Revenge of the Sith, a scathing review
I hated Star Wars Episode 3, Revenge of the Sith with a passion. But I feel like I am the only one. It’s me against most of the world with the exception of a small minority. People keep asking me why I hated it so much, and I am tired of saying the same thing over and over again. So I decided to take a few hours and write it down. Some of you might call me a nerd, and honestly, I feel like punching myself in the face for caring about this so much. But the thing is, this universe is a very important part of my childhood, and any of you who are between 31 and 37 years old would probably agree. Episode 3 represents the most important of the 3 prequels for so many reasons, but mostly because it leads directly into the first scrolling opening credits I ever read (or had read to me actually). And, I am sad to admit, I let myself have high hopes for this one, even after the crap that was the first 2.
Since writing this, I have reread it a few times. I apologize in advance for it’s extreme length. I had a lot to say. Too much, maybe. It is 6 MS Word pages long, and god knows how long it will look in this format. Sorry. Really. You are under no obligation to finish it.
Beware. There will be spoilers, many of them, in this rant, er, review…
The first movie I ever remember attending in my life was Star Wars Episode 4. It was on a weekday afternoon, a matinee, in 1977, when I was 4 years old. My mother packed soda and candy in her giant pocketbook, because even then, we didn’t have the money for overpriced popcorn and giant soft drinks. I don’t remember actually sitting there watching the movie as much as I remember talking about it with her afterwards. I begged to go to the store to buy some figures, and she caved. We went to Kmart, and for whatever reason, there were no Hans or Lukes, so I walked away with a Chewbacca and a C3PO, and I still have them both. Over the years, other toys would follow, and C3PO would grow dull and loose, becoming the equivalent of a plastic metallic scarecrow, that laid in the case unused, while the cloud city outfit Luke Skywalker went on rugged adventures.
As a side note, in the early 80’s, you were either a Luke guy, or a Han guy, much like you can only be an Elvis guy or a Beatles guy, but never both. I imagine Ben Affleck was a Han Solo guy, and Matt Damon was a Luke Skywalker guy. I always thought of myself as a Luke guy, and of Han guys as dicks. I digress.
I went into Episode 3 last week, on opening day afternoon, with my hopes high. Initial critic reviews were good. The footage looked great on all the trailers and the press tours, and I had great seats in my favorite theater for a beautiful DLP version of the film. Even the first 20 minutes were promising, that was, until Obi Wan passed R2D2 a Nextel 2-way in the hangar of the mothership. It was there that the downward spiral began, and Lucas never recovered.
For the record, I hated Episodes 1 and 2. Hated. I don’t own the DVDs, and I am basically pretending they didn’t happen. But again, I entered Episode 3 with an open mind.
I think George Lucas writes like a complete amateur. Not just dialog, mind you, because everyone knows he can’t write dialog. What he does, consistently, in every screenplay he touches, is paint himself into corners, and then breaks his own rules to get himself out. It’s like he has a few scenes in his head that he will get to, whatever the cost to plausibility. He meanders his way to them with no focus, no imagination, and no insight into the human psyche.
There is so much wrong with the film that it hard for me to focus my thoughts. I apologize in advance for my own meandering. I will start however, to be fair, with what is good.
Ewan McGregor finally has a chance to act like a human in this film. He brings a playfulness, and a love of his art to Obi Wan, like we have not seen since Alec Guinness. The human side of Obi Wan is what we have craved since the beginning of this series, from him, and from everyone else. I applaud Ewan’s ability to work well, even in the midst if the shit he is surrounded with.
General Grievous is a phenomenal new character to the series, maybe my favorite yet, and he is used well. His fighting scenes are outstanding, with the exception of the giant iguana thing, but I’ll save that for the long list of what is wrong. I even love the coughing, though admittedly, not until I was sure he was a cyborg and that there were organic lungs in there somewhere.
The Count Dukuu fight near the beginning of the movie is outstanding, despite the problems I have with the way Jedi fight in general. I was disappointed that Obi Wan was knocked out of commission, yet again, by a giant piece of architecture, but Anakin and the fight’s ending was worth that little flaw.
The intro scene, where Obi Wan and Anakin crash land into the mothership thing, ejecting at the last minute and cutting down the hordes of droids was well-choreographed, exciting, and great fun to watch.
And… that’s about it. Seriously, there is almost nothing else redeeming about this turd. Let me elaborate…
George Lucas has a huge imagination, and does well with the BIG picture. It’s the execution where he falters. No one can deny the magnitude and diversity of the Lucas Star Wars universe. Character development, human emotion, philosophy, and cleverness is what his films lack. I’ll start at the biggest pieces and work my way down to R2’s two-way.
With Episodes 1 – 3, Lucas has destroyed the mystical, ancient, and beautiful myth of his own Jedi but relegating them to clone army generals, born of a biological mutation (midi chlorians return in this episode), with invincible powers of offense and defense, that is, until it becomes convenient to kill them off. What started off as the equivalent of Ronin Samurai, glorious, mysterious, powerful, become nothing more than tragically political soldiers in a characterless army of Kiwi clones. What an absolute and total waste. The original Star Wars is based very closely on a beautiful Kirosawa epic, Hidden Fortress, and at the time, Lucas understood what Samurai meant. Well, he lost his way, sacrificed the elegance for the sake of neatly wrapping up his story. The Jedi council is now forever etched in my memory as a house of politicians, voting, scheming, puppeteering, and bickering, instead of training, praying, meditating, and leading a free society through their esteemed example.
For a moment I will talk about their fighting style. Anyone who has ever trained or watched, or even read about the martial arts will agree that universally, as one grows in experience and age in the fighting arts, the movements get smaller, softer, and subtler. The lines between living, walking, talking, and fighting blend, and become graceful, powerful, and intertwined. The gross ( mean “gross” in the context of size and not aesthetic) movements, spinning kicks, giant sword swings, violent collisions of defense become subtle changes in posture and position. The beauty of supreme martial arts is in its subtlety, in the smallness, in how difficult is it to see. In Lucas’ world, supreme mastery of the Jedi way is characterized my acrobatics, speed, and flair.
What I expect to see is the young and petulant Anakin Skywalker fighting Dukuu with flips and aerobatics, speed and fury, while Duuku counters effortlessly, single handedly, calmly. This could serve to frustrate Anakin, in a very quiet way, pointing out his flaws and lack of experience. It is so frustrating to watch Yoda bounce around like a glowing pinball, off the walls and ceiling, hurling giant hunks of architecture, and destroying the halls of freedom he defends with complete and total disrespect. Obviously these insights into human behavior are well beyond George Lucas.
