fine job. He was very convincing as a character torn between good and evil, greed and control and surrender. However, Ewen McGregor really stole the show. I don't think there are too many actors as young as he is that can convey such epic emotions. You truly felt everything he felt, but not in any contrived, manipulative sort of way. If you can call acting (pretending) genuine, he models it entirely. Oh, and one must mention the other principles. As expected, the Chancellor (Ian McDiarmid) was delightfully despicable and disgusting. Not as expected, Yoda became quite the scene stealer. He was hilarious and received many bouts of spontaneous, boisterous applause. How amazing to have been a part of such a film series.
Politically, I must also have a word on the subject. I read many an article about those at the Cannes Film Festival and others who had been to pre-screenings making comments associating the behavior of Chancellor Palpatine with the decisions and policies of George W. Bush and his administration. I entered the movie theater anxious to see any parallels between the two. I however found none. Those who drew them were either doing their darndest to get a GW jab in or they belong to the lowest class of thinkers, possessing the brain power of a kindergartener. There are no parallels whatsoever between the fictional, evil tyrannt and President Bush. And if one were to assert that, they would then have to assent to the Jedis being the equivalent of Kim Jong Il, Saddam Hussein, and Osama bin Laden. Hopefully, when confronted with this reductio ad absurdum, one would have to admit his logic was really not logical at all. But, that's my job...to point out the absurdity of those belonging to the radical left factions of this world.
So, conservatives, rest assured: your values and choice in leadership will not be assaulted. Go see the film. It was good entertainment--something that has been all but completely lacking lately.
One last thought, does it strike anyone else, other than me, odd that Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman, two very beautiful people had a son that is...well...really not beautiful? I'm not sure how that happened.
All throughout the movie I was thinking, "Padme doesn't belong with HIMMM....she belongs with MEEEEEEE!!!!"....
Posted by: Peter at May 20, 2005 01:35 PM>>>>However, Ewen McGregor really stole the show.
>>>>I don't think there are too many actors as young as he is that can convey such epic emotions.
someone's got a crush, it seems...
and it's not like Lucas could've figured out what was going to happen in 30 years. the story has been set in stone for about 20 years, just some of the sparse details had to be worked out. so the Bush = Vader is a little off.
in fact, since it is Vader who eventually kills the Emperor, ultimately that would make Bush the hero of the series. not what they want in the Democratic Underground!
lastly, Hayden Christensen? beautiful? maybe I just don't know how to make a good looking guy. I never though he was much.
Posted by: MacStansbury at May 20, 2005 05:58 PMWell, Mac, ya got me figured out! Yes, Ewen is my on-screen flame. :)
Hayden is pretty...doesn't quite do it for me, but he is empirically very good looking. So the Mark Hamil thing baffles me a bit.
And you're right about the Vader angle. I forgot about that.
Posted by: Emily at May 21, 2005 12:48 AMYou and your brothers are very much a part of this film series: the very first date your dad and I went on was to the opening night of Star Wars!
And the rest, they say, is history.
Posted by: Mutti at May 21, 2005 09:25 AMafter actually seeing Revenge of the Sith, I came away with the impression that there wasn't enough material here for an hour-long episode of Star Trek, let alone one that was over 2 hours...
but I changed my mind. I do see some correlations between Bush and...the Emperor. I mean, he duped us all into this war! and he's the one who corrupted young Anakin. and it was he, that killed all them noble Jedi. it was he who was sooooooo much smarter than every one else.
oh, wait, smarter....nope, can't be Bush.
Posted by: MacStansbury at May 21, 2005 09:07 PMAfter a spaceship fight, a light saber fight, and R2D2 burninating a bunch of dudes in the first 5 min, I knew this was going to be a great movie. But the very very best part was that Jar Jar Binks didn't open his mouth once.
Posted by: Nick at May 22, 2005 08:04 AMoh, please, Jar Jar Binks was so integral to the frickin series that it's truly amazing that most people don't get it. it was Jar Jar that was promoted to ambassador for his dim=witted victory on Naboo. Jar Jar actually nominated Palpatine to be leader of the Senate. again, stupid Jar Jar was actually a key cog in the whole thing!
again, never misunderestimate the power of the Dark Side.
Posted by: MacStansbury at May 22, 2005 03:37 PMso Mac, what you're saying here is....JarJar = The Emperor?...lol Better yet, to make correlations to "real life", Jar Jar = Who?...Howard Dean?....nah, not loud enough...lol....little help here?
Posted by: Peter at May 23, 2005 02:36 PMMy wife and I saw this together this past saturday (no kids for 3 hours. The closest thing to Club Med you could get in Queens!). She remarked that if you really want to parallel the Emperor with anyone, the real guy would be Kim Il Sung, the original tyrant of North Korea.
Posted by: J Philip at May 24, 2005 07:44 AMGeneral Grevious was Saddam. Emergency powers to fight Saddam, then democracy changed into empire once the war is over to keep the emergency powers.
Posted by: ziggy at May 25, 2005 08:11 AMZiggy!! Good to hear from you. I was worried for quite some time. Interesting theory, but hasn't really played out yet, has it? Glad you're back.
Posted by: Emily at May 25, 2005 08:57 AMNo not yet...
Posted by: ziggy at May 25, 2005 04:24 PM...but I think that's the implication Lucas was making.
Posted by: ziggy at May 25, 2005 04:32 PMWell then again the emergency legislation has not been repealed, and we sort of have an empire, but democracy has not yet been subverted.
Posted by: ziggy at May 25, 2005 05:58 PMwow. some kind of Empire. we don't even control the whole continent, let alone our borders. I'm sure those rebels are quaking in their boots.
but, you know, with the wimpification of Darth Vader, you may be on to something.
Posted by: MacStansbury at May 26, 2005 03:43 PM