Let me add how much I hate the Jedi ability to block lasers from hundreds of blasters at a time, from all angles, nearly infallibly. That is, until Lucas needs a way to kill them off. At that point, 4 clone soldiers can turn and fire their blasters and kill even the most seasoned Jedi master. What a joke. It was a joke to begin with, but obviously Lucas has the inability to write strategy and experience into the Jedi, so he relies on straight ahead tactics, like dropping Obi Wan in the middle of hundreds of droid enemies without even a hint of fear. That’s not a strategy, it’s suicide, and it’s lame. A 12 year old could write better fighting tactics.
Let me switch gears a little bit, and talk about the so-called armies for a second. How boring, and morally convenient is it for Lucas to write the Republic army as a group of mindless, personalityless clones, and the Separatist army as droids? How easy it is for Lucas to avoid all questions of the morality, complexity, and difficulty of war, when no one cares a shit about any of the soldiers from either army? He kills thousands upon thousands, but never once has to explain it, justify it, or have any characters come to terms with it. So immature, and so irrelevant in the context of the modern world, where real decisions, even the smallest, place young men and women in harm’s way, and all decisions, no matter how insignificant cost real lives. In my mind, there is a movie in there somewhere, one that takes the time and responsibility to take the difficult road rather than the easy way out every time. I see an army of men, ordered to do good and evil, and all the gray area in between. I see that army struggling with it’s orders in the face of certain death, but inspired by those selfless Jedi who put themselves last, every time. Samurai means “to serve” in Japanese, and that seems particularly fitting when we talk about the Jedi in this context.
And when these clones are eventually ordered to slaughter the honored and trusted Jedi, who have fought for years (?) beside them as brothers, not a single soldier falters, questions or hesitates. The plan had obviously been dispersed previously since “order 66” was all they needed to hear to know to cut down these men and women in cold blood. Not a single soldier tipped off their friends. Not a single soldier. One word would have spoiled the plan, but it never came. And when those soldiers turned, they turned with callous hatred, the kind that shoots a man in the back, and flies away without a spec of conscience. I guess this means the clones are even less that we suspect earlier, that clones are essentially droids, with no conscience, decision making ability, or free will. If that is that case, then so be it, but remove the dialog about trust of the clone captain, and eliminate their humanity altogether. Make it as easy as possible for lazy Lucas to get to where he needs to be – 2 living Jedi, and an Empire from a Republic in a matter of seconds. Add to this, the Jedi’s complete inability to defend themselves, and you have what could possibly be the biggest tragedy ever put on film, and not the kind of tragedy Lucas was aiming for.
The fall of the Republic is categorized by the best line in the film, Amadala’s “This is how liberty dies. With thunderous applause.” Again, Lucas takes three films for Palpatine to orchestrate the coups, but never once spends any time on the descent that should be present in the senate. We all know, from our own sordid history, that there is always descent. In Rome, in Germany, and the modern US, the dictatorial coup comes only after descent, and murder, both of which Lucas so immaturely ignores. And Palpatine is welcomed with open arms, even after the sketchy details of his rise are revealed. They take for granted the fact that the Jedi have turned, and embrace a dictator as a savior. That is not the real world and it is simply not plausible.
As a small side not, you cannot have a Republic without the press in some form or another. You can’t have elected officials in an intergalactic senate, if the people don’t have any clue as to what’s going on. Again, the easy way out has no alien version of CNN or Bill O’Reilly.
The fall of Anakin has been touted by reviewers as believable and satisfying, yet I found it completely ridiculous and unrewarding. The story I think Lucas wanted to tell was about a gifted Jedi who is seduced by power and misguided by anger, who turns to the one nurturing “father figure” in his life despite his questionable morality. THAT would be a great character arc, but we never get it. What we get instead is the whining, spoiled, immature Anakin, who questions himself all the way up to the last second. Who does NOT turn to the dark side for any of the reasons. Instead, Lucas hinges the fall on Anakin’s love for Amadala, and his desire to save her life only. He struggles until the last second, and then, when he does kill Mace Windu, suddenly we are expected to believe that he is instantly turned into the coldest heart in the universe, and can enter the Jedi council and slaughter the Jedi “younglings.” (Don’t get me started on the “younglings”. They are fucking children, not trees, and this term is completely ridiculous and spoils what emotion the audience has for their deaths, with laughter, yes laughter. The audience in my showing giggled upon hearing the term.) It just doesn’t track. Let me rewrite Anakin for second to help demonstrate what I think would have worked.
Anakin is a very gifted youth. His piloting skills, mechanical skills, and mastery of the force are unparalleled. When his Jedi training begins, he quickly surpasses the other students, and grows frustrated by the slowness of his instruction. Much like the modern day gifted student, who are often bored and misbehaved, Anakin grows more difficult to control. When the Jedi finally decide to take him out of regular classes, they entrust him to Obi Wan, who is shocked by how quickly Anakin picks up all of his tricks. Suddenly, the master is becoming the student of the Padowan. Anakin obviously wants more, and feels the force pulsing through him, unused, and unchecked. For a time, Anakin become the Tiger Woods or Kobi Bryant of the Jedi, the youngest, the most powerful, almost unbelievably, and very quickly legendary. I learned the most important lesson of my life from Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben when I was 5 years old. “With great power comes great responsibility.” But when our hero never really has to pay for the power because of his natural gifts, the idea of responsibility is much more difficult to instill. We could see Anakin as hot headed, a show off, and power-hungry, impatient to wait his turn, and earn the respect of the elders.
Ultimately, when Palpatine courts him with the promise of power, Anakin is persuaded. Palpatine might show him some tricks. Later, Obi Wan will question where Anakin learned these things. This might sound a bit similar to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, because IT IS. Because that story, of the corruption of the young dragon is believable, classic, to many of the hero tales we know from mythology to comic books.
When Anakin turns completely, it should be mostly out of his control. The power of the dark side should infect him, slowly, like cancer, taking over his body and his mind until he no longer has a choice. The opening of Anakin’s Pandora’s box would be his pursuit of instruction from Palpatine. Amadala should be his unwitting sacrifice, and not the cause of his downfall.
Some of you might think what I just described is what you saw. I assure you it was not. Your affinity for Star Wars is clouding your ability to see what Lucas actually put on film, and you are “filling in the blanks” as you see fit, so you can walk away satisfied. Lucas wrote a story of a boy, who never becomes a man, who whines and complains his way to distrust and indecision. We are meant to believe he becomes heartless and evil because he wants to save his wife. It just does not work.
I’ll quickly touch on some of the smaller details that bother me so much. Many of you probably noticed these things, but choose to ignore. I can understand. But I am on a rant here, and nothing is sacred, so forgive my indulgence.
R2D2 should not have jetpacks in his legs. Lucas uses them only when he has written himself into a corner, and has nothing left to do with useless R2. R2 should not fight droid soldiers. He should never be a combatant. He should have built-in wireless, silent communication. Giving him a two-way is ridiculous and implausible, and adds only to a lame attempt at comedy relief. R2 standing in a hangar while Obi Wan shouts orders over a loudspeaker is just plain stupid.
The first thing Jedi’s should be trained to do is HOLD ONTO THEIR FUCKING LIGHTSABERS. Our main characters, the most gifted of all the Jedi, lose their lightsabers 5 times per film. It is a ridiculous joke when it falls out of reach again and again. They can either call it back with their minds or they can’t. They can’t simply lose the thing every time it’s convenient. It is understandable however, why Lucas needs to do this so often: because he wrote them as so powerful they block the blasters of a hundred droids, that there is no combat situation where the audience feels the Jedi is in peril. Therefore, when he needs that situation, he finds a way to lose the saber. This is unacceptable.
If I were covertly infiltrating the villains lair, in order to have the element of surprise against the leader of the opposing force’s army, I would not, repeat NOT, choose a giant iguana with a screeching bird head on top. Not only is the iguana’s movement mechanics completely inefficient for riding, the fact that the loudest noise in the whole film is the fucking bird screech should indicate it’s probably not the best mode of transportation for such a mission. The way an iguana runs, as is demonstrated in the movie is with the frantic back and forth motion of its front and back hips. A person, even a Jedi, would be shaken off in a matter of seconds. This is such a poor choice of creature design, that it ruined one of the best parts of the movie for me, which was the great fight between Grievous and Obi Wan. Total shit. Thanks George.
Last two things, I promise. It is infinitely clear that C3PO and R2D2 are in Episode’s 1 – 3 for nostalgic value only. Their stories are never concluded in a meaningful way. Instead, Lucas, again take the easy way out, and Jimmy Smits’, Senator Organa declares “wipe the memory of protocol droid” at nearly the end of the movie. Not only does he forget to mention anything about wiping R2, he simply dismisses our questions since Episode 1 about this issue with the stupidest, simplest, easiest way out. It’s almost hard to believe, but coming from Lucas, nothing is hard to believe anymore. As a side note, wasn’t it weird that Jimmy Smits, the only Hispanic guy in the movie drives a convertible low-rider? How racist and lame.
The addition of the Wookies and Chewbacca serves absolutely no purpose in the movie. They introduce Chewbacca when Yoda says goodby. The Wookie combat makes up about 3 minutes of screentime, and I still can’t figure out why he did it. Did we need to meet Chewbacca? Absolutely not. Did we ever question his origin? No. Did we even get an origin? No. All we got was yet another audience cheer to some on-screen nostalgia. Cheap thrills go a long way I guess.
In conclusion, George Lucas did the wrong thing with his fans for the last 6 years. He has taken our generation’s mythology and treated it, and us, with complete and total disrespect. His inability to let go of his ideas and let professional writers help craft his stories has tainted what we knew to be an important part of our growing up. He overexplained its history, turned our beloved characters into implausible puppets, and broke his own rules of his universe time and time again as a trade off for the cheap laughs and even cheaper cheers. George Lucas, thank you for giving us the Star Wars universe, and shame on you for taking it away.
Chris, very nice critique of the movie. You explained your issues very clearly and in a conscise detailed manner.
While I definitely agree with a lot of the weaker points of the film, I think Ep. 3 was the best of the prequels because it brought the audience back to the fantastical element in the original 3 films.
One thing though — for George Lucas to encapsulate all those things you mentioned — from discussing the merits of war to detailed explanations of complex interpersonal relationships — the movie would have had to be 15 hours long!
Lucas’ goal, I think, was more fantastical than logical. It was about finishing with the imaginational quotient he began Star Wars with… not a critique on serious issues of modern culture.
But yes, R2D2 was misused in this film and the C3PO mind wipe was particularly cheesy and stupid.
Oh, I meant “concise” in an ironic fashion above. May the force be with you.
I’ll try to state this in the simplest possible way: you are reading way, waaaay too much into this(these) movie(s). Nothing about Star Wars makes sense, it’s a fantasy about Camelot in space, with little high-school drama cliches thrown around as excuses. You thought the first movies were good because you were 5 years old when you watched the first one. So was I. They are all silly and stupid and funny and a cheap thrill. Is it a wasted opportunity? hell yes – I have my own list of things “wrong” with the movie – but at least Lucas geniunely tried to have a big payoff in this movie, and he gave most people what they wanted: explanation for everything, loose and silly as they may be. I just find it funny to hear people get apparently offended about this stuff.
Love your blog btw, please don’t take my comments the wrong way.
That was a crazy long review!
It’s funny to think that the whole second trilogy (ep 4,5,6) could have been avoided if only Amidala had remebered to take her contraceptive pills like a good girl
I made a list of what other amazing movies could have been done with the money instead.
Dude, you have way too much time on your hands.
Let Lucas have his fun
I was sooooo disappointed. He converted to the Dark side in 17.8 seconds. The whole saga is pretty much based around it (good vs evil), and you mean to tell me that was it. One minute hes saying thats not the Jedi way to kill and betray …the next minute hes on his knees obeying the Emperor. I waited 30 years for this??? Ugh.
Ok, maybe not 30 years.
What happened to episodes 7, 8 and 9? Or did I dream that there were supposed to be nine episodes?
chris,
great review and pov on lucas and the new star wars. i love star wars, but have to admit, have been diasppointed by many many things since empire strikes back.
there are WAY more things “wrong”with this particular film and the series in general – which i hope you explore again. there are so many one should write a book. i have to get in – here’s some of my lame rantings.
the whole lava fight? they would have been sweating and covered in blisters and flames fighting so close to lava like that. oh, but i guess thats why anikin bursts into flames when obi wan cut his legs off. you know – he’s laying next to a lava river – not burning himself being pressed against the hot ground- then, just suddenly, burst into flames.
i ALWAYS had a problem with r2d2. why don’t ALL droids have levitation and wireless communications – and not rockets when it’s convenient? like that little platform anakin was standing on in the lava fight scene and probe droids they send out to look for bodies/escaped jedi or that thing that moved carbonite frozen han solo? you would think with all the advances in technology in the universe – especially with A.I. – droids would by default at least have wireless. my mom has wireless.
why is the droid army skinny lame non intimidating droids carrying guns? why not just have huge levitating guns? the physical manifestation of a non intimidating skinny human serves no point. i’d make an army of those rolling sheilded droids. my droid army would be levitating, wireless capable, shielded lazer cannons that were also designed to explode with shrapnel when within 10 feet of the enemy or touched with any energy beam, like, say, a lightsaber.
i think why the moral consequences of war don’t come into play is because it is basically droids vs clones – and if clones are essentially faceless biological droids – fuck em right? the ONLY time in all the star wars movies when death made any emotional impact to me was when one of the ewoks was shot by a stormtrooper – died – and another ewok went up to the body and shook it – like as if to wake him up. i cried. otherwise – it’s like the old gi joe cartoons. a bunch of colored lasers going back and forth and machines blowing up. although in star wars -you have a dead body or two after the action. oh, when luke skywalkers aunt and uncle dide – that was pretty nasty too…
spacecraft physics? don’t get me started. why do huge starships have giant thrusters on the tail end – which – when they are damaged – throw the starship toward the nearest planet surface/additional giant starship?
smaller spacecraft – huge thrusters for forward motion – yet – are nimble and maneuverable in a zero g environment with nothing to initiate yaw, pitch and roll. let me guyss – the ship has some sort of magnetic levitation that can move it in any driection. put this fucking technology in your droids.
i try to suspend my disbelief of such logic flaws to get lost in a story – but with no story – this is what i think about to enjoy the movie.
i’m done…
I have got to say, i am a little young to be so involved in the star wars scene. Being born in 1987 i didnt see 4,5 and 6 until my brother decided to show me the light one day when i was ten years old. Since the first orchestra hit and gigantic yellow title i have been in love with star wars. The first three episodes made were classics, there is not doubt about that. X-wings, the death star, it was all gold. Where i split away from you and apperently most older star wars fans is that i largely enjoyed the three new episodes. Episode One ill admit left a little to be desired, but it was episode one. There was nothing before it and noone knew what was coming after it. Two was the same deal, it followed one but it was a prequel to the unknown. Therefore, Episode Three was the link that bridged everything together. We all saw two, we all left wanting three and knowing after three we would all run home and watch four again. Three was by far the best of the new episodes if you ask me. Giant igwanas, ship physics, war morals … that kind of stuff is just getting rediculous if you ask me. If you look into any movie no matter how good or bad you can find hundreds of little flaws like that. George Lucas is a man, at the end of the day he is star wars and it is his, whatever he does it what happens. There is really no basis for debate. Lucas made this entire universe, if you dont like it, then you just dont. Its not like these three episodes were done by someone different, star wars as a whole is the work, love it or hate it. Three was full of story, emotion, and of course awesome lightsaber fights. It wasn’t all perfect though, i will admit that the whole 4 soldiers killing jedi masters with just blasters seemed a little rediculous, any jedi master would be able to feel that something wasnt right and in turn be ready to defend himself. Flaws like that aside, i enjoyed the movie and the series as a whole is still great if you ask me. Great blog by the way, keep it up. Nothing like some good star wars debate
Never liked the original Star Wars but have always viewed them as good movies…just not for me. The new ones were total shit, however. I agree with you that the writing is lazy and Lucas’ inability to convey human emotion is comical. It all feels so strained and mechanical. The ego on that guy has to be galactic.
PS Elvis people and Beatles people….how about Star Wars people and Star Trek people? Can they mix?
Never liked the original Star Wars but have always viewed them as good movies…just not for me. The new ones were total shit, however. I agree with you that the writing is lazy and Lucas’ inability to convey human emotion is comical. It all feels so strained and mechanical. The ego on that guy has to be galactic.
PS Elvis people and Beatles people….how about Star Wars people and Star Trek people? Can they mix?
Never liked the original Star Wars but have always viewed them as good movies…just not for me. The new ones were total shit, however. I agree with you that the writing is lazy and Lucas’ inability to convey human emotion is comical. It all feels so strained and mechanical. The ego on that guy has to be galactic.
PS Elvis people and Beatles people….how about Star Wars people and Star Trek people? Can they mix?
Never liked the original Star Wars but have always viewed them as good movies…just not for me. The new ones were total shit, however. I agree with you that the writing is lazy and Lucas’ inability to convey human emotion is comical. It all feels so strained and mechanical. The ego on that guy has to be galactic.
PS Elvis people and Beatles people….how about Star Wars people and Star Trek people? Can they mix?
Never liked the original Star Wars but have always viewed them as good movies…just not for me. The new ones were total shit, however. I agree with you that the writing is lazy and Lucas’ inability to convey human emotion is comical. It all feels so strained and mechanical. The ego on that guy has to be galactic.
PS Elvis people and Beatles people….how about Star Wars people and Star Trek people? Can they mix?
typical goomba, bs review! stick to doodles or dumbass games. psyche!
Mo – gotcha the first time – no need to repeat yourself.
And if you don’t like the first 3 – i don’t care what you have to say about these.
As for you Mr. Diclerico…
Chris – you ignorant slut.
You (like george lucas) completely contradict yourself. You start off your story about how you were 4 and loved the movie – and how these new ones have let you down.
DUDE – YOU WERE FOUR!
When ROTJ came out you were 12. When Episode III came out – you were 31. You can’t compare the two.
Look at the old movies – TONS AND TONS of gaping holes – but we were kids and we just enjoyed these movies.
Han – frozen in carbonite – and all it takes is Leia to press some buttons and he’s fine? She drops the worst line in any of the movies:
Han (now blind) – “Who are you?”
Leia – “Someone who loves you”
Me – “blech”
The coolest bad guy of all time Boba Fett – killed by accident in comical hijinks on a skiff – terrible – only to be made worse Saarlac pit burping to finalize the punchline. – remember this is the guy the entire clone army was based on.
Oh and don’t get me started with Ewoks – THE LAND OF TEDDY BEARS SAVES THE DAY.
You know what – I loved every bit of Return of the Jedi. I was 11.
Did I care about space physics or the ways of the space samuri? No. Was it a perfect movie? No. Did I dress up as Han and have a Star Wars birthday party (with R2D2 pinata) – you bet your ass I did.
I liked Episode III a lot. Yes the midi chlorians ruined it for me somewhat – Yes casting Hayden Christiansen was pretty bad (although listen to this clip of Luke to remember what a whiny bitch he was. But the kid in me says – Episodes 1-3 (and the Clone Wars Cartoon) allowed me to see so much more into the Star Wars universe – so I’m willing to give it a LOT of liberties. Luckily this movie was MUCH improved over the last 2 and it wrapped itself up nicely. Would I have made changes? Sure – but remember this is a movie for you and the rest of the 4 year olds out there.
One real question – in ROTJ – Luke asks Leia:
“Do you remember your mother, your REAL MOTHER?”
Leia:
“Just a little bit she died when I was young – I remember she was sad.”
Yet in Episode 3 – she dies during childbirth.
Anyone have any explaination for that? That seems kind of a big oversight.
If you look in the credits, there is a continuity editor who obviously fell down on the job. I noticed this role when watching “Empire” the other night and it made me laugh – there was only 1 previous movie at that point! Must have been an easy job. Thing time around, Leia’s memory of her mother is one instance were there is a problem. The fact that R2D2 didn’t have his memory wiped is another. The fact that Obi-Wan states that Yoda was his Master and not Qui-Gon is another. And so on and so forth…
Overall, I agree with the half full rather half empty reviews. Yes, Lucas could have done a MUCH better job. Yes, there are plot holes, some of them gaping in size. Yes, the dialogue needs work and if I were Tom Stoppard, I would sue for libel any publication that states that I was brought in (in an uncredited role) to tweak the dialogue because it was so damn wooden. All of that being said, I would rather have these movies to complain about than to be sitting in a bar and complaining about how Lucas got so rich and lazy that he never did the prequels like he said he would. Often times the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know and this to me is one of those times.
Now to stick up for the little guys: I am one of the very few people who liked the Ewoks in ROTJ. Maybe its because I have always loved the Muppets but it wasn’t unbelievable to me that the Empire severly underestimated them and that, combined with the Rebel forces, they were able to take over the generator station and lower the Death Star’s shields. Implausible? Yes. Improbable? Yes. Impossible? No. I mean, its a friggin’ sci-fi/fantasy movie. Really, anything is possible. To catch even more flack, let me throw out there that I even liked the end of ROTJ when they were partying in the woods (I can hum that “lub nub, do dah de tub shub, no wah tiki dee dee…” song from memory with no problem). Was it because I was 6 when I first saw it? Almost definitely yes. It was corny and childish but do I care? No. To me there was/is something cool about how after defeating all that technology (Death Star, Darth Vader, ships, etc) they celebrated with their comrades-in-(furry)arms in the great outdoors.
Both Jeff’s make excellent points, and I am glad nobody is arguing with me, but rather calling me a loser for caring. I can deal with that. As for watching these at 4 years old, that argument doesn’t hold water because we have all seen these movies dozens of times since then, and Star Wars and Empire hold up as GOOD movies, even now. As for the Ewoks, Jefe, the song you’ve got memorized “lub nub, do dah de tub shub, no wah tiki dee dee…”, GONE! I watched the Special Edition LAST NIGHT, and the whole celebration sequence is recut with a new shitty track.
George Lucas SUCKS!
Chris:
First, I enjoyed reading your review. You’ve made some enlightening points.
As an interested yet casual fan of the Star Wars franchise, here’s what irked me:
(1) Exceptionally poor dialogue. Some of the lines in this movie made me wince. After the first hour I completely tuned out, waiting solely for the special effects. The “plot” was a distraction and an embarrasement.
(2) Really, really bad acting. It wasn’t childbirth that killed Amidala. It was Natalie Portman.
Samuel L. Jackson was miscast and awful and always has been. Smits again had absolutely zero to add. And many of the lines were delivered with the wrong emphasis. Roger Ebert brought this up and I agree(http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050519/REVIEWS/50503002)
(2) Poor character development. Call it poor acting/dialogue; the difficulties of acting with green screens, etc., but the poor script and acting made it effortless to NOT care about anyone in this movie. Too bad, too. Given the poor character development, I might have moved to the dark side .. if only Hayden Christensen weren’t such a sorry actor.
(3) Inconsistencies and Absence of Logic. While I’m not gonna’ get anal-retentive here, it does bug me that there are a lot of inconsistencies and just an absence of simple logic. I’m not even talking about the really technical stuff, but the questions my 7-year-old son asks me:
a. How come Jedi’s can twirl two light-sabres at once during an intense fight but when they have only one they keep dropping it all of the time?
b. How is it that Anakin can use his mind to launch heavy objects and close doors but can’t use his mind to lift the heavy object off of Obi-Wan or to stop an elevator?
c. What happened to the Jedi mind trick? Wouldn’t that work on General Grievous?
d. Obi-Wan is told to use “the force” to find Anakin on a planet in an infinite number of galaxies. So why does he need a hologram to communicate to the Jedis down the street?
e. Why is it Wookies have flying machines made from trees but still somehow shoot lasers . . .
f. Why do some people fly out shattered space windows but others don’t?
Anyway, we are forced to take this all for what it’s worth. It think it’s obvious what Lucas cares about: Special effects. And what he doesn’t: characters, a tight plot; emotion. It all adds up to marginally intriguing eye-candy.
Cheers…
good post chris. i’m getting too angry just thinking about the crap that Lucas gets away with putting on screen.
While I did enjoy EpIII, mostly because I did not take it very seriously, I can recommend to you the Knights of the Republic video games. Both of them are massively long epics that detail events long before the timeline in any of the movies. They’re huge in scope, but have absolutely excellent character development and story lines that are completely engrossing. They captured more of a “Star Wars” feeling than any of the latest movies have been able to do. If you have an Xbox or PC I definitely recommend checking them out.
Yeah, now go back and rent blade runner and we can talk about that one forever too.
Lucas is an “artist” that lives in a bubble, in a ranch in beautiful Northern California – away from colleagues and friends who can give him valid feedback for his “art”. I remember watching some documentary where friends like Spielberg were given special screenings but it was just too late to save the story, or rather his stories. I guess I’m agreeing with you with regard to the amount of disappointments but mostly I’m agreeing that Lucas is sorta wimpy (I’m writing this NOT having seen Episode 3). Granted, rejection or constructive criticism can be difficult to process, but it’s what lends one to grow. That being said, Lucas lame, yes. I’m still looking forward to catching the film though. Nothing like a little nostalgia…and some to share. Even though I hate Jar Jar, I’ll look forward to introducing these movies to my kids when they’re old enough…I mean when they’re four
anger leads to hate, indeed…
Did anybody see when Toto was in the witches basket – well, she wasn’t the witch yet, but still – and she tried getting out and the background went almost 1.5 times as fast as the bike was going?
OMG! OMG!!!
Don’t even get me started on the Tin Man…
Chris, I believe you have read far too much into Episode III. If you’re trying to lend credence to your anti-Lucas views, then you’re really not helping yourself since your remarks come across as the result of desperate cavilling. True, you have many valid points, but come on, man! It’s Episode III! Give Lucas a break. At least this movie blew the other two prequels out of the water. I sense you’re entertaining the old “well, if I had control of this, then it would have been much better” attitude. Yes, there are problems with Episode III, but they’re not as major as you make them out to be, even if it ruins your life for Lucas not to execute the final installment in his prequel trilogy exactly as you had hoped he would. Cavil – that’s right, I used that word, or at least the gerund form…
I like your site.
“As for watching these at 4 years old, that argument doesn’t hold water because we have all seen these movies dozens of times since then, and Star Wars and Empire hold up as GOOD movies, even now.”
Chris, “A New Hope” is an ok movie only when considered within its context: 1977 and young kids. Other than that it’s actually pretty mediocr – if it was the same exact movie but set in the wild west, no spaceships and no lasers, we wouldn’t be talking about it. I don’t know any 60 year olds who think that movie is the greatest thing ever, because they were 30 when they watched it. Also, Episodes IV, V and VI have a complete lack of the logic you expected of Episode III. Nothing in them makes any logical sense unless viewed through rosey glasses.
I’m not defending Lucas, he could have made truly good movies, but most people out there seem to have some pretty unrealistic expectations towards movies that are essentially for kids.
I think anyone that says Episodes I- III were as good as IV-VI is just plain wrong. Even Lucas didn’t think they were as good – which is why he started the whole damn thing off with what he felt was the strongest story.
The problem I had with I-III is they lacked the regular guy quality. Everyone was a damn Jedi that could pretty much do anything. There were no swashbuckling smugglers or Jabba The Huts. Eh. Whatever. Lucas’ search for more millions worked.
Thank you.
Thank you for putting everything i felt was wrong with that movie but could not put into words on your blog.
Everything form characters, plot, to ideology is all dead on.
Yes i think the thrid was better then the last two but shit…. thats only because the last two sucked so bad.
Some of the other pet peeves I have…
1) in the beginning when the vulture droids are on obi-wan’s space craft…why the hell doesn’t he just use the force to push em off….?
2) How THE F*** does R2 take out to super battle droids..?!!? comeon..!.,.. you expect us to believe a little electric charge and some oil and fire is enough to take out two super battle droids?
3) HOW THE F*** do obi wan and anakin not get shot in the back of the head when they get in the elevator on the space craft?…wtf kind of dumb @$$ droids would stop to say “Hands up” instead of actually shooting their prey?
4) WTF is up with yoda’s dialog when he is about to fight palpatine… seriously..wtf crack was lucas (or whoever was writing the script or approved this) smoking?
i have way more to rant abt..but shit…. seriously…was it that hard to put togehter a plausible story line to end this sage?…
*sigh*…damn you lucas….
you jerkholes this was an amazing movie and if you were here i would slap your wrist. Shame on you for calling lucas a bad man he made good episodes and bad ones have you guys ever heard you have to take the stone with the cherry(you have to take the good with the bad)? so every1 says hes a bad man shame on you so you wish he was never born. Than he wouldnt have made the first ones either. IF you hate it so much why do you keep talking about it? peace and you can drink spoiled milk for all i care if you hate this movie and i would come and beat you up but i broke my femur last week and in a wheel chair.
well written comments! I watched the movie last week, and enjoyed it though. The movie in some parts isin’t too convincing, agreed. But don’t you think it would be rather difficult to make a movie if one tries to make it as ‘real’ and ‘convincing’ as you mentioned in your comments ?
you have to read the review in the recent New Yorker. (The one with Freud as a cab driver on the cover.) Some of it reads as if you wrote it. I can not find it online, I will probably have to send you a xerox… (Or maybe I could send over my oversized deodorant stick shaped robot to show you a holographic version of it?)
I agree with a lot of the points you make in your review but with all movies you lose a lot of translation from book to screen. I wish that I could see these movies in book form (and not a reprint of the screen play) to see if the movie has more substance than the films. I believe that all films are interpretations, some stories can not be completely told and sacrifices must be made. We are looking at a film and a director that is trying to appeal to many different groups of people. He tries on many different levels to make films that will fulfill all of their desires but like a jack of all trades he becomes the master of none. I love the Star Wars universe and how the underlying story of Good vs Evil applies to a deeper understanding of what faith means. I think that the problem with the films ultimately falls in the category of …… LOST IN TRANSLATION.
Witold & others:
The brief New Yorker review of Episode III can be found online at: http://www.newyorker.com/goingson/movies/
It’s listed alphabetically, under “Now Playing.” You have to scroll quite a bit, but it’s there.
This observation from the review made me chuckle: “…Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), who is himself thwarted by an unspeakable British accent.”
Where did Obi-Wan get that British accent, anyway?
Everyone talks about the originals like they some sort of bible and conveniently overlooks their flaws..like:
-How does the invincible Death Star get blown up by a little ship firing two bombs down a hatch.
- Where does Vader fly too (in such deep space remember) when this happens
-How do they rebuild the Death Star so quickly.
-How does the second death star get destroyed in exactly the same way (not smart)
-How does R2 move through the forest.
-How does Vader kill the almighty Emperor simply by chucking him over a balcony
So when you think about it, R2 having rockets or Jedi being killed so easily is besides the point, the fact is:
The flaws where always there.
The films were always weak.
It’s only you that has changed.
For me personally I was expecting too much when Phantom came out and got disappointed. Stupidly, I thought I’d enjoy it as much as I did watching the originals when I was a eight….. Not gonna happen.
Now I take them for what they are, and enjoy them.
I liked the way EP3 tied it all together, (flaws and holes aside) and that’s pretty much all it should be.
Think you should give Lucas a break.
If you want good dialog then watch Shawshank Redemption or Good Will Hunting not Star Wars.
And if you want to bash someone for killing a good story then bash the Wachowski brothers for the Matrix. Cant believe the shit they gave us with Matrix 3, they should be hung out for that crap. They make Lucas look like Shakespeare.
Bravo. I’ve met only a few people who hate this movie as passionately as I do. I was, however, born in ’89 and definately lack the feeling of seeing the originals in theater, and so on and so forth. However, I was raised watching Winnie the Pooh, the Muppet Show, and Star Wars, so I do have some idea. I hate this movie so much, and am so sick of hearing positive feedback for it, that you may be sick of even talking about it as much as I am.
Anyway, this is a marvelous review for it. It says absolutely everything that I knew was wrong, but couldn’t quite place. Here, let me add a few pet peeves of my own.
Actiion scenes. Did you notice the absolute lack of continuity? I loved it how, one moment, they’ll be standing in a certain position. Then, the next moment, they’ll be in an entirely new environment. This happened in just about every fight scene, at almost every camera angle change. In addition, the choreography was sickening. At least Menace had awesome action scenes (though that was about it). All the action scenes in this one were not only lazy and unimaginative, but it looked like people worked hard on making them lazy and unimaginative. How did the general audience not notice this? Because in all the action scenes, the camera would dramatically spin around whoever was fighting, and their lightsabers would make loud wooshing sounds and flash a lot. What? Flashing lights? Crazy camera? Must be good!
Now, the Anikin vs. Obi-wan fight… ugh. It was cheesy, sucked, and kinda reminded me of what would happen if my little sister and I decided to try to make a Star Wars spoof.
Me: C’mon! Let’s make a Star Wars spoof!
Sister: Okay! Let’s battle over something outrageously dangerous, like lava!
Me: Well, of course! But let’s make sure that we’re uber close to the lava! In fact, let’s surf on it!
Sister: Alright, but only if we can do some impossible backflips and other cliché Jedi stuff on it.
Also, I just LOVE how in the beginning, when Anikin is unsure whether or not to kill Dukuu, Palpatine shows his colors right off the bat.
Anikin: I dunno what to do. I’m not supposed to kill him.
Palpatine: Nah, it’s alright!
Anikin: Okay. -kills-
Yeah, I’m not going to write anymore. This is your blog, not mine. >_>
Chris, Chris, Chris. Fool. Firstly, some massively obvious flaws in your review. Number 1: It’s spelt DOOKU. Count Dooku; the former Jedi Master, (one of the lost 20- the only 20 Masters to resign their positions from the council). Former master of Qui-Gon Jinn, who obviously fell to Sith Lord Maul. I must admit, Dooku is my favourite character.
[He uses Form II of lightsaber combat, combining elegance and precision, and makes use of his curved-hilt lightsaber. He also was considered a great loss because the Force was extremely strong in him].
I know more about Star Wars than any of you. And I can tell you now, this movie was INTENDED to essentially be one giant action sequence. I suspect Lucas intentionally did this since it was the last of the Star Wars saga for now, and he wanted to end in a bang. NOT JUST, for Star Wars freaks like us. But for the general public: cheap action and lightsaber duels which excite and entertain.
The most obvious flaw is that Yoda, the wisest Jedi in the Galaxy, who could sense each individual Jedi as they were being killed in Sidious’ ORDER 66, could not sense that Palpatine was a Sith Lord!
Anywho, the best actor by far was Ian Mcdarmid as Darth Sidious/ Palpatine. He clearly had the best role in the film, as the satanic and supremely powerful and devious Sidious. And he really did show his colours; he did a fantastic job, showing why he is more evil than the iconic Vader.
Palpatine’s unassuming demeanor masked a man who would become the foremost modern practitioner of the Sith ways. While it is unknown when he first turned to the Dark Side of the Force, it is known that his Sith master was Darth Plagueis. Plagueis reputedly was capable of manipulating midi-chlorians to create life and avert death. Sidious murdered his master in his sleep, but not before, he claimed, learning Plagueis’ power. A self-proclaimed savior, Darth Sidious would go on to accomplish (for a time) the ultimate goals of his shadowy order: the (almost) complete destruction of the Jedi Order and the domination of the galaxy.
Awesome performance.
Anywho: here’s my opinion, in full which I have taken the time to write-
The cunning dexterity and gravitas with which George Lucas snaps into place every remaining puzzle piece in his epic 30-year story arc is remarkable. The talent of Hayden Christensen will surprise his detractors as he portrays a complex, compounding crisis of conflicting loyalties that tear Anakin Skywalker apart, leading him to slip ever more rapidly toward the Dark Side of the Force. The potent sensations of betrayal and inevitability that fuel the climactic duel between the young Jedi knight and his former master Obi-Wan Kenobi are positively goosepimpling, even though every “Star Wars” fan knows the outcome and has been waiting for this moment for years.
These elements, coupled with much improved dialogue, far fewer scenes transparently designed to foster inevitable tie-in video games, and genuinely compelling emotions make up for the myriad of shortcomings that plagued the previous 2 “Star Wars” prequels.
Opening in the midst the Clone Wars between the crumbling galactic republic and an alliance of separatists that is really a front for the evil Sith Lords (all those villains called “Darth This” and “Darth That”), “Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith” is surprisingly character-driven. The plot revolves around the volatile, brash young Anakin being appointed by the increasingly powerful Chancellor Palpatine (soon to be revealed as Darth Sidious) to be his personal representative on the Jedi Council, which has for centuries tried to maintain peace in this galaxy far, far away.
Having become something of an apprentice to Palpatine, he’s also soon asked by Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) to report back to the council on the chancellor’s activities, a request Anakin sees as duplicitous, especially since the Jedi are becoming embroiled in their own discord over compromising values.
Genuinely trying to do the right thing, he seeks advice from Yoda, but this wisest of the Jedi Masters unknowingly makes Anakin’s confusion worse, as do the disturbing visions he’s been having of Padmé (Natalie Portman), his secret wife (Jedi are sworn to celibacy), dying in childbirth. When Palpatine promises that Anakin can learn to save her with powers from the Dark Side of The Force — the energy that binds the universe together in “Star Wars” mythology — actor Ian McDiarmid is so brilliantly convincing in his iniquitous manipulations that Anakin’s fateful choice actually seems to make a good bit of sense at the time. “Episode III” is built upon dangerous choices with dangerous consequences.
Although riddled with a handful of minor problems (Yoda’s goofy backwards diction has become distractingly acute), a few larger ones (once smart and self-reliant, the now-pregnant Padmé has been reduced to fretting endlessly about Anakin’s ever more ominous behavior), and a couple “what was George thinking?” moments (Obi-Wan rides a giant lizard), this movie delivers on the promise of “Star Wars” with more than just incredible special effects and spectacular light-saber duels.
Lucas magnificently sets the stage for the original Star Wars (which takes place 25 years later) by creating hauntingly iconic moments (a montage of Jedi knights being hunted down and killed), answering long-held questions (like how the Emperor’s face became so hollowed and twisted), and actually plumbing his characters’ souls for once.
The showdown between the Anakin and Obi-Wan on the banks of a river of lava rends both their hearts as they trade pained accusations of betrayal and treachery, along with the saber blows that we all know will leave Anakin so disfigured he spends the rest of his life in Darth Vader’s menacing black helmet and suit. But the finale of parallel tragedies that follows is the most heart-stopping moment in the entire “Star Wars” franchise.
Lucas doesn’t forget to have a little fun in “Revenge of the Sith,” with, for instance, several callbacks to famous lines of dialogue from the original trilogy and a cool new cyborg baddie called General Grievous. He also draws striking parallels to current world politics (although Lucas can’t help that the rise of the evil Empire he plotted out 30 years ago seems eerily familiar).
But the heart of this film — even more so than its sci-fi action and its complete immersion in Lucas’s visionary universe — is the tribulation of Anakin Skywalker’s descent into darkness. It redefines the entire “Star Wars” saga to such a degree that even if “Sith” isn’t universally considered the finest of the bunch, it is unquestionably the most pivotal.
Thanks for taking the time to write this down, Chris. Amazingly, I agree 100% with your critique. The only thing I would add is that Lucas should restrict himself to animation movies only. At best he shows complete disinterest in human actors, focusing much more attention (and maybe money) on special effects. I mean, Jar Jar Binks? He doesn’t seem to allow the actors to display basic human emotions and directs them like they are props.
I managed to enjoy episode III by comparing it to I and II. It sucked significantly less than them, and i was so personally invested in seeing this epic story connected (I also grew up with this) that I managed to stomach it and came out glad that I saw it, which is more than I can say for the first two.
is you going to make a vidoe game
let’s see…. first things first….
this review sucked worse than the sweat off my hairy nuts!
continuous nitpickers always have to over analyze everything dont you.
hows’ about watching a movie just to be entertained, it’s not the Lord of the Rings for gods sake.
considering at 4 years old for you to see Star Wars for the first time, you totally misunderstood everything you freakin’ hack.
wiping C3PO’s mind was perfect fit to segueway right into episode 4, explains perfectly as to why he doesnt know obi-wan or much other than he was owned by cpt. antilles.
a TRUE Star Wars fan, would never display the drivel you have unfortunately “BLAH BLAHed” about for so loooooooong now either.
dont quit your day job kid.
well i dn about you but i thought it was amazing
I think thats a fair point of view. Yah i agree with u about the thing in palpatine’s office after he chops off mace’s arm, and hes like “what have i done!??!” and then before u no it hes on the floor calling palpatine master! I liked episode III in general, but i think there were a lot of things that couldve been changed. I think the way the jedi were portrayed, as generals instead of samurais waas because it showed how the dark side was taking hold, i mean without palpatine, there would be no clone war, and the jedi order would not be stretched across the galaxy wait that really didnt make sense. yah he should’ve turned to the dark side like you said because it is kind’ve like hes going to the dark side for a good reason? padme? his love for her, his devotion? its like he turns and then he realizes that padme hates him for the dark side, and then she dies and hes already on the dark side and he stays there because he cannot go back to the light side beceause the jedi were all killed by him and his master and hes killed his own wife in a way so hes stuck in his pain and suffering which i guess is the dark side.
yah im only 14 so i came into the SW scene way late
If you had seen and paid attention to the original trilogy you’ll notice C-3PO is a blabber mouth, doesn’t get told much, and therefore needs to have his mind wiped. He has seen too much and if fallen into the wrong hands he would certainly mention the children lived.
R2 on the other hand would have buried this deep in his memory banks, doesn’t speak english and is not a risk.
First off…Right friggin’ on. The reason that 4,5,6 are any good is because Lucas allowed other, more talented writers and directors to help hiim realize his vision.
Second off…”continuous nitpickers always have to over analyze everything dont you.” Wow, that comment might as well have read, “You smarties always think so much, don’t you?”
Keep on thinking, and nitpicking, and overanalyzing. The world is full of poorly thought out ideas. People don’t spend enough time thinking about anything. You have to wade through the dumb-ass shit to find the good stuff. I am a snob, and proud of it. You should be too.
First of all… IT’S A SERIES OF MOVIES. Don’t get so worked up over a movie. I have been one of the obsessive Star Wars fans since the beginning. The Luke trilogy was great, but the Anakin trilogy was just as good. Remember that in The Phantom Menace, Anakin was a child who helped without thought of profit. In Revenge of the Sith, he had become a man who was obsesed with power to save the person HE loved. Like many real people in history, Anakin began with good intentions, but his fear and pride trapped him. In order to get what he wanted(the power to save his wife), he had to do something evil never realizing that taking this course is what would cause him to need that power in the first place. Lucas has showed the world about how something so pure could be twisted into something so wrong. Anakin took the ‘quick and easy path’ as one of Lukes mentors would tell him many years later.
Another thing is the deal about ‘Order 66′. If you recall, Jango Fett was the host of the clones not Boba. Also, the Clones were grown on a planet for many years before anyboby realized that they existed. Palpatine ordered the Clones and Order 66 could have been one of the first and most ingrained parts of their training. When Palpatine was a senator in Phantom Menace, he already had plans to take control of the Republic and that meant that he already had a plan to remove the Jedi. With the Jedi in place, he would never have been able to keep the Republic. In order to destroy the Jedi, they would have to be severly outmanned and outgunned right from the start. Who better to destroy the Jedi than the legions of clones that they were leading into battle. In the original trilogy, it was identified that deception and betrayal played the biggest parts in Palpatine’s rise to Emperor. One other note is that it was not morally convinient for the clones to be sub-serviant…as the Attack of the Clones identified…it was intentional. Boba Fett was the only clone NOT given genetic enhancement to keep them docile.
Hear is a question for you. Did you read the book???? not only are some of these points that you have dispelled, but the book, and the DVD deleted scenes, open up some of the other things that you never mentioned. like the formation of the Rebel Alliance. It happend in Revenge of the Sith, but you did not know that did you. R2-D2 had 20 years between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope to have been ordered to not reveal anything to anyone about Anakin, Amidala, 3PO,Obi-Wan or Yoda. Remember how adament R2 was to complete his mission to get the data tapes to Obi-Wan in A New Hope? why do you think that was? R2-D2 proved his loyalty to the Republic MANY, MANY times over. Bail Organa knew that R2 could be trusted. He also knew that if the information that 3PO had was revealed, then Vader might find out and hope would have been lost. Remember that 3PO knew where Obi-Wan and Yoda were. Vader and the Emperor would have made finding them their top priority.
One last thing and then i will spend no more time on this forum, when Anakin cut off Mace’s arm, he realized that he had just sealed his fate with the Jedi. Mace was the Leader of the Jedi Council. When Mace lost his hand, Anakin gave Palpatine the opportunity to kill him. Mace was the last Jedi Master that was a threat to Palpatines take over. The Empire was born, before Yoda came back, by the authorization of the Senate. Therefore, when Anakin opposed Mace, he opposed all that Mace stood for. that was when his final transformation to the dark side was completed. all Anakin had left was Amidala. The only one that Anakin though could save her was Palpatine, so he joined Palpatine. But palpatine also knew that he would never be able to control Vader as long as Amidala was alive, so he sent Vader to Mustafar where Amidala would follow as well as Kenobi. The Emperor knew that of the two Jedi left, Yoda was coming for him. That ment that Kenobi would go after Anakin. and when Amidala showed up with Kenobi, Palpatine knew Anakin would feel betrayed never knowing that it was the Emperor who betrayed him.
Anakin was played like a fiddle from the first time that Palpatine met him, twisting the young mans heart so that Anakin would follow him anywhere. Do not forget how much Anakin admired and respected Palpatine BEFORE he realized that Palpatine was a Sith. Follow the logical conclusions.
eps-1 and 2 suaked but number 3 had better effects. but they started the movies backward the end was first and the begining is last.thats wats wierd about it.
you asked why the wookies were put in
it was to get Yoda off coruscant so that palpatine didnt have to fight Yoda and Windu together – he assumed Yoda would be killed by his clones but he wasnt as he was the only jedi not to be fighting a battle, just watching his clones die instead – i think i would have shot him myself if i was a clone